Masters in Development Studies - Oxford vs LSE

[probablyawildcard]

I've been admitted to Master's programs in Development Studies at Oxford and the London School of Economics, and am having a hard time deciding... which I need to do more or less immediately. Some background: my BA is in anthropology, and what I'm hoping to gain from DS is an overview of a few social science disciplines relating to development, so that I can figure out what I want to focus on in my future academic and professional career. I have been interested in economics for a while, but I'm not certain it's the right field for me - hoping DS will give me enough of a background that I can either transition into econ afterwards if I want to, but will also be broad enough that I can do something else (sociology, policy, etc.) if I decide econ isn't really my thing. My basic trajectory idea is to do a Master's, work for a few years, then go back for a Ph.D. somewhere in the social sciences with a development focus.

On to my current decision:

Oxford offered me a scholarship that covers all tuition and fees - I'd still be on the hook for living expenses, which I figure at about $40k over the two years of the program. LSE has offered me no funding, but it's only a one year program, and will probably cost me about $50k. Both schools seem to have cool professors working on things that are interesting to me.

What concerns me about Oxford is that it has this reputation for being so theoretical... in the sense of divorced from anything practical in the 'real world'. I don't mind theoretical - I really would like a theoretical education, provided it's rigorous. But what I really don't want to do is end up spending two years basically navel-gazing in a program where I may be fascinated but I get to the end feeling like I don't know what I've learned or what I can actually do with any of it.

At LSE, on the other hand, I think the course is likely to be a better balance between theory and practice and also to be stronger on the economic side. The problem there is that it is a bit more expensive as well as being only a one-year program. I'm concerned that by the time I started to get my bearings and figure out a specific focus, the course would be over. And one thing that people have told me is that an Oxford education is what you make of it -- that it's very self-directed students have a lot of control over what they're reading, and that if I'm looking for something more on the practical side, I may be able to find ways to do that.

So that's where I'm sitting, and I need to make up my mind as soon as possible so I can let Oxford know if I'm accepting their scholarship. This forum has been helpful in the past, so I'm hoping you'll have some insight this time. Apologies for the long post - if you made it this far, thanks!

[Karina 07]

Originally Posted by probablyawildcard

I've been admitted to Master's programs in Development Studies at Oxford and the London School of Economics, and am having a hard time deciding... which I need to do more or less immediately. Some background: my BA is in anthropology, and what I'm hoping to gain from DS is an overview of a few social science disciplines relating to development, so that I can figure out what I want to focus on in my future academic and professional career. I have been interested in economics for a while, but I'm not certain it's the right field for me - hoping DS will give me enough of a background that I can either transition into econ afterwards if I want to, but will also be broad enough that I can do something else (sociology, policy, etc.) if I decide econ isn't really my thing. My basic trajectory idea is to do a Master's, work for a few years, then go back for a Ph.D. somewhere in the social sciences with a development focus.

On to my current decision:

Oxford offered me a scholarship that covers all tuition and fees - I'd still be on the hook for living expenses, which I figure at about $40k over the two years of the program. LSE has offered me no funding, but it's only a one year program, and will probably cost me about $50k. Both schools seem to have cool professors working on things that are interesting to me.

What concerns me about Oxford is that it has this reputation for being so theoretical... in the sense of divorced from anything practical in the 'real world'. I don't mind theoretical - I really would like a theoretical education, provided it's rigorous. But what I really don't want to do is end up spending two years basically navel-gazing in a program where I may be fascinated but I get to the end feeling like I don't know what I've learned or what I can actually do with any of it.

At LSE, on the other hand, I think the course is likely to be a better balance between theory and practice and also to be stronger on the economic side. The problem there is that it is a bit more expensive as well as being only a one-year program. I'm concerned that by the time I started to get my bearings and figure out a specific focus, the course would be over. And one thing that people have told me is that an Oxford education is what you make of it -- that it's very self-directed students have a lot of control over what they're reading, and that if I'm looking for something more on the practical side, I may be able to find ways to do that.

So that's where I'm sitting, and I need to make up my mind as soon as possible so I can let Oxford know if I'm accepting their scholarship. This forum has been helpful in the past, so I'm hoping you'll have some insight this time. Apologies for the long post - if you made it this far, thanks!

Oxford for sure. The best DS programs are at Oxford, Cambridge and Sussex, really; I'm sure LSE isn't bad, but Sussex oddly has more of a name for practical DS (although perhaps that is only within the UK).

Oxford being too theoretical is only an issue if you want to work for a development agency right away after graduation. Even then, you can tie your thesis work in the summer between 1st and 2nd year with a particular organization if you want.

I would also emphasize that you can't do too much in DS in only 1 year. There is far too much to learn.

Ultimately, if you want to go into academia or pursue a Ph.D., you should definitely go to Oxford; if you want to go straight into work in an development organization (think: USAID or equivalents, or non-profits), then it's ambiguous (but I might still lean towards Oxford).

[vitasta]

hi probably....

I would take the Oxford programme. I went to LSE...though not in the DS programme but had a few friends and apartment mates who took the DS programme. It's way too heavy for one year and econ heavy. At least it assumes one has a strong econ background. So you might just have too much on your plate.

Besides, two years in a programme won't necessarily be bad. Gives you time to plan ahead.

hope this helps.
cheers

[scratchy22]

hi probablyawildcard

i was accepted onto both programmes also and chose lse. Oxford better name in my opinion, but I liked the degree at lse more. funny tho - cus got funding for lse, not for oxford. (opposite to you).

and yes, lse more practical,, but not THAT practical. its a nice balance. obviously i didn't go to the oxford one, and won't ever know if i made the right choice by choosing lse. but i can def say that i was very happy with my degree at lse. hope that helps.

(pls excuse poorly written response.. in a hurry)

[asianeconomist]

If you're planning towards a PhD afterwards, then the Oxford degree will allow you more time for taking courses that'll improve your profile for the subsequent PhD.

The Masters thesis will also be pretty useful.