Master's in International and Development Economics

MIDE: Promoting sustainable development in an unequal world

The Master’s Degree in International and Development Economics (MIDE) at the HTW Berlin prepares its students within 18 months for the responsible and demanding work involved in the context of development. Students gain an in-depth working understanding of the economic and political economic global context in which developing countries are integrated. The profound theoretical and methodological training provided by the course equips its graduates with a thorough grounding in the socio-economic methods and theories necessary to address urgent problems experienced by countries in various stages of the development process. The wide range of optional courses allow students to shape their professional profile according to their preferences.

High academic standards and high-quality practice-oriented teaching

Graduates of the MIDE Program are ideally equipped to work in development cooperation or international and economic institutions. Students are provided with a comprehensive understanding of the central debates in international and development economics. Some of the questions students will address include: 

• What does globalization really amount to? Does globalization benefit developing countries, or does it result in a widening gap between rich and poor countries?
• Should developing countries provide unfettered access to international trade and capital flows? 
• What are the lessons for developing countries of the "Asian Miracle"?... the transition debacle in Russia?... the Argentina's financial crisis?
• What specific policies are required to promote key sectors, such as agriculture and finance?
• Do poverty-reduction strategies, as advocated by the World Bank, help the poor or contribute to their problems, as some critics allege?

Featuring a wide variety of course selections, ranging from “Agricultural Economics in Less Developed Countries (LDCs)” to “Project Planning and Evaluation”, the MIDE Program provides students with a well-rounded education. By combining theoretical knowledge with practical expertise, graduates are capable of both analyzing current challenges of development and formulating actionable strategies for meeting them.