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Hi Paul, I ended up applying and getting accepted, though I'm still deciding whether to go. The things that are attracting me are the small size of the program (this year's class is supposed to have about 15 students)--which I'm hoping will translate into close relationships with professors and advisers, what seems like a strong commitment to getting students a lot of work experience (internships during the school year, two summers abroad), and a new "residency program" through which they hope to place anyone who so desires in a job for the year after graduation. The director has been really forthcoming--I've had multiple long phone conversations with him, so I'm hoping that speaks to the level of interest they take in their students generally. A major downside is the cost (over $60,000 all told). I got what I was told was the maximum scholarship of $10,000/year but that seems like a drop in the bucket! Let me know if you have any other questions about my (very limited) experience with the program thus far!

Hey there, Is there anybody out there who went to University College London for Development or who has considered/is considering it? I'm accepted to the Social Development Practice MSc program and am having a hard time telling if it's the right choice for me. I'm also accepted to the New School MSIA program and will hopefully get into the MDP program at Emory (they're STILL working on getting decisions out). Is the UCL program well-regarded in the US? I plan to work in an NGO dealing with international issues, but I'm not sure if I ultimately want to live in the US or abroad, so I don't want to pick a place that limits my options to stay in the states. The US programs I'm looking at aren't necessarily big names, so I'm not sure whether any of this matters... This program is one year, rather than two at the US schools. It's great that that makes it a little cheaper, but is that enough time to learn everything??? For graduates: Did the size of the program feel right to you? Do you feel like you developed helpful relationships with professors? Were professors and administrators approachable? To be honest, I'm not sure what to expect culturally from British schools--the application process itself has seemed a lot less streamlined and hands-on than with the US schools I applied to... Any other considerations you can think of? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Molfe, can you say a little more about what kind of experience you had going into the New School? The only other person I know who's graduated from this program was a professional who didn't feel like her experience there added much to what she already knew. What's your impression of the level of work experience of the student body? Basically, having been in a related field for 7 years, I don't want to end up with a lot of people who are straight out of undergrad! Was that the case when you were there? Also, can you tell me more about where you feel like the degree has gotten you professionally? Thanks so much!

Oh I'm a fool; ignore me I found the answer: "There is no limit to how much you write in your personal statement but for Master's applications you are advised to keep your text to a page."

Hi all, Has anyone completed an SOP for University College London? Here are their vague instructions re: SOP length: "Please note that there are 3000 characters (not words) available and the system does not accept non-standard characters. Copying text longer than 3000 characters into this field will truncate it, and the text may be lost entirely. If your personal statement is longer than 3000 characters please enter “See additional document” into this box and upload your personal statement via the document upload page of this application form. " From their wording, the 3000 character limit sounds like it has more to do with the limitations of their online application system than with a length requirement they expect applicants to follow. Do you think a 1,000-word statement (about 6,000 words) would be excessive? I don't want to seem like I'm burdening them! Thank you!

Are any of you applying to international development-related programs? I'm looking at the MPP at HKS (with a focus on ID) and the development master's degrees at LSE. If anybody's doing similar stuff and would be up for looking over my SOP, I would greatly appreciate it. I'd be happy to do the same!

This is the reply I got back from LSE on this question, in case anyone wants more info: All taught master's programmes at LSE can lead to PhD study. Usually the Selection Committee consider students who receive a merit (60% and above in their studies at LSE, this is roughly equivalent to a 3.5 cumulative GPA on a 4 point scale). Students should make a new application to the department of their choice the year prior they wish to study, along with a research proposal. Applicants to PhD programmes are normally required to have a Masters degree from a UK university (or equivalent institution) in a subject relevant to the programme for which they are applying. Students are invited to submit applications that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School. You will find staff areas of interest under the subject information in the 'Departments, Institutes, Centres' section of the Graduate School Prospectus 2011, on individual departmental websites (links at http://www2.lse.ac.uk/graduateProspectus2010/departmentsInstitutesCentres/Home.aspx ), and on the LSE Experts webpage at http://www2.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExpertise/Experts/Home.aspx You should also contact the relevant academic department at an early stage of your application. MPhil/PhD programmes normally start in late September each year but it may be possible to start in January (Lent term) or April (Summer term), depending on the availability of methodology courses most of which are held in the Michaelmas term http://www2.lse.ac.uk/intranet/diaryAndEvents/termDates/Home.aspx#generated-subheading2 Please note that if you wish to study for a PhD in the Department of Economics, you are only permitted to start your degree in September (Michaelmas Term).

In terms of differences between the degrees, I did find this buried on the LSE website: What is the difference between the MSc Development Studies and the MSc Development Management? If you take the MSc Development Studies you will have one compulsory course DV400 Development: theory, history and policy, other courses to the value of 2 units and write a 10,000 word dissertation. You may NOT register for DV431, Development Management. If you take the MSc Development Management you will have one compulsory course (DV431 Development Management, other courses to the value of 2 units and write a 10,000 word dissertation. You will also be involved in a project working on research for e.g. an NGO, a government department, etc as well as doing the course and examination. See Examples of Projects Worked on by MSC Development Management students| (PDF). You may NOT register for the course DV400 Development: theory, history and policy. I haven't found any great explanation of the MSc Dev. Mgmt. project, though. I'm going to ask them for more details on how it works, but it usually takes them like two weeks to reply...

Thanks, that's very helpful. Do you happen to know if the MPA (or the MSc) there can lead into a PhD?

Has anybody heard of the program? This is the website: http://www.iss.nl/MA-Programme. There are a lot of interesting ways to specialize and I like the idea of getting a non-US perspective on int'l development, but I have no idea what kind of reputation this place has...

The Student Recruitment and Study Abroad Coordinator just responded...by copy-and-pasting the blurbs from the website. So unhelpful! I'll let you know if I get through to someone more helpful.

I'm considering the Master's in Development Practice at Emory. Has anyone had any experience with that school? I'm curious what kind of reputation it has and what kinds of students it attracts. A little background on me: So far I'm definitely applying to the MPP program at HKS, the MPA at SIPA and the MSc in development practice at LSE. I'm looking for an international development-focused program that has good rep for placing grads at NGOs and where the curriculum has a strong human rights undercurrent (preferably with an option to focus on women and gender). I have six years' experience at an NGO and would like to be in classes with other young professionals, rather than a lot of recent grads. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I am interested in a master's degree that focuses on international development and has a strong human rights component. LSE seems to have most of the attributes I'm looking for in a school (except for a built-in internship in the field), but I'm having a hard time choosing between the MSc in development studies, the MPA in int'l development and the MSc in development practice--the differences among the degrees aren't totally clear from the site. I assume they prepare you for somewhat different types of careers, but it would be super helpful if someone could lay that out for me. Also, does anyone have a feel for the difference between how two-year MPA degrees and one-year MScs might be regarded by future employers? Thank you!