School of Built Environment & Development Studies

The Community Development Programme caters for students who are interested in doing graduate studies from Honours level, through to PhD.  The Honours programme provides students with advanced skills and knowledge in the area of community development. We focus on principles of community development, environmental sustainability, local government, and economic development. The Honours programme also includes an intensive qualitative research course which provides students with the opportunity to learn research skills by ‘doing’.

Students who attain good results in the Honours programme are able to proceed to the Masters Degree in Community Development. While currently the Programme only offers a research masters option, from 2013, interested students will be able to do a Coursework masters in Community Development.

The Community Development programme also has a number of skilled supervisors for those who are interested in pursuing Doctoral studies.

There is also a postgraduate access route for those who did not attain particularly good results in their undergraduate degrees, but who have a bachelors degree and at least two years experience in a work environment that is aligned to community development. The Postgraduate Diploma is offered as block teaching. Students attend six, one week-long courses, running throughout the year. Those students who really excel in the PGD and who are prepared to complete the Honours Research Methods module, will be considered for Masters degrees in Community Development.

The Community Development Programme aims to bring our postgraduates into the Community Development Programme family. Office space is provided for our graduate students, and we strongly encourage them to participate in community engagement projects together with academic staff based in the Community Development Programme.