Development Studies for Changemakers

The Master of Development Studies (MDS) at the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac
University, is a postgraduate program with a strong focus on praxis. Our multidisciplinary approach blends theory with
real-world experience, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to address complex 21st-century
development challenges.

Program Overview
Today’s world—characterized by intense volatility, Specifically, the program aspires to:
complexity, and ambiguity—is largely shaped by
the forces of globalization, urbanization, climate Build a solid theoretical grounding, anchored
change, and technological advancements, where with real-world learning, on diverse
the development puzzle can only be solved from development concepts and issues.
a multidisciplinary angle. Launched in 2002, our
MDS program is specially designed to address this Equip students with the necessary research and
multidisciplinary nature of development. analytical skills for effective policy and program
design, monitoring, and evaluation.
MDS is a praxis-focused program—with an equal
emphasis on developing a strong theoretical Orient students with key actors in the
understanding, learning from the real world, and development ecosystem, including national and
building practical skills—so that the graduates are international agencies, financial institutions,
able to connect theory with practice and design and governments, development partners, and
implement policies and programs that work. research institutes.

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Who Is It for? Research Concepts, Methods, and Application Courses
1. DEV 690: Research Methods and Concepts
MDS is for those who want to be for improving lives. The
program is designed for both development professionals 2. DEV 691: Statistics and Computer Skill
who want to transform their skills and knowledge to Development
become more effective and advance their careers and 3. DEV 692: Research Design and Proposal Writing
fresh graduates aspiring to kickstart their careers in the
development sector. MDS is also an apt choice for young Elective Courses
public officials motivated to make an impact in public Out of the 21 elective courses, students must
service and private sector professionals with a strong choose three.
social mandate.
1. DEV 601: Comparative Development Experience
Career Opportunities 2. DEV 602: Development Informatics
3. DEV 603: Education and Development
MDS provides the students with a practical set of skills
tailored for careers in development program design 4. DEV 604: Environment and Development
and implementation. These skills, however, are not only 5. DEV 605: Governance and Development
relevant to the traditional development sector but also 6. DEV 606: Health and Development
open doors to a wide range of career choices, including
7. DEV 607: Indigenous Knowledge in Development
social business, policymaking, advocacy, consulting, teaching,
and development research. Our graduates have gone 8. DEV 608: Microfinance and Development
on to work—in Bangladesh and beyond—for top non- 9. DEV 609: Nationalism, Identity Politics and
governmental organizations (NGOs), multilateral and Development
bilateral organizations, as well as governments and the 10. DEV 610: NGOs and Social Entrepreneurship
private sector.
11. DEV 611: Population and Development
12. DEV 612: Project Appraisal and Management
MDS Curriculum
13. DEV 613: The Rights-Based Approach to
The MDS program comprises 45 credits, divided as Development
follows: 14. DEV 614: Technology and Development
Course type No. of ourses Credits 15. DEV 615: Urban Development
Foundation 3 9 16. DEV 616: Financial Management
Core 6 18 17. DEV 617: Law and Development
Research Concepts, Methods, and 3 9 18. DEV 618: Social Communication
Application
19. DEV 619: Land Acquisition, Displacement and
Elective 3 9 Development
Total 45
20. DEV 620: Involuntary Resettlement and
Thesis (optional) 3 - Rehabilitation
21. DEV 621: Development Induced Resettlement and
Foundation Courses
Rehabilitation
1. DEV 300: Economics and Development
2. DEV 301: Fundamentals of Social Science I: Thesis
Sociology and Anthropology of Development
DEV 693: Thesis (Optional)
3. DEV 302: Fundamentals of Social Science II: Politics,
Political Economy and Government in Bangladesh The program provides students with the opportunity to
pursue an original, research-based thesis, which is highly
Core Courses
valuable for those aiming to pursue research-oriented
1. DEV 501: Development Perspectives careers. It equips them with advanced research skills,
2. DEV 502: Poverty: Concept, Measurement and Policy subject matter expertise, publication opportunities,
3. DEV 503: Global Dimensions of Development and enhanced critical thinking abilities while fostering
4. DEV 504: Rural Development networking and collaboration in their chosen field of
5. DEV 505: Gender and Development development studies.
6. DEV 506: Monitoring and Evaluation

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MDS Faculty
MDS has a diverse pool of highly qualified faculty members, both from the academia and world of practice. Our in-house
faculty members have advanced training from some of the finest universities in the world. Our guest faculties are usually
leading experts in their respective fields. Some notable MDS faculty members include:

Dr Siddiqur Rahman Osmani Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan

Professor of Development Economics, University of Ulster Senior Academic Advisor, BIGD, Brac University
and Distinguished Visiting Fellow, BIGD, Brac University

Dr S R Osmani is a Professor of Development Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan is a Senior Academic Advisor

Economics at the University of Ulster, UK. Previously, (Honorary) at BIGD. He is also a professor and former
he held positions at renowned institutions such as the chairman of the Department of Development Studies at
Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) the University of Dhaka. His areas of interest include rural
and the United Nations University World Institute for and community development, urban/local governance and
Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), decentralization, social policy dynamics of environmental
Helsinki. His research covers a wide range of topics, management, community-based natural resource
including employment, poverty, inequality, hunger, famine, management, ethnic minorities’ rights, and poverty
and human rights in the context of development. He reduction. He teaches courses such as Monitoring and
teaches courses such as Development Perspectives and Evaluation, Environment and Development, and Project
Global Dimensions of Development. Appraisal and Management.

