MA Global Development (January 2024 Start)
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 years
- Course Start Date
- January 2024
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Course Overview
On this MA, you’ll benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to international development, drawing from areas such as politics, economics, anthropology, philosophy, sociology, geography, and environmental science.
You’ll discover the importance of historical context when trying to make sense of current development challenges. You’ll also discover how to fully get to grips with international development issues by viewing them as a complex interrelation between society, economics, politics and the environment.
You’ll be able to tailor your studies to your interests and ambitions, choosing from a large range of modules within and beyond the School of Global Development. You’ll also choose whether to write a dissertation or do a summer placement – so there are plenty of opportunities to shine.
Not only will you gain comprehensive knowledge of your subject, you’ll also build the necessary skills for a successful and effective, career in the field, and/or PhD study.
Please note we have changed our name to the School of Global Development from 1 August 2023, as we mark our 50th Anniversary.
On this course, you'll cover the key issues in international development within the context of contemporary global change.
You’ll address your subject from social, economic, historical, political and environmental standpoints. You’ll learn to ask, and propose answers to, questions about the origins and persistence of poverty, inequality, illiteracy, gender discrimination, oppression, environmental change, and much more.
You’ll address how international development has been shaped by discussions such as the state vs. market debate, by processes such as neoliberalism, globalisation and urbanisation, by intellectual frameworks such as the basic needs, human development and the capability approach, and by moral dilemmas such as cosmopolitan justice and the existence of obligations towards poor citizens in poor countries.
You’ll consider the long-term processes which have shaped and hindered progress in many regions of the world. You’ll also discover the main theoretical and pragmatic approaches to international development that have been proposed and adopted since the post-World War II period.
You’ll learn to critically analyse different development patterns and pathways, as well as exploring the causes and effects of recent trends in major development areas.
In addition, you’ll become familiar with concrete case studies of problems affecting developing areas and evaluate possible policies and strategies at both national and international levels to overcome these problems.
Most importantly, you’ll develop the ability to think critically about development issues. This will be enhanced by insider perspectives on our lecturers’ own research findings within a wide range of areas.
You will have the option of doing a work placement instead of writing a standard MA dissertation during the summer, of the duration of around 8 weeks (exact duration may vary). In this case you'll carry out a more practical activity and write a reflective report on this experience (considerably shorter than the average dissertation). You'll be supported by us in finding a placement, which can take place in a range of organisations (from large international organisations to research centres, government agencies or NGOs, to name a few).
Study and Modules
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 60)Optional A Modules
(Credits: 40)Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Social Sciences
- English Foreign Language
We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:
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IELTS: 6.0 (minimum 5.5 in only two components with 6.0 in the others)
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PTE (Pearson): 64 (minimum 59 in only two components with 64 in the others)
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study one of the International Graduate Diploma programmes offered by our partner INTO UEA. These programmes guarantee progression to selected masters degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details please click here:
International Graduate Diploma in International Development
INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
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- Intakes
This course is open to UK and International applicants. The intake for this course is January 2024.
Additional Information or Requirements
Applicants should normally have a good undergraduate degree from a recognised higher education institution. The University will also take into account the employment experience of applicants where relevant.
INTO University of East Anglia
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study one of the International Graduate Diploma programmes offered by our partner INTO UEA. These programmes guarantee progression to selected masters degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details please click here:
International Graduate Diploma in International Development
INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information and to see if you qualify please contact intopre-sessional@uea.ac.uk
Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2023/24 are:
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UK Students: £9,650 (full time)
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International Students: £19,800 (full time)
If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students).
We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here.
Scholarships and Bursaries
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.
How to Apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form.
Applications for January 2024 will close on 3rd November 2023.
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.
Employability
After the Course
You’ll graduate with a range of transferable skills, ready to pursue a variety of exciting careers both in and beyond international development.
A career in international development can take you in all kinds of directions such as international organisations, governmental and non-governmental organisations, local governments and the private sector.
You’ll also be well qualified to enter a PhD programme with a view to continuing to an academic career both in the UK and overseas.
Careers
A degree at UEA will prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We've been ranked 1st for Job Prospects by StudentCrowd in 2022.
Previous graduates have gone on to work for:
- The British High Commission in Ghana,
- UNITAR in Japan
- The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
- PhD studies in related fields.