How long does the BA in Global Development Studies take?

The BA in Global Development Studies runs three years full-time with part-time and accelerated routes. Every mode of the BA in Global Development Studies includes a structured placement year.

How is the BA in Global Development Studies delivered?

The BA in Global Development Studies is available on-campus in central London, online in live seminars, and by distance learning, with a placement year for every mode.

Is the BA in Global Development Studies recognised in the UK?

Yes. The BA in Global Development Studies is a UK Level 6 honours degree aligned with ODI and IDS coverage of the discipline.

What are the entry requirements for the BA in Global Development Studies?

A-levels at BBB or above, GCSE English and Maths at 4/C, and IELTS 6.5 for non-native English speakers, to join the BA in Global Development Studies.

What are the fees and funding options for the BA in Global Development Studies?

Fees for the BA in Global Development Studies vary by mode and cohort. LSLPE admissions publishes the current schedule and advises on scholarships, sponsorship and instalment options.

BA in Global Development Studies | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA in Global Development Studies at LSLPE is a UK Level 6 honours degree running three years full-time with part-time and accelerated routes available. The programme reads global development as a policy discipline first: how programmes are designed, financed, evaluated and defended, drawing on the ODI programme model, IDS research method and Chatham House commentary on development.

By graduation you are producing structured programme designs, running results and impact analysis on real data, writing donor-audience briefings, completing a placement year in a multilateral, NGO or bilateral programme, and delivering a dissertation supervised by an academic or a practising analyst.

Key Features

Content aligned with Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Institute of Development Studies (IDS) undergraduate coverage.
Themes aligned with Political Studies Association (PSA) and Chatham House programme work.
Public finance framing drawing on Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Aligned with Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) communication standards for development audiences.
Placement year in a multilateral, NGO or bilateral programme.
Distance and online cohorts follow the same weekly seminar timetable as on-campus students.

What You Will Learn

Development theory: modernisation, dependency, capabilities, post-development.
Programme design and theory-of-change method.
Results frameworks and monitoring/evaluation practice.
Development economics for policy audiences.
Sector deep dives: health, education, climate, governance.
ODA rules and reporting standards.
Ethics, safeguarding and decolonial critique in development.
Dissertation research on a self-chosen development question.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers with A-levels at BBB or above targeting a development degree.
Access to HE Diploma holders with a social science profile.
International applicants seeking a UK honours degree with a placement year.
Career changers moving into multilateral, NGO or bilateral programme work.
Working professionals in the third sector formalising a full degree.

Career Pathways

Development Analyst in a multilateral
Programme Manager in a bilateral programme
International Development Officer
NGO Programme Officer
Public Sector Consultant on development briefs
Public Affairs Consultant with a development portfolio
Think Tank Researcher on development themes
Global Affairs Analyst on development questions

The LSLPE careers service maintains standing links with ODI-adjacent teams, multilateral offices, development consultancies and NGO programmes, and refreshes the BA syllabus annually against ODI and IDS-aligned coverage.

Entry Requirements

A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or above, OR a UK Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, in a mix suitable for development studies.
GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Two academic references and a personal statement.
International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE teaches global development from central London, within a short tube ride of the FCDO, ODI, Chatham House and international development consultancies. That geography turns the BA into something practical: programme designs are drafted against live questions, and dissertation supervisors are drawn from bodies operating in walking distance of the classroom.

Every intake, on-campus or remote, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support. The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each academic year for BA students, connecting them with multilaterals, NGOs and development consultancies.

Apply for BA in Global Development Studies

The BA in Global Development Studies is calibrated for graduates aiming at multilateral, NGO and bilateral programme work, with a rigorous policy orientation. Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme — placement year in chambers, government or a think tank included, admissions responds within one working day. Enrol Now