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Build the exact policy expertise your career demands alongside a global cohort of mid-career practitioners.
The Duke Master of International Development Policy (MIDP) is an interdisciplinary master's degree designed for mid-career professionals seeking to advance their leadership and impact in international development.
Combine rigorous policy and analytical training with the flexibility to customize your curriculum through access to coursework across Duke’s business, law, environmental, and engineering schools – all while learning alongside a diverse cohort of experienced professionals from around the world. This multidisciplinary approach equips you to address complex global challenges and drive meaningful change across the public, private and nonprofit sectors.
Is the MIDP Program Right for You?
The Duke MIDP program may be a strong fit if you:
- Are a mid-career professional with at least five years of work experience (students average approximately nine years of professional experience)
- Want an international development master's degree program with a curriculum you can tailor rather than a fixed concentration or track
- Value learning alongside experienced practitioners, policymakers and development professionals from around the world
- Aspire to advance your leadership in government, international organizations, NGOs, foundations, consulting, or the private sector
"Being an MIDP fellow has equipped me with the essential knowledge, skills and perspectives needed to navigate complex environments and address significant global challenges effectively."
-Christian Menin, MIDP'24 | Brazil | Project Manager - Rule of Law and Security, UNDP
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Program info at a glance
Program Type: Residential
Program Length: 12, 18 or 24 months
Priority Application Deadline:
- Spring start - Oct. 5
- Fall start - Jan. 5
Admission Decisions: Rolling
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Small Cohort Experience
Study in a cohort of 20-30 students, creating a highly collaborative and personalized learning environment.
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Experienced Global Development Professionals
Join a global cohort of mid-career professionals with an average of nine years of experience in international development and related fields.
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Accelerated and Traditional Options
Complete your degree in 12, 18 or 24 months through accelerated or traditional pathways.
Build Skills. Advance Your Career.
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Develop in-demand skills
Gain the expertise to design, evaluate and implement effective development policies and programs.
Core skills include:
- Policy analysis for decision-making
- Quantitative analysis and data interpretation
- Program monitoring and evaluation
- Systems thinking and problem solving
- Public policy writing and communication
Select elective courses based on your passions and professional goals. Follow one of nine areas of focus or design your own.
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Where MIDP Graduates Work
MIDP alumni are employed across government, international organizations, nonprofits, academia, and the private sector worldwide in a variety of roles.
Organizations include:
- FHI 360
- Fresh Ministries
- Global Communities
- Korean Overseas International Cooperation Agency
- Library of Congress, U.S. Government
- Ministry of Finance, Government of Indonesia
- Ministry of Tax, Government of Turkey
- Pulte Institute for Global Development, University of Notre Dame
- The Central Bank of Mongolia
- U.S. Institute for Peace
- United Nations Secretariat
- University of California at Berkley, PhD
What Alumni Say About the MIDP
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Antonella DiCiano MIDP'25, Venezuela
Regional Advocacy Coordinator at Instituto Igarapé
“The MIDP program prepared me to work across silos, navigate complexity and advocate for solutions that respond to crises like the one my own country, Venezuela, is facing, while building bridges across the region." Read Antonella's story.
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Lucas Vaughan MIDP'25, United States
Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army
“Duke opened its doors to me – a cowboy turned soldier turned grad student soon to be cyber guy – and surrounded me with brilliant minds from across the globe." Read Lucas' story.
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Melissa Monge MIDP'25, Costa Rica
Co-Founder of Ideas en Acción
"MIDP pushed me to be more rigorous and reflective, helping me identify where I can contribute most effectively and how to co-design stronger solutions for a more just world." Read Melissa's story.
MIDP's curriculum is designed to provide the foundational skills required for international development experts to deepen their impact while also offering flexibility for students to select courses that best fit their professional goals. MIDP staff and faculty advisors will work together to advise you and guide you in creating your course plan.
Core Courses
- Policy Analysis for Development
- Economic Foundations for Development
- Empirical Analysis for Development (Statistics)
- Applied Development Economics
Lab and Practicums (Ungraded)
- Public Policy Writing Practicum
- Public Policy Editing Practicum
- Careers and Professional Development Lab
Elective courses
Elective courses offer students the ability to design their own unique course of study, guided by their passions and career interests.
Master's Project
The master’s project is a 30-35 page paper required of all candidates for the master’s degree.
Internship
- Internships must be full-time and last a minimum of 10 weeks (or the equivalent of 300 hours) and must be policy-relevant.
- Students with at least 8 years of relevant post-graduate professional experience may petition to fulfill the practical training degree requirement through demonstration of their prior experience.
Explore MIDP's curriculum in detail.
The MIDP Program offers a diverse range of areas of focus, which are designed to guide students in selecting curriculum for elective courses that best suit their professional goals. Students also have the option of designing their own unique area of focus.
- Applied Development Economics
- Institutions, Governance and Organizations
- Social Welfare Policy
- Environment and Energy Management and Policy
- Global Health and Development
- Peace and Conflict Resolution
- Technology Policy and Development
- Private Sector and Development
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Explore MIDP's areas of focus in detail.
