Masters Degrees (Microfinance)

Social business and microfinance have the potential to transform the lives of the poorest people in both developing and developed countries.

With growing global interest of both governments and foundations, there is a real need for professionals who have the knowledge, skills and self-awareness to lead in this challenging sector characterised by rapid change and increasing diversity.

Our pioneering MSc Social Business and Microfinance will provide you with the tools to critically evaluate the power of business and to implement positive social change in global environments. You will reflect on contemporary issues facing business and society, explore international and intercultural perspectives, and engage with international research to strengthen your understanding of the global political economy, social business and the expanding microfinance sector.

Microfinance is a model that can be used to provide small loans for people who want to bring themselves out of poverty. Already successful in many developing economies, the microfinance model has now expanded to countries such the US and UK. By advancing your knowledge and expertise in the sector, you will be able to respond critically and creatively to the challenges arising in the microfinance sector.

This degree is jointly delivered by Glasgow School for Business and Society and The Yunus Centre at GCU – one of the leading international centres for research on social business, and home to world-class researchers.

Join us and hone your passion, knowledge and skills to drive social business and microfinance forward as a benefit to society as a whole.

Assessment Methods

All modules include examinations and coursework have been developed in line with learning objectives for the course.

Assessment methods vary between modules and may include: unseen examinations, class tests, written course work, presentations and group work.

Employment Details

The course is particularly suited to international students working in social businesses or planning a career in social businesses and microfinance and governmental employees seeking to develop a flourishing environment for social businesses.

However, the programme would also benefit NGO leaders and workers seeking to improve their understand the changing environment for international aid and to anyone wishing to explore aspects of social business and microfinance from a critical perspective.

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You can start this MSc Economics degree in September or January. It can be tailored to two specialist fields: International Economics or Business and Financial Economics. On successful completion of this programme, you will graduate with one of the following degrees:

• Master of Economics
• Master of Economics (Business and Financial Economics)
• Master of Economics (International Economics).

Graduate market

There is increasing demand for economics graduates in business and public sector decision making. This demand is evident in national and international institutions, including:

• Central banks 
• Ministries and governmental departments
• International governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
• Commercial and investment banks
• Rating agencies
• Research institutes and think-tanks
• Economics and business media
• Business and civil society organisations. 

All these employers increasingly look for high-quality, evidence-based decision makers with an ability in applied economics and advanced data analysis. Our Master's degree will enable you to respond to this increasing demand. 

What you'll learn

The programme combines solid training in theory and method with stimulating exposure to economics and financial data sources. We will prepare you to contribute to an international global economy and to respond to its policy changes. 

Our courses weave a three-way linkage between alternative theories of economics and finance, data analysis, and application of theory and method to policy and strategy issues in the world of economics, business and finance.

Our Master's degree has a number of distinctive features to enable you to combine theory and real word examples to develop evidence-based answers to economic and business problems. 

Outcomes

The aims of this degree are:

• Equip you with a sound knowledge of international economics, financial economics and business economics, improving your analytical and problem-solving skills
• Enable you to tackle problems creatively by helping you to think outside conventional boundaries
• Develop skills to seek deeper meaning of a theory or finding in a pluralistic fashion comparing theories and their policy implications
• Equip you with methods to analyse economic issues relevant to the real world
• Enable you to respond to the increasing demand for economics graduates by developing your skills and competence in economics.

Rankings

In 2015, Greenwich was named by The Economist as one of four institutions in the country leading the way on curriculum change.

We are proud to say that our economics subjects were ranked:

• First in London for student satisfaction in both the Guardian University Guide 2016 and the Complete University Guide 2017.
• Top 10 in the UK for student satisfaction by the Complete University Guide 2017.

Greenwich is one of the top two most globally diverse universities in the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand, by Hotcourses Diversity Index.

We have also been named as one of the "most international" universities on the planet by Times Higher Education magazine.

What you'll study

Full time

Students are required to study the following compulsory courses.

• Introduction to Economic Analysis and Quantitative Methods (20 credits)
• Applied Econometrics (30 credits)
• Microeconomics 1 (15 credits)
• Macroeconomics 1 (15 credits)
• Dissertation (40 credits).

Option courses

Students are required to choose 4 courses from this list of options.

• Microeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Macroeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of International Development (15 credits)
• Economics of European Integration and the UK (15 credits)
• Economics of Finance and Investment (15 credits)
• International Financial Markets (15 credits)
• Microfinance in International Development (15 credits).

For a Business and Financial Economics specialisation, you study the following courses in addition to the compulsory courses listed above.

• Microeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of Finance and Investment (15 credits)
• International Financial Markets (15 credits).

Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

• Microfinance in International Development (15 credits)
• Economics of International Development (15 credits)
• Macroeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of European Integration and the UK (15 credits).

For an International Economics specialisation, you study the following courses in addition to the compulsory courses listed above.

• Macroeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of International Development (15 credits)
• Economics of European Integration and the UK (15 credits).

Students are required to choose 15 credits from this list of options.

• Microfinance in International Development (15 credits)
• Microeconomics 2 (15 credits)
• Economics of Finance and Investment (15 credits)
• International Financial Markets (15 credits).

Part time

The courses listed above will be split across two years.

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• Taught by internationally renowned academics working at the forefront of research and policy development
• Examine development finance against the background of development and macroeconomic policy
• Analyse the role of development finance in economic development from micro and macro perspectives
• Focus on financial inclusion, microfinance, institutional design and policy reform in domestic and international financial system

What will you study?

Sample modules:

• Development finance
• Microfinance
• Theories and practices of development
• Macroeconomics for developing countries
• Appraisal of agricultural and rural development projects

Please note that all modules are subject to change. Please see our modules disclaimer for more information.

What career can you have?

Our programmes are excellent preparation for careers in international and rural development, agricultural economics, and marketing within the food chain and policy. Some 96% of our graduates are in work or further study six months after graduating.

Engagement with a wide variety of visiting speakers and field trips provides many opportunities for networking. In addition, competitive internships and placements, and research dissertations are an opportunity to showcase your skills, undertake overseas field research or link with organisations in the development sector. For examples of organisations our graduates go on to, please visit: http://www.reading.ac.uk/giidae" target="_blank">http://www.reading.ac.uk/giidae

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This course will give you a firm understanding of development theory in an international context, with a particular focus on how to bring theory into practice and build your practical expertise in range of development disciplines.

The course aims to enhance your capacity to critically evaluate economic, political and social factors that are affecting the development policy environment, on a national and international level. Throughout this Master’s degree, you will develop management techniques and skills, and the ability to apply them in a development context.

Through empirical research and analysis, you will have the opportunity to develop specialist expertise in a particular aspect of development management.

The course is designed to prepare you for a career in development management with an international organisation, a non-governmental body or a government development agency. Our graduates are NGO programme officers, trade advisors, project managers, micro finance specialists and development consultants. Some of our graduates have also set up their own development charities or proceeded to PhD research and teaching.

Course content

Our regular contributors to teaching and learning activities include experienced field practitioners drawn from international development organisations and NGOs.

Active and enquiry-led learning is a central learning method on the course. Learning is based studying on real-world case studies with official project materials and survey data from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and other development agencies.

As part of this course, you have the opportunity to obtain a PRINCE2 Foundation certification in project management.

A highlight for many students are the field trips and social events organised throughout the course which provide an opportunity for networking and extending learning in new environments.

You will also benefit from free access to part of the material on the course reading list.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Core modules
-Current Issues in International Development
-Development Economics and Policy
-Human Resource Strategies for the International Manager
-International Development Finance
-Managing Data
-Managing Development Interventions
-Project
-Research Methods

Option modules
You can choose one option module from the University's postgraduate programme, subject to approval by the Course Leader. This gives the unique benefit of allowing you to choose according to your past academic studies, work experience or, perhaps, in line with your future career pathways or interests.

Accredited internship

All students on our full-time business Masters courses can apply to undertake the PG/MBA Internship Programme Reflective Practitioner Module. This is an 8 week unpaid accredited internship, which can be taken in addition to option modules and will help students to gain invaluable work experience. The internships, which are with London-based organisations, take place during the summer period. To apply, students must submit a completed application form and a copy of their updated CV to the Business Experience Team; the team then shortlist from the applications and conduct group meetings with the applicants.

Ultimately it is up to our internship employers to decide whether they would like to interview the candidate(s) and offer him/her an internship. We have received very positive feedback from both postgraduate students and employers and expect that the internship programme will continue to remain popular amongst our students.

