Global Development MA

The Global Development MA offers you an interdisciplinary, practical, skill-based training to become a competent, ethical development practitioner upon graduation.

The programme is structured around three interrelated knowledge areas: development, social justice and sustainability. You’ll learn from four interrelated academic disciplines including political economy, political sociology, international relations and human geography.

Through a selection of core and optional modules on the programme, you’ll cover the fundamental aspects of development theory, identify key issues facing global development, and learn the ethical, political and practical considerations for selecting the approaches to address the challenges.You’ll receive advanced training in research methods and analytical skills, combined with practical skill-based training on problem-solving, collaborative work, and policy analysis.

In addition to classroom teaching, you’ll also take field trips and visits, and interact with professionals in the development sector, applying your knowledge and skills in real-world contexts. This will give valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with global development, and the opportunity to build networks whilst learning.

The course team are committed to offering you a transformational learning experience. You’ll gain a thorough understanding of the theories and concepts underlying the ethics, politics and economics of sustainable global development, as well as develop various graduate attributes, professional learning outcomes, key transferable skills and personal progression.

Top reasons to study with us

• Inter-disciplinary and critical knowledge and understanding of the key challenges relating to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and global development in general
• An applied approach: in addition to learning theory, the course supports you to develop and apply your skills and knowledge
• Thought leadership on global development for different professional sectors
• Fantastic speakers and networks: in addition to an academic team with professional experience, you’ll also learn from policy makers from organisations around the world
• Opportunities for career development: including internships and placements, and links with development organisations such as the United Nations, the EU, the civil service, and NGOs
• Based in London: learn in the vibrant, buzzing capital city, with a global outlook

Wednesday 4 October 2023, 5:30-7PM(BST)

The following modules are indicative of what you'll study on this course.

Core modules

Development Policy and Practice

This module aims to expose you to key frameworks, tools and instruments used in the practice of development; familiarise you with the debates, challenges and controversies on important aspects of development practice; and, offer practical development insights, skills and competencies. You'll explore policy directions and dynamics with attention to the broader questions and challenges of sustainable development. These approaches are introduced through a range of thematic studies relating to policy-making in international, national and local contexts. The module will be in the format of thematic workshops on key aspects of development practice delivered by the module leader as well as leading policy experts from the field of international development. Although the course is applied in nature, you will gain skills to use and critically evaluate the methods, tools and techniques used in the study and practice of development.

Dissertation and Research Methods in Global Development

The module will give you supervised guidance and research method training through a series of research method workshops, the dissertation induction and individual dissertation supervision sessions in preparing their dissertation on an agreed research topic. You’ll be able to choose a research-based dissertation pathway or an Applied Research Project (APR) pathway where you’ll work on an applied, policy-relevant project and will be co-supervised by a leading development policy maker.

Global Political Economy of Development

This module focuses on development policies and practices from a political economy perspective. You’ll examine relations between the state, market and civil society and will analyse the politics of growth, aid, agriculture and food, natural resources and labour. An emphasis on the global sustainability challenges of the 21st century will enable you to evaluate development visions from a range of institutions and actors in the global South and beyond.

Global Politics of Energy and Climate Change

This module aims at evaluating the relevance of contemporary debates in international relations and political economy to the study of energy security, energy markets and climate change. It examines the political history of the modern energy systems and the role played by states and major private and state-owned companies. In addition, it explores the role of global institutions and their impact on the interplay between energy security, energy markets and climate change. It scrutinises issues that underpin key discussions in the energy and climate change area, such as development, limits to growth, transparency, sustainability and the role of civil society. The module also critically assesses standard approaches to the issue of energy security by focusing on the problem of energy poverty and resilience.

Governance, Policy Practice and Sustainable Development

This module explores and compares a range of approaches to analysing and evaluating governance and policy in relation to questions and challenges of sustainable development. These approaches are introduced through a range of case studies relating to policy-making in contrasting international, national and local contexts.

Just Development Futures: Ideas, Concepts and Debates

This module will provide you with a systematic and coherent introduction to the main theoretical advances, critical debates and policy related issues in the field of just development futures from an inter-disciplinary and cross-cultural perspective. Broadly, you will engage with current appreciation of development as part of a broader project of social justice rather than a post war project. In the first part of the module you’ll learn about critiques of development as a postcolonial encounter and critiques of grand narratives of economic development. The next part of the module covers the different schools of just development thought and the contestations between them. You’ll explore contemporary approaches from social justice, feminism, race theory, environmentalism, indigenous studies, and decolonial theory. In the final part of the module through case studies on global development challenges, you’ll explore the extent to which politics and justice forms a key element of sustainable development and appreciate the linkages between politics, governance and practical applications for envisaging just futures for people and the planet.

