International Relations and Global Development (Joint Honours)

When can you start this course? | Fees | Course length | Entry requirements

What is joint honours?

With joint honours, you can study for an honours degree in two or even three subjects. Find out more about joint honours, including what subjects you can combine with this one.

Why choose this course?

If you're interested in current affairs and the contemporary issues and problems associated with international relations and global development, then this course is for you.
You'll have the opportunity to visit the United Nations in Geneva or the European Parliament in Brussels where you can learn about their key functions.
Studying this course will give you the opportunity to work with some Governmental and non-Governmental organisations as well as international institutions and charities, where you'll promote good relations between people, communities and countries around the world.

About the course

The world is increasingly becoming a more interconnected and complex place. During this course you'll explore the environmental, geographical, political, social, cultural and economic aspects of international relations and the challenges it faces. You'll also evaluate global development, looking at the complex and uneven patterns associated with the process of globalisation. Throughout the course you'll study key international relations and development themes, such as the relationship between the state and its citizens, the politics of development as reflected in the growing development gap between rich and poor countries, the idea of social justice, human rights, globalisation and democratisation.

In stage two you'll go on a field visit to a key organisation in the field of international relations, such as the United Nations in Geneva or the European Union Parliament in Brussels. During these visits you'll learn about key functions of international political institutions and their role in promoting democracy, world peace, political stability and development around the world.

You'll be taught by lecturers who are actively involved in research and consultancy covering a wide range of issues related to international relations and development, so you will be learning the very latest theory of international relations and be kept up to date with what is happening globally.

This subject can be combined 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 choose to study this as a major, joint or minor subject.

Find out more about what subjects and modules you'll be studying...

Your career

This course will enable you to develop specialist skills such as negotiation, diplomacy, advocacy and conciliation. This will open up many career opportunities for you in the field of international relations and development.

You could go on to work for international institutions, aid agencies, development organisations, transnational corporations or public and voluntary bodies. Some of our previous graduates are now working for the Department for International Development, the United Nations Development Programme, the Voluntary Service Overseas project and teaching English in China as part of the project to improve education for migrant workers' children.

What our students say

Yessenia Aguilera, one of our current students

Yessenia Aguilera, current student
"This course has been an excellent experience, and provided me with some really valuable knowledge and skills. The classes are exciting and engaging and the fieldtrip was an important part of my learning."

Rob Gardiner, current student
"This course enlightens and broadens the potential of students making you look beyond many horizons. As well as providing a foundation on which to build upon, the course entails belief and confidence to be used in the developing world and beyond. As an individual exploring many avenues in life, this course brought out the best in myself and others. Lectures and tutorials unleashed the potential of which was within and have continued to inspire me ever since."

Adam Pitt, recent graduate
"I am fortunate to not only be able to use the skills I gained during my degree, but am gaining new training in communications and partnership building in one of the world's most influential development organisations".

To find out more, read Adams story here.

Start dates

If you're from the UK or EU you can apply to study this course in:

September 2012

If you're from a country outside the EU you can apply to study this course full time in:

September 2012

Fees

This is a resource intensive course.

UK/EU students

Full time:

If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £6,995 per year.
If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject or a specialist subject it will cost £7,495 per year.

Part time:

You usually take 18 of modules in total for your course

Modules from classroom based subjects will cost £875 per module.
Modules from resource intensive subjects will cost £935 per module.
Modules from specialist subjects will cost £1,000 per module.

International students

Full time:

If you combine this subject with a classroom based subject it will cost £9,700 per year.
If you combine this subject with another resource intensive subject or a specialist subject it will cost £9,975 per year.

*These fees apply if you're starting this course between September 2012 and August 2013. We recommend you check fee details with us though, as they can change. Costs can increase each year.

More information about our fees for September 2012 and the support available