Global Development MA
Year of entry 2025
- Start date
- September 2025
- Delivery type
- On campus
- Duration
- 12 months full time
- Entry requirements
- A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a social science, humanities or other related subject.
Full entry requirements - English language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component
- UK fees
- £12,750 (Total)
- International fees
- £27,750 (Total)
- Contact
- pgpolis@leeds.ac.uk
Course overview
This course examines political, economic, and socio-cultural transformations in the Global South and interrogates the dynamics, challenges and opportunities confronting its societies.
You’ll learn about the experiences and viewpoints of people and nations of the Global South regarding development issues, as well as the inter-relationships between global, national and local actors in contested strategies for development.
There are opportunities to review strategies, programmes and policies in development, including organisations and donors promoting development, and assess the progress made towards key international development goals.
This course will enable you to gain advanced insights into debates and controversies at the centre of contemporary development challenges. You can also analyse both the theories and realities of development to understand the different approaches, practices and discourses involved.
Research expertise
This course features research-led teaching in the dynamic field of global development. It is directly informed by the innovative research that occurs in the cross-disciplinary Centre for Global Development, as well as the Leeds University Centre for African Studies, a university-wide network.
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Course details
Compulsory modules examine key issues surrounding global development, including markets, inequality, democratisation, gender, health, education, human rights, conflict, violence and crime. You’ll also learn about various aspects of development practice, such as the theoretical and analytical principles of Project Cycle Management.
Additionally, you’ll hone your research and writing skills and then showcase them in your compulsory dissertation – an independent piece of research on a topic of your choice.
These modules will equip you to analyse, understand and discuss the major changes, problems and opportunities facing societies and people in the Global South. You’ll study some of the broader social, political, and economic causes of the problems, and the achievements and setbacks that people have experienced in their efforts to tackle them at the global, national and local levels and improve their societies and lives. You’ll learn to analyse, understand, and discuss development in the Global South in all its dynamism, complexity and significance.
The wide-ranging list of optional modules means you can explore a diverse range of related subjects of interest to you, including natural resources struggles, global health, gender and globalisation, education, international political economy or issues related to Africa and China.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Year 1 compulsory modules
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Global Inequalities and Development | 30 |
| Research & Project Skills- Experiential Learning | 30 |
| Dissertation | 60 |
Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)
You will study 60 credits from the modules below:
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Africa in the Contemporary World | 30 |
| Education in Development | 30 |
| Gender, Globalisation and Development | 30 |
| The Rise of China | 30 |
| Capitalism in Practice | 30 |
| Terrorism | 30 |
| Climate Security | 30 |
| The Global Political Economy of Money, Debt and Finance | 30 |
| Global Justice | 30 |
| Ethics and Politics of Migration and Citizenship | 30 |
Learning and teaching
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, online learning and workshops.
Tutors also provide you with individual advice on written work, and you should begin to develop expertise in improving your work through face-to-face discussion with your tutors, formative assessment and through detailed feedback. You’ll be expected to carry out a good deal of independent, detailed and considered study.
On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
Each module is assessed separately through assessments that range from long essays to projects and assignments. This offers you the opportunity to work in your particular field of interest within each topic area. You'll also carry out a dissertation in a research area of your choice.
Applying
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) or a non-UK equivalent in a social science, humanities, or another related discipline (that includes a minimum of five social science and humanities modules).
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Politics and Society (6 weeks) and Language for Social Sciences and Arts: Politics and Society (10 weeks).
We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
Application deadlines
International – Friday 27 June 2025
UK – Friday 15 August 2025
If you intend to apply for funding, you should submit an application for a place on your chosen course at least one month before any specific scholarship deadline.
The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page will take you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Documents and information you will need include:
original or certified copies of your transcripts
original or certified copies of your degree certificate
original or certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL results (if English is not your first language).
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025
This course is taught by
School of Politics and International Studies
Contact us
School of Politics and International Studies
Email: pgpolis@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:
Fees
UK: £12,750 (Total)
International: £27,750 (Total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Additional cost information
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
The School usually offers a number of scholarships each year. Find out more about our scholarship opportunities.
Career opportunities
You’ll gain a wide range of professional skills on top of your subject knowledge, and have an understanding of project design and management in a development context. You'll also be able to analyse quantitative and qualitative data.
You’ll be able to construct clear arguments, critically assess different options for action, analyse policy documents, write research reports and give presentations. You’ll also be trained to make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations.
Our programme equips you for various career paths. Compatible careers include working in international development agencies, international organisations, governments, politics, NGOs, research organisations, policy-making, companies, media, and academia.
Recent graduates have gone on to work in the UK and overseas in various organisations, such as Greenpeace, Wateraid, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Italian Embassy and beyond. Many also pursue further study by commencing PhD research.
Throughout your time with us we will encourage you to seek practical work experience in the international development field, and we'll advise you on how to go about doing so.
Careers support
The School of Politics and International Studies has a dedicated Careers Consultant who is on hand throughout the year to support and advise you in regards to your career. The School also arranges a number of guest speaker events where you are able to engage with prospective employers, and hear from leading figures in the field.
Find out more about how we support your career development
In addition to the School-specific careers support, you will also have access to the University’s award-winning Careers Service. The Careers Service offers one-to-one appointments, advice on starting your own business, careers events, mentoring schemes and support with your CV, applications and interviews.