BA (Hons) Sustainable Development and Social Change

Program Overview

Are you interested in finding out how social development is affecting the people who live in the world's poorest countries? Do you want to learn about globalization and consider its impact on the people of Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and Europe? Do you worry about the value of their work?

This course will give you the answers you seek - and much more. There has never been a more pressing time to study Sustainable Development and Social Change. Globalisation continues to impact the world's poorest countries in the global South, and the reaction to globalisation continues to manifest itself in the global North through Brexit and the election of populist leaders. Conflict, climate change, COVID-19 and humanitarian crises all demand a response from the world.

Our course equips you to find your place in this response. You will acquire the skills and knowledge to research and analyse complex problems, to develop your own ideas and plans for a development project and how to fundraise for it, and ultimately to find a career that will give you job satisfaction - being part of changing the world for the better.

We use textbooks and real-world experience, encouraging you to step outside the classroom and study beyond the headlines. We offer you the chance to gain valuable work experience in an NGO, such as Save the Children UK or Otra Cosa (Peru), as a core part of your course.

The extended course is perfect if you want a degree in Sustainable Development and Social Change, but you don’t have the standard entry requirements.

Program Outline

By studying international development, you'll be asking vitally important questions. What is poverty? What is the connection between a country's economy and the wellbeing of its people? How do issues such as inequality, conflict and faith relate to development? What is globalisation and how does it impact on all of our lives?

Our course gives special emphasis to the lived experience of people in the developing world. In doing so, it challenges the assumption that development is a purely economic phenomenon.

Your third-year work placement in an NGO, which we'll help you to arrange, will provide you with invaluable experience in the field, whether it's at the Vitality project in Bangladesh or working for the St Francis Hospice in the UK. You'll develop the skills that NGOs look for in people they employ.

In addition to studying theory, you'll learn about real-world issues in modules such as Human Mobility, Forced Migration and Social Change as well as The Politics of Global Powers and Imperialism Now: Economy, State and War.

The course is assessed entirely by coursework such as essays, video presentations and a research dissertation.  You'll learn beyond the classroom by getting involved in the work of organisations such as British Overseas NGO for Development (BOND). Four of our students recently attended their annual conference as volunteers and social media coordinators.

The approximate percentages for this course are:

Our students have also undertaken placements relating to money mentoring and finance in Africa, the education of street children in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the health needs of Syrian refugees in Greece.

You'll be taught by staff with relevant experience and practice to ensure you learn from real life experience and research, including renowned experts in their field such as Dr Meera Tiwari, who helped 2005 graduate Firoz Patel found the charity Global Development Links while he was still an undergraduate on the course.  Firoz Patel received an

Honorary Doctorate for his work in the not for profit sector in 2016.

We encourage an educational experience that is active, social, collaborative, engaging and student-owned. You will have access to a variety of resources ensuring your learning experience goes beyond the classroom.

When not attending timetabled lectures you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, Microsoft Teams and Moodle. We are investing in key areas beyond your studies including our career services, library and well-being, to be available both face-to-face on campus and online with many of these available 24/7.

Students are supported with any academic or subject related queries by an Academic Advisor, module leaders, former and current UEL students. If you need a bit of extra help with certain skills such as academic writing, English, maths or statistics, our Academic Tutors offer workshops, drop-in sessions and one-to-one appointments to help our students achieve their potential.

You can receive advice and guidance on all aspects of the IT systems provided by the university from our IT Service Desks located on all three campuses. Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need.

We have new, modern library facilities on both campuses offering inspirational environments for study and research. Libraries contain resources in print and digital formats, a range of study spaces and dedicated librarian who can assist with your learning.

UEL provides also support and advice for disabled students and those with specific learning difficulties (SPDs).Your overall workload consists of class and online tutor led sessions, individual learning, practical activities.

Assessment tasks are mainly spread across the year to make theworkload manageable. Assessment methods include group works and individual work including essays, presentations, case studies, professional development and practical activities depending on the nature of the course. All grades count towards your module mark. More details will be included in the student handbook and module guides.

Feedback is provided within 15 working days in line with UEL's assessment and feedback policy.