BA Global Development

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

This degree gives you an insight into the challenges of global development. It critically explores how the competing challenges of inequality, poverty reduction, economic growth and social development are negotiated and contested, alongside ways in which people and institutions respond to these challenges.
You'll learn about the experiences and viewpoints of people and nations of the Global South regarding development issues, as well as the inter-relationships between global, national and local actors in contested strategies for development.

Core modules in the programme introduce you to key issues in the theory, practice and politics of international development. You’ll learn about the impact of colonialism, how different agencies contribute to development and how development operates in practice. You’ll also be able to choose from optional modules in your final year, allowing you to specialise in the regions, countries and themes that excite you most.

Year 1

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED1001	The Politics of Global Challenges: Becoming an Independent Researcher	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
PIED1201	Global Development Challenges	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED1212	Making of the Modern World	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED1511	International Politics	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Discovery Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits of discovery modules

Year 2

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Compulsory Modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED2206	International Development Theory and Practice	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)	PFP
PIED2235	Politics of Development	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)	PFP
PIED2721	Approaches to Analysis	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)	PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules from basket A:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED2221	The Political Economy of North-South Relations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED2455	State and Politics in Africa	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED2601	Revolution and Reaction: Political Problems in the 20th Century	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2711	Analysing Data in Politics, Development and International Relations	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)	PFP

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules from basket B:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED2255	Latin America in Global Historical Perspective	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2448	Politics of Contemporary China	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED2505	Planet Politics	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

You may choose up to 20 credits of discovery modules. Please make sure you have the necessary pre-requisites before you enrol.

Year 3

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
View Timetable

Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory module

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED3775	POLIS Final Year Project	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional Modules

Candidates will be required to study 40 credits from the following optional modules in basket A:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED3208	Global Development and Social Protection	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3261	Violence and Reconciliation in Africa	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3590	The Global Politics of Climate Change	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
PIED3650	Global Political Economy	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits from the following optional modules in basket B:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
PIED3158	British Foreign Policy	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3343	Gender, Violence and Security	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
PIED3612	Rethinking Resistance	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

Candidates will be required to study 20 credits of discovery modules. Please make sure you have the necessary pre-requisites before you enrol.

Last updated: 13/05/2026 16:23:26

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