International Development
Are you interested in human rights, health, education and the environment in the context of development? Or the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the fight against global hunger and poverty? If so, this programme will be of interest to you.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements:
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
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, teamwork, communications and report writing. French, Chinese, and Spanish language options are also available.
Our graduates work in a wide range of organisations, for example within the UN system on refugee issues (UNHCR) or 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.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 2
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 24
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Course Outline
Are you interested in human rights, health, education and the environment in the context of development? Or the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and the fight against global hunger and poverty? If so, this programme will be of interest to you.
Our BSc International Development degree is the first undergraduate programme in Ireland to have a primary focus on international development. This course will help you understand key issues of development and deliver skills such as languages, research techniques and project management. In your third year, you will have the opportunity to undertake a five-month work placement; this usually takes place with an overseas development agency based in Africa, Asia or Latin America.
The course addresses key challenges in global development and includes the following:
- 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
Among our goals, we aim to expand your understanding and skill base so that you can address global issues. These goals include:
- understanding the multidimensional nature of international development
- understanding the cross-disciplinary methods for the analysis of key development challenges
- equipping you with practical skills to address global challenges
- ensuring you can work effectively as individuals and in team settings
Year 1 Core Modules (50 credits)
FE1005 Introduction to Development Studies (10 credits)
FE1008 Data in Development Studies (5 credits)
FE1014 Communication and Facilitation Skills in Development (5 credits)
FE1019 Introduction to Food and Agricultural Economics (5 credits)
FE1023 Socio-Economic Concepts for International Development & Food Policy (5 credits)
FE1024 Introduction to Development Economics (5 credits)
FE1025 Introduction to Sustainable Rural Development (5 credits)
GV1218 International Politics (5 credits)
SC1012 Introduction to Sociology (Part A) (5 credits)
Elective Modules (choose 10 credits)
FR0105 Introduction to French (5 credits)
FR1005 French for Near Beginners (5 credits)
FR1105 Threshold French (5 credits)
FR1107 French for Reading Purposes I (5 credits)
HS0028 Spanish Language (Beginner Level) (10 credits)
GV1102 Introduction to Government and Politics (5 credits)
GV1204 Democracy, Ideology and Utopia (5 credits)
GV1400 Local Development and Public Health (5 credits)
MG1000 Principles of Management (5 credits)
Year 2 Core Modules
Food Policy
Globalisation and Development
Sustainable Livelihoods
Supply Chain Management
Human Rights Law
Race and Ethnicity
Small Enterprise Development
You can also pursue optional courses in languages, health, nutrition or government.
Year 3 Core Modules
Programme Planning and Management
Research Methods
Agricultural Systems in The Developing World
Gender and Development
Microfinance or Food Marketing
A key undertaking in Year 3 is the 24-week work placement: in most cases, the placement is overseas in a developing country working with a development organisation.
Year 4
In your final year, you will write a dissertation on a topic relevant to international development. You will also study modules in:
Advanced Programme Planning
Global Food Policy
Macro-Economics
Humanitarian Action
Contemporary Issues in Development
In addition, you can take optional courses in rural development, co-operatives, markets and social policy, languages, health and government.
Placement or Study Abroad Information
A central feature of the course is the work placement, which takes place over five months in Year 3. 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 research, draft policy documents and funding proposals, and generally contribute to the daily operations of the host organisation. Countries to which students travel include Bolivia, Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Thailand, and Uganda.
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 teamwork
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/programmes/) for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/modules/)
Mike Fitzgibbon
m.fitzgibbon@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 3000
https://www.cubsucc.com/
Fiona O’Shea
fiona.oshea@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 2114