Option modules

Contemporary Controversies in International Security: Intervention, Terrorism and Self Defence

The end of the Cold War fundamentally altered the nature of international security, bringing with it new issues and threats to global peace. The contemporary era has seen the emergence of new kinds of instability engendered by intra-state conflicts and the involvement of non-state actors. This module provides a comprehensive overview of security discourse and practice since the end of the Cold War relating key issues – such as humanitarian intervention, self-defence and terrorism – to broader trends including the evolving role of the UN, the challenges to international law and the new concern with intra-state crises.

Controversies in United States Foreign Policies and Processes

This module considers empirical controversies relating to the process and substance of US foreign policy since the end of the Cold War.

Gender, Sexuality and International Relations

This module explores International Relations (IR) using the ‘lenses’ of gender and sexuality. The module draws from feminist and queer scholarship to critique the conceptualisation of IR in gender neutral terms, revealing gendered and heteronormative power relations and engaging with intersectionality including race and global location. The module will explore key issues in global politics including war, (in)security, diplomacy, peace building, human rights, international political economy and transnational activism.

Global Change: Toward a New Non-Western Order?

The module will prepare you to recognise and analyse the global political landscape changing with the predicted rise of non-Western states as great powers. The main focus will be on the domestic and international politics of China and India and the impact their rise has on the developed and developing countries.

Governance of the European Union

The module explore the EU as a polity and as a system of governance. It offers a practice-led survey of governance issues in the EU, informed by relevant theoretical approaches. The module covers the legal framework of the EU and the roles of member state and institutional actors in its decision-making processes; questions of institutional efficiency, accountability and the wider legitimacy of the EU. It also engages with current political challenges facing the EU and its member states, such as Brexit, enlargement, and the Eurozone crisis.

Migration and Development

This module examines the connections between migration and development, using a range of theoretical approaches, scales of analysis and case studies. You’ll develop your understanding of contemporary migration patterns and trends in their global and historical context. The module draws on a rich and diverse field of migration and border studies in ways that enhance knowledge and insight into global development challenges. You’ll have the opportunity to integrate this learning in focused reports on specific migration corridors and channels.

Regional Dimensions of Energy Security

Since the 2000s the global energy landscape that took shape in the last two decades of the twentieth century has been altered due to major geo-political and geo-economical shifts, the rise of new players in the energy sector and technological breakthroughs. The aim of this module is to analyse the impact that these developments had on the energy security of key producing and consuming countries. It will analyse these problems by focusing on change and continuity in the decision-making processes of state and non-state actors. Countries covered include the US, the EU, the Asian rising powers, Russia and specific case studies from the Middle East, Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and South America.

The European Union as an International Actor

The module sets out to explore the EU's international role: as an international trade partner; in its evolving competencies in foreign policy; in its dealings with NATO, the OSCE and its member states over defence and security issues; in its relations with accession states and other 'third states'; and in its self-image and values as an international actor. You'll learn a practice-led survey of the EU's external activities, informed by relevant theories.

The State, Politics and Violence

The module introduces you to various approaches to (state) politics and examines different accounts of political action ranging from civil disobedience to violent confrontation. It discusses the challenges arising from different forms of antagonism and explores conceptual efforts to understand and control the possibility of conflict and violence.

How you’ll be taught

Teaching methods across all our postgraduate courses focus on active student learning through lectures, seminars, workshops, problem-based and blended learning, and where appropriate practical application. Learning typically falls into two broad categories:

• Scheduled hours: examples include lectures, seminars, practical classes, workshops, supervised time in a studio
• Independent study: non-scheduled time in which students are expected to study independently. This may include preparation for scheduled sessions, dissertation/final project research, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks, or revision

How you’ll be assessed

Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, podcasts, blogs
• Coursework: examples include essays, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

This course offers you a range of exciting and rewarding career opportunities in international development and public policy. After graduating, you’ll be equipped with essential skills and knowledge to work in areas such as research and advocacy, programme management and social communication. The programme has been designed with extensive consultation with employers from the development sector, international organisations and NGOs, and academic organisations, preparing you for a variety of destinations with the focus on policies and practices that can help address key issues in global development.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Gain an interdisciplinary and critical understanding of the key challenges related to the UN SDGs.

Career development opportunities

Enhance your practice with internships and placements, with links to organisations such as the UN and NGOs.

Grow your network

Forge professional connections with policy makers, peers, and future colleagues.

Industry links

The course benefits from the strong links lecturers have with UN institutions, international development organisations, the UK Civil Service, and policy makers from a range of national and international NGOs and think tanks. Policy makers from the latter will also deliver workshops on the course.

The course also intends to organise visits to international organisations such as the United Nations, the International Organization for Migration, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, located in strategic locations such as Geneva. This will give an opportunity for you to understand how these organisations work and explore career prospects.

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course will be well-equipped for employment at organisations including:

• Academia
• Civil services of the UK and abroad
• International development and humanitarian organisations
• Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
• Political risk analysis organisations
• Private sector
• Think tanks and policy hubs
• United Nations

Job roles

This course will prepare you for roles in a variety of areas, including:

• Institutional coordination
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Programme development and management
• Project delivery and implementation
• Research and policy analysis
• Strategic communication