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
Our 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 Asia, Africa, or Latin America. This allows students to gain hands-on experience of working in international development, to develop their practical skills, and to experience other cultures and societies.
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.
*Price shown is for indicative purposes, please check with institution
Expected January 2026
UCC Campus
College Road,
Cork,
T12 K8AF, Republic of Ireland
Non-EU applicants are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate
Duolingo English Test (DET): DET 120 with a minimum score of 110 in each individual section
IELTS - International English Language Testing System/ IELTS Indicator Test: Minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum of 6.0 in each band
TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language - TOEFL iBT/TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition Test: Minimum overall score of 90 and minimum of 20 in each section
University of Cambridge: 176+ on the Cambridge English scale with no less than 169 in each skill and use of English i.e.
Proficiency Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) Advanced Certificate, Grade C or better (CEFR Level C1 or C2) First Certificate, Grade A (CEFR Level C1)
Pearson PTE Academic: Minimum of 63 (with at least 59 for each item in the Communicative Skills section)
*There may be different IELTS requirements depending on your chosen course.
UCC is an award-winning, world-class teaching and research university with over 170 years of history.