Global Development at UEA
Find out more about studying Global Development at UEA, and browse our other courses.
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UEA is ranked 1st overall for research quality in Development Studies
Times Higher Education REF 2021Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcome Survey 2020Have you ever wondered why some countries are richer than others? Why being born in one country can mean you're likely to earn 70 times more than someone born in another? Why some have managed to grow rapidly, whilst others have been left behind? Have you thought about what poverty looks like in different contexts, or why some groups in society are worse off than others? How do inequalities arise? How effective are anti-poverty efforts? How should we distribute aid? What is the impact of the global economy on developing countries? What policies can improve health, education and happiness in developing countries? Essentially, how do we improve the fiscal, economic, and social conditions for the world’s poorest and create a more just world?
Learn to tackle these big questions – and many more – in our BA Global Development with Economics with a Year Abroad. This innovative course combines a strong interdisciplinary foundation with a specialist economics lens in the study of global development. You’ll take core modules that seek to understand critical contemporary issues from an economics perspective – including poverty, exclusion, deprivation, foreign aid, the environment, trade and globalisation – focusing specifically on how economic and social inequalities arise, and exploring the policies and processes that can reduce them. You’ll develop practical skills in economic methods and statistics, learning basic data analysis techniques and exploring specialist statistical software, in order to think systematically about important macroeconomics and microeconomics questions.
In addition to this economics focus, you’ll gain a broad grounding in the key issues, organisations and practices of development, fusing insights from anthropology with those from across the social sciences, including economics, environmental sciences, geography, media, and politics. You can develop your understanding of particular regions in the world,and you can pursue your interests as they emerge. In your third year, you’ll study abroad at one of our partner Universities, taking courses that complement what you're studying with us. The result is an extremely flexible degree programme that you can tailor to suit your particular interests, and that allows you to combine an interdisciplinary foundation with your niche specialism.
By studying with us, you’ll join our close-knit academic community, made up of experts from across multiple disciplines, all housed within the School of Global Development. As such, you’ll not only learn from our world-renowned economists within the school, but you can benefit from a truly vibrant, interdisciplinary environment.
We're amongst the best in the world for researching, teaching, and practicing development, and our students go on to work in a variety of careers in development, and beyond. Come and study with us and help us to create a fairer world.
You’ll spend your third year studying at one of our partner institutions around the world before returning to UEA for your final year. This option allows you to explore development from a completely different perspective and study modules and topics you would not otherwise have access to. We currently have a wide range of partner universities across Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand that you can choose from. Your time abroad will provide you with invaluable experience that can be extremely attractive to employers.
For further details, visit our Study Abroad(opens in a new window) section of our website.
Example of careers that you could enter include:
Multilateral organisations
British Government, including in the Department for International Development, the Department for Health and the Department for Communities
Local Government
NGOs
Universities
Consultancy firms
Discover more on our Careers webpages(opens in a new window).
You’ll graduate with knowledge and skills valued by a vast range of organisations related to global development and many of our graduates go on to work in this sector. These include government agencies, the United Nations, private sector companies, consultancy firms, and the many hundreds of large and small non-government organisations that focus on development and humanitarian work.
Alternatively, you could use the academic and transferable skills gained from our degrees for careers in business, the voluntary and public sector, education, and academia.
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual: DMM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Contextual: DD plus C at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
Contextual: D plus BC at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3
Obtain an overall Pass including a B in the core of the T Level and a Distinction in the Occupational Specialism.
Any subject is acceptable.
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - Global Development with a Foundation Year (opens in a new window)
32 points overall
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
AAABB
BCC A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
ABB
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Extended Diploma: DDM
Diploma: DD plus B at A level.
Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
32 points overall
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
Tuition Fees
View our information for Tuition Fees(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
You’re eligible for reduced fees during your year abroad. Further details are available on our Tuition Fee(opens in a new window) webpage.
Extra costs, related to items such as your travel and accommodation during your year abroad, will vary depending on location.
Please see Additional Course Fees(opens in a new window) for details of other course-related costs.
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Find out more about studying Global Development at UEA, and browse our other courses.
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Global Development with Economics with a Year Abroad starting September 2025 for 4 years