Associated careers

The course will particularly suit those seeking to work within NGOs and the international development community (including the World Bank, IMF, central and development banks, and government economic planning directorates), as self-employed development specialists or consultants, or as trade attaché in foreign diplomatic offices.

Should you wish to complete the PRINCE2 project management qualification, this will also enable you to work with multinational corporations where, alongside good technical skills, an awareness of global development issues and challenges and the ability to think critically about the world are valued.

Graduates from the programme have worked as specialists advisers with top NGOs across the globe and as advisers with trade and economic departments in government offices. Others are currently working as development consultants, microfinance specialists and as advisors on United Nations-sponsored projects.

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This new Masters is designed to bridge the gap between economics and development, providing strong training in quantitative and policy analysis in development economics.

Who is it for?

The Development Economics MSc course at City is designed for those looking to gain an understanding of key issues in economic development and provide you with rigorous economic theory and statistical tools to be able to analyse policies and assess their impact on economic and human development.

Objectives

The aim of this course is to develop your critical and analytical abilities in economics, with particular reference to development. By the time you graduate, you should be able to:
-Demonstrate that modern economic theory is relevant to development economics.
-Critically interpret current research in development economics and evaluate its relevance to development practice and policy analysis.
-Understand the enduring determinants of poverty.
-Analyse the issues of fertility, education, health, work, migration and microfinance and their contribution to economic development.
-Develop microeconomic models to explain how people make such decisions and how policy is likely to affect their choices.
-Assess policies designed towards helping the poor by taking into account how people react to policy interventions, and statistically assess the success of such policies.
-Undertake empirical investigations in development economics, using appropriate quantitative methods.

Academic facilities

You will benefit from City's London location, and our proximity to the centres of decision-making in development economics. (We are six tube stops away from the Department for International Development, for example.).

Teaching and learning

The Development Economics MSc course is designed to be flexible in the range of teaching methods used. You learn through a mixture of lecturing, discussions, analysis of case studies, student presentations and particularly for the quantitative elements of the course, interactive computer-based exercises. You are encouraged to participate actively in the classes.

The taught modules usually run for a term and have three hours of teaching each week. This time may include workshops and tutorials as well as lectures.

Outside your timetabled hours you have access to City’s library and computing facilities for independent study. Your independent study will include reading recommended books and papers, and “reading around” the field to develop a deeper understanding.

In your third term we organise for experts from outside City to come in and present current research on both methodological and applied topics.

For the dissertation or literature survey, each student is allocated a supervisor, who will guide you in your research and writing for this module. We also offer pre-sessional induction courses covering topics such as probability, microeconomics and the Stata software.

Assessment

For each taught module in the Department of Economics, you are assessed through a combination of coursework and one final examination. For most modules the coursework contributes 30% of the overall mark and the examination contributes 70%. The nature of the coursework which the lecturer assigns varies according to the module, for example essays, presentations or computer-based data analysis and calculations. Modules taught in the Department of International Politics are usually assessed solely by coursework.

Overall assessment is based on your performance in the taught modules and a dissertation or literature survey. Students require 180 credits to pass the MSc. The weighting of each module within the overall mark is determined by the credit value assigned to that module.

Modules

You will complete 180 credits. This includes taught modules worth 120 credits plus 60 credits through either of the below paths.
-Literature Survey: two extra elective taught modules of 15 credits each and a Literature Survey worth 30 credits
-Dissertation: a 60 credit Economics Research Project.

Each module typically has a weekly two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial, but this may vary.

Note: It is not possible to give exact hours per week because these can vary from one term to the other, depending on which electives you choose.

Dissertation Path
Core modules
-The Economics of Micro-Finance (15 credits)
-Development Economics (15 credits)
-Microeconomic Theory (30 credits)
-Econometrics (30 credits)
-Dissertation (60 credits)
Elective modules
-Asset Pricing (15 credits)
-Macroeconomics (15 credits)

Literature Survey Path
Core modules
-The Economics of Micro-Finance (15 credits)
-Development Economics (15 credits)
-Microeconomic Analysis (30 credits)
-Quantitative Methods (30 credits)
-Literature Survey (30 credits)
Elective modules
-Welfare Economics (15 credits)

Elective modules for both paths
-International Macroeconomics (15 credits)
-Economics of Regulation and Competition (15 credits)
-Health Economics (15 credits)
-History of Economic Thought (15 credits)
-Corporate Finance (15 credits)
-Experimental Economics and Game Theory (15 credits)
-Development and World Politics (15 credits)*
-Political Economy of Global Finance (15 credits)*
-The Politics of Forced Migration (15 credits)*

*Students on the Dissertation Path can take only 1 of these modules, which are taught in the Department of International Politics. Students on the Literature Survey Path can take up to 2 of these modules.

