Master of Science in International Development

at University of Bath United Kingdom

The modern world needs thoughtful, politically-conscious, questioning economists. Become a professional who understands how economics and politics intertwine.

In this course, you’ll examine the challenges facing individuals, countries and the international community. You will develop an understanding of government and society through core concepts such as power, justice, conflict, accountability, obligation, sovereignty and decision making. You will develop strong analytical skills which will aid your understanding of the institutional, UK and global context within which economic decisions and policy formation takes place.

In your first year you'll study key concepts in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. You'll explore political theory and analysis, introducing central subjects such as power and the state, democracy and the climate crisis.

In your second year you'll continue with more advanced study of political and economic theory. You'll study the exercise of power in societies and economies through an engagement with themes such as democratic theory, populist and nationalist politics, and the politics of race and gender.

In your final year you'll explore your interests through a range of optional units in both economics and politics.

By the end of the course, you will have an appreciation of the interface between economics and political science.

Placement Year

Taking a placement in your third year enables you to use the theory you have learned in a practical context. You will learn about an organisation and its area of work in the UK or overseas. This is an excellent opportunity to test potential career paths. Sometimes permanent jobs are offered to our students. You’ll develop skills such as teamwork, planning, problem-solving, decision making and project management.

Employers value a year of professional work and you’ll gain an advantage in the job market. Sometimes it is possible for you to acquire additional professional qualifications, particularly in accountancy, whilst on placement.

Placement opportunities can’t be guaranteed but you will receive tailored support from our specialist team to help you secure a placement.

Combine electronic engineering expertise with advanced knowledge of computer hardware and software skills to develop the computer systems of the future.

Our course prepares you for a career in an advancing field at the interface of engineering and computing. You'll gain in-depth knowledge of modern computer systems, software engineering, computer graphics and embedded programming to become a systems-level expert.

Learning the foundations of electronic, electrical and computer principles gives you a broad understanding of the subject. Later in your degree, you can specialise with a choice of units including embedded electronic systems, computational intelligence or electronic design.

Working with the latest digital technology, you'll design systems such as embedded microprocessors, programmable integrated circuits or high-performance computers. You'll learn how to use industry-standard programming and hardware design languages, operating systems and applications.

Group and individual projects are an important part of your learning experience. They give you technical, business and management skills to solve engineering problems relevant to industry. You could explore areas including computer systems design and integration, or information systems and interfaces.

Our MEng degrees give you an in-depth study experience through advanced taught units and project work and fulfil the educational requirements you need to become a Chartered Engineer.

Placement Year

Going on placement gives you a chance to apply theoretical knowledge to the workplace and develop skills in a professional environment. Your placement experience can benefit the rest of your degree and improve your career prospects after graduation. It can also be an opportunity to earn a salary during your degree.

Our students have worked at companies including Intel, Jaguar Land Rover, Thales, Renishaw, Nordic Semiconductor, Siemens, Ultra Electronics, Surrey Satellite Technology and McLaren.

Become an innovative computing professional with the skills needed for a career in the fast-growing field of AI.

This course is for you if you’re keen to learn about current Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, specialising in this field from the start of your degree whilst still gaining a broad grounding in computer science. AI is becoming an ever more important part of a wide range of sectors from medicine to marketing, so this course will help prepare you for continued demand in the job market.

You'll gain the skills and knowledge to apply the latest AI technologies and methods to a wide range of problems, studying topics such as machine learning, algorithms and complexity, and visual computing.

Tailor to your interests

In the first year, you’ll learn the basics of computer science, including mathematics and programming skills, along with an introduction to the theory and practice of AI. In the second year, you’ll continue to develop your AI skills, with a focus on machine learning. In the final year, you’ll choose optional units alongside an individual project in a specific area of AI. You can specialise in areas such as robotics, natural language processing, intelligent agents or computer vision. You’ll regularly meet with an academic who’s an expert in your chosen field.

Year abroad

Broaden your horizons with a year studying at a university abroad. You’ll experience another culture while studying a course that complements your studies at Bath.

We have links with universities in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, currently including Binghamton University, University of Nebraska, University of Canterbury, TU Vienna and National University Singapore.

Develop practical and technical skills to design and engineer the built environment. Use integrated and creative solutions to engineer a sustainable future.

Our course is for students who want to ask difficult questions about the future of civil engineering. You’ll push the boundaries of design and construction to generate new ideas for our infrastructure and cities. Your knowledge will enable you to integrate energy, sustainability and environmental design.

In your first two years, you will learn the foundations of materials, geotechnics, structures and digital design. You will develop the fundamental engineering design skills and attributes, including ingenuity and communication skills, that are essential for exploring aspects of infrastructure and the built environment in later years.

Our courses draw on the strengths of a joint department with architecture, offering a different experience from most universities. Cross-disciplinary group work mirrors the professional relationships you'll experience in your career, and you’ll develop the imaginative approaches and skills needed to tackle a wide range of civil engineering projects.

