Global Development Studies, PhD

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Global Development Studies (GDS) offers interdisciplinary graduate programs leading to both the Master of Arts and PhD degrees. Both degree programs make considerable use of the techniques and concepts of social science disciplines, including Political Science, Anthropology, Sociology, Geography, Environmental Studies, History, and Economics, to critically analyze and engage with some of the world’s most complex and enduring problems.

The PhD in GDS is an interdisciplinary doctoral program emphasizing research leading to an original contribution to the advancement of knowledge in GDS. The PhD Program specializes in political economy approaches to global development, with students encouraged to specialize in a specific sub-area such as:

  • trade, fair trade and trade policy
  • environment, climate change, and environmental governance
  • migration, gender, and development
  • global displacement
  • agrarian change, food sovereignty and resource rights
  • race and capitalism
  • labour and development

Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirements for this program are:

  • a Master’s degree with First Class Standing, equivalent to a minimum GPA of 3.70 on a scale of 4.30 (A-)
  • a Master’s degree in International/Global Development Studies, or a closely related social science discipline

In addition to the general requirements set out by FGSR for all doctoral applicants, applicants must submit:

  • a 2,500 word research plan setting out in detail their proposed dissertation project and area of research
  • a Letter of Intent outlining their preparation for pursuing doctoral level research, and
  • an up-to-date curriculum vitae.

Language Requirements

Applicants to this program, whose first language is not English, must demonstrate their English language proficiency as outlined in Graduate Academic Regulation 1e with the following additional requirement:

  • a TOEFL (iBT) score of at least 100 with no individual band below 20; or
  • an IELTS score of at least 7.0, with no band below 6.5.

The deadline for applications is February 1st for entry in September of the same year. There are no deferred admissions to the PhD Program, and there are no mid-year (January) entries into the PhD Program.

Supervisor

In admitting students to the program, the Ph.D. Program Committee will take into account the availability of potential dissertation supervisors.  On entry to the Ph.D. program, students will be assigned a supervisor who will be appointed on the basis of his or her expertise in relation to the student’s dissertation at the time of entry. Where a successful applicant has already identified an appropriate supervisor, every effort will be made to ensure that they are appointed as the student’s supervisor. While applicants are not required to identify and contact potential supervisors before applying, they are strongly encouraged to do so. 

Note: The Ph.D. Supervisor should normally be a tenured faculty member at Saint Mary’s University or other post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.  In the latter case, such faculty must be recommended by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research as Adjunct Professors at Saint Mary’s University.  These are the normal minimum requirements, but each case will be evaluated on its own merits.  

Financial Support

Full-time students admitted to the program may be eligible for funding administered by Saint Mary’s University. Funding recommendations are made by the program All successful applicants are automatically considered for graduate funding. Students are encouraged to apply for external scholarships.