Dr Mirza M Hassan Dr Munshi Sulaiman

Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Governnace Research Director, BIGD, Brac University
and Politics Cluster, BIGD, Brac University

Dr Mirza M Hassan is a political economist and the Dr Munshi Sulaiman serves as a Research Director at
Head of the Governance and Politics Cluster at BIGD. BIGD. His previous affiliations include Advisor at The
His research focuses on political development, state- Agency Fund and Research and Evaluation Advisor
business relations, urban and local governance, and at Save the Children International. He also led BRAC
justice sector and human rights in South Asia, the International’s Independent Evaluation and Research Cell
Pacific region, and North Africa. He teaches courses (IERC). His research focuses primarily on poverty, financial
including Politics, Political Economy and Government inclusion, and labour market issues. He teaches Poverty:
in Bangladesh; Governance and Development; and The Concept, Measurement and Policy.
Rights-Based Approach to Development.

Dr Narayan C Das
Associate Professor and Senior Research Fellow,
BIGD, Brac University

Dr Narayan C Das is a development economist and Senior Research Fellow and the
Head of the Economics Cluster at BIGD. His research focuses on poverty, quantitative
analysis of development policies, impact assessment of social programs, and labour
markets. He teaches Research Concepts, Methods, and Application courses.

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Alumni Testimonials Admission Requirements
To be considered eligible for admission to
Tania Sharmin the MDS program, candidates must meet the
Planning, Monitoring, and Reporting Analyst, UN Women, Bangladesh following criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from

Graduating from Brac University’s MDS program was
a government-recognized university
truly transformative, enabling me to shift my career with at least a Second Class or CGPA
focus to the development sector—my true passion. The of 2.5 on a 4.0-point scale.
program’s structure, relevant content, and exceptional • A minimum CGPA of 2.5 on a
faculty allowed me to learn from leading experts in 5.0-point scale or Second Division in
the field. Building a network of like-minded peers also SSC/equivalent and HSC/equivalent,
separately.
contributed to my professional growth. The program
equipped me with valuable skills such as participatory • A minimum CGPA of 2.5 in O-Levels
methodologies, program management, and reporting, as in five subjects and A-Levels in two
subjects on a 5.0-point scale; only one
well as an inclusive and analytical perspective, especially E is acceptable.
with regard to gender and intersectionality. The
standout experience of field exposure further fueled my Program Duration and
commitment to women’s empowerment in Bangladesh. Class Timing
The MDS program operates on an open
Adnan Hossain credit system, with the program duration
Founder and Executive Director, It’s Humanity Foundation (IHF) typically spanning two years; however, the
exact duration varies based on the number
of credits taken per semester.
Choosing the BRAC MDS program was a life-changing
decision that profoundly impacted me both academically Classes are generally held from Saturday to
Thursday, between 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM,
and personally. The program allowed me to enhance my offering necessary flexibility to working
academic skills and leverage my professional expertise students.
in the development sector. The expertise and guidance
of the program’s faculties were instrumental in helping Program Cost
me understand the intricacies of the development The approximate total cost of the MDS
sector and shaping my work and vision with the It’s program is BDT 352,500.* Brac University
Humanity Foundation (IHF). The unwavering support and offers tuition fee waivers and scholarships in
accordance with its policies.
camaraderie of my fellow students further motivated me
*Fees are subject to change as per the decision
to successfully navigate the program while managing a of the university.
demanding schedule.
How to Apply
Md. Zillur Rahman Siddiki
Technical Education Director, USAID’s Esho Shikhi Activity, Brac University follows a three-step
Winrock International admission process. First, eligible candidates
must apply through the Brac University
Attending Brac University’s MDS program was an admission portal (admissions.bracu.ac.bd).
Then they must attend an admission test,
unparalleled experience. Interacting with renowned which consists of two segments: analytical
teaching professionals and engaging in interactive writing and multiple-choice questions
(MCQs), assessing mathematics, logical
discussions enriched my learning journey. This program
reasoning and general knowledge, and
played a pivotal role in achieving my career goals, English. Successful test takers then proceed
enabling me to work with esteemed organizations to a viva. Finally, the selected candidates are
offered to enrol in the program.
like Save the Children, Room to Read, and USAID-
supported education projects. The program’s emphasis The admission circulars are regularly
on monitoring, research theories, and practical skills published on the websites of BIGD and Brac
University. Typically, there are two admission
continues to be invaluable in my current role as a cycles: Spring (November–December) and
Technical Director in the USAID Esho Shikhi project. Fall (July–August).

For any queries, feel free to email us:

[email protected]
For further information, please visit our website:
bigd.bracu.ac.bd
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Master of Development Studies / 4