MA Globalisation, Business and Sustainable Development
Key Details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Arts
- Course Length
- 1 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2023
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Course Overview
Gain comprehensive knowledge in the field of globalisation, business and sustainable development and equip yourself with the necessary skills to pursue a career in this fascinating area.
You’ll integrate different disciplinary perspectives to analyse the economic, political, social and environmental dimensions of globalisation. You’ll consider the resistance to globalisation and how this has played out in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
This course adopts a unique interdisciplinary approach, making UEA the perfect place to help you gain that all-important competitive edge.
The process of globalisation is central to an understanding of the contemporary world. The nature of this process and its implications for international development are hotly debated and you’ll tackle key questions including:
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Is globalisation leading to increasing international inequality and poverty, or does the expansion of international trade in goods and services provide new opportunities for developing countries?
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How can we make sense of emergent trends such as fair trade, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility and sustainable consumption?
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Does globalisation call for a radical overhaul of existing international, national and local institutions?
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And why is it so difficult to solve global environmental problems such as climate change?
You’ll also consider the counter-tendencies and resistance to globalisation and how these are played out in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
We’ll provide you with the tools to critically analyse the process of globalisation and its impact on international development.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll take a mixture of compulsory and optional modules (120 credits) and an 8,000-12,000-word dissertation or the Development Work Placement (60 credits). You’re free to choose your own dissertation topic (subject to approval), so you’ll have the opportunity to focus on an area of globalisation, business and sustainable development that interests you. Alternatively, you can choose a suitable work placement (subject to approval) and write an analytical report of 6,000-7,000 words.
You’ll take Globalisation, Business and Development as one of your core modules. This provides an analysis of the way in which global production is organised and the roles played by the state, business and civil society and the relations between them. It focuses on key business factors and looks in depth at issues of resource extraction in developing countries. Various aspects of corporate social responsibility including relations with local communities and workers, as well as the impacts on the environment and human rights, are discussed.
Another of your compulsory modules is Perspectives on Globalisation. Globalisation refers to the increasingly interconnected nature of social life on our planet. It’s been described as 'the most important change in human history'. You’ll critically examine a number of key debates about globalisation: about what is driving the process, and about what impact it’s having – for example, on economic development, poverty and inequality, conflict, and the environment.
A range of fascinating optional modules allow you to tailor the course to your own interests. These include: Media and Global Development, Governance, Democracy and Development, Globalised Agriculture and Food Systems, Climate Change and Development.
A range of optional seminars and workshops are also offered during your Master’s programme for the teaching and strengthening of your skills. Sessions to support learning – in particular essay and dissertation writing – occur throughout the year. Development practice training is also provided.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 60)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Optional C 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.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching
Teaching methods include mainly lectures and seminars. Your lectures go beyond the customary ‘chalk-and-talk’ approach and include a range of interactive tasks and activities. The use of technology is also widespread, for example through visual representation of empirical evidence in international development (e.g. through statistical programs). Other examples include the use of online reading materials and lecture screencasts.
Through seminar group work and presentations, you’ll also be able to develop transferable skills such as articulating an argument both orally and in writing and presenting academic information in a clear and cogent manner.
Independent study
You’ll read suggested academic articles and books, submitting assignments as specified for each module. Your independent study gives you the chance to prepare for in-class sessions and assignments, and to concentrate on the areas that interest you most.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed using a variety of methods, including presentations, essays, exams and an optional dissertation. Further assessment methods will differ depending on the optional modules you choose.
You’ll also receive oral feedback on your arguments and ideas during seminars, which helps you develop skills in articulating an argument orally.
You’ll also be encouraged to prepare essay plans or outlines in advance of essay deadlines, and to discuss these with the relevant lecturer during their office hours or via email. In addition, you’ll typically receive oral and/or written feedback on an initial coursework assignment well in advance of your deadline for the main coursework.
Finally, the dissertation enables you to develop specific research skills such as conducting research using primary and secondary data, researching specific topics and questions, thinking critically, and linking theoretical concepts to practical issues.
Entry Requirements
- Degree Classification
- Bachelors degree 2.1 or equivalent
- Degree Subject
- Social Science
- 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 two components only with 64 in the other two)
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 English requirements for this course, our partner 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, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.
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.
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 Buseinss, Economics and Social Sciences
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 Funding
The University of East Anglia offers a range of Scholarships; please click the link for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
The University offers around £1 million of Scholarships each year to support International students in their studies. Scholarships are normally awarded to students on the basis of academic merit and are usually for the duration of the period of study. Please click here for further information about funding for International students. International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the University's International section of our website.
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.
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
Upon completing your MA you’ll be equipped with a range of transferable skills, which means you can pursue a variety of exciting careers both in and beyond international development.
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.
Previous graduates have gone on to work for the British High Commission in Ghana, UNITAR in Japan, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and PhD studies in related fields.
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.
A career in international development can take you in all kinds of directions such as:
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International governmental and non-governmental organisations
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Local governments
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Private sector
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PhD programmes