Politics with Global Development

Politics and global development together examine the world from two complementary angles. Politics is concerned with power: how it is organised and contested within states, how ideologies and political movements shape policy, and what the relationship between citizens, governments, and institutions actually looks like when you examine it closely. Global development brings a more international and economic perspective, asking how the unequal distribution of wealth and opportunity between and within countries comes about and how it can be addressed through policy, activism, and international cooperation.

At Leeds Beckett this part-time programme with a year abroad develops your ability to engage critically with the ideas, power struggles, and political movements that shape societies around the world. You will explore topics including inequality, populism, global justice, environmental change, and the rise of political extremism, developing both theoretical understanding and the practical skills that employers in policy, advocacy, and international affairs value. The programme encourages you to question assumptions, challenge dominant narratives, and engage with some of the most pressing and divisive issues facing contemporary society.

A year abroad provides the opportunity to study at an international partner institution and engage with political and development questions from a different national vantage point, adding depth and comparative perspective to your analysis. The part-time format makes the programme accessible to students who have other commitments alongside their studies.

Graduates move into careers in the civil service, international organisations, NGOs, development agencies, journalism, political campaigning, policy research, the charity sector, and local and national government. Many continue to postgraduate study in politics, development studies, international relations, or public policy, building towards specialist professional or research careers.