Placement Year

Going on placement gives you the chance to apply the skills you’ve developed at university to the workplace, and gain complementary skills and knowledge. You’ll gain insight into the construction industry and develop your confidence and standing as an engineer. Having professional experience can benefit the rest of your degree and improve your career prospects. Our students have worked at small and large internationally known companies including, Arup, Atkins, Buro Happold and Laing O’Rourke.

Apply the full breadth of physics to a wide range of astrophysical phenomena from star formation to black hole growth and the expansion of the Universe.

Physics with Astrophysics at Bath will give you a strong grounding in physics, along with in-depth specialist knowledge of astrophysics. You’ll learn how to combine evidence from stellar and extragalactic astronomy to build consistent theoretical models of the evolution of galaxies.

Topics covered include exoplanets, galaxies, cosmology, stars and stellar evolution, general relativity and high energy astrophysics. There'll also be opportunities for you to carry out both observational and computational astrophysics projects alongside our astrophysics research group.

Placement Year

As an MPhys student, you can choose to undertake a research placement in the final year of the course. You’ll spend six months (July to December) working in a research organization of international standing, before returning to the University for the final semester. We have links with leading research organizations, including CERN, NTT Basic Research Laboratories (Japan), European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (France) and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

Become an innovative computing professional with the skills needed for a career in the fast-growing field of AI.

This course is for you if you’re keen to learn about current Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, specialising in this field from the start of your degree whilst still gaining a broad grounding in computer science. AI is becoming an ever more important part of a wide range of sectors from medicine to marketing, so this course will help prepare you for continued demand in the job market.

You'll gain the skills and knowledge to apply the latest AI technologies and methods to a wide range of problems, studying topics such as machine learning, algorithms and complexity, and visual computing.

Tailor to your interests

In the first year, you’ll learn the basics of computer science, including mathematics and programming skills, along with an introduction to the theory and practice of AI. In the second year, you’ll continue to develop your AI skills, with a focus on machine learning. In the final year, you’ll choose optional units alongside an individual project in a specific area of AI. You can specialise in areas such as robotics, natural language processing, intelligent agents or computer vision. You’ll regularly meet with an academic who’s an expert in your chosen field.

Learn how to excel in an international business environment. Fulfill the demand for business leaders with both advanced language and management skills.

You will benefit from the expertise of two leading departments, the School of Management and the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies.

You’ll gain specialised knowledge of relevant countries’ business environments and contemporary politics, society and culture. From day one you’ll be taught in German.

Year abroad

• In Year 3 you will spend up to 12 months in a German-speaking country. You'll have the flexibility to choose a work placement, International Academic Exchange or a combination of both. By spending a year abroad, you’ll have the opportunity to master German.

Deepen your understanding of core marketing theory and learn to apply it in a practical setting. You’ll learn business skills that are important to employers.

This course is for graduates looking for a specialist route to a career in marketing with a background in business/management.

We designed this course with input from marketing industry leaders. This means you’ll develop the skills employers are looking for. Our industry links and the practical focus of this course will help your CV stand out from the crowd.

To help you prepare for any marketing career, you will learn about the three core elements of modern marketing:

• Marketing to consumers
• Marketing to businesses and organizations
• Marketing and society

Learn how to excel in an international business environment. Fulfil the demand for business leaders with both advanced language and management skills.

You will benefit from the expertise of two leading departments, the School of Management and the Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies.

You’ll gain specialized knowledge of relevant countries’ business environments and contemporary politics, society and culture. From day one you’ll be taught in Spanish.

And to keep your options open further, you'll even have the flexibility to switch between our biology and biochemistry courses after the first year.

Year abroad

• In Year 3 you will spend up to 12 months in a Spanish-speaking country. You'll have the flexibility to choose a work placement, International Academic Exchange or a combination of both. By spending a year abroad, you’ll have the opportunity to master Spanish.

Apply the full breadth of physics to a wide range of astrophysical phenomena from star formation to black hole growth and the expansion of the Universe.

Physics with Astrophysics at Bath will give you a strong grounding in physics, along with in-depth specialist knowledge of astrophysics. You’ll learn how to combine evidence from stellar and extragalactic astronomy to build consistent theoretical models of the evolution of galaxies.

Topics covered include exoplanets, galaxies, cosmology, stars and stellar evolution, general relativity and high energy astrophysics. There'll also be opportunities for you to carry out both observational and computational astrophysics projects alongside our astrophysics research group.

Placement Year

Going on placement gives you the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge to a year working professionally. You’ll be employed full-time in a role to match your future career ambitions, broadening your experience and transferable skills. This could give you a competitive edge when applying for graduate jobs.

You can choose from a wide range of roles to match your interests, from working in marketing to a lab-based role at a research institute. We have links with some of the industry’s leading companies. Recent placement employers include BAE Systems, CERN, Dyson, Morgan Stanley, Rolls-Royce and Samsung.