About the Course

The Post-Graduate Diploma in Development Studies (PGDDS) is a one-year multi-disciplinary course which aims to combine rigorous academic study with practical skills. The course is designed to provide an understanding of various perspectives on development issues, through rigorous coursework and guided research. The perspectives are drawn from different disciplines, with a strong emphasis on the classics in social sciences and humanities. The strength of the course particularly lies in the balance it maintains between theory and hands-on training on tools of analysis, both quantitative and qualitative. The course will be taught by academicians as well as practitioners. It is designed to train fresh graduates as well as in-service professionals to acquire adequate analytical skills to pursue research-oriented and service-based career in development studies in academia, administration, media, non-government and corporate organisations. The training includes writing assignment, oral presentations, report writing, photography, posters, community work and dissertations. It intends to enhance a student’s capacity to understand, analyse and reflect on developmental issues and exposes him/her to the ground realities in multiple settings through classroom lectures, workshops, projects, field work and outreach programmes. The timings of classes of this course make it most suitable for working professionals in the development sector and post-graduate students who are enrolled in regular courses. The course is conducted and diploma will be provided by IDSK.

Career Opportunities and Further Higher Education

After completion of the course the participants are expected to find work in development agencies, research institutes, government, academia, civil/administrative services, NGOs, think tanks etc. Some of the areas where they can fit in are: (1) Development Planning, Consulting, Project Management or Programme Office; (2) Socio-economic and marketing research; (3) Impact Analysis; (4) Monitoring and Evaluation; (5) CSR Management in Corporate Organisations. Leveraging IDSK’s strong alumni network and institutional linkages with research organizations, NGOs, government agencies, CSR initiatives, and development institutions, students gain valuable exposure to career opportunities in the development sector. The programme also provides a strong foundation for higher studies and research. Alumni have secured admission to reputed institutions such as IIT Bombay, JNU, TERI SAS, and TISS for various degree programmes, while the interdisciplinary training equips participants for pursuing Ph.D. and advanced research in development studies and related fields.

Course Structure

The duration of the entire programme is one year (two semesters), equally divided between coursework and guided research for writing report/dissertation. The first semester will be devoted to course work in which a range of core courses will be taught. The courses will maintain a balance between theoretical/analytical approaches and tools/techniques for writing research-oriented report. Hands-on training on collecting primary data from the field and analysing them using statistical and GIS software will also be an important part of the course work. A few optional courses will also be offered depending on mutual interests of the faculty and students. The core papers are common and compulsory for all students. In the second semester, each student will identify a research area and apply the research methods to write a report on an important development issue.

The course is designed in a way to foster mutual learning and critical thinking and inspire innovative approaches to complex developmental issues. Different papers offered in this course will combine lectures, seminars, study circle, group projects and supervised research. Our course instructors are all active researchers with good experience of teaching and research and are highly capable of enhancing the learning experience by bringing in their applied knowledge and experiences of working on development issues. Students will be able to attend a wide range of formal and informal talks and can develop their professional skills through workshops on critical reading and writing, multi-cultural team work, participatory methods, research communication and policy engagement, research techniques and presentation skills.

Course Modules

Eligibility

Any student, who has passed the undergraduate degree (a minimum of 50% for General/OBC and 45% aggregate marks for SC/ST candidates) in any discipline from any recognised university, is eligible. Applicants who are awaiting the results of the final part/semester examination of their undergraduation programme may also apply. Candidates, who are currently working or undergoing any regular course (above under-graduation) can also apply provided they can make themselves available to attend the classes . All the eligible candidates will have to sit for an online entrance test. The number of students to be admitted will not exceed thirty. Selection of candidates for interview will be based on his/her academic qualifications and performance in the entrance test. Thereafter only the shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview.

Course Duration and Class Timing

The Course will be of one-year duration, split into two semesters. Classes will be held on two days per
week, preferably in the Friday evenings (5.00 – 8.00 PM – tentatively online) and Saturdays (11.00 AM –
5.00 PM – offline at IDSK).

Course Fees

The course fee per semester is Rs. 20,000/-, which is to be paid at the time of admission for the first semester and at the beginning of the second semester. The total course fee is Rs 40,000/-.

How to Apply

An applicant is required to apply online, through a Google form, with complete, correct information, application fee and attachments. The applicant will be solely responsible for the authenticity of the
submitted information. The link to the Google form is https://forms.gle/5HueLkQ72L62itfp7.

Applications without the application fee will not be considered. Application forms have to be filled only in online mode (through a Google form) and no hard copy of the filled-in form will be accepted. The applicants are required to read details before filling up the form. Application forms have to be filled only in online mode, as available on the website of the Institute along with this advertisement, within the prescribed time limit indicated in the advertisement. No offline forms would be accepted.

Application fees

Application Fees for the General/OBC category is Rs.600/- (Rupees six hundred only) and for SC, ST, and PwD category is Rs.350/- (Rupees three hundred and fifty only). Payment should be made online only, through NEFT/RTGS or UPI. The online payment reference number or transaction ID needs to be mentioned in the online application form. Bank details for NEFT/RTGS or QR Code for UPI is provided in the Prospectus.

Link to Flyer

Link to Course Prospectus

Link to Sample Questions for Admission Test

Link to application form: https://forms.gle/5HueLkQ72L62itfp7

Important Dates

Contact Persons

For further programme and admission-related queries, get in touch with either of the following persons:
Dr Saswata Ghosh
Dr Pallabi Das

Institute of Development Studies Kolkata
DD 27/D, Sector I, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700064
Email address: pgdds.idsk@gmail.com, idsk@idskmail.com, pallabipc@gmail.com
Phone number (033) 23213120/21. Extension numbers 245 (Saswata Ghosh); 251 (Pallabi Das)