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 section of our website.
The core modules of your first year will provide you with a strong grounding in the study of development, before being introduced to the key development economics theories and the economic dimensions of key development challenges. You’ll also have the opportunity to extend your understanding of broader social, cultural, political, and geographical perspectives.
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.
When you join us, you’ll join a close-knit community where you can share your passion for creating a fairer planet with staff and students from around the world. Our teaching staff are actively researching real-world issues and bringing their experiences directly into the classroom. In your first year, teaching and learning takes place through a mixture of lectures, seminars and independent study. In your lectures our expert academics set out the state-of-the-art in their field; seminars are conducted in smaller groups that will allow you to engage in in-depth discussion with our academics and other students. Independent study is a key element of learning on all our degrees, and you'll be supported to learn how to do this effectively through your first year.
In year one, you’ll take a variety of assessments including essays, exams and presentations. Exactly what assessments you undertake will depend on the optional modules you select. In your first year and throughout your degree, you’ll get feedback on your assessments to help you develop your skills and improve your work.
In your second year, you’ll be introduced to the basic principles of both macroeconomics and microeconomics, combining theory and evidence to understand economic policy issues. You’ll also gain practical quantitative research skills, engaging with modern statistical software to analyse and present empirical data and statistical trends. You’ll also broaden your understanding of global development through optional regional, thematic, or disciplinary modules.
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.
In Year Two, you’ll learn through the same core activities as in year one, whilst also engaging in more applied learning. We offer a range of methods modules that allow you to gain experience of conducting your own research projects in the second year of your degree. There are also a variety of field trips and courses offered on modules in year two.
In year two, you’ll continue to undertake a variety of assessments, the exact mix of which will depend on the optional modules you choose.
You’ll spend your third year studying at one of our partner universities before returning to UEA for your final year.
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.
You’ll study abroad at one of our partner universities, engaging with the approaches to teaching and learning that are utilised at your chosen university.
In your study abroad year, your learning will be assessed at the university you choose to go to. The assessments may vary from the ones you normally undertake at UEA.
In your final year, you’ll be able to choose from a range of more specialised modules, allowing you to deepen your understanding of critical development issues in a flexible manner, and understand current debates about the role of globalisation in economic development. This year also places greater emphasis on employability and independent study. You have the opportunity to choose our dissertation option, enabling you to engage in independent research around your own particular interests.
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.
In your final year, you’ll continue to learn through lectures, seminars and practical work. You’ll have the option to research and write a dissertation, a large individual project that requires you to exercise the independent learning skills that you'll have developed over your first, second and third years.
In year four, you’ll have the option to write a dissertation, alongside taking other assessments. The dissertation is a large project that assesses your ability to conduct independent research. The dissertation is optional, and you can choose to take other modules with other assessments should you wish.
Find out more about studying Global Development at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreYou’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.
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.
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 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.
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
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 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 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.
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 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 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 for details of other course-related costs.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information:
Global Development with Economics with a Year Abroad starting September 2025 for 4 years