Career prospects

Upon completion of this course you will have the skills to work in:
-Consulting firms specialising in development.
-Governmental bodies such as the Department for International Development (DFID).
-Major international financial and development institutions such as World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations or the Overseas Development Institute, which regularly recruits MSc graduates for overseas postings.

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Sussex is a world leader in the anthropological study of economic life – one of the most dynamic and fast-growing areas within anthropology.

This course helps you to develop a critical understanding of:
-Equality and inequality
-Labour in the global economy
-The impacts of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social enterprise
-Precarious employment and post-industrialisation
-Petty capitalism and informal trade
-The marketisation of poverty
-Financialisation and microfinance
-New social movements for social and economic justice (including the Occupy movement and mass public protests by ‘the 99%’)

This MA is for you if you want to deepen your existing knowledge of anthropology but it also offers professional training if you’re new to the field.

How will I study?

You take modules and options and have the opportunity to take a research placement.

Modules are assessed via term papers, concept notes, book reviews, essays and case studies. You also write a 10,000-word dissertation.

Scholarships

Our aim is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to despite financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique individuals.

Chancellor's International Scholarship (2017)
-25 scholarships of a 50% tuition fee waiver
-Application deadline: 1 May 2017

ESRC 1+3 and +3 Scholarships (2017)
-A number of ESRC-funded standalone PhD and PhD with Masters scholarships across the social sciences.
-Application deadline: 30 January 2017

HESPAL Scholarship (Higher Education Scholarships Scheme for the Palestinian Territories) (2017)
-Two full fee waivers in conjuction with maintenance support from the British Council
-Application deadline: 1 January 2017

USA Friends Scholarships (2017)
-A scholarship of an amount equivalent to $10,000 for nationals or residents of the USA on a one year taught Masters degree course.
-Application deadline: 3 April 2017

Faculty

Sussex is a world leader in the anthropological study of economic life – one of the most dynamic and fast-growing areas of the discipline. We have particular research expertise in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia and Europe, but also cover the Caribbean, Latin America, South-East Asia and China.

Our faculty and students are members of:
-Centre for Colonial and Postcolonial Studies
-Centre for World Environmental History
-Sussex Centre for Cultural Studies
-Centre for Cultures of Reproduction, Health and Technologies
-Africa Centre
-Asia Centre
-Sussex Centre for Migration Research
-Sussex Centre for Photography and Visual Culture
-Centre for Security and Conflict Research Centre for Global Political Economy
-Centre for the Study of Sexual Dissidence

Careers

This MA is ideal for you if you are working in, or planning to work in:
-International development (including fair trade and social enterprise)
-Socially responsible business
-The charity sector
-Trade unions or labour rights organisations
-Activist movements for social and economic justice nationally or internationally

This MA is also excellent preparation for a PhD in Anthropology.

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'Money, Banking & Financial Markets' (former name: International Economics and Finance) is one of the specialized tracks of the Master's program in Economics.

Tilburg University is ranked #11 worldwide in Business and Economics (Times Higher Education, 2016.

About

The financial and international side of firm regulation and policy making:
This track will train you in two sub-disciplines: Finance as well as Economics. You will get the opportunity to combine practical financial management to economic analysis of the markets you invest in.

You will also learn:

•how international bodies function (e.g., the European Central Bank),
•why tax policies are designed the way they are,
•and what the consequences are for firms in Europe.

You will for example discuss problems in the Eurozone, International financial supervision, microfinance, bank-runs and systemic risk, and taxation of financial institutions.

The track is closely linked to the European Banking Center, a Tilburg based research network on banking and financial markets.

Career perspectives

This track is interesting for you if you aim for a career in banking (private but also central banks), in other private businesses that are regularly confronted with international policy making, or in (inter)national government.

