Top 50 Universities for Development Studies in the World (2026)

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Exploring Development Studies programs worldwide? This page highlights 50 universities. Compare rankings, tuition fees, and admission rates to find the right match. These institutions are recognized for strong performance in Development Studies education and research.

How to use filters?

Select degree → Department → subject → continent → State → country → city. Each step unlocks the next option. Your selections are remembered for easier browsing.

Degree Level

Bachelor, Master, PhD

Subject Area

Science, Business, Arts

Location

Worldwide destinations

1

Rankings

7 World 2 Europe 2 United Kingdom 2 Cambridge

University Information

Cambridge, United Kingdom
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 21%
Publications 375031
Citations 17393792
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
2

Rankings

14 World 12 North America 1 Canada 1 Toronto

University Information

Toronto, Canada
North America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 54%*
Publications 489594
Citations 19738928
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
3

Rankings

15 World 3 Europe 3 United Kingdom 3 London

University Information

London, United Kingdom
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 36%*
Publications 474519
Citations 19145763
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
4

Rankings

42 World 36 North America 3 Canada 1 Montreal

University Information

Montreal, Canada
North America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 46%
Publications 255621
Citations 10090338
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
5

Rankings

86 World 6 Asia 3 China 1 Hong Kong

University Information

Hong Kong, China
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 17%
Publications 224036
Citations 7771729
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
6

Rankings

93 World 19 Europe 1 Sweden 17 Lund

University Information

Lund, Sweden
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 58%*
Publications 196693
Citations 7440145
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Low
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
7

Rankings

108 World 10 Asia 1 Israel 1 Tel Aviv

University Information

Tel Aviv, Israel
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 44%*
Publications 184686
Citations 6114904
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
8

Rankings

112 World 27 Europe 2 Sweden 1 Uppsala

University Information

Uppsala, Sweden
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 69%
Publications 158126
Citations 5963340
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
9

Rankings

121 World 73 North America 7 Canada 2 Calgary

University Information

Calgary, Canada
North America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 55%
Publications 171178
Citations 5373628
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
10

Rankings

145 World 12 Asia 1 Taiwan 1 Taipei

University Information

Taipei, Taiwan
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 33%*
Publications 149857
Citations 3907671
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
11

Rankings

149 World 45 Europe 16 United Kingdom 14 London

University Information

London, United Kingdom
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 8%
Publications 65522
Citations 2024323
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
12

Rankings

159 World 15 Asia 2 Israel 1 Jerusalem

University Information

Jerusalem, Israel
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 23%
Publications 129885
Citations 4785501
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
13

Rankings

160 World 16 Asia 7 China 2 Shanghai

University Information

Shanghai, China
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 19%*
Publications 192984
Citations 4201697
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
14

Rankings

168 World 7 Oceania 1 New Zealand 1 Auckland

University Information

Auckland, New Zealand
Oceania
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 73%*
Publications 118202
Citations 4032916
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
15

Rankings

169 World 57 Europe 5 Switzerland 1 Geneva

University Information

Geneva, Switzerland
Europe
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 26%*
Publications 107920
Citations 4069944
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
16

Rankings

195 World 97 North America 12 Canada 3 Quebec City

University Information

Quebec City, Canada
North America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 49%*
Publications 118154
Citations 3362309
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
17

Rankings

207 World 25 Asia 8 Japan 1 Nagoya

University Information

Nagoya, Japan
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 14%
Publications 188295
Citations 4299704
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
18

Rankings

222 World 76 Europe 1 Portugal 1 Lisbon

University Information

Lisbon, Portugal
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 37%*
Publications 123846
Citations 2733746
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
19

Rankings

234 World 4 Latin America 3 Brazil 1 Campinas

University Information

Campinas, Brazil
Latin America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 15%
Publications 170006
Citations 2700980
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
20

Rankings

235 World 28 Asia 9 Japan 1 Tsukuba

University Information

Tsukuba, Japan
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 18%
Publications 120729
Citations 2598154
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
21

Rankings

239 World 1 Africa 1 South Africa 1 Cape Town

University Information

Cape Town, South Africa
Africa
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 51%*
Publications 95695
Citations 2920600
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
22

Rankings

259 World 95 Europe 7 Switzerland 2 Lausanne

University Information

Lausanne, Switzerland
Europe
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 31%
Publications 83267
Citations 3033616
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Low
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
23

Rankings

265 World 99 Europe 22 Germany 5 Bochum

University Information

Bochum, Germany
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 40%*
Publications 104130
Citations 2645940
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
24

Rankings

267 World 100 Europe 25 United Kingdom 22 Brighton

University Information

Brighton, United Kingdom
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 35%*
Publications 72021
Citations 2828252
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
25

