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International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability at University of Bath - UCAS

University of Bath

Degree level: Postgraduate

International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability (Taught)

Course options

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Further your understanding of the political, economic and social forces that promote or prevent social and environmental justice around the world. During this specialist master’s, you’ll enhance your knowledge and understanding of international development, social justice, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability. You’ll critically examine the many political, economic and social factors that lead to inequality across the planet. These include people’s struggles for wellbeing and sustainability, and the visions that inspire them; and the roles of state, society and market factors. Throughout the course, you will look beyond the geographical binaries of ‘Global North and South’. This will allow you to examine similarities and differences across regions, and compare the factors that influence their development. Whether you are a graduate aiming to make a difference in the world, or a professional wishing to deepen your knowledge and critical thinking, this course is for you. Different course pathways to specialise your skills You have the choice of taking this specialist MSc in International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability course pathway or one of three other course pathways:

  • MSc International Development
  • MSc International Development with Conflict and Humanitarian Action
  • MSc International Development with Economics
The selection of a distinct pathway allows you the flexibility to pursue areas that interest you and are relevant to your career aspirations. Each pathway is available as full-time or part-time study. Gain real-world experience with a work-based practicum As an alternative to writing a dissertation, you’ll have the opportunity to undertake an eight-week work-based practicum. This is your chance to gain practical experience to complement your studies. During your practicum, you’ll work with an organisation involved in international development. You'll use the experiences you'll gain to write an academic report reflecting on a particular area of professional practice as part of your assessment. Some previous students have completed their practicum with:
  • United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • The Centre for Development Studies
  • MicroSave Consulting
  • EdUKaid
  • The Washing Machine Project
Finding a practicum is your own responsibility. We can’t guarantee practicum, but you will receive tailored support from our specialist team to help you find suitable opportunities. Gain important career skills Upon successful completion of this course, you'll leave with:
  • an in-depth and interdisciplinary understanding of the theories and concepts that underpin contemporary humanitarian action and conflict response
  • a critical understanding of humanitarian, peacebuilding and development policy and practice
  • practical skills in research, analysis and communication and an understanding of how these can be applied to the fields of humanitarianism, conflict and development
Graduate prospects This course provides an excellent background for those wishing to pursue careers in fields that aim to improve people’s lives. These include the international development, sustainability, humanitarian and peacebuilding sectors. You will be qualified to work in a wide variety of roles, including social research, public policy, public information and campaigning. Graduates from our suite of International Development master's courses have gone on to secure the following roles:
  • Senior Program Officer, Hashoo Foundation
  • Relief Support Worker, United Response
  • Analyst, Start Fund Bangladesh
  • Programme Assistant, The Advocacy Team
  • Fundraising Assistant, Refugee Cafe
  • Director of Programmes for North West Syria, Mercy Corps
  • Programme Specialist, African World Heritage Fund
  • Operations and Finance Officer, The Washing Machine Project
  • Local Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation

Assessment method

  • Coursework
  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • Oral presentation
  • Report
- Visual or recorded presentation


Entry requirements

You should have a bachelor’s honours degree or international equivalent, typically a 2:1 or above. To apply for this course you should have an undergraduate degree in an appropriate subject such as politics, economics, anthropology, international relations, African, Latin American or South East Asian Studies or environmental studies. We will also consider graduates with an undergraduate degree in other subjects where you have relevant professional experience in international development. We may make an offer based on a lower grade if you can provide evidence of your suitability for the degree. If your first language is not English but within the last 2 years you completed your degree in the UK you may be exempt from our English Language requirements.


English language requirements


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Tuition fees can be found on our web pages and are liable to increase annually. UK and Islands fees are regulated by the UK government and are subject to parliamentary approval. For all other fees, you should budget for an increase of up to 5% for every further year of study. For information on tuition fees visit our web pages: http://www.bath.ac.uk/topics/tuition-fees/
International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability at University of Bath - UCAS