International Development and Education

There is no established path into the development sector. This International Development and Education degree helps to bridge the gap between vocational aspirations and academic knowledge.

This course is designed to help you develop a critical awareness of the intersectional issues in international development and education. This offers a great opportunity for a number of career choices and a solid foundation for further experience and study in the sector. There's an opportunity for you to undertake a professional placement year between your second and third year of study, which is particularly relevant if you would like to gain more experience from the real world.

Annual options of placements and field trips offer you a wealth of experience to reflect on in your learning.

Year one
We'll introduce you to the main development theories and approaches, and their history, and how these relate to the education sector. We'll explore the current donor and sector agendas, and how these reflect the different approaches. This will provide a good foundation and overview, enabling you to confidently move into your second year.

Year one will also include a core module with an overseas placement. We may, for example, travel to Catalonia to look at development issues around minority groups in a European context, giving you the opportunity to relate your field experience to module theory.

Year two
You'll continue to draw on your knowledge and understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the field, applying them to some contemporary dilemmas, including the ongoing social inequalities and very topical and timely issue of peace and conflict.

An overseas visit is also planned for this year. We'll be going further afield, for example to Zambia, where we might explore the outcome of private agendas around school management in the copper belt, an area of increasing foreign investment and industrial activity. An alternative desk study approach can also be undertaken.

Optional placement year
If you're serious about getting more involved in the development sector, a placement year will be invaluable. Learning through hands-on experience, alongside colleagues with years of expertise in the field, will help you understand and consolidate what you've been learning on the course while introducing you to a network of inspirational people and programmes.

Year three
In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to dive deep into a subject that interests you by conducting a piece of independent research. Your dissertation will give you the chance to apply the knowledge and skills learned on the course as you seek to consolidate your thoughts and experiences, ready to confidently move into the next phase of your learning or career.

The planned annual trip this year will focus on research methodologies. You'll be able to explore educational responses to development issues through participation and observation. For example, you may visit a Non-governmental organization (NGO) in rural Nepal, to gain specific knowledge and experience of community education. Where a visit is not possible, an alternative desk study approach will be undertaken.

You’ll be assessed through coursework. There are no exams. Assessments could include essays, individual or group presentations, placement reports/journals, and, of course, your third year dissertation.

We’ll provide you with regular feedback on how well you're doing and give you regular guidance on how to improve your skills, knowledge and understanding.

You'll be taught through lectures and seminars, as well as personal and group tutorials.

You’ll have the opportunity to study in a wide range of locations around the world. Our students have completed exchange programmes in a variety of countries including Spain, Sweden and the USA.

You'll be encouraged to study education and development in various international contexts, for example:

• Cary Mufulira Community Partnership Trust, Mufilira, Zambia
• Vic University, Catalonia, Spain
• The Himanchal Educational Foundation, Nepal.

Further opportunities with locally-based partnerships can be developed as you continue your studies.

The experiences and knowledge gained on this course may lead to a variety of career opportunities, including:

• Teaching, both in the UK and internationally (a PGCE or equivalent further qualifications will be required to gain Qualified Teacher Status).
• Working in the Development sector, for example, the Department of International Development, UNICEF, VSO (the placement year is highly recommended, and further qualifications, such as a Master's, will require relevant experience).
• Working within educational programmes in international contexts.
• Educational work in charitable organisations. 
• Working in Development Education, for example, educating school pupils on development issues.

This optional placement year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement.

The International Development and Education course is taught on Newton Park campus. You'll have access to a range of excellent facilities including our Libraries and the Commons building which includes quiet study space and group collaboration pods.

You'll have access to Bath Spa University's:

• Computing and IT facilities
• Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
• Writing and Learning Centre
• English Language Unit.

You can also hire out equipment using SISO, Bath Spa University’s free equipment loan service. We provide a huge variety of equipment, from cameras to laptops.

Please note that this course entails additional travel costs that are both significant and compulsory.

This course has the same level of tuition fees as all our standard undergraduate programmes. However, integral international trips form part of the programme of study and this cost is not included within the tuition fee.

Each year students will visit a different country which offers a rich context in which to understand international development and education.

As the country will vary each year, so will the costs. Costs are anticipated to be between £700 and £2,000 per year, however the exchange rate of the pound and the economics of developing countries are likely to affect the overall costs of trips.

Bath Spa University offers bursaries to students who are eligible for Home or EU student funding. Other funding opportunities may also be available.

We can help you manage your finances and check that you're getting all the funding you're entitled to.

We have a number of funding options for UK and EU students and international students and we also offer support if you're having financial problems. Email: studentsupport@bathspa.ac.uk for more guidance.