Program Overview

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What will the world look like by 2025? How can we make the world economy more resilient? What role do NGOs play in the developing world? How can conflict be prevented? Explore the economic, social, and political processes of change in the developing world. Based in the UK’s top politics department for research excellence (REF 2014), International Development at Essex doesn’t just look at what but it questions why. We train our students to be fearless and independent, to question everything and to draw on the broadest possible range of facts and ideas; encouraging you to develop your critical analysis skills and research abilities. You examine everything from poverty and inequality to authoritarian regimes and causes of conflict. This interdisciplinary approach allows you develop a wide understanding of the key issues facing the world today. This course explores a wide range of topics including:

• The role of NGOs and Foreign aid in developing countries
• The dynamics of conflict
• The world economy from 16th century to present
• The effects of international financial institutions
• Politics in the Middle East

Our Department of Government is one of the most prestigious in Europe, with an outstanding record of teaching, research and publication. We are rated top in the UK for research (REF 2014) and Top 5 in the UK for Politics (TGUG 2018), and have consistently been the highest-rated politics department in the country since national assessments began. Why we're great.

• This interdisciplinary course allows you to take modules from Government, Economics, Business and Sociology
• You have access to some of the best minds in politics and the biggest names in the field
• Ranked 9th in the UK for Politics and International Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2023)

Study abroad

Your education extends beyond the university campus. We support you in expanding your education through offering the opportunity to spend a year or a term studying abroad at one of our partner universities. The four-year version of our degree allows you to spend the third year abroad or employed on a placement abroad, while otherwise remaining identical to the three-year course. Studying abroad allows you to experience other cultures and languages, to broaden your degree socially and academically, and to demonstrate to employers that you are mature, adaptable, and organised. If you spend a full year abroad you'll only pay 15% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year. You won't pay any tuition fees to your host university.

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Placement year

Alternatively, on a placement year you gain relevant work experience within an external business, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and our Employability and Careers Centre. If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.

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Our expert staff

Some of the biggest names in the field work at Essex, giving you unparalleled access to some of the best minds in politics. Our staff are advising the CIA on counter-terrorism, training politicians and civil servants in democratising countries, and commentating on political events in national and international media. Our key academic staff for this course include:

• Dr Florian Kern ’s expertise specialise in comparative politics, formal theory, indigenous government and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Dr Alejandro Quiroz Flores is a leading academic in Political Economy and the Politics and Economics of natural disasters, which is a key area when exploring International Development.
• Dr Gina Reinhardt combines expertise on disasters and development to explore the complex relationship between foreign aid and disasters and development interventions.
• Dr Zorzeta Bakaki focuses her research and teaching on International relations, in particular the quantitative and qualitative analysis of conflict management and resolution.
• Dr Martin Steinwand specialises in international political institutions, foreign aid and civil war.
• Dr Natasha Ezrow is the Director of Education for the department and a leading expert on authoritarian regimes, international development and third world politics.

You join an active and prolific research team, with the opportunity to work alongside a member of staff on their research instead of completing a dissertation; some of these projects have even resulted in joint staff/student publications.

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Specialist facilities

• Laboratories of networked computers featuring extensive software for political analysis
• ESSEXLab provides opportunities for experimental lab research
• Student societies for politics, debating, and Model UN
• A dedicated study skills advisor in your first year for one-to-one advice
• A personal tutor and peer mentor for every student
• We organise the Essex Summer School in Social Science Data Analysis
• A programme of seminars and events run by the department

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Your future

At Essex, politics graduates have the distinction of a qualification from one of the world’s leading politics departments. International Development graduates are in demand from a host of employers, in international development, politics, the civil service fast stream, management, journalism, police, armed forces, commerce, business, finance, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), teaching and graduate research. Our notable alumni include the former President of Costa Rica and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Dr Oscar Arias, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, and our recent graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of high-profile companies including:

• The World Bank
• NATO
• United Nations Development Program
• Houses of Parliament Research Unit

We also work with the University’s Student Development Team to help you find out about further work experience, internships, placements, and voluntary opportunities.