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.”
Danchen Xu is interested in inclusive development, equitable urbanization, and human mobility & security with attention to multidisciplinary approaches in understanding developmental challenges. Her current research focuses on domestic migration in the context of citizenship building, order-making politics, and conflict resolution in sub-Saharan urban settings. In the past, she researched police training and reform in Nigeria, remittances mechanism by Chinese migrant workers in sub-Saharan Africa, and Sino-Africa relationship in the context of migration, gender, race, and capitalism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Danchen worked in public health and philanthropy to research and promote equitable vaccine access and sustainable economic recovery in marginalized communities. She also has professional experience in civic engagement, housing security, and policy advising. Danchen received her B.A. in International Relations and Political Science from Boston University and M.A. in Conflict Resolution with a graduate certificate in African Studies at Georgetown University. She is from Zhengzhou, China.