The Advanced Master in Development, Environment and Communities is designed to provide a specialized professional qualification in the field of development.

Its objective is the study of the development of society from an interdisciplinary perspective. It involves appreciating development processes in their environmental contexts, with emphasis on the actions of the players involved.

This programme benefits from close inter-university collaboration between the institutions which, in the context of the French-speaking Community, make particular use of this interdisciplinary approach to development and its interaction with the environment.

This programme is made up of 240 hours of class, seminars, individual exercises and work worth 45 credits, in additional to a final assignment of 15 credits (5 credits for the core subjects in the first semester and 10 credits in the centre responsible for the special subject area chosen by each student). The courses available mostly reflect the main areas of the syllabus and the research programmes of the different research centres involved. The Advanced Master lasts one year but may be spread over a maximum of two academic years.  

It comprises training common to all students and a themed course in one of the partner institutions. A residential overview seminar held at the end of the programme involving all the participants and lecturers. Supervision of the dissertation is taken on by an inter-university committee.

The dissertation is done in the research team where students have done their special subject activities. The programme may be extended for up to two years for students who wish to do their dissertation based on research which requires several months of field work.

See the general admission requirements

Specific procedures :

Special procedures :

The Advanced Master in Development, Environment and Communities is designed for students from both the Northern and Southern hemisphere with, if possible, previous professional experience of or personal involvement in the issues covered by the programme.

More than ever in the decades to come, dealing with problems of development in societies in both Northern and Southern hemisphere will require expertise in different sectors and analysis of local realities, in all their complexity and diversity, to be combined with an ability to take anoverview of the interaction between local realities and global dynamics. In this respect, the programme offers supervision by research teams which have both practical experience in the field and the desire to put their actions in the context of the challenges provided by the changes which are under way. They consider their impact on the different kinds of development of society and the living conditions of populations in an environment which is sustainable in the long term.  

Students from developing countries work in groups with their colleagues from the Northern hemisphere both for general courses and seminars. The student groups are usually mixed (North-South), which encourages a valuable exchange of views for all concerned.

The special subjects cover current situations in the Northern and Southern hemispheres which are dealt with in a comparative way and which can shed light on one another: the exchange is beneficial in both directions.

The Advanced Master in Development, Environment and Communities is designed for students from both the Northern and Southern hemisphere with, if possible, previous professional experience of or personal involvement in the issues covered by the programme.

This Advanced Master forms part of the framework for the inter-university diploma in advanced studies (Diplôme d'études approfondies - DEA) recognized as an international course by the Standing Committee for University Co-operation towards Development  (CUD) since 2003.

It will also be linked in future with other international Masters such as the planned European Master in Gender and Development.