School of Politics and International Studies

BA International Development examines major world issues from the viewpoint of the people and nations of the South.

This course allows you to combine a breadth of interdisciplinary knowledge in the field of International Development with a disciplinary specialisation, such as Geography or Politics, or a regional specialism, such as East Asian Studies.

You will review contemporary development issues, and examine the progress of key international development goals, such as poverty reduction, and reducing HIV/AIDS and malaria. You will consider the impact of colonialism and the slave trade on developing countries, and examine case-studies to discover how development agencies plan and implement intervention programmes. 

You will explore some of the most important international issues in the post-cold war era, and learn about the national and international organisations that promote development. If you wish to take the study abroad option, there is the additional opportunity to study alongside students in less developed countries.

The choice of second subject allows the degree programme to flexibly accommodate different areas of interest.

* If you receive a 2:1 grade average in your first year there is the opportunity to study abroad in semester two of the second year. Destination options are dependent on your second subject.

Current options are to study at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, the University of Ghana in Legon near Accra, or at Hong Kong Baptist University. Modules taken overseas count towards your final degree classification and you will find yourself fully involved in studying alongside local scholars as well as learning about new cultures.

In year one, you examine the divide between North and South, investigate the legacy of colonialism, review development goals, and study your specialist subject.

In year two, you examine theoretical and practical aspects of development in both disciplinary and inter-disciplinary perspectives; appraise the aims and contributions of a wide range of development agencies, and study modules from your specialist subject. (Plus optional study abroad).

In year three, you write a standard dissertation in International Development, and choose specialist modules that focus on politics and development.

BA International Development

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