Development studies have become academically many-sided, a fact not unrelated to the possibility of earning a living from them. Hence in titling this guest issue of the IDS Bulletin "Development Studies at Birmingham" we make no claim of comprehensive coverage, even if Birmingham is understood to mean our own University. Interests in development could undoubtedly be located in numerous departments of that University. All we offer is a selection of current work in two institutions that may be said to have a primary concern with matters of interest to readers of this Bulletin a Centre which is charged specifically with the promotion of knowledge about one part of the developing world, and a Group within the Institute of Local Government Studies that is professionally engaged in training, research and consultancy work relating to development administration.