Programme Specifications

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

This programme aims to prepare professionals for careers in International NGOs, development consultancies, international organisations and foundations, government aid agencies, social enterprises, academia and Think Tanks. The programme will suit candidates who are interested in critical perspectives on international development, sustainability, resilience, social change and social justice and wishes to apply the principles of sustainable development on the ground. The programme will provide a unique opportunity to learn in a complementary environment, collaborating regularly with other PGT students, academics and practitioners. The programme builds on the international reputation of the Water, Engineering and Development Centre and its internationally recognised research in sustainable development. The programme aims are: 

• To enable students to gain a systematic and critical understanding of international sustainable development in the context of current and emerging global challenges, such as globalisation, urbanisation, climate change, and disaster risks
• To foster students’ ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about international development, with a particular focus on the Global South, Sustainable Development Goals, disaster risk, and resilience
• To develop a critical approach to the global principles and local practice of sustainable development projects for all levels of society
• To develop students’ skills and competencies in a comprehensive range of research methods and techniques relevant to the investigation of international development practices, sustainable development goals and emerging challenges as well as social change, social construction of development realities, and power and politics in different socio-technical contexts
• To enable students to interpret, evaluate and apply advanced knowledge of international sustainable development principles in an innovative and ethical way
• To prepare students for employment in diverse professional roles that directly contribute to achieving sustainable development locally and internationally through a combination of independent work and industry exposure.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• UK Quality Code for Higher Education, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, April 2012, especially Part A: Setting and maintaining academic standards:
  • The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ), the QAA, August 2008
  • Master’s Degree Characteristics, the QAA, March 2015
  • The Higher Education Credit Framework for England, the QAA, August 2008
• The Quality Code, Part B: Assuring and enhancing academic quality
  • Chapter B1: Programme Design, Development and Approval
  • Chapter B3: Learning and Teaching
  • Chapter B4: Enabling student development and achievement
  • Chapter B6: Assessment of students

• Engineering Council (2014) The Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes: UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competencies, The Engineering Council,
• JBM Technical/Non-Technical Guidelines for MSc - Progression from IEng to CEng July 2018

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of…

• K1 The application of different concepts relevant to  sustainable development and the ability to evaluate them critically and to apply them effectively;
• K2 The links between sustainability, resilience, and socio-economic development;
• K3 The use of different indicators in the assessment of sustainable development;
• K4 The key issues for using a multidisciplinary approach to the delivery of sustainable development outcomes in projects and policy;
• K5 The promotion of sustainable and resilient development, particularly in the Global South;
• K6 The collection of qualitative and quantitative data, analysis and dissemination, including tackling unfamiliar problems, such as those with uncertain or incomplete data, by the appropriate innovation, use or adaptation of analytical methods.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• C1 Critique past and current international development programmes and sustainable development goals globally;
• C2 Formulate decision-making in complex socio-political contexts;
• C3 Integrate and evaluate international sustainable development needs and demands based on often limited information;
• C4 Critically analyse institutional, social, economic, environmental and technical constraints and compare possible solutions;
• C5 Interpret user research data using cultural studies research frameworks;
• C6 Investigate relevant emerging challenges facing sustainable development

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• P1 Utilise a range of techniques and research methods applicable to advanced scholarship in the subject relevant to the international sustainable development;
• P2 Analyse and adapt theoretical concepts of sustainable development to a variety of socio-economic, environmental and political contexts in the Global South;
• P3 Choose appropriate methods to review, analyse, interpret and communicate dissimilar data sets using appropriate methods;
• P4 Critically analyse new opportunities from which to develop or adapt appropriate sustainable options to meet users’ needs and demands incorporating cultural and development studies insights

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• T1 Find and evaluate a variety of existing sources of data, information and knowledge;
• T2 Seek, consider and record a range of views from diverse local stakeholders;
• T3 Communicate professionally, including visual, written and oral presentation and discussions;
• T4 Engage in independent learning and time management by initiating, planning, monitoring, organising and prioritising activities in an ethical manner, as the foundation for lifelong learning.

4. Programme structure

Full-time Programme Structure 

Semester One

Compulsory Modules (60 credits)

Semester Two

Compulsory Modules (15 credits)

Optional Modules (students should select 45 credits)

Semester Three 

Compulsory Module (60 credits)

Part-time Programme Structure 

Year 1:

Semester One 

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Semester Two

Compulsory Modules (15 credits)

Optional Modules (students should select 15 credits)

Year 2:

Semester One

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Semester Two 

Optional Modules (students should select 30 credits)

Semester Three 

Compulsory Module (60 credits)

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of regulation XXI. 

