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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 2020Why BA Global Development with Economics with a Year Abroad at UEA?
Equip yourself for the future with the powerful methods of Economics and understand the forces that are shaping today’s world. Join a unique community of international scholars on our beautiful campus on the edge of Norwich.
What is Global Development with Economics?
Our world is racked by climate change, explosive technological development, political polarisation and the gulf between haves and have-nots. We need people who can think clearly, weigh up evidence and evaluate options for effective action in response to these challenges.
On this course you'll gain the conceptual and data-handling skills required in an uncertain and fast-changing landscape. You'll combine economic insights with other social science perspectives including anthropology, environmental sciences, geography, media, and politics.
You'll explore different world regions in depth and tailor your studies to your evolving interests. You’ll also have the opportunity to join a field trip to East Africa or complete a 7-week work placement in countries around the world.
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Gain hand-on experience through our various Development Work Placement options in the UK or oversees.
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Learn more about where a degree in global development can take you
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 exciting option allows you to explore development from a completely different perspective whilst studying topics you’d not otherwise have access to. We currently have a wide range of partner universities across the world, including higher-income countries such as Japan, Australia and the USA as well as in the Global South, including Ghana, Uganda, Chile and the University of the West Indies. Your time abroad will provide you with invaluable experience that is extremely attractive to employers.
For further details, visit our study abroad section of our website.
A development economics degree with training both in International Development and Economics gives you a skill set that has never been in greater demand. Former graduates work in a wide range of organisations across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Career support on the course is second to none, with frequent events tailored to the School of Global Development. There is guidance on volunteering and internship opportunities to build up your CV while at UEA and in year three you have a summer placement option. All our courses are available as four-year variants with a full year of either work placement or study abroad. You can normally transfer to one of these up to the end of year one even if you don’t initially select it.
Discover more on our Careers webpages
You'll have a wide range of options after graduation. In the job market there is normally high demand in multiple sectors for those with a development economics degree. A good Honours result also leaves you well placed for Master’s or PhD study in international development, with economics or other social science subjects.
The core modules of your first year will provide you with a strong grounding in the study of development, before being introduced to key development economics theories and the economic dimensions of the most important 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.
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, and disciplinary modules. In year two or three, you’ll also have the option to go to East Africa on a field course.
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 third year, you'll spend a Study Abroad Year at a partner university overseas. As a student on the BA Global Development with Economics, you'll most likely study within a department that has an economics focus, although you'll have some flexibility in your choice of department.
The specific content of your year abroad will depend on the university and department you attend. Wherever you choose to study, the experience will allow you to broaden your understanding of key global development and economic issues by exploring them in a different national and academic context.
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 can choose from a wide range of specialised optional modules. You may flexibly deepen your understanding of critical issues in development based on your interests. You’ll understand the debates around the role of globalisation in economic development. You need to spend more time on your independent study during your final year. You’ll also have the option of writing a thesis. This long-form project enables you to engage in independent research on the subjects you’re most passionate about.
In this year, you’ll also focus more on employability. In this year, you'll also have the option to do a short work placement, which may take from 7 to 10 weeks.
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.
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Fieldwork is central to Global Development at UEA, with opportunities to develop practical research skills through local residential trips, UK community-based field courses, or a subsidised experience in East Africa.
Explore Fieldwork OpportunitiesTeaching and Learning
Our teaching staff are actively researching real-world issues. They bring their experiences directly into the classroom. Lectures are led by academic experts in groups of 25-100. There are smaller seminar classes where you then discuss topics in depth with these academics and fellow students. Workshops put the emphasis on hands-on activity, from data analysis tasks to presentations and role-playing exercises.
In year one, emphasis is on building core skills and knowledge required for successful study in Economics and Development. Starting from real world challenges, your modules introduce conceptual tools to understand these and formulate responses.
Year two deepens your learning of these academic frameworks and helps you apply them to a wider range of themes. Training in data analysis also enables you to link theory with evidence.
Independent study plays an increasing role in learning from the start of your degree and is an important feature of the final year. There is most flexibility of options at this level, including the choice of writing a dissertation, worth two taught modules.
Assessment
Assessment takes place through a variety of different tasks, including written assignments, presentations and exams. On your compulsory modules you'll find online quizzes, data analysis, economic policy analysis, written exams and a photo-essay. The range of other assessments you take will depend on your choice of optional modules, including whether or not you choose to write a final-year dissertation.
Year one introduces a range of assessment types. You'll have ‘formative’ tasks that enable you to practice and get feedback, as well as ‘summative’ tasks which are given marks.
In year two, you again have a range of formative and summative assessments. Data-analysis tasks and inter-disciplinary assignments in regional and thematic modules are added at this level.
Your assessments may include a work placement during your final year or working as part of a group to design a project proposal. An important choice is whether to write a dissertation based on your own independent research supervised by an academic expert.
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 4.
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
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.
Contextual offer: Pass Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and Pass in 15 credits at Level 3.
Obtain an overall Merit.
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
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
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.
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
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 4.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
ABB
32 points overall
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) 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, UEA International Study Centre 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.
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
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Find out more about studying Global Development at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreTuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
UK Students: £10,050
International Students: £24,250
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(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.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of 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 2027 for 4 years
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