Examples of functions of recent graduates of this track:
•Finance Trainee at the ABN AMRO Bank
•Jr Investment Strategist at AEGON
•Trading Risk Analyst at ING Group
•Corporate Management Trainee at Rabobank Nederland
•Consultant at IBM
•Junior Business Analyst at Deloitte
•Research Analyst at PT Panca Global Securities, Tbk
•Corporate Transaction Support at the Bank of Ireland
•Trade Finance Officer at ICBC

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Why take this course?

This course will allow students to gain specialism in a chosen topic through a production of an extended piece of academic writing building on their choice of optional units taken in the second year covering the areas of health, education, gender, international relations, criminology and making use of the applied research methods in development skills acquired in the first year.

The distance learning and part time mode of the programme provides a flexible learning framework with opportunities for students to undertake a full Master's qualification, a postgraduate Diploma or a postgraduate Certificate.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Critically engage with an international development studies topic of choice, assembling information from a variety of sources to compose clear detailed and logical argument;
Learn to formulate a systematic and methodologically sound research process through undertaking a literature review and empirical research;
Where applicable, justify ethical considerations surrounding research carried out.

What opportunities might it lead to?

You can expect to graduate from this course with enhanced career prospects in the international development sector, greater knowledge of development issues and an increasing professional network that may allow you to identify career opportunities. You will also be prepared for doctoral study.

Module Details

You will study the following core units:

Theory & Practice of Development:
Explore the history, theory and practice of international development studies, through topics from colonialism to globalisation. You will be introduced to the tools, such as social enterprise, that are used in development practice. Assessment includes a social enterprise project alongside a traditional essay.

Applied Research Methods for Development:
Learn the strategies and methods of collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data in the social sciences. You will learn to use SPSS for data manipulation, quantitative data analysis and interpretation, using a range of data sets relevant to international development studies.

Dissertation:
Demonstrate your achievement on the course as a whole, through the production of a 15,000-word research project on a topic of your choice, informed by the optional units you have selected, under the advice and guidance of a personal supervisor.

You will also select two optional units:

International and Comparative Criminal Justice:
Compare differing systems of criminal justice, including international courts and criminal tribunals, as well as international norms and standards. You will examine the role of international criminal justice bodies within the UN and the EU, institutional development, and criminal justice capacity building.

Gender for Development Cooperation:
Combine study of theories in gender (including masculinities) with practical knowledge of the tools used by practitioners to approach gender mainstreaming in development. You will also look at the application of a gendered lens to the design and implementation of development programmes.

Contemporary Security in International Relations:
Examine the most pressing international security challenges facing policy makers, reflect on new debates in security studies, and explore the enduring relevance of strategic thought in the face of contemporary challenges.

Education and Development:
Consider key issues in contemporary debates relating to education and international development, through a range of approaches, theories and research in historical and regional contexts. Themes include fair access, inclusivity, diversity and equity in education and skills policy.

Health and Development:
Examine the challenges in defining and measuring population health, and explore a variety of health topics relevant to both the developed and developing countries including obesity, ageing, health and migration, health inequalities and child under-nutrition.

Economics of Development:
Gain insights into the ways in which economics and economists play a critical role in terms of development policy. You will examine resource endowment and exploitation, poverty and inequality, historic trade theory and the role of finance and microfinance in economic development.

Units (30 credits per unit, 60 credits for the dissertation) are offered individually as credit-bearing short courses, or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), or MSc International Development Studies (180 credits).

Programme Assessment

This course will be offered entirely through distance learning methods. All course materials and readings, lecture notes, as well as additional links to useful organisational sites, social media hubs and further resources, will be posted and regularly updated in our virtual learning environment. Human contact will be an important part of the programme too, with regular ‘webinars’, discussion forums, one-on-one tutorials with lecturers, email correspondence and skype meetings where necessary.

The assessment methods used on this programme are varied and test all the skills developed in the different modules at different stages of the learning process. These include essays, leading and participating in discussion forums and blogs, portfolios, policy briefs and research projects, allowing for a balance between formative and summative assessment.

