Imrul

Both are very good program. If you are going for development consultancy, i guess Boston University has a better brand value. But one of my favorite professor has her PhD from SOAS. They are really open to heterodox ideas and SOAS will provide you with equal intellectual growth. If money is not a constraint, i would go for BU.

I don't think there is any "Development Economics" PhD. You have to compete against other Econ PhD applicants. And also, you can think PhD in Public Policy. You will be able to take the Micro, Macro and Econometric Courses in "Public Policy" as well. I am not a PhD Student. PhD students can tell you better. Just sharing from my own observation.

Sharjil Bhai, I did mine from NSU. I have a specialization in Econometrics with 4 courses. Also, quit my job in last september to take 2 courses in Calculus and 1 courses in Linear Algebra in NSU. I had a chance to get a evaluation of my profile from a Top 5 school. Not someone from the Admission Committee but he was the director of Undergrad Study. He said, I lack the courses in "Advanced Math, Advanced Stat and Advanced Econometrics" - without explanation. But other faculty from the same university said, advanced math = real analysis, advanced stat = mathematical stat (the one with calculus and axiomatic approach). No explanation on what they meant by "advanced econometrics". But the most important feedback was, they best way to show your Math/Stat ability is not through coursework but via research work (written example). It doesn't even have to be published. Bets of luck with GRE and admission season. Hopefully i will apply in Fall 2018. Imrul