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.”
A new special issue of Oxford Development Studies celebrates the legacy of Abdul Raufu Mustpaha, our friend and colleague who passed away in 2017.
The issue was edited by two of Raufu's former DPhils, Ami V Shah, now Associate Professor of Anthropology & Global Studies at Pacific Lutheran University, and David Ehrhardt, now Associate Professor at Leiden University.
'Governance, Power, and Diversity in African States: Celebrating the Legacy of Abdul Raufu Mustapha' also includes papers by a number of other former DPhils: Luisa Enria, Ukoha Ukiwo, Nelson Oppong, Daniel Agbiboa and Arnim Langer.
It includes the following articles:
The issue is currently free to access.
Ami V Shah and David Ehrhardt (eds) (2020) 'Special Issue: Governance, Power, and Diversity in African States: Celebrating the Legacy of Abdul Raufu Mustapha', Oxford Development Studies 48 (4)