Course Overview

Immerse yourself in the worlds of media, communication, and international development, and study the complex relationship between them. 

Discover the ways charities and other development organisations communicate about poverty, inequality, conflict and migration. Explore why some humanitarian crises and disasters make it onto our TV screens and others don’t and what effect this has on public attitudes and government policy. 

You’ll also ask: how important is press freedom in promoting democracy and tackling poverty? What is the impact of digital media in developing countries? Do Facebook and Twitter encourage political participation, or do they undermine citizens' genuine engagement with politics? 

These are just some of the important questions and issues you’ll explore on this fascinating course. 

About

This course is designed for international students with an academic background from outside of the UK. The first year based at INTO UEA is designed to improve your English language skills, increase your knowledge of academic theories, and develop key study and research skills for undergraduate study, before you transition to the School of International Development for your second and third years.

You’ll study both media and international development on this innovative course, and the complex relationship between them. The media are important to all aspects of international development, from raising public awareness about defining social and political issues such as global poverty or climate change to facilitating the flows of information in our increasingly globalised world.

At the same time, the media are central to promoting citizens’ political participation, encouraging charitable donations, promoting human rights and delivering public health messages during humanitarian crises. 

This course will enable you to bring an international outlook to a career in media and communications. You’ll also be able to bring an in depth understanding of media to a career in the field of international development. You’ll graduate well prepared for careers in NGO communications, development journalism, humanitarian communication and media development. 

This degree is unique in the UK in combining media and international development studies side by side. In both fields you’ll be taught by leading academic experts. We’re actively involved in research around the world, working with many national and international development agencies, media organisations, charities, and civil society actors.