International Development

Description

Graduates can work for governments, international organisations such as the United Nations, aid agencies and non-governmental organizations, and for the private sector. The discipline offers the chance to gain experience in various elements of politics, economics and social policy with practical problem-solving skills. Careers can include economic planning, rural development, humanitarianism, poverty reduction, and working to provide public services and environmental protection.

This degree is for you if you wish to:

• understand and to shape processes of social and economic change in order to reduce poverty and to create a better life for poorer people, and the countries where they live
• gain experience in themes of economic, political and social analysis, with options to take related fields through optional courses
• undertake a wide-ranging training in diverse social science skills, and in the subject matter of International Development
• connect different approaches to development and address real-world problems relating to economic growth, politics, humanitarianism, poverty, environment and governance in poorer countries.

Online support

When you register we will send you a username and password giving you access to the Student Portal. You can then access your University of London email account and two other key online resources:

The virtual learning environment (VLE)

The online virtual learning environment (VLE) provides electronic copies of all printed study materials. There are also forums that allow you to share interests and experience, and to work collaboratively with other students to solve problems and discuss subject material.

Online support materials are being developed continuously and for some courses audio-visual tutorials, recorded lectures, academic interviews and debates are available, along with self-testing activities and expert study skills advice.

Detailed Course Facts

Application deadline October Tuition fee

• GBP 4006 Year (International)

Tuition fee per standard entry route.

£3,026 for the BSc degree through the Graduate Entry Route.

Start date November 2015 Duration full-time 36 months Languages Take an IELTS test

• English

Delivery mode Online Educational variant Part-time Intensity Flexible Part-time variant Flexible Structure Fully structured Student interaction Online group works/assignments Attendance Regular optional meetings Teacher support Continuous support with feedback on request

Course Content

Standard Route

Standard Route - 100 courses

• Introduction to international development

Three courses chosen from:

• Introduction to economics
• Human geography
• Introduction to international relations
• Contemporary sociology in a global age
• Statistics 1 (half course) and
• Mathematics 1 (half course)

Standard Route - 200 and 300 courses

• Development management
• Geographies of development

Two courses chosen from:

• Economic policy analysis in International Development
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Economic geography
• International political economy
• Population and society

And two courses choosen from:

• Economics of development
• Complex emergencies and humanitarian responses
• Global environmental problems and politics
• One 300 course from Selection groups D, E, G, IR or S
• One 100, 200 or 300 course (or two half courses) from any of the Selection groups

Graduate Entry Route

Graduate Entry Route - 100 courses

• Introduction to international development

Three courses chosen from:

• Introduction to economics
• Human geography
• Introduction to international relations
• Contemporary sociology in a global age
• Statistics 1 (half course) and
• Mathematics 1 (half course)

Graduate Entry Route - 200 and 300 courses

• Development management
• Geographies of development

And two courses choosen from:

• Economic policy analysis in International Development
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Economic geography
• International political economy
• Population and society

One course chosen from:

• Economics of development
• Complex emergencies and humanitarian responses
• Global environmental problems and politics

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 6 TOEFL paper-based test score : 580 TOEFL iBT® test : 87

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

take an IELTS test. More About IELTS

Requirements

Academic Requirements

To be eligible for the BSc degree you must:

• normally* be aged 17 or above by the 30 November in the year of registration and satisfy the University’s General Entrance Requirements and
• demonstrate competence in Mathematics at least equivalent to UK GCSE/GCE 'O' level at Grade C or above (equivalents can be found within the above link).

*Applications will be considered from applicants who do not meet the normal minimum age requirement for admission. Each application will be considered on an individual basis, and the decision taken at the discretion of the University of London.

If you are not automatically eligible then you will be individually considered by the University of London’s Special Admissions Panel. The Special Admissions Panel will consider qualifications which are not published under the Qualifications for Entrance Schedule, incomplete qualifications (e.g. diplomas / degrees) and substantial relevant work experience. If we cannot accept you with your current qualifications and experience, we will advise you what qualifications you could take in order to become eligible in the future.

Graduate entry route

The following are eligible for graduate entry:

• graduates holding a full first degree from an acceptable university in the United Kingdom or another European country or in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Ghana, Hong Kong SAR, Israel, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Sri Lanka, South Africa or the Caribbean
• graduates holding a full first degree from a regionally accredited institution in the USA
• graduates holding a full first degree from an acceptable university in India which is at least three-years full time in duration.