The following timelines illustrate the progression of courses by semester in the traditional and accelerated pathways of the MIDP program.
Traditional Pathway (48 credits, 2 academic years)
| Semseter 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Analysis Empirical Analysis Economic Foundations Elective Writing Practicums Career Course + Lab | Applied Development Economics Elective Elective Elective Presentation Practicums | Master Project 1 Elective Elective Elective | Master Project 2 Elective Elective Elective |
Accelerated Pathway (30 Credits, 12 or 18 months)
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Policy Analysis Empirical Analysis Economic Foundations Elective(s) Master Project 1 Writing Practicum Career Course + Lab | Master Project 2 Applied Development Economics Elective(s) Presentation Practicum | Summer/Fall Courses (remaining degree requirements) |
Students who have at least 8 years of relevant post-graduate professional experience may petition to fulfill the practical training degree requirement through demonstration of their prior experience. Electives are determined by prior coursework and unique program pathway.
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The faculty at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy have earned national and international recognition for excellence in research, policy engagement and teaching.
Sanford has a diverse mix of academic scholars and professors of the practice whose practical experience in top leadership roles enhances the classroom experience.
Faculty members collaborate across disciplines to explore questions relating to income inequality, obesity and hunger, energy policy, child neglect and abuse, access to health care, democratization, foreign policy and global concerns.
Internships
MIDP students have interned at organizations around the world such as:
- The International Organization for Migration
- U.S. Institute of Peace
- The World Bank
- International Finance Corporation
- Asian Development Bank
- UNICEF
- Partners Global
- Heifer International
- Oxfam
- The Organization for European Development and Cooperation.
Master's Project
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All students work closely with a faculty advisor while completing a yearlong capstone project. For example, Goharik Tigranyan MIDP'24 completed a project focused on reforming the financial mechanisms that support disability-inclusive education in Armenia.
Many students opt to earn a concurrent certificate offered by another department or school at Duke, including:
- African and African American Studies
- East Asian Studies
- Global Health
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- International Peace and Conflict Transformation: This certificate, offered by the University of North Carolina, requires 15 credits on topics related to international peace and conflict transformation plus participation in the Duke-UNC Rotary seminars. It is only open to Duke MIDP students. Contact Jon Abels.
- Latin American and Caribbean Studies
- Middle East Studies
- Russian Legal Studies
- Slavic, Eurasian and East European Studies
At Duke Sanford, your career goals are our priority. Whether you aspire to drive local change, shape international development, or lead in the private or nonprofit sector, our Graduate Career Services Team is here to support and prepare you for a purpose-driven career in an evolving policy world.
- Explore graduate career services and professional development.
- Learn more from our fast facts: 2024-2025 Annual Report
Explore the work of past MIDP cohorts and their career outcomes:
We look for applicants who can successfully undertake rigorous graduate-level studies. The ideal applicant has:
- A four-year undergraduate degree.
- A strong academic background.
- An increase in professional responsibilities over time.
- Development-related experience. Past applicants have held positions in U.S. and foreign government agencies, NGO’s, public international organizations, private corporations, the U.S. military, and the U.S. Peace Corps.
- A well-written essay, communicating a commitment to working in development and a deep awareness of development issues.
- Strong letters of recommendation which speak in detail about your skills.
- Strong written and oral English skills.
Applicants must have a minimum of five years of work experience and demonstrate an increase in responsibilities over time. Development-related experience is preferred.
Applicants should have at least a 3.0 U.S. GPA (or equivalent) in college-level coursework and have earned a bachelor’s degree. Prior coursework in economics and statistics is an advantage.
Applicants to the accelerated program track must have at least five years of work experience plus previous graduate-level training.
A complete application includes:
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- Transcripts
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- English Proficiency Test (required for non-native English speakers)
- Video Response
- $80 Application Fee
Applying: The application link goes live each August. Review the application timeline and process. Please keep in mind that MIDP accepts students in fall and spring.
Questions?
- Review our Admissions FAQ, where we've collected answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the application process.
- Watch the Applying to Duke Sanford's MIDP Program video.
Review MIDP's Estimated Cost of Attendance.
Please keep in mind that total tuition will differ depending on whether you are pursuing the accelerated pathway (12 or 18 months) or the traditional pathway (24 months).
Sanford is fortunate to be able to provide partial scholarships to students based on merit. We encourage applicants to also review the resources provided on our Funding Your Sanford Education page.
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"The program offers so much more than academics; it’s an experience that challenges perspectives, expands horizons, and fosters a truly global network of support and inspiration. It’s not just a degree, it’s a lifelong community. I truly feel it has changed my life, not just by shaping the professional I’m becoming, but by enriching the person I am." -Livia Hoxha, MIDP'25, Albania
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Connect with our Director of Admissions
Ready to explore the MIDP program further?
Please reach out to Olivia Anderson:
olivia.anderson@duke.edu
(919) 613-9286
Book a meeting with Olivia