Entry requirements
We recommend that you hold a UK bachelors degree (or equivalent), or have had experience of working in a development-related agency (international or local), in either a paid or voluntary capacity, prior to starting this qualification. However, these requirements are not compulsory and you will not be required to provide any supporting documentary evidence.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum overall score of 6 and minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the IELTS website for details. If you’re not sure whether your English skills are good enough, there is some help and guidance at our Skills for OU Study website.
If you are not sure about your suitability to study this qualification, please contact us for advice before registering.
How long it takes
Most students study this qualification in three years by studying 60 credits a year. To achieve this you should expect to devote 13 – 15 hours each week to your studies. You can however study Stages 2 and 3 simultaneously and complete within two years. This will require you to be able to devote 26 – 30 hours each week to your studies. We strongly recommend that you speak with a study adviser if you are considering doing this.
If you start this qualification with Understanding global development (DD870), Route 1, and achieve a resubmission result outcome on your first submission, it will be possible to pass the module on resubmission and progress to Stage 2 in the same calendar year.
If you start with Global development in practice (D890), Route 2, this module is designed for the FutureLearn platform and it offers a different model of learning and timescales. This means that if you achieve a resubmission result outcome on your first submission, it will not be possible to pass Stage 1 and progress to Stage 2 in the same year. You will need to wait until October of the year following your first submission to start DD871.