Rankings

283 World 107 Europe 4 Belgium 1 Louvain-la-Neuve

University Information

Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 35%*
Publications 86421
Citations 3028302
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
26

Rankings

287 World 7 Latin America 4 Brazil 1 Porto Alegre

University Information

Porto Alegre, Brazil
Latin America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 19%*
Publications 140129
Citations 2048163
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
27

Rankings

292 World 12 Oceania 2 New Zealand 18 Dunedin

University Information

Dunedin, New Zealand
Oceania
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 73%*
Publications 79173
Citations 2620359
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
28

Rankings

297 World 110 Europe 25 Germany 1 Marburg

University Information

Marburg, Germany
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 56%*
Publications 83412
Citations 2296648
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Low
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
29

Rankings

314 World 134 North America 19 Canada 8 Guelph

University Information

Guelph, Canada
North America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 68%
Publications 79279
Citations 2527720
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
30

Rankings

344 World 132 Europe 3 Portugal 1 Coimbra

University Information

Coimbra, Portugal
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 13%
Publications 76805
Citations 1541393
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
31

Rankings

352 World 137 Europe 1 Croatia 1 Zagreb

University Information

Zagreb, Croatia
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 56%*
Publications 90603
Citations 1194548
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
32

Rankings

357 World 141 Europe 29 Germany 3 Giessen

University Information

Giessen, Germany
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 70%
Publications 74922
Citations 2108483
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
33

Rankings

377 World 151 Europe 31 Germany 7 Essen

University Information

Essen, Germany
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 50%*
Publications 71129
Citations 1803030
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Low
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
34

Rankings

389 World 158 Europe 34 Germany 2 Hanover

University Information

Hanover, Germany
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 52%*
Publications 61718
Citations 1234437
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
35

Rankings

392 World 2 Africa 2 South Africa 1 Johannesburg

University Information

Johannesburg, South Africa
Africa
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 34%
Publications 83673
Citations 2021576
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
36

Rankings

401 World 56 Asia 4 South Korea 3 Seoul

University Information

Seoul, South Korea
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 39%*
Publications 101029
Citations 2637559
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
37

Rankings

430 World 4 Africa 4 South Africa 1 Pretoria

University Information

Pretoria, South Africa
Africa
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 57%*
Publications 74475
Citations 1326679
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
38

Rankings

436 World 181 Europe 14 Italy 2 Rome

University Information

Rome, Italy
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 50%*
Publications 80025
Citations 2218211
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
39

Rankings

470 World 23 Oceania 4 New Zealand 34 Palmerston North

University Information

Palmerston North, New Zealand
Oceania
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 70%
Publications 46749
Citations 1291578
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
40

Rankings

475 World 193 Europe 39 United Kingdom 2 Swansea

University Information

Swansea, United Kingdom
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 49%*
Publications 53450
Citations 1472147
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
41

Rankings

483 World 13 Latin America 9 Brazil 1 Brasilia

University Information

Brasilia, Brazil
Latin America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 10%
Publications 80456
Citations 844453
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
42

Rankings

491 World 78 Asia 39 China 8 Beijing

University Information

Beijing, China
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 9%
Publications 37238
Citations 493364
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
43

Rankings

503 World 199 Europe 16 Italy 1 Trento

University Information

Trento, Italy
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 73%
Publications 48704
Citations 1326055
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
44

Rankings

506 World 201 Europe 4 Portugal 2 Lisbon

University Information

Lisbon, Portugal
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 38%*
Publications 50841
Citations 1114227
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Low
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
45

Rankings

524 World 27 Oceania 5 New Zealand 35 Wellington

University Information

Wellington, New Zealand
Oceania
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 70%
Publications 49780
Citations 999298
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
46

Rankings

529 World 207 Europe 18 Italy 1 Perugia

University Information

Perugia, Italy
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 39%*
Publications 58300
Citations 1793386
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Medium
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
47

Rankings

535 World 89 Asia 7 Israel 2 Haifa

University Information

Haifa, Israel
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 70%
Publications 42457
Citations 1065918
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Not Available
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
48

Rankings

546 World 93 Asia 43 China 5 Shanghai

University Information

Shanghai, China
Asia
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 30%*
Publications 83073
Citations 1262345
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
49

Rankings

547 World 216 Europe 44 Germany 6 Bayreuth

University Information

Bayreuth, Germany
Europe
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 30%
Publications 39919
Citations 1205882
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: Low
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
50

Rankings

570 World 15 Latin America 2 Argentina 1 La Plata

University Information

La Plata, Argentina
Latin America
Founded:
Subject: Development Studies
Acceptance 70%
Publications 50081
Citations 713012
Highest Degree: Doctorate
Tuition: High
View Details Visit Website
Last Updated:
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