All modules available in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) unless specified in the Module Specification

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Not Applicable.

Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

The programme aims are to: 

• enable students to gain a systematic and critical understanding of international development in a global context where theories and practices of development and social change are being rethought
• foster’ students’ ability to critically analyse current research and advanced scholarship about both the history and legacy of international development as well as contemporary challenges to the field. There will be a particular focus on the global south
• develop students’ skills and competencies in a comprehensive range of research methods and techniques relevant to the investigation of international development practices as well as social change and social justice policies in different socio-technical contexts
• enable students to interpret, evaluate and apply advanced knowledge of international development in an innovative way
• prepare students for employment in professional environments oriented towards strategic intervention, advocacy and policy development. This is done through a combination of independent work and exposure to relevant stakeholders

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• UK Quality Code for Higher Education, The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, April 2012, especially Part A: Setting and maintaining academic standards:
  • The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ), the QAA, August 2008
  • Master’s Degree Characteristics, the QAA, March 2015
  • The Higher Education Credit Framework for England, the QAA, August 2008
• The Quality Code, Part B: Assuring and enhancing academic quality
  • Chapter B1: Programme Design, Development and Approval
  • Chapter B3: Learning and Teaching
  • Chapter B4: Enabling student development and achievement
  • Chapter B6: Assessment of students

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of…

• K1 The links between the history of development and contemporary challenges of inequality and socio-economic and cognitive justice;
• K2 The epistemological underpinnings to the various schools of thought in international development
• K3 The key stakeholders of a development or social change process
• K4 The application of different concepts relevant to the discipline and the ability to evaluate them critically and to apply them strategically and effectively;
• K5 The use of different approaches to assessment of social change processes;
• K6 The promotion of equitable and resilient development through strategic intervention, advocacy and policy development;
• K7 The collection of qualitative and quantitative data, analysis and dissemination, including tackling unfamiliar problems, such as those with uncertain or incomplete data by the appropriate innovation, use or adaptation of analytical methods.

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• C1 Critique past and current international development programmes globally, recognizing the diversity of ontologies and epistemologies informing contemporary debate about development;
• C2 Integrate and evaluate needs and demands of relevant communities and collectives engaged in or affected by international development processes, and do so by drawing on relevant, often participatory and community-based methodologies;
• C3 Formulate strategies, plans and policy proposals in complex and unpredictable situations;
• C4 Critically analyse institutional, socio-cultural, political-economic and technical constraints and compare possible solutions;
• C5 Interpret research data from communities and users involved in the change processes, drawing on the diversity of epistemologies informing relevant research frameworks
• C6 Investigate institutional, political as well as socio-economic barriers to social justice

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• P1 Utilise a range of techniques and research methods applicable to advanced scholarship in  international development and social change;
• P2 Formulate and undertake the practical steps necessary for a concept to become reality in a rational and pragmatic way;
• P3 Choose appropriate methods to critically assess both strategies, design, implementation and expected outcomes of development and social change projects, programmes and initiatives
• P4 Critically analyse new opportunities from which to develop or adapt appropriate options to meet needs and demands of involved communities and stakeholders, incorporating insights from the epistemologies of the south

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• T1 Find and evaluate a variety of existing sources of data, information and knowledge
• T2 Seek, consider and record a range of views, from local stakeholders and vulnerable groups
• T3 Communicate professionally, including visual, written and oral presentation and discussions;
• T4 Engage in independent learning and time management by initiating, planning, monitoring, organising and prioritising activities in an ethical manner and as the foundation for lifelong learning.

4. Programme structure

Full-time Programme Structure 

Semester One

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Optional Modules (students should select 30 credits)

Semester Two

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Optional Modules (students should select 30 credits)

Semester Three

Compulsory Module (60 credits)

Part-time Programme Structure 

Year 1: 

Semester One

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Semester Two

Compulsory Modules (30 credits)

Year 2: 

Semester One

Optional Modules (students should select 30 credits)

Semester Two 

Optional Modules (students should select 30 credits)

Semester Three

Compulsory Module (60 credits)

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of regulation XXI. 

All modules available in the Special Assessment Period (SAP) unless specified in the Module Specification

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the purposes of Final Degree Classification

Not Applicable.