AU · Master's
University of Sydney
Master of Development Studies
University of Sydney
Course Overview
Sydney's Master of Development Studies is one of the longest-running development programmes in the Asia-Pacific (founded 1989) and is taught out of the School of Social and Political Sciences in the Faculty of Arts. The 1.5-year programme runs across three semesters with a research dissertation component, and lets students specialise in one of seven streams: International Development, Anthropology, Gender & Cultural Studies, Political Economy, Sociology, Human Rights, and Indigenous Development. A 6-week professional placement in Year 2 can be done with NGOs, DFAT (Australia's foreign affairs department), the UN, or research institutes.
Sri Lankan applicants choose Sydney Development Studies because the school has explicit Indo-Pacific focus areas, faculty conducting fieldwork in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands, and a strong pipeline into DFAT, Asia Foundation, Plan International, Oxfam Australia, World Vision, and Australian Volunteers International. Graduates are eligible for the Australian 485 Temporary Graduate Visa for 2 years post-study and can apply for the highly-selective Global Talent Visa subclass 858 if they secure roles in priority sectors.
Entry Requirements
Academic
- check_circle Sri Lankan Bachelor's (Hons) in any humanities or social science discipline — minimum Upper Second-Class (2:1 / GPA 3.0+) for the 1.5-year stream.
- check_circle Bachelor's in a cognate field (Development Studies, International Relations, Political Science, Sociology, Economics) allows entry into the 1-year stream with credit transfer.
- check_circle Personal statement (500 words) identifying intended specialisation stream and career goals.
- check_circle Two academic / professional references; CV; transcripts.
- check_circle Relevant volunteer or development sector experience strongly favoured but not mandatory.
English Proficiency
- check_circle IELTS Academic: 6.5 Overall (no band below 6.0).
- check_circle TOEFL iBT: 85 Overall (min 17 in Reading and Listening, 19 in Writing and Speaking).
- check_circle PTE Academic: 61 Overall.
- check_circle Waived if your Bachelor's was taught and assessed entirely in English (most Sri Lankan applicants from UoC, UoP, UoM, UoK, SLIIT, NSBM, or international universities qualify).
Estimated Cost of Study
| Expense Category | Amount (AUD) | Approx. LKR |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition Fee (per year) | AUD 53,500 | Rs. 11,235,000 |
| OSHC Health Cover (18 months) | AUD 1,050 | Rs. 220,500 |
| Living Expenses (18 months, Sydney) | AUD 39,000 | Rs. 8,190,000 |
| Student Visa & Application Fees | AUD 2,100 | Rs. 441,000 |
| Total Programme Investment | AUD 122,400 | Rs. 25,704,000 |
*LKR conversion based on current bank rates. Subject to change.
Career Outcomes & PR
Eligible for the Australian 485 Temporary Graduate Visa for 2 years on completion. Sydney Development Studies grads place into DFAT, AusAID program partners, Asia Foundation, Plan International, Oxfam Australia, World Vision, Save the Children, the UN Asia-Pacific RCO, and into research roles at the Lowy Institute and the Australia-Indonesia Centre. Sri Lankan returnees route into the UNDP Sri Lanka country office, ADB Sri Lanka Resident Mission, JICA, GIZ, the World Bank Colombo office, and the international department at the External Affairs Ministry. Median starting salary: AUD 65,000 (LKR 13.7M/yr).
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