Master of International Development Policy
The Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) empowers policy changemakers dedicated to shaping the future by tackling complex challenges through impactful public policy.
Located in the heart of Washington, DC, at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, you’ll have access to experienced professors, passionate peers and a vast network of policymakers and practitioners. Whether your aspirations lie on Capitol Hill, in think tanks, at non-profits or across international arenas, our International Development Master’s program provides the support and guidance you need to achieve your goals in the dynamic field of public policy.
At a glance
Application deadlines
Fall term 2027
- December 1: Early action deadline
- January 15: Priority deadline
- March 1: Final deadline
Program duration
2 years, full-time
Credits
- 48 total credits
- 30 core credits
- 6 credits from capstone project
- 12 elective credits
Average cohort size
25+
Shape the future of international development policy
The Master of International Development Policy program from the McCourt School at Georgetown University is not your typical international development studies program. Instead, our curriculum focuses on economics and the rigorous analytical and technical skills needed to tackle complex challenges in developing and emerging economies.
Outside the classroom, you’ll gain valuable professional experiences collaborating with passionate development practitioners who share your passions and recognize and value your new skills. With funding for professional summer placements, travel opportunities and engaging client-capstone projects, An MIDP graduate is a different kind of development professional with an easily recognized set of advanced technical skills and real-world experience.
Equipped for success in development policy
Our STEM-eligible Master of International Development Policy program is ranked #4 in International Global Policy and Administration by U.S. News & World Report. It provides the necessary technical and analytical skills to make a real impact in developing countries. We incorporate courses and professional work experiences to enhance your understanding of politics, management and ethics.
This comprehensive approach prepares you to navigate the challenges commonly faced in the public sector and international institutions. With a highly structured curriculum, including core and elective courses, a summer experience and a client-capstone project, you’ll gain the professional experience and technical skills that employers value, spanning economics, quantitative research, management and leadership. You’ll also develop vital skills in collaboration, critical thinking, economic analysis, ethical leadership, policy analysis and more through McCourt’s Foundational Skills.
Skills you’ll gain
- Applied economics
- Statistical methods
- Policy design
- Impact evaluation
- Regression Methods
A program-funded summer experience
Hands-on learning is essential to preparing you for the policy world, especially in development policy. You’ll spend the summer after your first year in a program-relevant professional placement and put what you’ve learned in the classroom into practice. We provide funding for living and travel expenses, enabling you to identify and secure placements that best fit your interests.
Our expert faculty
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Jishnu DasDistinguished Professor
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Nada EissaAssociate Professor
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Andrew ZeitlinAssociate Professor
Putting your knowledge into practice
You’ll gain the skills and expertise needed to work in a variety of fields, including international development organizations, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and more. No matter where you apply your skills, we’re confident our program will give you the tools and expertise you need to make a meaningful difference. Within six months of completing their degrees, 95% of 2024 graduates were employed or had secured job offers.
Median salary
*Career and income data is gathered from alumni and Lightcast data.
of alumni work in the professional, scientific, and technical services field
*Career and income data is gathered from alumni and Lightcast data.
Meet our changemakers
As a diverse group of problem solvers, we’re dedicated to turning bold ideas into action. At the McCourt School at Georgetown, you will not only learn from your professors, but also from your classmates. Our students come from all walks of life and backgrounds, offering a rich community of experiences and perspectives. Together, we engage in policy-relevant research and strive to make the world a better place.
“I wanted a graduate program that would equip me with the knowledge and analytical skills to help me become a more conscientious and effective practitioner in order to design more sustainable and effective programs and policies. Ultimately, I chose McCourt because of its evidence-based approach to development, the strength of its rigorous quantitative sequence, and its proximity and many connections in the International Development hub within DC.”
Frances Chen, MIDP ’20
Frequently asked questions
The MIDP summer experience offers a unique chance to gain invaluable professional experience, with program funding provided to support your work. You’ll spend approximately 10 weeks collaborating with a leading development organization, typically focused on evidence-based impact in developing countries.
Our faculty bring extensive connections across the development sector. While you’ll lead your own search for placements, the program director and faculty mentors offer personalized support and guidance, helping you explore opportunities aligned with your interests across sectors such as health, education, labor, gender and environmental policy.
Past students have worked with a diverse range of organizations, from international research institutions such as J-PAL and IPA to multilateral agencies such as DIME and DECRG at the World Bank, as well as NGOs and government bodies.
Our graduate program equips you with the economics and quantitative analysis skills essential for career success. Through the summer experiences and collaboration with professional organizations during the capstone project, you’ll have opportunities to enhance your resume. Recognized as a STEM-designated degree, it provides you with a competitive edge in today’s job market.
Our graduates go on to work for leading organizations such as the World Bank, International Finance Corporation, Inter-American Development Bank, and International Food Policy Research Institute. You’ll typically find them in data-intensive roles like data and policy analysts, research fellows and consultants.
The MIDP alumni network is deeply connected across the development sector and offers valuable support in finding professional opportunities. The Office of Career Development and Alumni Engagement is committed to empowering students to make informed career decisions by leveraging their public policy education, skills and experiences for success.
While prior professional experience is not required for admission, we strongly encourage applicants to have at least two years of relevant work experience. This helps enrich classroom discussions and enhances your contribution to our collaborative community.
We also welcome recent graduates who have spent significant time living in developing countries or who hold academic backgrounds related to international development. This broad range of experiences embodies McCourt’s commitment to cultivating globally minded leaders who apply rigorous policy analysis alongside a profound understanding of development challenges.
In addition, applicants must have completed the equivalent of a three-credit course in microeconomics, earning a grade of B or higher, at an accredited institution before enrollment. If you have not fulfilled this prerequisite by the application deadline, you may still apply and receive conditional acceptance, provided you complete the course by August 1 prior to starting the program.
Featured MIDP stories
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From the Mountains of Balochistan to Capitol Hill
Walwala Bashir’s interest in development policy started in the place she calls home. After her time at McCourt, she aims to address the challenges that first sparked that interest.
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Doctor pushes to improve health outcomes beyond the exam room
Changemaker Nicholas Mensah (MIDP’26) seeks policy solutions to the problems that affect us individually and collectively.
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From Morocco to the Philippines: How MIDP students are making an impact globally
Through MIDP’s Summer Experience program, McCourt students are spending their summers applying analytical methods at leading development institutions worldwide.
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What is Public Policy?
Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy explains what public policy is and how it plays a role in our everyday lives, from ensuring access to healthy foods and high-quality…
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How this first-gen student found a passion for impact-driven policymaking
Inspired by her experiences living and working in Mexico and South America, soon-to-be-graduate Diana Rivas Garcia (MIDP’24) aspires to empower communities through development policy.
Request more information
We know you have a passion for development work; you know that is not enough.
The MIDP Program is different from most other development studies programs. It is a professional program with a skills-based curriculum in economics and quantitative methods that are essential for any development practitioner, and it delivers valuable opportunities for experiential learning, as well.
Thank you for your interest in our program. Please complete this form and we‘ll contact you with more information.