About International Development (bsc (hons)) in University College Cork

Are you interested in human rights, health, education and environment in the context of development? Or the UN's sustainable goals and the fight against global hunger and poverty?  If so, this programme will be of interest to you.

The BSc International Development and Food Policy is the first undergraduate programme in Ireland to have a primary focus on international development, particularly on the countries of the global south. It will help you understand key issues of development and deliver skills such as languages, research techniques and project management.

In Year 3, you will have the opportunity to undertake a five-month work placement, typically with a development agency based in a developing country in Africa or Asia. 

The course addresses key challenges in global development:

• Poverty and hunger
• Agricultural and rural development
• Food policy and food systems
• Human rights, governance and gender
• Health and development
• Climate change
• Role of international development agencies and non-governmental organisations
• Migration and Refugees

It aims to:

• Develop your understanding of the multidimensional nature of international development
• Develop your understanding of cross-disciplinary methods for analysis of key development challenges
• Equip you with practical skills to address global challenges
• Ensure you can work effectively as individuals and in team settings

On this course, students engage with major global issues from a development perspective. These issues include poverty, hunger and inequality, sustainability, international food policy, human rights, peace and conflict, gender studies and climate change.

The course will give you the foundations necessary to work in the field of international development, whether with a non-governmental organisation, a state agency, an international organisation or within the private sector, or to advance to further study.  A distinctive feature of this course is the five-month work placement with a development agency, usually based in a developing country in Asia, Africa or Latin America. This allows students to gain hands-on experience of working in international development, to develop their practical skills and experience other cultures and societies.

The course provides a broad training in key socio-economic areas related to international development and food policy, as well as a set of generic transferable skills, such as programme management, research and report writing that will be valued by employers in many fields, particularly those operating in an international context.

Key facts

• In-depth focus on international development and food policy issues over four years
• Course input from development practitioners
• Mix of theoretical and practical skills
• Multi-disciplinary staff with a wealth of international experience
• International work experience with a recognised development organisation

Placement or Study Abroad Information

A central feature of the course is the work placement, which takes place over five months in third year. Students are placed with well-established development organisations throughout the developing world and in Ireland to gain first-hand experience of development work. Students on placement are supported by a Placement Officer and allocated a Mentor from the Department of Food Business and Development.

A typical work experience includes opportunities to meet with communities in urban and rural areas, contribute to new development projects, run a social media campaign, conduct field reserach, draft policy document and funding proposals, and generally contribute to the daily operations of the host organisation.

Countries to which students travel include Ethiopia, India, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Cambodia, Thailand and Bolivia. As well as the practical experience of development on the ground and the technical skills acquired on placement, you will achieve valuable personal development in terms of self-reliance, self-confidence, communications,  and working in teams.

“Africa Direct have found the students to be very helpful in getting a good insight into how our partners are performing. The standard of students has been very high and they have produced insightful reports as well as working productively for partners.” – John Slattery, Africa Direct.

Skills and Careers Information

Students on this course develop skills to work effectively in the areas of international development and food policy. These include project management, research methods, data analysis, programme evaluation and policy analysis. Students also develop a strong understanding of key global issues such as global poverty and hunger, migration, sustainable development,  human rights, race, gender, conflict and food systems. Students acquire general transferrable skills in areas such as IT, economic literacy, capacity for cross disciplinary understanding, team work, communications and report writing. French, Chinese and Spanish language options are also available.

Graduates  work in a wide range of organisations, e.g., within the UN system on refugee issues (UNHCR) and on gender equality (UN Women). Graduates also work in some of Ireland’s largest NGOs, including Concern and Trócaire, in areas such as agricultural development, human rights, poverty alleviation and food programmes. Employers value the diverse skills of our graduates who are well-prepared for work in  a wide variety of public and private sector organisations.

Academic qualification equivalents

 1.    All India Senior School Certificate 

 2.    Higher Secondary Certificate / Standard 12 

 3.    Indian School Certificate (Year 12) 

Band 1 Programmes

Minimum average of 90% + in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 2 Programmes

Minimum average of 80-89% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Band 3 Programmes

Minimum average of 75-79% in any of the recognised secondary school qualifications.

Additional Requirements

Where Maths is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% in Maths is required.

Where a Lab Science subject is required for a specific degree programme, a minimum score of 85% is required in the appropriate Lab Science subject.

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS: 6.5  Minimum individual sections 5.5
• TOEFL: TOEFL 90  Listening - 17; Reading - 18; Speaking - 20; Writing 17
• PTE: 63 Minimum individual sections 51

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