Student Destinations

The course is designed to support the needs of those who hope to be, or are already, engaged in the international development sector. It offers highly desirable transferable skills such as communication, qualitative data collection, quantitative data manipulation and data analysis and writing skills. Additionally, the applied nature of this course means that students will be working within ‘live’ development contexts from the start. This will ensure that they are able to develop their professional networks and identify career opportunities. Additionally students will benefit from the advice and guidance regarding career progression given by the experts and development practitioners who teach on this course.

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Why take this course?

This course builds on the knowledge in theory and practice of development and applied research methods for development gained in the first year to allow for an in-depth understanding of two optional courses depending on students’ interest and background taken in the second year. Optional units will cover the disciplines of health, education, economics, politics and criminology and the topic of gender.

The distance learning and part time mode of the programme provides a flexible learning framework with opportunities for students to undertake a full Master's qualification, a postgraduate Diploma or a postgraduate Certificate.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Study with academic staff that are actively engaged in research in your chosen optional unit and with an area/regional specialism
Critically engage with a range of topics from the field of international development studies, assembling a clear argument from a variety of information sources
Take advantage of flexible provision that aims to meet your specific needs

What opportunities might it lead to?

You can expect to graduate from this course with enhanced career prospects in the international development sector, greater knowledge of development issues and an increasing professional network that may allow you to identify career opportunities.

Module Details

You will study the following core units:

Theory & Practice of Development:
Explore the history, theory and practice of international development studies, through topics from colonialism to globalisation. You will be introduced to the tools, such as social enterprise, that are used in development practice. Assessment includes a social enterprise project alongside a traditional essay.

Applied Research Methods for Development:
Learn the strategies and methods of collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data in the social sciences. You will learn to use SPSS for data manipulation, quantitative data analysis and interpretation, using a range of data sets relevant to international development studies.

You will also select two optional units:

International and Comparative Criminal Justice:
Compare differing systems of criminal justice, including international courts and criminal tribunals, as well as international norms and standards. You will examine the role of international criminal justice bodies within the UN and the EU, institutional development, and criminal justice capacity building.

Gender for Development Cooperation:
Combine study of theories in gender (including masculinities) with practical knowledge of the tools used by practitioners to approach gender mainstreaming in development. You will also look at the application of a gendered lens to the design and implementation of development programmes.

Contemporary Security in International Relations:
Examine the most pressing international security challenges facing policy makers, reflect on new debates in security studies, and explore the enduring relevance of strategic thought in the face of contemporary challenges.

Education and Development:
Consider key issues in contemporary debates relating to education and international development, through a range of approaches, theories and research in historical and regional contexts. Themes include fair access, inclusivity, diversity and equity in education and skills policy.

Health and Development:
Examine the challenges in defining and measuring population health, and explore a variety of health topics relevant to both the developed and developing countries including obesity, ageing, health and migration, health inequalities and child under-nutrition.

Economics of Development:
Gain insights into the ways in which economics and economists play a critical role in terms of development policy. You will examine resource endowment and exploitation, poverty and inequality, historic trade theory and the role of finance and microfinance in economic development.

Units (30 credits per unit, 60 credits for the dissertation) are offered individually as credit-bearing short courses, or as part of the Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits), Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits), or MSc International Development Studies (180 credits).

Programme Assessment

This course will be offered entirely through distance learning methods. All course materials and readings, lecture notes, as well as additional links to useful organisational sites, social media hubs and further resources, will be posted and regularly updated in our virtual learning environment. Human contact will be an important part of the programme too, with regular ‘webinars’, discussion forums, one-on-one tutorials with lecturers, email correspondence and skype meetings where necessary.

The assessment methods used on this programme are varied and test all the skills developed in the different modules at different stages of the learning process. These include essays, leading and participating in discussion forums and blogs, portfolios, policy briefs and research projects, allowing for a balance between formative and summative assessment.

Student Destinations

The living contexts of the work undertaken on this course will offer valuable experience and contacts in the international development sector, while the advice and guidance regarding career progression given by lecturing staff will be invaluable. You may use this career to support work in governmental bodies and NGOs, or charities.

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This course is for you if you need to improve your English language skills and subject knowledge of entrepreneurship and innovation before going on to a Masters course. You improve your language fluency and academic vocabulary, develop your academic skills, and gain experience of western methods of teaching and learning so that you can progress onto a relevant Masters course with our Essex Business School.

At Essex, you can progress onto our MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation, MSc Global Project Management, MSc International Business and Entrepreneurship, MSc International Marketing and Entrepreneurship, or MSc Human Resource Management.

