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Course Information

Level of Study

Postgraduate

Mode of Study

2 years Full Time

Department

Geography and Environmental Sciences

Location

City Campus, Northumbria University

City

Newcastle

Start

September 2025 or January 2026

GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2025 MODERN UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR

Overview

Please note: this course is subject to validation. The first year of entry for this course is September 2025.

Interested in tackling global challenges like poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis?

This Global Development course, formerly known as International Development, offers a critical, up-to-date understanding of the field of global development. The course also has a 12 month full time option.

Engage with key concerns such as environmental and social injustices; conflict and displacement; technology, innovation and decolonising development; and examine global policies, theories, and practices.

Benefit from specialist expertise in the pioneering Centre for Global Development and the Disaster and Development Network (DDN),

Gain theoretical, analytical and practical knowledge and skills through interactive teaching. Our multidisciplinary course prepares you for a career in global development, for example in non-governmental organisations, government, or multilateral organisations.

The Advanced Practice element of the course offers hands-on learning experiences beyond your studies. This 60-credit module is designed for all full-time postgraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the opportunity to undertake a Live Project (including the possibility of live research project work with staff) for one semester as part of your programme (the first semester of year 2 in this case).

This experience gives you the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your programme and to acquire new skills and knowledge in an alternative learning environment. Specific learning will be defined in a personal learning contract. Your learning goals and development plan will be tailored to you through a formal learning contract. Assessment emphasises self-reflection, helping you evaluate your progress.

By engaging with real-world challenges, you’ll build resilience, flexibility, and a fresh perspective on your field, ready for employment beyond graduation.

Your Advanced Practice semester will be assessed on a pass/fail basis and as such, it does not contribute to the classification of your degree. However, when taken and passed it is recognised both in your transcript as a 60 credit Advanced Practice Module and in your degree title

 

Course Information

Level of Study

Postgraduate

Mode of Study

2 years Full Time

Department

Geography and Environmental Sciences

Location

City Campus, Northumbria University

City

Newcastle

Start

September 2025 or January 2026

GOOD UNIVERSITY GUIDE 2025 MODERN UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

Applicants should normally have:

A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in any subject. Applicants with appropriate work experience and/or a relevant professional qualification will be considered.

International qualifications:

If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English language requirements:

International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

 *The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS.  You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

Full UK Fee: £12,700

Full International Fee: £22,350



Scholarships and Discounts

Discover More about Fees, Scholarships and other Funding options for UK and International applicants.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

Optional Field Trip module (subject to availability) - should students opt for the module 'International Development Study Visit', costs for flights and visas will be incurred. For example, in 2024/25 students had the option of a study visit to Kerala, India with the costs of flights and visas totalling £1300.

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Features & Benefits

  • Research Powerhouse: Geography and Environmental Studies at Northumbria is ranked 2nd for research power in the UK (REF, 2021)
  • Delivered by specialists with a wealth of experience and connections with global networks the programme will put you at the forefront of the global development field.
  • We have expertise in collaborative, participatory and creative research methods and bring much of this expertise into our teaching.

 

Careers & Employability

This course equips you with the skills and knowledge to tackle urgent global challenges like inequality, the climate crisis, conflict and disasters. You’ll enhance your career prospects with tailored career support and networking opportunities.

The chance to base your dissertation on independent fieldwork provides real-world experience and industry connections. Graduates pursue careers with NGOs, charities, government agencies, or launch their own initiatives. Others move into research, consultancy, or academia, with Alumni working for Barnardo’s, The Refugee Council, and the International Rescue Committee. 

 

We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.

a person using a laptop computer sitting on top of a desk

Careers and Employment Services

Staff

The course is taught by internationally recognized academics with extensive experience in global development across the global North and South. You’ll also attend guest lectures from experts who are currently working within the sector, and who will share their first-hand experience of what it’s like to work in the field of global development.

Staff on the MSc Global Development course bring their cutting-edge research into the classroom through case studies, problem-solving, and group discussions. Their expertise spans environmental governance, the climate crisis, gender inequalities, migrant mobilities, and decolonial approaches to development, with a focus on Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Members of the team are experts in participatory, decolonial and creative methodologies and in working collaboratively with development organisations. 

You’ll have the chance to conduct your own research and engage with development organisations in the UK and internationally. 

Northumbria University is a research-intensive modern university. We stand ready. Empowering innovators, visionaries and change-makers to transform lives and make a remarkable impact on the world. Making the impossible possible. 

Long-shot of a woman carrying a basket through a rice field

Centre for Global Development (CGD)

Discover more about the CDG

Facilities

Our campus encompasses a range of learning spaces, including the Qualitative Research Suite, The Zone, The Hub and our University Library. 

The Qualitative Research Suite: Offers facilities for interviews, focus groups, and workshops, with recording equipment and transcription software.

The Zone: A 24/7 study area with workstations for group or individual study.

The Hub: A collaborative space for Geography & Environmental Science students, with computers and large tables for individual or group work.

 

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

Useful Links

Find out about our distinctive approach at 
www.northumbria.ac.uk/exp

Admissions Terms and Conditions
northumbria.ac.uk/terms

Fees and Funding
northumbria.ac.uk/fees

Admissions Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/adpolicy

Admissions Complaints Policy
northumbria.ac.uk/complaints



If you’d like to receive the latest updates from Northumbria about our courses, events, finance & funding then enter your details below.

* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here

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