Applications from students with other degrees not listed above will be considered at the discretion of the University. Professional qualifications cannot be considered for Graduate Entry. In addition to holding an acceptable full first degree applicants must also satisfy the above Mathematics and English language requirements.

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Technological Requirements

All students must have regular access to a computer and the internet. This may be for accessing the Student Portal, downloading course materials from the virtual learning environment or accessing resources from the Online Library. You will also need suitable hardware capacity on your computer for document storage as well as basic software such as a PDF reader.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than London School of Economics and Political Science.

Funding

Sponsorship from your employer

Many students receive financial support from their own employers. As you study by distance learning you can continue with your studies while you work, and do not need to take time away from the workplace. See the employers section on our website for guidance for employers.

Other sources of funding

The level of competition for sponsorship and educational awards is extremely high, so we recommend that you investigate funding early. Do not delay in making an application as in some instances an offer of a place can be advantageous in a funding application.

There are a variety of sources of funding available, dependent on your nationality, employment and other factors. We recommend that you look at the following, although this is not an exhaustive list:

• UK students may be eligible for a part-time tuition fee loan
• The Aga Khan Foundation [external link] which provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies.
• United Nations (UNESCO, FAO, UNDP, UNEP etc)
• Bilateral Aid Agencies (SIDA, GTZ, etc)
• European Union
• British Council
• UK Department for International Development / Foreign & Commonwealth Office
• NGOs
• Educational and other charitable trusts

Accreditation

LSE was founded 1895 by four idealistic young Fabians for the "betterment of society". It adopted rerum cognoscere causas, which means to know the causes of things, as its motto.

The desire to bring academic expertise to bear on the problems of society motivated the founders of LSE and underpins the School's vision and strategy today.

LSE’s vision for 2011-16

• to deliver challenging, stimulating, research led degree programmes in an environment that supports learning and develops independent thinking among our students
• to ensure that our research and teaching remain at the forefront of the social sciences, addressing the evolving challenges of society
• to be among the most internationally-oriented centres of social science excellence in the world
• to extend our engagement with society across our full academic portfolio and in key regions of the world and
• to enrol the best students from around the world to benefit from, and contribute to, the learning environment at the School.

Teaching and student experience

Students at LSE receive research-led teaching from an internationally renowned academic staff. At the heart of this is intellectual challenge. Through exposure to the latest developments in social science and to the thinking of visiting world leaders, business figures and academics in debates and public lectures, students are challenged and inspired by LSE's vision of intellectual excellence combined with real-world engagement.

LSE is currently focusing on increasing contact hours between permanent academic staff and undergraduate students; reducing postgraduate class sizes; improving teaching quality; and improving staff and student contact and student satisfaction levels in relation to the academic experience, including Library and IT services. It will also continue to improve its estate, in particular the exciting Saw Swee Hock Student Centre which opened in 2014, having already been awarded an outstanding BREEAM rating.

Research

LSE is a world leader in social science research. The School protects and encourages theoretical and "blue skies" research while promoting dynamic engagement with wider society.

The UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2008 revealed LSE to have the highest percentage of world-leading research of any university in the country, topping or coming close to the top of a number of rankings of research excellence. LSE submitted over 90 per cent of eligible staff for assessment.

LSE is currently focusing on increasing the amount of research funding, especially from peer-reviewed external sources; learning lessons from RAE 2008; Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014; and improving the quality of research space.

Engagement

LSE is an outward-facing university, constantly engaged with the big policy issues of the day and communities around the world. Its academics are frequently to be found in the media, commenting on issues from the global economy to the government of London. Many serve on government panels and advise international organisations, businesses and charities.

The public lectures programme at LSE embodies the School's engagement agenda and caters to the thirst for informed debate. Global leaders in politics, business and the academic world come to LSE to discuss the issues of the day. LSE also runs a prestigious executive education programme, with Summer Schools in London and Beijing offering intensive courses.

The School is committed to widening participation in higher education, through engagement with secondary schools and their pupils throughout London.

LSE promotes knowledge exchange by "translating" academic research into accessible formats and by better targeting of public lectures.

LSE will also develop our institutional partnerships overseas.