International Development with Foundation Year

International development is the study of how and why some parts of the world remain poor while others have become wealthy, and what can be done about it. It draws on economics, politics, sociology, geography, and history to examine the causes and consequences of poverty, inequality, and conflict, and to evaluate the policies and interventions that governments, international organisations, and civil society use to address them. The discipline asks uncomfortable questions about power, aid, and the relationship between the global North and South.

At Portsmouth this four-year programme begins with a foundation year before the main degree, making it accessible to students who have the motivation and potential to succeed in a demanding social science degree but who benefit from a supported academic preparation. Once the foundation year is complete, you will study development theory, political economy, research methods, and a range of substantive topics including food security, migration, climate change, gender, conflict, and humanitarian response. A sandwich year and work placement activity are both features of the programme, giving you the opportunity to test your understanding in a professional context, which in international development might mean work with a non-governmental organisation, a government agency, or an international institution.

A year abroad is also available, allowing you to experience development challenges and responses from a different vantage point.

Graduates of international development programmes move into roles in international NGOs, charities, development agencies, the United Nations system, and government departments working on overseas aid and foreign policy. Others work in humanitarian response, policy research, journalism, and consulting. The sandwich year experience is particularly valuable for building the networks and practical knowledge that the international development sector increasingly requires of new entrants.

Postgraduate study in development studies, international relations, or a specialist area such as humanitarian affairs or environmental policy is a common route for those aiming at senior roles.