Master's Programs for M&E Professionals: A Global Guide

Two specialised tracks — students choose between two pathways afters a trial week in Term 1: the Social Intervention Pathway, or the Policy Evaluation Pathway. The former focuses on micro-level interventions examining major theories underlying social interventions, while the latter concentrates on macro-level policy analysis, examining the process of policy making, setting objectives, choice and design of policy, and mechanisms of implementation.

Intensive research methods focus — the core Research Methods paper includes four integrated modules running across all three terms: Evaluation Methods, Systematic Reviews, Quantitative Analysis using R, and Qualitative Methods.

Dissertation component — the choice between writing an MSc Thesis (10,000 words) or a MPhil Thesis (30,000 words). Past theses have led to high-quality publications in prestigious journals.

Aligned with professional evaluation standards — curriculum designed to gvie students skills they can immediatel apply to their work contexts, with emphasis on real-world evaluation practice.

Coursework plus research options — students can choose between 100-point coursework program (MC-EVAL) or 150-point research program (MR-EVAL) with thesis component.

Extensive practicum component — six of ten courses require practicum partnerships with organisations, providing real-world evaluation experience throughout the program.

Expert advisory council — program developed with advisory council including professionals from USAID, WHO, and UNDP to ensure curriculum relevance.

Capstone project focus — culminates in substantial capstone project allowing students to showcase their measurement and evaluation skills.

Two specialised tracks — Track 1 focuses on macro-level analysis of national institutions, poverty reduction strategies and aid; Track 2 examines micro-level development interventions and local institutional change.

Institute of Development Policy (IOB) expertise — taught by faculty with extensive field experience working with organisations like World Bank, European Commission, and UN agencies.

Strong practitioner network — graduates commonly work in government sectors, parliaments, international organisations, national and international NGOs, and bilateral/multilateral donor agencies.

Rigorous quantitative focus — strong emphasis on statistical methods and econometric techniques for impact evaluation in development contexts.

Mandatory pre-sessional statistics course — ensures all students have necessary quantitative foundations regardless of background.

Development sector connections — strong links with development organisations and practitioners in the field.

Choice of degree focus — students can pursue MEd (course-based) or MA (thesis-based) depending on career goals and research interests.

25+ years of established reputation — long-standing program with proven track record and international recognition.

Interdisciplinary approach — program spans social and behavioral sciences with methodological emphasis.

Blended learning pioneer — world's first blended learning master's degree in evaluation, requiring only two one-week campus phases.

Development cooperation focus — developed in partnership with GIZ with emphasis on SDG evaluation and development practice.

Part-time professional format — designed for working professionals with flexible scheduling and minimal campus requirements.

Block release delivery — designed for working professionals with intensive block sessions rather than weekly classes.

External client projects — students work on real evaluation projects with external clients as part of coursework.

Two-year comprehensive structure — 120-credit coursework plus research project provides thorough grounding in evaluation practice.

Flexible delivery modes — offers face-to-face, online, and blended learning options to accommodate different student needs.

Logic framework emphasis — strong focus on practical skills including logic model development and indicator design.

East African regional focus — curriculum informed by regional development challenges and M&E practices in East Africa.

Systems thinking approach — core module in Systems Thinking for Monitoring and Evaluation helps students articulate theory-of-change, results chains, and results frameworks for complex interventions.

Systems thinking approach — core module in Systems Thinking for Monitoring and Evaluation helps students articulate theory-of-change, results chains, and results frameworks for complex interventions.

Flexible for working professionals — 2-year structure designed to accommodate professionals already working in government, NGOs, or development organisations.

Multidisciplinary approach — program spans various disciplines appropriate to M&E, giving special emphasis to setting up M&E systems and tracking development outcomes.

Regional development focus — curriculum developed within Kenya's national framework for building M&E capacity, with relevance across East Africa.

Practical orientation — emphasises real-world application through fieldwork, case studies, and direct engagement with M&E systems development.

Claremont Evaluation Center affiliation — developed with one of the leading evaluation research centers in the United States.

American Evaluation Association alignment — curriculum specifically aligned with AEA professional competencies.

Culturally responsive evaluation focus — strong emphasis on equity, cultural responsiveness, and social justice in evaluation practice.