Our International Academy offers some of the best routes for international students to enter higher education in the UK. Our innovative courses and programmes have proved very successful with international students and have also attracted UK students because of the distinctive learning environment we offer.

If you are an international student, you may find that the education system in the UK is slightly different from other countries and, sometimes, that the transition to the British system can be challenging. Our courses help you to settle in and adapt to life in the UK.

Essex Business School takes you beyond the basics of a business education. Our strong emphasis on ethics and sustainable business practice in the global economy, and our expertise in international management, accounting and finance, will provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary for your future career in an increasingly complex business world.

Our expert staff

You are taught by a highly qualified, enthusiastic team with wide ranging research interests and proven academic track record.

Our staff specialise in areas including internationalisation, innovation, new product development, human resource management, microfinance, ethics, social responsibility and sustainability.

While maintaining core engagement with contemporary business practice, our staff enrich our courses with novel entrepreneurial ideas drawn from both the contemporary business world and cutting-edge academic research.

Specialist facilities

By studying within our International Academy, you will have access to all of the facilities that the University of Essex has to offer:
-We provide computer labs for internet research; classrooms with access to PowerPoint facilities for student presentations; AV facilities for teaching and access to web-based learning materials
-Our new Student Services Hub will support you and provide information for all your needs as a student
-Our social space is stocked with hot magazines and newspapers, and provides an informal setting to meet with your lecturers, tutors and friends

Within Essex Business School, our landmark new building on our Colchester Campus is the first zero-carbon business school in the UK. Set around a lush winter garden, the Eden-style dome will give the building its own micro-climate.

Our new building provides you with a stunning new work environment, offering:
-A virtual trading floor with Bloomberg Terminals offering direct use of Bloomberg data, information and analytics
-A light and spacious lecture theatre, with seating for 250 students
-Study pods and innovation booths for group working
-Dedicated office space for student entrepreneurs
-Networking opportunities with visiting businesses
-A café with an adjacent sun terrace

Example structure

-Advanced English for Academic Purposes
-Business-To-Business Marketing
-English for Academic Purposes
-Extended English for Academic Purposes Project
-The Networked Economy
-Business Research Methods
-Enterprise and Economic Development
-Contemporary Human Resource Management

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The Natural Resources Institute (NRI) is a specialised multidisciplinary research organisation within the University of Greenwich. The Institute received the Queen's Anniversary Prize for its research activities on food security in the developing world. Much of NRI's research work is concerned with natural resources, agriculture and social development in developing countries, although it has an expanding portfolio of activities in Europe and other industrialised countries.

NRI provides a thriving environment for MPhil and PhD students working in agricultural and food sciences. Each of NRI's departments has a strong portfolio of research activities, of which students form an important and integral part.

The Agriculture, Health & Environment Department works on the worldwide development of appropriate cost-effective and sustainable approaches to controlling pests, diseases and weeds that affect crop production. Use of biocontrol and control methods involving no (or very low) conventional pesticides are increasing in importance in our work, especially for export crops.

The Department also has researchers who share a common interest in the many species of insects, ticks and rodents that cause injury to their hosts and transmit diseases to both humans and animals. Research is undertaken in the UK, using NRI's state-of-the-art laboratories, insectaries and glasshouses, and also overseas. Particularly strong areas of research include the epidemiology of insect-borne virus diseases, molecular diagnostics, pest and disease modelling, aerobiology and biometeorology, migrant pests, medical and veterinary entomology and integrated pest management.

The Food and Markets Department works on commodity management and food safety of cereals, grains, root crops, perishables and other crops. The Department works with all aspects of the operations of the food industry, including, for example, storage, post-harvest technology, quality analysis and management, compliance with food standards, food processing and value addition, value chains, private and public sector standards and market development. NRI's work provides many opportunities for postgraduates to be involved in multidisciplinary projects.

We offer full-time or part-time attendance, with students based on our campus or in their home countries, or some combination.

