Global Development

Global development is the study of how and why some people and societies flourish while others face persistent poverty, inequality and marginalisation, and what kinds of actions, institutions and policies can make a genuine difference. It is a critical discipline, meaning that it does not simply take the objectives or methods of the development industry at face value but asks hard questions about whose interests development serves, whose knowledge counts, and how the legacies of colonialism continue to shape the contemporary world. At the University of Leeds, this three-year full-time degree immerses you in those debates while also grounding you in how the global development industry actually operates.

You will build your understanding of the definitions and patterns of global development, engaging with the colonial foundations of the modern world and connecting them to current frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals. The programme is designed to link theory with practice at every stage, so that the ideas you encounter in seminars are tested against the realities of how development organisations work, how policies are designed and implemented, and how communities engage with or resist development interventions. A placement year and a year abroad are built into the programme, and work placement opportunities are integrated throughout, giving you professional experience and international exposure that few other disciplines can match.

You will develop strong research skills alongside substantive knowledge of the politics of poverty, economic change and social transformation.

Graduates of global development programmes move into careers with international NGOs, government agencies, intergovernmental organisations, research institutions, policy think-tanks and the private sector. Roles in project management, monitoring and evaluation, policy research, advocacy and communications are common. Many graduates also go on to postgraduate study in development studies, international relations, social policy or a regional specialism, where the critical frameworks and research skills they have developed in their undergraduate degree provide a strong foundation for more advanced inquiry.