Postgraduate Optional Modules 2025-26 Guide
Information for International Development students.
Optional Module Choice Guide
This guide provides some additional information for International Development students, to help you choose your optional modules as part of registration with the university.
Your degree programme comprises a mixture of core modules that you must take and optional modules from which you may choose a certain number (see below). You will need to register for 180 credits of modules in total.
You can view further details about each optional module in the Directory of Modules
You will receive lots more information about your modules during Welcome Week, both on the Blackboard course pages and in conversation with your Academic Tutor. The optional module choices you make now are not final. You will be able to swap your optional modules during ‘Module add/drop’ at the start of each Semester, if you change your mind.
MSc Environmental Change and International Development – 2025-26
Core modules
150 credits:
Module Name | Semester | Credits |
GPL412 Ideas and Practice in International Development | Graduate Year | 30 |
GPL424 Professional Skills for Development | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL425 The Science of Environmental Change | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL469 Managing Climate Change | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL471 Environment, Society and Development | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL411 Research Foundations with Placement | Graduate Year | 60 |
Optional Modules
Choose 30 credits (15 in Autumn and 15 in Spring):
Module Name | Semester | Credits |
GPL440 Foundations of GIS | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL472 Theory and Debates in Food Security and Food Justice | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SMP466 Critical Reflection in Global Health1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SMP483 Epidemiology1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SPR433 The Digital Self1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL417 Urban Informality | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL428 Citizen Participation in Planning and Development | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL438 International Development Fieldclass2 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP4100 Using Policy to Strengthen Health Systems1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP4103 Public Health Informatics1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP449 Communicable Disease Control1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP464 Health Promotion1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
You can also study languages through Languages for All | ||
MA International Development – 2025-26
Core modules
105 credits:
Module Name | Semester | Credits |
GPL412 Ideas and Practice in International Development | Graduate Year | 30 |
GPL424 Professional Skills for Development | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL411 Research Foundations with Placement | Graduate Year | 60 |
Optional Modules
Choose 75 credits (30 in Autumn and 45 in Spring):
Module Name | Semester | Credits |
GPL425 The Science of Environmental Change | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL440 Foundations of GIS | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL472 Theory and Debates in Food Security and Food Justice | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SMP466 Critical Reflection in Global Health1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SMP483 Epidemiology1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SPR433 The Digital Self1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SPR449 Development and the State1 | Autumn Semester | 30 |
GPL417 Urban Informality | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL428 Citizen Participation in Planning and Development | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL438 International Development Fieldclass2 | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL469 Managing Climate Change | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL471 Environment, Society and Development | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP4100 Using Policy to Strengthen Health Systems1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP4103 Public Health Informatics1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP449 Communicable Disease Control1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP464 Health Promotion1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SPR411 Political Economy of Global Environmental Change1 | Spring Semester | 30 |
SPR448 Capitalism and Crisis1 | Spring Semester | 30 |
You can also study languages through Languages for All | ||
MPH International Development – 2025-26
Core modules
120 credits:
Module Name | Semester | Credits |
GPL412 Ideas and Practice in International Development | Graduate Year | 30 |
SMP465 Introduction to Research Methods | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SMP466 Critical Reflections in Global Health | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL411 Research Foundations with Placement | Graduate Year | 60 |
Optional Modules
Choose 60 credits (15 in Autumn and 45 in Spring):
Module Name | Semester | Credits |
GPL424 Professional Skills for Development | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL425 The Science of Environmental Change | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL440 Foundations of GIS | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL472 Theory and Debates in Food Security and Food Justice | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SMP482 Disaster and Emergency Management1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SMP483 Epidemiology1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
SPR433 The Digital Self1 | Autumn Semester | 15 |
GPL417 Urban Informality | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL428 Citizen Participation in Planning and Development | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL438 International Development Fieldclass2 | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL469 Managing Climate Change | Spring Semester | 15 |
GPL471 Environment, Society and Development | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP4100 Using Policy to Strengthen Health Systems1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP4103 Public Health Informatics1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP449 Communicable Disease Control1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SMP464 Health Promotion1 | Spring Semester | 15 |
SPR448 Capitalism and Crisis1 | Spring Semester | 30 |
You can also study languages through Languages for All | ||
Table Key
1 Please note, spaces on these modules may be limited and places cannot be guaranteed.
2 For the Fieldclass to run we require a minimum number of students to sign up for the module. If this number is not reached, the Fieldclass will be cancelled. To assist with planning, this module must be selected by the end of the Autumn Semester Add/Drop period. All students will be required to pay the full cost of attending the Fieldclass. Provisional cost for 25/26 approx. £2,300 per person. A cancellation fee will be charged if a student requests to drop the module after initial bookings have been made.