Third World Development Joint Honours
Why choose this course?
- If you’d like a career in third world development and community project management, then this course is for you. You will develop specialist skills in capacity building, poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes aimed at improving living conditions for people in poverty.
- You'll learn about the contemporary issues and problems associated with development.
- You will have the opportunity for overseas fieldwork to see how development theories relate to practical issues in the developing world.
- You'll have the opportunity to do a work placement in your final year, so you can get real experience of working in this area

Fact file
Start date: September full time/September or January part time
Course length: Full time: three years Part time: up to six years
Campus: Kedleston Road site, Derby Campus
This course is available to international students
About this course
During this course you will learn about the development gap between rich and poor countries, social justice, women’s rights, globalisation, democratisation and environmental impacts. You will look at patterns of political, socio-economic and environmental change in less developed countries in Africa, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Asia. You will evaluate tourism as a strategy for development and investigate alternative or sustainable tourism.
In your second year you'll go on a field visit to Senegal and The Gambia. And, in your final year you'll look at how to manage projects effectively in less developed countries and you'll have the opportunity to do a work placement.
Your lecturers are actively involved in a diverse range of research and consultancy in less developed countries, so you'll be learning the very latest theory and be kept up to date with what's new in this field.
You can combine this subject with up to two others within our Joint Honours Scheme, so you can build up a degree to suit your interests and career needs. You can study Third World Development as a major, joint or minor subject.
What can I combine this programme with?
- BA (Hons) in American Studies and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Applied Criminology and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Biology and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Business Management and Third World Development
- BA (Hons) in Creative Writing and Third World Development
- BA (Hons) in Education Studies and Third World Development
- BA (Hons) in Film & Television Studies and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Geography and Third World Development
- BA (Hons) in History and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in International Relations & Global Development and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Marketing and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Mathematics and Third World Development
- BA (Hons) in Property Development and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Psychology and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Sociology and Third World Development
- BSc (Hons) in Third World Development and Environmental Hazards
- BSc (Hons) in Third World Development and Zoology
What you will cover
Stage one
You'll study a selection of these modules:
- Introduction to Third World Development
- Key Skills for Physical and Social Sciences
- Introduction to Human Geography
- Introduction to International Relations and Global Development
- Environmental Conservation
- Environmental Hazards and Disasters
Stage two
You'll study a selection of these modules:
- Development: Theory and Practice (PDP)
- International Development policy: Agencies and the State (PDP)
- Population Geography
- Doing Qualitative Research
- Environment, Society and Development
- Water: Resource, Hazard, Commodity
- Transport Geography
Stage three
You'll study a selection of these modules:
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements are usually 260-300 UCAS points from A levels, including Grade C in A level Geography, Geology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Sociology or Psychology, or equivalent qualifications such as a BTEC National Diploma, Scottish Highers etc. If you've completed an Access/Foundation course, we also accept these qualifications.
The UCAS tariff points are a guide - we'll also consider all the information that you've included in your application. We'll also want to see that you're enthusiastic and motivated to take this course and that you have the potential to benefit from coming to university.
How to apply
UK/EU students
- Full time students should apply for this course through UCAS.
- Part time students should apply directly to the University.
International students
- If you want to start in September, you usually need to apply online through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
Information for international applicants
Fees and finance
Fees for 2013/14
This is a resource intensive course.
UK/EU students
Full time:
- If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £7,700 per year.
- If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject it will cost £8,250 per year.
Part time:
- If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £965 per module, (you'll usually take 18 of these in total).
- If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject it will cost £1,030 per module, (you'll usually take 18 of these in total).
International students
Full time:
- If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £9,945 per year.
- If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject or a specialist subject it will cost £10,225 per year.
*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2013 and August 2014. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.
How you will learn
How you'll learn
You will be taught by lecturers who are experienced and actively involved in research and consultancy in less developed countries. This means you will be learning all the latest theory and will be kept up to date with what’s new in this field.
How you're assessed
The assessments for this course are stimulating, varied and challenging. 70% of the modules are assessed through coursework. You will receive support and feedback throughout your assessment.
Fieldtrips
You will have the opportunity to go to The Gambia to explore issues such as health and healthcare delivery and look at the role of education by visiting schools and educational institutions.
Careers and employability
You'll develop specialist skills such as managing projects, advocacy, community relations management and facilitating change in communities. This will open up career opportunities for you in the field of development. You could work for aid agencies,
development organisations, transnational corporations or public and voluntary bodies. Recent graduates are now working for the Department for International Development, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Voluntary Service Overseas project.
What our students say
This course allows for so many exciting opportunities such as the field trip to The Gambia for two weeks. And the lectures are so helpful.
Sarah Meek, Graduate
