Department of Development Studies

BA Global Development and...

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Key information

Duration

3 or 4 years

Start of programme

September 2025

Attendance mode

Full-time

Location

Campus

Fees

Home: £9,535
International: £22,870

Entry requirements

AAA-AAB

(For joint degrees, the offer is based on the subject with the higher entry requirements)

Contextual: AAB-ABB

See undergraduate entry requirements and English language requirements for international and alternative entry requirements.

Course overview

Have you got a passion for addressing the major issues and challenges facing today’s global community?

This exciting programme provides an interdisciplinary training in social sciences, focusing on how societies change, exploring what constitutes progress and examining interventions that aim to bring about change. Students build strong knowledge of theories and evidence on the causes of and responses to poverty, insecurity and inequality, and develop a nuanced understanding of the dramatic processes of social, economic, political transformation underway in different parts of the world.

Why study Global Development Combined Honours at SOAS?

SOAS is ranked 5th in the world for Development Studies (QS World University Rankings 2025)
We are ranked 2nd in the world for Academic Reputation (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Use our combined courses tool to see a breakdown of course structure

Key information set data

Teaching and learning

Our teaching and learning approach is designed to support and encourage students in their own process of self-learning, and to develop their own ideas, responses and critique of international development practice and policy.

Students' understanding is assessed by a range of tasks including essays, presentations, reviews, blogs, reports, and written examinations.

The introductory and core/compulsory modules provide a solid interdisciplinary grounding, whilst guided options allow students to develop deeper expertise in areas of particular interest. Student have the opportunity in their final year to complete a dissertation or a placement module.

Contact hours

All full-time undergraduate programmes consist of 120 credits per year, in modules of 30 or 15 credits. They are taught over 20 or 10 weeks. The programme structure shows which modules are core, compulsory, guided options, and open options. As a rough guide, 1 credit equals approximately 10 hours of work. Most of this will be independent study.

Also included are class time, which may include lectures, seminars, workshops and other classes. In the Department of Development Studies, most undergraduate modules have 2-3 hours of teaching per week. The organization of study time and teaching varies by module. Common teaching formats include 1 hour or 2 hour lectures, 1 hour small group classes and 2 hour seminars.

Year abroad

If Global Development is combined with a Language in a four-year degree programme, students spend a study year abroad in their third year.

SOAS Library

SOAS Library is one of the world's most important academic libraries for the study of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, attracting scholars from all over the world. The Library houses over 1.2 million volumes, together with significant archival holdings, special collections and a growing network of electronic resources.

Scholarships

Title	Deadline date
The Rahim Lalji ‘14 Development Studies Bursary	1 August 2024

Fees and funding

Fees for 2025/26 entrants per academic year

Programme	Full-time
Programme	Home students	Overseas students
BA, BSc, LLB	£9,535	£22,870
BA/BSc Language year abroad	£1,385	£11,430

For full details, see undergraduate fees.

Employment

This versatile degree provides a great launchpad into a range of fields. As well as developing a strong understanding of contemporary global development issues, you also cultivate a range of transferable skills including analytical skills, critical thinking and cultural awareness. Our students go on to work in a variety of sectors, including: governments, international organisations and donors; NGOs and charities; private sector, banks and social enterprise; research institutes, think-tanks and consultancy firms; and media organisations.

Recent graduates have been hired by: