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International Development Management at University of Bath - UCAS

University of Bath

Degree level: Postgraduate

International Development Management (Taught)

Course options

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Explore and assess how international development programmes, projects and policies are managed and organised across the government, private, and NGO sectors. Throughout this course, you’ll analyse the ways in which organisations navigate the rapidly changing landscape of international development, with a focus on how and why certain development interventions are made. You’ll explore key debates in the theory and practice of development management to improve your understanding of the practical challenges faced by institutions and professionals when designing and implementing change. This will give you the foundation to critically analyse these challenges and design improved interventions. You’ll also learn about the management of development projects and programmes. This degree benefits from a mixture of teaching from Bath's Department of Social & Policy Sciences and School of Management. This will allow you to assess contemporary international development challenges holistically, taking into consideration the social and business factors that influence policy making. Placement As an alternative to writing a dissertation, you can gain real-world experience and complement your studies with a placement. If you choose to do a placement, you’ll undertake an eight-week work-based project with an organisation involved in international development. You'll use the experiences you'll gain to write an academic report reflecting on a particular area of professional practice as part of your assessment. Some previous students have worked with:

  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • The Centre for Development Studies
  • MicroSave Consulting
  • EdUKaid
  • The Washing Machine Project
Finding a placement is your own responsibility. We can’t guarantee specific placements, but you will receive tailored support from our specialist team to help you find suitable opportunities. Some placements are paid, others cover expenses, and some are unpaid. Gain important career skills Upon successful completion of this course, you'll leave with:
  • a critical understanding of the concepts and approaches used in international development management
  • the interdisciplinary research and interpersonal skills needed to navigate the changing landscape of development practice, where new actors are emerging and traditional approaches to management need adapting
  • practical skills in research, analysis and communication; and an understanding of how these can be applied when working in both the ‘Global North and South’
  • the ability to analyse the complex interaction of social, economic, political or environmental factors in shaping problems and proposed solutions
  • a rich experience of working with people from a wide range of disciplines, cultures and professional backgrounds
Graduate prospects This course provides an excellent background for those wishing to pursue careers in fields that aim to improve people’s lives. These include the international development, sustainability, humanitarian and peacebuilding sectors. You will be qualified to work in a wide variety of roles, including social research, public policy, public information and campaigning. Graduates from our suite of International Development master's courses have gone on to secure the following roles:
  • Senior Program Officer, Hashoo Foundation
  • Relief Support Worker, United Response
  • Analyst, Start Fund Bangladesh
  • Programme Assistant, The Advocacy Team
  • Fundraising Assistant, Refugee Cafe
  • Director of Programmes for North West Syria, Mercy Corps
  • Programme Specialist, African World Heritage Fund
  • Operations and Finance Officer, The Washing Machine Project
  • Local Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation
Other graduates have chosen to work for themselves and set up their own charities, while others have gone on to complete doctoral studies.

Assessment method

  • Coursework
  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • Examinations
- Report


Entry requirements

You should have a bachelor’s honours degree or international equivalent, typically a 2:1 or above. To apply for this course you should have an undergraduate degree in an appropriate subject such as politics, economics, anthropology, international relations, sociology, government studies, African, Latin American or South East Asian Studies or environmental studies. We will also consider graduates with an undergraduate degree in other subjects, especially where you have relevant professional experience in international development. We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree. If your first language is not English but within the last 2 years you completed your degree in the UK you may be exempt from our English Language requirements.


English language requirements


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Tuition fees can be found on our web pages and are liable to increase annually. UK and Islands fees are regulated by the UK government and are subject to parliamentary approval. For all other fees, you should budget for an increase of up to 8% for every further year of study. For information on tuition fees visit our web pages: https://www.bath.ac.uk/topics/tuition-fees/
International Development Management at University of Bath - UCAS