PhD in Development Studies by Published Works

Institute of Development Studies

Study with the world leaders in development studies and realise your potential to transform the world with our PhD by Published Works in Development Studies.

The PhD is awarded to candidates who have already completed original and significant research in the field of development studies and have a coherent body of published works, but who have not had the opportunity to undertake a research programme leading to a PhD.

The portfolio of research you submit for this PhD will be of the same quality, rigour, and volume as a typical PhD. The work might take the form of refereed articles, chapters, monographs, and scholarly editions, if they are available or traceable in the public domain (and not self-published). A substantial proportion of these works will be peer-reviewed, and a number will be solely authored by you. All works should ideally have been published not more than ten years before the date of submission.

You will work with two qualified supervisors to compose an accompanying 10,000-word dissertation, summarising and explaining your work’s contribution to the development field.

Areas of study

We welcome submissions from researchers who share our commitment to:

• upholding climate and environmental justice
• reducing extreme inequities
• fostering healthy and fulfilling lives
• nurturing inclusive, democratic, and accountable societies.

We are particularly interested in work that shows originality in addressing topics related to the work of our research fellows who work across our ten research clusters: business; cities; digital; governance; health; impact and policy; participation; power; resource politics; and rural futures.

Supervision & assessment

Each PhD researcher has a minimum of two supervisors. You will work closely with your two research supervisors throughout your PhD, with at least one meeting per month with them.

During your PhD, you are required to give one Work in Progress seminar to the IDS community. This is scheduled during your second term at IDS. The seminar will focus on the research findings and the overall arguments that you make in your dissertation, along with covering your contribution to the field.

Your PhD work is examined by your dissertation and viva. Your thesis must be no longer than 10,000 words. These limits include footnotes and bibliography but excludes any appendices.

Career opportunities

Your PhD in Published Works will put you in a great position to launch or progress your career in academia, government, civil society, or the private sector, and make a real difference in bringing about transformative change.

Our PhD graduates are defining and solving some of the world’s most pressing global challenges in their work as:

• ministers in national governments and civil servants
• high-level officials in development organisations such as UNDP and the World Bank
• leaders of civil-society organisations such as ActionAid and Christian Aid
• high-profile academics at universities across the world