Thenjiwe Kalunga
Are you interested in understanding the dynamics of poverty, inequality and power? Do you want to know more about the main critical issues and challenges in the development of the 21st century? The bachelor’s programme in global development studies at UiA provides a thorough understanding of these issues and the complex interconnections of culture, globalisation, migration, international and national power structures, economic interests, and resource control and management.
Our courses provide a critical introduction to the complexities of development processes. You will get theoretical knowledge and practical experiences and insights.
In the second semester, you will have the possibility to go on a field course to a country in Africa, Asia or Latin America. In addition, in the fourth semester, you will also have the option to go on exchange.
In the final semester, you will spend three months doing fieldwork for the bachelor’s thesis. Here you can choose among our partner universities in the Global South or present your own idea for potential development related fieldwork in a given country. Through the combination of theoretical work and practical field courses and experiences, you will have a great opportunity of understanding a complex and changing world.
What do you learn?
The three-year study programme aims to create an increased understanding of the conditions that lead to differences in social and economic development in various countries and regions. Its goal is to provide knowledge of global relations and development processes from an interdisciplinary perspective and social science point of view. This study programme provides you with a theoretical social scientific background and field experiences related to questions of development, international relations, development cooperation and change processes in a global context.
In the second year of study, you can choose from different studies as a minor. One offer is the minor "Sustainable Transformation", which is about explaining sustainability and how we can bring about sustainable development across different sectors in society.
More about minor options below "Course structure'.
Job opportunities
This study programme provides you with a background suitable for working with development issues and international cooperation. Organizations working with development aid, development cooperation and humanitarian work are relevant work places, both in Norway and internationally. The study programme also provides qualifications for working in media and communication, in relation to immigration issues and foreign affairs, as well as work in private companies and/or in the public sector. A bachelor's degree in Global Development Studies qualifies for further studies as e.g. the master programme in Global Development and Planning at the University of Agder.
Course structure
Admission requirements
Entrance requirements are Higher Education Entrance Qualification for international applicants and certified language requirements in English.
Higher Education Entrance Qualification
The general basis for admission to universities and university colleges in Norway is called Higher Education Entrance Qualification. You may find what is considered university entrance qualifications from your country in the 'GSU' list. This list states the basic requirements for admission to higher education in Norway. Please download the latest version of the 'GSU' list from this website.
Application period
Application period from 1 November to 1 December (subject to change):
- International applicants from outside EU/EEA
Application period from 1 February to 1 March:
- International applicants from EU/EEA
- Applicants with a permanent or renewable residence permit in Norway who do not met the Norwegian language requirement
Application period from 1 February to 15 April:
- Nordic citizens with a Nordic high school degree who meet the Norwegian language requirement
- Residents in Norway with a renewable residence visa who meet the Norwegian language requirement
- Residents in Norway with a high school degree from abroad who meet the Norwegian language requirement
- International applicants from EU/EEA who meet the Norwegian language requirement
Tuition fees
The Norwegian government has introduced tuition fees for students from countries outside of the EU/EEA and Switzerland.
Continuing education
Student exchange
The fourth semester is primarily an exchange semester. You will have the opportunity to apply for Erasmus + exchange scholarships to a number of European universities. We also offer other types of exchange opportunities to universities outside Europe.
An exchange semester provides you with the opportunity to either specialize in the field of development studies, or other subject areas for example international relations, languages, history, communication, sociology or religion. You will find the overview of our partner universities in this programme here (in Norwegian).
Students who are not able to go on exchange can apply to take the fourth semester at UiA, although the number of electives in English is limited.
What students say
Aura Niskanen from Finland
Details
Application deadline
1 Dec (subject to change)/1 March
Credits
180 ECTS
Places available
35
Language of instruction
English
Questions regarding admission
Questions about this programme?
This Bachelor's degree qualifies for further studies at master's level - both in Norway and abroad.
The admission requirements for each master's programme, in addition to the grades, determine what you can study further.