The department is a lively community that is recognised internationally as one of the top centres for research and teaching in development studies.

Our courses offer excellent training for a career in international development or for advanced study, and attract students of the highest calibre from across the world.
“I had waited for 10 years before my dream to study in Oxford became a reality and the experience was truly beyond expectation”
Our students are taught to develop as critical and independent thinkers and when they leave us they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to bring about real change.
“My time at Oxford strengthened my critical analysis and provided me with a unique interdisciplinary grounding in history, politics and economics that has equipped me well in dealing with public policy issues and program development strategy.”
Our courses offer excellent training for a career in international development or for advanced study, and attract students of the highest calibre from across the world.
“I had waited for 10 years before my dream to study in Oxford became a reality and the experience was truly beyond expectation”
Our courses offer excellent training for a career in international development or for advanced study, and attract students of the highest calibre from across the world.
“I had waited for 10 years before my dream to study in Oxford became a reality and the experience was truly beyond expectation”
Our students are taught to develop as critical and independent thinkers and when they leave us they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to bring about real change.
“My time at Oxford strengthened my critical analysis and provided me with a unique interdisciplinary grounding in history, politics and economics that has equipped me well in dealing with public policy issues and program development strategy.”
Our students are taught to develop as critical and independent thinkers and when they leave us they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to bring about real change.
“My time at Oxford strengthened my critical analysis and provided me with a unique interdisciplinary grounding in history, politics and economics that has equipped me well in dealing with public policy issues and program development strategy.”
The Oxford Department of International Development was originally known as Queen Elizabeth House (QEH), and was constituted by Royal Charter in 1954 to provide a residential centre which people concerned with the study of Commonwealth affairs could visit to make contacts and exchange ideas.
The original Queen Elizabeth House at 21 St Giles
In 1961 it housed the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, with which QEH was closely linked. During the 1960s QEH was developed as a residential and conference centre, a centre for University lectures and classes, and for social activities for advanced students and other visitors from the Commonwealth.
In the 1980s there was a drive to reshape QEH as a centre for international studies, a move away from being purely a centre for study concerning the Commonwealth. In 1986 it was merged with the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and the Oxford University Institute of Agricultural Economics to create the International Development Centre, a department of the University within the Social Studies Faculty.
As a result of this merger the structure, funding and governance of QEH changed. Most of the functions of the governing body were assumed by the University. In 1994 the governing body was officially dissolved following the transfer of the assets of QEH to the University and the surrender of the Royal Charter. It was replaced by an Advisory Council for the department.
From 1958 to 2005 QEH was located at 20-21 St Giles. In late 2005, the department moved to the former School of Geography building in Mansfield Road and became known as the Oxford Department of International Development. In 2011 the Palace authorised the use of the name Queen Elizabeth House for the buildings at 3 Mansfield Road.
You can read more about the history of the department in a series of articles in our alumni magazine, Oxford Development Matters:
Part 1: Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford and the British postcolonial project