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Looking for a contemporary take on development studies? Our new BA Global Development programme could be for you.
This is an innovative, interdisciplinary programme which examines the most pressing development challenges of our time – from health pandemics to social inequalities and climate change.
The programme will equip you with a range of theoretical and methodological tools for understanding development challenges from a global, intersectional perspective that centres the role of gender and race. You will learn about different languages and cultures in order to challenge the common use of Western historical experiences as the universal templates against which the rest of the world is understood.
You will gain first-hand experience of debating development theory, conducting original fieldwork and engaging global policy actors in order to develop evidence-based responses to the key development challenges of the 21st century, equipping you for a career in the global development arena.
Our BA Global Development programme combines the academic expertise across the School of Geography together with the School of Politics and International Relations, the School of Languages, Linguistics and Film, and the School of History.
This programme also offers students the opportunity to undertake an unpaid internship with London International Development Centre (LIDC) while studying. Places are competitive and numbers of interns LIDC can accept each year may vary.
Please note: we also have a MA Global Development programme, for more details, please visit the MA Global Development page.
In addition to a core training in development studies, you will choose from three clusters of modules as you progress through the programme: Geographies of development; Politics and histories of development; and Languages and cultures of development.
Compulsory
Choose from
For full details on all our modules please go to the online module directory.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Please note that modules are subject to change and may vary year-on-year.
*Fieldwork module. Fieldwork destinations may vary year-on-year, are subject to availability and depend on the module combinations chosen. Overseas fieldwork modules run in alternate years. Places are limited - if a module is oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot. Students on overseas field trips are responsible for securing their own visas, if required.
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
Compulsory fieldwork will not cost you anything extra. Optional overseas fieldwork trips in the second and third year cost approximately £400-£1,400 (based on 2017-18 costs). On some trips you may also need to pay extra for flights.
You will primarily study via a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, practical classes and independent study.
You’ll also take part in small-group tutorials, receiving further guidance on the course material and developing your study skills and you may participate in fieldwork dependent on the modules chosen.
For every hour of classes, expect to do a further four to six hours of independent study.
In the final year, tutorials are replaced with one-to-one meetings with your tutor as you prepare for your independent research project and plan your future career.
Academic advisors in the School of Geography will play a key role in guiding students through the selection of their modules each year, taking into account their interests and future career ambitions.
Module assessment is varied and will take a number of forms within the programme. Forms of assessment include:
The School offers excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including an undergraduate computer room and a geography teaching laboratory.
You will have access to specialist qualitative, quantitative, and GIS computing software to support your learning and research if required.
You will also have access to an unparalleled range of learning resources, special collections, and world-leading libraries within QMUL and the University of London, such as the QMUL Library, Senate House Library. Other specialist collections are accessible nearby, for example at the British Library.
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Graduates from this programme will also be well equipped with a number of transferrable and well-sought after skills which will prepare them for careers in a wide range of sectors.
We expect students from BA Global Development to progress into a wide range of careers including: development consultancy; NGOs and development agencies; and project management in the public and third sector.
Recent graduates from the School of Geography have gone on to roles with:
Geography students benefit from dedicated careers support, including lectures and tutorials on career choice, getting work experience and presenting degree skills to an employer at interview. We also run an annual career options event with graduate speakers.
The Queen Mary careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
Global Development - BA (Hons)
Global Development with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
The School of Geography at Queen Mary University of London provides an innovative education across diverse subject areas in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Staff and students alike strive to solve the major environmental and societal challenges of our time, generating rigorous research evidence and turning that into impactful practical and policy change at a local or national and even global level, often working with powerful partners like government agencies and big tech companies to drive progress.
The School is one of the top 100 geography departments in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023), while the Research Excellence Framework (2021) puts the quality of our research in the UK top 10.
Thanks to our local, national and international links, you’ll have opportunities to work with community groups, environmental trusts and charities, applying your classroom learning to real-world problems.
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