Excellent research facilities include:

Computing

The Department of Global Development Studies has a range of computing facilities including a general-use teaching laboratory. Where appropriate, students may also access specialized facilities in our cognate departments, for example, the Geographic Information Science program in Geography (with permission).

Library

The Queen's library system has invested heavily in its development studies holdings, allowing Queen's students and faculty access to a comprehensive range of online journals covering all facets of the discipline alongside building a substantial holding of books and monographs in the field.

All students will be considered for funding from a combination of Queen's Graduate Awards (QGA), teaching assistantships (TA-ships) in the department's undergraduate courses, contributions from research grants and contracts, internal scholarships and awards, and external scholarships and awards. Stipends are typically paid in three equal instalments throughout the year.

Students are automatically considered for QGA and TA-ships when accepted each academic year.  TA-ships require up to a maximum of 10 hours a week of tutorial leadership, preparation, marking, and other duties. A normal load would be two TA-ships per academic year but this may be reduced subsequent to the initial offer.

TA-ships are regarded as both a source of funding and as an important element in the student's professional development.

Where research grants permit, or when students earn a scholarship from outside the department, an effort is made to offer top-up funding.

DEVS offers an undergraduate course in the spring term at the University of Havana in which graduate students may also enrol. In addition, up to two MA students per annum from Queen’s can apply for a grant to undertake field research in South Africa, aiming towards the two-year thesis option of the Master’s programme. The Government of Canada provides funding for this initiative which is partnered with the Environmental and Geographical Sciences departments at Queen’s University and the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town.

DEVS faculty, meanwhile, often have major collaborative research projects underway with partners in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and in Native communities in Canada. Successful applicants may be able to link up with these global partners to facilitate fieldwork or other fruitful academic engagement.

The Department of Global Development Studies offers graduate training leading to the degree of Master of Arts (MA).

The MA programme has been designed with two streams: a course-based Master's and a research-based Master's. All students are initially accepted into the one-year course-based programme. Interested and qualified students may then apply to switch to the research option with up to an additional full year to complete.

The course-based programme will focus on the development of conceptual thinking and analytical and interpretive skills.  This stream does not demand primary research resulting in a thesis; instead students will complete a library-based major research project (MRP) of 40-60 pages (DEVS-898). The MRP will deal with a specific interdisciplinary question directly relevant to Global Development Studies. Six half courses, which must include DEVS-801* and DEVS-802*, are also required under this option.

The research-based programme will follow the traditional sequence of graduate training with advanced courses and the undertaking of extensive research. Four half courses, which must include DEVS-801* and DEVS-802*, are required under this option. The research will result in the submission of a written thesis (DEVS-899) of between 75-100 pages that demonstrates the student's ability to produce original work. This option requires an application with a well-developed proposal, the support of a supervisor, and a minimum GPA of 3.7. The deadline for application is February 1. Please note: the department can only accept up to two applications per year and is unable to guarantee funding for the second year.

The overall objective of the Master's programme is to offer students a well-rounded perspective of development debates, with a focus on foundational theoretical and methodological concepts.  Our vision values a combination of intellectual engagement and practical skills, imagining and working toward a more equitable world.