Dual Master of Development Policy and Practice
The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance and Paris School of International Affairs are launching a new dual master’s degree set to begin in January 2027.
The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Sciences Po’s Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), two highly regarded institutions in international affairs and public governance, are launching a new dual master’s degree set to begin in January 2027.
The dual master’s combines academic excellence and applies policy training in two dynamic political and institutional environments. Students spend their first semester in Cape Town, then spend a year in Paris (to do their second and third semesters), before returning to Cape Town for the final (fourth) semester of the programme.
The Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance at UCT is a premier African institution dedicated to educating public sector leaders and advancing knowledge in governance, public policy, and administration. The Nelson Mandela School offers rigorous interdisciplinary programmes focused on democratic governance, accountability, leadership, service delivery, and sustainable development. With a strong commitment to social justice and community engagement, it equips students with practical skills and critical insights to address complex governance challenges across Africa and beyond.
The Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA) at Sciences Po trains future global leaders to address the most pressing challenges of our time. PSIA is renowned for its multidisciplinary approach to international affairs, combining rigorous academic training with practical, policy-oriented perspectives. Its curriculum spans global governance, human rights, security, development, environmental sustainability, and diplomacy. At PSIA, students benefit from a diverse international faculty, a vibrant global community, and strong connections to international organisations, NGOs, and policy networks.
Objectives and skills
The Master of Development Policy and Practice is a dual degree delivered across two continents, combining academic excellence and applied training in Africa and Europe. Students are immersed in two distinct policy and institutional contexts — Cape Town and Paris — gaining first-hand insight into how development policy is designed, implemented, and adapted to local realities.
The contrasting governance systems, historical paths, and development priorities of France and South Africa provide a rich foundation for comparative learning. Students explore how policy frameworks evolve, how state institutions respond to complex challenges, and how development strategies can be made more inclusive, accountable, and effective.
Students will gain the ability to:
- Understand and navigate development policy processes in both Global North and Global South contexts, from agenda-setting and institutional design to implementation and impact evaluation.
Engage critically with global development debates, grounded in two dynamic policy laboratories — Cape Town and Paris — and develop practical skills for shaping and delivering policy in diverse institutional environments.
Programme overview: Two years, full-time. The programme is in English.
Download programme overview from here (pdf).
Structure
The programme consists of six substantive courses and two research courses, plus the Research Project.
The programme is structured with a combination of in-person block release segments and online classes. Each semester begins with a two-week intensive contact session held in Cape Town, known as the block release segment. It is compulsory to attend the block release in person. This is followed by online classes conducted after hours on weekdays, spanning over six weeks.
Duration
- Full-time: The programme is completed full-time over one year, divided into four terms, each spanning six weeks. Download full-time course structure.
- Part-time: The programme is completed over two years, divided into eight terms, spread across the duration of the programme. Download part-time course structure.
Application
All postgraduate applications must be made online via the UCT application portal.
Along with your details, you will need to submit the following:
- Current CV with referee details
- Certified academic transcripts
- A motivational letter
Semester 1 (January to June of year 1)
• Students begin the programme in Cape Town in January, where they complete the first semester of the Master of Development Policy and Practice at UCT.
Semester 2 (August to December of year 1)
Semester 3 (January to June of year 2)
• Students spend a year in Paris at Sciences Po, where they complete two semesters of study in one of the following Master’s programmes at PSIA:
• International Security
• International Governance and Diplomacy
• International Economic Policy
• International Development
• Human Rights and Humanitarian Action
• Environmental Policy
• International Energy Transitions
Whilst at PSIA, students will have access to methodology courses and a Master's thesis writing seminar; they will also receive support if they wish to conduct fieldwork in France or another EU country.
Semester 4 (July to November of year 2)
• Students return to UCT for their final (fourth) semester to complete both coursework and a research component, culminating in submitting a master’s dissertation at UCT.
Provided all course requirements have been met, students will graduate after two years with two master’s degrees, one granted by UCT and the other by Sciences Po.
Careers
The Sciences Po – UCT Dual Degree prepares graduates for careers in international development, governance, and public policy across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
Combining critical policy training and practical experience in both Cape Town and Paris, the programme opens pathways in government, international organisations, NGOs, think tanks, development agencies, and consulting firms working on global and local development challenges.
Validation and Degree
Students are registered at Sciences Po and UCT over the two years and have access to the student services of both universities.
Students must validate coursework under the requirements of the university at which they are studying each year.
• 60 ECTS/ during the year (two semesters) at Sciences Po
• 90 ECTS/180 South African NQF credits during the two semesters at UCT (at least 95 South African credits in semester 1 and 85 in semester 4)
To earn both degrees, students must validate the academic requirements of both universities.
Admissions
This dual degree is open to candidates worldwide. It is intended for aspiring professionals interested in public or private sector careers with an international perspective.
Candidates for these dual degrees apply directly on the Sciences Po website (online application only).
Tuition and Fees
Students pay their fees:
• To UCT for semester 1 and semester 4
• To Sciences Po for semester 2 and semester 3
To find out about funding, consult the grants offered by Sciences Po and the postgraduate degree funding opportunities at UCT.
Enquire
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