International Development BA

Program Overview

This International Development BA provides a comprehensive understanding of global challenges and debates. Students gain critical analysis skills and knowledge of development approaches and strategies through a combination of lectures, seminars, and research projects. The program offers opportunities for study abroad, work placements, and engagement with influential academics and guest speakers. Graduates are equipped for careers in international development, policy making, and related fields.

Program Outline

International Development BA | University of Leeds

Degree Overview:

This degree provides a comprehensive understanding of global development challenges, critically examining the complexities of inequality, poverty reduction, economic growth, and social development. It explores how these competing challenges are negotiated and contested, alongside the responses of individuals and institutions.

Key Objectives:

• Gain insight into the challenges of global development.
• Critically analyze the latest political, economic, and social issues affecting the globe.
• Learn from influential academics shaping policy and hear from inspiring guest speakers.
• Gain practical experience through optional work placements.
• Enhance analytical skills through the Quantitative Research Methods Pathway.
• Engage with a powerful learning network, including the Centre for Global Development, Leeds Social Science Institute (LSSI), and the Leeds University Centre for African Studies (LUCAS).

Outline:

Year 1:

• Compulsory Modules:
• The Politics of Global Challenges: Becoming an Independent Researcher (40 credits):
Introduces key themes and topics in politics and international studies, focusing on collaboration, research skills, and scholarly independence. Explores the politics of global challenges.
• The Making of the Modern World (20 credits): Examines the interconnectedness of the world through economic, political, military, and social perspectives.
Analyzes major historical events like the Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, and French Revolution, challenging dominant narratives. Explores the impact of colonialism on land, health, and climate change, including resistance and persistent features.
• Global Development Challenges (20 credits): Focuses on challenges like poverty, health, hunger, education, work, and environmental sustainability.
Introduces concepts of development, rights, and gender to understand the causes of these challenges. Develops analytical, synthesis, and communication skills.
• International Politics (20 credits): Provides a historical context of key developments in world politics.
Introduces concepts like the international system, war, peace, sovereignty, collective security, inequality, and international organizations. Explores regionalism in international affairs, particularly in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.
• Discovery Modules (20 credits): Students can choose from a range of modules across the University.

Year 2:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Approaches to Analysis (20 credits):
Introduces different research approaches and showcases the latest research in politics, international development, and international relations. Develops skills in designing and implementing research projects, gathering evidence, and applying key methods.
• Development Theory and Practice (20 credits): Provides a comprehensive introduction to development theory and engages in debates on implementing international development.
Explores the emergence of development as a concept, changing priorities, and the impact of different policy approaches.
• The Politics of Development (20 credits): Examines the lived realities of development and the stakeholders involved in development policy.
Analyzes the tools used in development practice, advocacy, and policy work, applying political analysis to real-world situations.
• Optional Modules (40 credits): Students choose from a range of related topics, including:
• State and Politics in Africa (20 credits):
Investigates the concept of the 'African renaissance' and analyzes the continent's social, political, and developmental challenges.
• Politics of Contemporary China (20 credits): Provides a thorough understanding of contemporary Chinese politics, discussing the structure of the state, the role of the Chinese Communist Party, and the impact of economic and political reforms.
• Analysing Data in Politics, International Development and International Relations (20 credits): Focuses on basic statistical analysis to answer complex questions about human behavior.
• North-South Linkages (20 credits): Explores the political-economic relationship between the Global North and the Global South, analyzing key drivers, characteristics, and repercussions.
Examines the roles of international organizations and structures of global production, trade, regulation, and standards.
• Discovery Modules (20 credits): Students can choose from a range of modules across the University.

Final Year:

• Compulsory Modules:
• Dissertation (40 credits):
Students conduct independent research on a chosen topic, demonstrating interdisciplinary, critical, and research skills.
• Optional Modules (60 credits): Students choose from a range of related topics, including:
• International Development and Social Policy (20 credits):
Examines the relationship between social policy and development challenges in the Global South, exploring topics like disability, hunger, education, employment, health, housing, gender, and inequality.
• Violence and Reconciliation in Africa (20 credits): Focuses on the causes, nature, and consequences of violence in Africa, exploring race, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, and resources.
Analyzes African statehood, 'warlord politics', resource wars, and state collapse. Evaluates approaches to peace building, justice, international intervention, peacekeeping, and the International Criminal Court.
• Gender and Security in Global Politics (20 credits): Offers a feminist, decolonized, and intersectional perspective on security, violence, and war.
Explores key concepts around gender, sex, and race in international security, gender-based violence, and the intersection of these factors in shaping responses to violence and war.
• Radical Political Ideas (20 credits): Explores radical political ideas, challenging conventional thinking.
Discusses the meaning of politics, political subjects, inclusion, identity, the self, and freedom. Examines the power dynamics and marginalization within political systems.
• British Foreign Policy (20 credits): Focuses on British Foreign Policy after World War II, exploring the theory of foreign policy analysis and key regions, relationships, and events.
• Global Political Economy (20 credits): Provides a grounding in global political economy and the tools to critically analyze it.
Examines global and regional institutions like the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and European Union.
• Discovery Modules (20 credits): Students can choose from a range of modules across the University.

Assessment:

• Modules utilize a variety of assessment methods, including:
• Traditional exams
• Essays
• Case study-based projects
• Policy briefs
• Group presentations
• Work logs
• Research briefs
• Project proposals
• Development agency reviews
• Final year includes a 10,000-word dissertation.

Teaching:

• The program employs a variety of teaching and learning methods, including:
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Independent study is encouraged to develop research and critical thinking skills.
• Participation, presentation skills, and group work are essential in taught sessions.
• Teaching staff includes expert academics, industry professionals, and trained postgraduate researchers.

Careers:

• The program equips students with in-depth knowledge of international development debates, approaches, strategies, politics, and programs.
• Students develop skills in project design and management, research, analysis, qualitative and quantitative data use, communication, and decision-making in complex situations.
• Graduates are prepared for a range of career paths, including:
• International development agencies
• International organizations
• Governments
• Politics
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Research organizations
• Policy making
• Companies
• Media
• Academia
• Graduates have worked in NGOs, research and consultancy firms, international organizations (like the UN), the Civil Service, the media, and have pursued further study.

Other:

• The program offers a Quantitative Research Methods Pathway, allowing students to develop advanced analytical skills in high demand across various sectors.
• The program has strong connections to active research centers across the University, including the Leeds Social Science Institute (LSSI) and the Leeds University Centre for African Studies (LUCAS).
• Students have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at a partner university in a developing country, gaining experience in another culture and a new perspective on development.
• The program offers optional work placements with organizations in the public, private, and voluntary sectors in the UK or overseas.
• The University of Leeds is ranked in the top 20 in the world for Development Studies according to the QS World University Rankings 2023.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25. The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law. Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students starting in 2025/26 have not yet been confirmed by the UK government. When the fee is available we will update individual course pages. Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26 Fees for students starting in 2025/26 will be available from September 2024. Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. Read more about paying fees and charges.