Visit the website http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/courses/pg/res/afs

What you'll study

Recent research project topics include:

- The impact of host plants on the efficacy of nucleopolyhedrovirus as a biopesticide

- Reasons for multiple loans in microfinance and their effect on the repayment performance

- Evaluating the impact of climate change on postharvest quality of perishables

- Laboratory based investigation of the sensory cues used by vector mosquitoes to locate host animals

- Dormancy and sprout control in root and tuber crops

- Investigations into the oviposition behaviour of Anopheles gambiae

Fees and finance

Your time at university should be enjoyable and rewarding, and it is important that it is not spoilt by unnecessary financial worries. We recommend that you spend time planning your finances, both before coming to university and while you are here. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Find out more about our fees and the support available to you at our:
- Postgraduate finance pages (http://www.gre.ac.uk/finance/pg)
- International students' finance pages (http://www.gre.ac.uk/finance/international)

Assessment

Students are assessed through their thesis and oral examination.

Career options

Postgraduate research students from NRI have a good record of finding employment within their specific technical discipline or in the field of international development.

Find out how to apply here - http://www2.gre.ac.uk/research/study/apply/application_process

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This course will provide you with a systematic understanding of economic approaches to development and in particular, the role of finance and financial institutions. Students will be able to evaluate the merits of the various mechanisms of financing development and to understand the bases for financial policy.

During the course you will develop the skills required for the analysis of development issues, and to understand the interlinkages between statistics and econometrics, and develop expertise on international trade and exchange rate policies and related economic matters. Additionally, students have the opportunity to study a range of options covering project and programme management, public policy, and development policy.

For more information on the part time version of this course, please view this web-page: http://www.brad.ac.uk/study/courses/info/economics-and-finance-for-development-msc-part-time

Why Bradford?

All students within the Centre for International Development are able to choose an optional placement module, and will be supported by Division staff to find an appropriate placement.

Modules

Core modules
-Economics Growth and Development
-Quantitative Methods
-International Economics
-Finance for Development
-Dissertation (BCID)

Option modules
-Project Finance and Appraisal
-Issues in Development Theory
-Organisations and Capacity Enhancement
-Topics in Finance
-Human Resource Management and Development
-Project Appraisal and Economic Analysis
-Issues in Development Policy
-Sustainable Tourism Development

Career support and prospects

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

On completion of this qualification, you may go on to work in an economics or finance policy capacity in government, the private sector, in development agencies (e.g. regional or national development banks) or in the third sector in a capacity relating to economics and finance (e.g. microfinance or enterprise support and development).

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The International Development program at Centennial College focuses on international development as the study of providing support to the world's developing populations and improving their quality of living.

If you previously earned a college diploma or university degree, you may be eligible to benefit from the unique courses in the three-semester International Development program, with its emphasis on interdisciplinary and cross-sector studies.

Facilitated through the School of Business, this offering helps you to meet the needs of this growing industry by giving you practical knowledge and hands-on experience to tackle development challenges while working in Canada or abroad. Among the critical issues with which you become familiar are:
-Human rights
-Poverty reduction and human development
-Microfinance
-Health and disease prevention
-Education and training
-Economic development and income growth
-Social entrepreneurship and innovation
-Gender and development
-Energy and environmental sustainability
-Corporate social responsibility
-Humanitarian assistance
-Finance for development
-Project management

Once you successfully complete the International Development program, you become a general development professional and will be able to seek employment in a wide variety of institutions. International development professionals work in every country in the world to address crucial issues in developing communities.

Career Opportunities

Program Highlights
-International Development program faculty members have extensive industry experience and many hold PhD credentials.
-You learn to manage a project cycle through problem identification, analysis, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
-As courses are designed to utilize case studies and real-life examples, emphasis is placed on practical applied studies.
-Seasoned international development practitioners are invited to lead course lectures, allowing you to benefit from their wealth of experience.
-Once you graduate, you receive support to pursue a domestic or an international internship. Priority is given to finding employment in the developing world. Possible study tours in select developing countries provide valuable experiential learning.

Career Outlook
-Program/project coordinator
-Economic development officer
-Social development specialist
-Corporate social responsibility manager
-Research officer
-Program/project director
-Aid/development worker
-Fieldwork facilitator
-Monitoring and evaluation officer

Areas of Employment
-Canadian or international NGOs or foundations
-Socially driven enterprises
-Government agencies
-International financial institutions (working on impact investments)
-Private sector companies including mining companies (working on corporate social responsibility)
-Energy companies (working on environmental sustainability)
-Social entrepreneurship
-Academic/research institution

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