International Development and PoliticsBA

Elevate your career with a degree providing you with skills sought after by global employers. Through hands-on projects, professional placements, and tailored careers support, you’ll graduate ready to drive change in international development. This will lead you to a rewarding career where you'll have the opportunity to make a tangible difference, influence global policy, and build a fairer, more sustainable world.

Our BA in International Relations and Development stands out through its blend of global theory, practical experience, and flexibility. You'll gain hands-on skills with tools used in real-world development projects, engage with innovative research, and tailor their studies with a range of optional modules. The dissertation offers you an opportunity for deep, personal exploration, while a strong global network and links to development and policy institutions enhance career prospects. You'll graduate ready to make a meaningful impact in global development, governance, and more.

Reasons to study at Birmingham

• Learn from experts actively shaping global development debates, policies, and research, offering a cutting-edge perspective on contemporary challenges.
• Gain a deep understanding of global development challenges through immersive study visits to connect theory with practical insights.
• Build essential skills for the development sector by engaging in hands-on projects, exercises, and the option to take a work placement in your second year.
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for successful careers in development, through a focus on enquiry-based learning and real-world case studies.

Teaching will utilise a range of learning methods including:

• Lecture: Academics give organised talks to large groups of students who take notes, less interactive.
• Tutorial: Small group discussions with a tutor which are informal.
• Seminar: Small group sessions designed to complement lectures and are generally more informal in nature. They give you the chance to discuss issues with fellow students and allow for more interaction than a traditional lecture.
• Workshop: Workshops are for smaller groups, but instead of discussion, students might learn about a tool or a technique that they will be required to know about for their course. They are usually more hands-on learning that allow discussion regarding the given topic.

Assessment methods and feedback

Each module is assessed independently, and all modules contain some components of continuous assessment (that means assessment taking place during the teaching terms). Some modules are assessed entirely through coursework, without an end-of-year examination. At the beginning of each module, you'll be given information on how and when you'll be assessed for that module. You'll receive feedback on each assessment within three weeks, so that you can learn from and build on what you have done, including written feedback on your assessments, class feedback, and questions sessions and discussions with your tutor. When exams are included in a module, you’ll have access to marking criteria, and mock exam and marking sessions allow you to get a sense of what to aim for.

Support during your studies

You will have access to our comprehensive support system to help you make a smooth transition to university-level study.

• Personal tutors - will get to know you as you progress through your studies. They will provide academic support and advice to enable you to make the most of your time here at Birmingham.
• Wellbeing Officers - provide professional support, advice and guidance to you across a range of issues. They can discuss extensions, disabilities, reasonable adjustments, extenuating circumstances, and help you access wider support on campus and beyond.
• Academic Skills Centre - helps you become a more effective independent learner through a range of high-quality support, with workshops on topics such as note-taking, reading, academic writing and presentation skills.
• Student Experience team - will help you get the most out of your academic and social experience, including research opportunities, study skills support and preparing for your post-university careers.

Contact hours

Throughout your International Development and Politics degree you can expect an average of circa 15 contact hours per week. This will include lectures, seminars and tutorials. The proportion of time spent in each will vary depending on which year you are in and the optional modules you choose.

To secure a place at Birmingham, you'll need to meet our general entry requirements as well as those specific to your course.

Number of A levels required: 3

General Studies: not accepted

T Levels: all subjects considered. Standard offer: Distinction overall with A in the Core Component.

English language requirements

If you are an international student, you will need to demonstrate you have a suitable level of English proficiency, usually through the form of an IELTS or equivalent qualification or a Presessional English course.

• TOEFL: 88 overall with no less than 21 in Reading, 20 in Listening, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing.
• IELTS: 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any band.
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills.
• Cambridge English(exams taken from 2015): Cambridge English: Advanced Minimum overall score of 176, with no less than 169 in any component
• Language Cert ESOL SELT (UKVI): B2 ‘Communicator’ with no less than 33 in each skill
• Trinity ISE II: Not applicable
• Trinity ISE III: Pass in each Skill

Presessional English courses

If you have a conditional offer for Birmingham where English is a requirement, you can take a Presessional English course as an alternative to retaking IELTS or a similar qualification. We offer on-campus courses all year round starting from September, including additional online courses in the summer term. Teaching takes place in small classes with no more than 18 students to maximise class participation.

The University will charge the maximum approved tuition fee per year. If your offer is for 2025 year of entry, we expect that the tuition fee for your first year of study will be £9,535 for UK students.  If Parliament agrees on an increase in tuition fees, the University will increase fees for each year of study normally in line with these changes and will communicate any change in the fees to you without delay.  If you are applying for 2026 year of entry, you will be advised of the annual tuition fee closer to the time.

Undergraduate loans

To help with the cost of studies, undergraduate students from the UK can apply for student finance through the Student Loans Company. The support available is made up of a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan which helps to cover living costs.

Scholarships, grants and bursaries

At Birmingham, we believe that financial worries should not be a barrier to accessing higher education. That’s why we offer a range of additional financial support for students through scholarships, bursaries and other awards.

View further information on how to apply for undergraduate courses, including advice for UK and overseas applicants.

Careers Network

Our aim is to make sure that success in your studies leads you on to a fulfilling career. Whatever you plan to do after your degree, the Careers Network offer support to help you identify your options, develop your skills and gain access to opportunities that propel you towards your career goal.

Our bustling campus with its beautiful grounds, friendly community, and excellent facilities will quickly make you feel at home. We offer you a huge variety of accommodation options in the UK’s second city, exciting activities to get involved in outside your studies, as well as all the support and advice you need.