MSc Sustainable Economic Development & Emerging Markets

• Sustainable Regional Development: By examining crucial issues in local and regional sustainable development, the unit aims to help you understand a conceptual approach to regional development dynamics and how to deal with problems and challenges around the topic.
• Emerging Market Economies: This unit intends to develop your understanding of the issues involved in the growth and development of economies in the contemporary world. Its focus is on economic issues and the economic consequences of political and social aspects of policies around development. (For January 2023 and September 2023 intake, this unit title will change to: Issues in Economic Development.)
• Statistics & Data Modelling: This unit aims to develop your knowledge of the statistical processes, techniques, and ideas used in the collection, presentation, analysis, and interpretation of the data that are common in finance, economics, and business. Using a practical approach, you will be able to understand, interpret, and communicate quantitative results and show how quantitative methods may be used to provide reliable management information. This unit also prepares you for the development of further data analytical skills.
• International Economics: In this unit, you will underline the theories and basic models of international trade, finance, and exchange rates, with an emphasis on how the economics of international trade and finance plays out in the real world.
• Global Economic Challenges: The unit aims to introduce you to economic theory and methodology as it applies to specific areas of applied economics. It does so in a way that demonstrates how economic theories and techniques can be used to address many of the most important issues facing humanity.
• Dissertation: The dissertation unit aims to provide you with an opportunity to undertake a significant piece of self-managed research in a relevant area of particular interest.

• SMEs & Entrepreneurial Finance: This unit aims to equip you with a theoretical and practical understanding of the major issues of sourcing funding to start or undertake a rapid expansion of businesses, especially in the context of regional economies.
• Supply Chains, Networks & Markets: This unit examines the critical challenges, tasks and approaches associated with the management of inter-organisational relationships. You will explore both strategic management and marketing-related aspects of business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships.
• Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Design: You will develop an effective entrepreneurial, innovative, and design thinking mindset. The implementation of design management principles, innovative culture and governance will be explored in a variety of business contexts. The unit will explore the nature of entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, attributes, competences, and behaviours.

​Please note that option units require minimum numbers in order to run and may only be available on a semester by semester basis. They may also change from year to year.

You have the option to undertake a 30-week placement at the end of the course, providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty placements office are on hand to support you.

The placement is intended to foster personal and professional development, and to help you to make a connection between academic learning and the working world.

You should consider how a range of financial theories can be used in practice to improve investment and financial management decision-making. The transferable skills developed will improve your performance in your future career in financial analysis and portfolio management.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

We expect our students to be hard working and enthusiastic, open to new ideas and prepared to work with others to achieve the high standard of industry professionals that BU is renowned for.

You should have a strong interest and passion for extending your skills and knowledge, especially during the final stage of the course when you must research one topic of interest and write a 15,000 word dissertation on this subject.

This course selects candidates by looking at their applications. There are no interviews or additional selection activities and therefore we suggest that you make your application stand out from the crowd. For more information take a look at our how to apply pages.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

December and January is one of our busiest application periods and therefore it may take us a little longer to process incoming applications. For courses with a January start date, we recommend submitting your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

• A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow – some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (4 years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55% 
• Nigeria:  Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:2 
• China:  Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above 
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0 
• Vietnam:  Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of 6.5/10, or 2.25/4, or a Master’s degree/Thac si. 

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

• IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level. 

We provide a lot of support for you to help you find work, including a block of seminars, covering topics such as writing a CV and a cover letter, completing an application form, performing well in interviews, and we also provide language support to assist you with the written elements of your applications. 

However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find work. The university does not guarantee that you will find a place. Some students may choose to opt for a taught unit instead of placement.  

During your time on placement, you will be supported by a unit tutor and a placement development advisor who will visit you on placement and keep in touch by phone and email. 

If you choose to do a placement as part of your course:

If you have previously studied in the UK, we will consider any study limit that may apply. We will issue your CAS according to the length of time you are entitled to under UKVI regulations (if you do not have enough time left for a work placement year, we will issue your CAS to cover your course dates only).

If you decide after you have enrolled on your course that you do not want to do a placement, this will be reported to the UKVI when you have successfully completed your course.

If you choose not to do a placement as part of your course:

We will note this on your CAS and your visa will only be granted long enough to cover your taught course, excluding placement.

If you change your mind while you are here and decide you want to do a placement, you will need to leave the UK to make a new Tier 4 visa application for the additional year of study. You would need to pay for your return travel back to your home country, as well as the cost of a new Tier 4 student visa application.

After completion of this course, you will be able to take up job roles within economic development in the public sector (national or regional level), within NGOs or private sector organisations such as international financial institutions.

Typical job roles might include:

• Policy Analyst
• Policy Adviser
• Consultant.

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity

• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement if this is part of your course of study
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, intregrated social media and advanced video features
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding BU financial support funds. 
• Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
• Travel costs, outdoor wear and footwear for optional field trips.
• Travel costs to and from the university campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shop stocks a wide range of stationery supplies
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on our website.
• SportsBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For September 2024 and January 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

We offer a range of scholarships to students who are beginning their studies at BU. Our fees and funding pages also provide details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

Dr. Tuan Vu brings a wealth of experience to Bournemouth University's Accounting, Finance, and Economic Department as a Senior Lecturer. With a background in Accounting and Finance, Dr. Tuan earned his PhD and graduated from the University of Exeter, where he contributed his expertise to various modules in the same field.

As a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder, Dr. Tuan exemplifies a commitment to excellence in the global finance industry. His expertise extends to diverse roles, reflecting his dedication to maintaining high standards of proficiency and professionalism.

Recognized for his contributions to higher education, Dr. Tuan Vu holds the esteemed title of Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Dr. Tuan Vu's current research interests include:

1. Accounting information and stock markets (including value relevance and decision usefulness).

2. Financial reporting of corporate pension schemes.

3. Pension Scheme and Corporate Governance.

4. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting.

Dr. Tuan Vu is also a certified sustainability professional by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), underscoring his commitment to promoting sustainable business practices and responsible management.

Currently, Dr. Tuan Vu leads and teaches a range of subjects, including Introduction to Accounting, Financial Reporting, Asset Valuation, Corporate Reporting, Corporate Finance, Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental Reporting, and Sustainable Regional Development. His passion for education and depth of knowledge enriches the learning experience for students.

Anna is currently working in the Department of Economics, Finance and Accounting at Bournemouth University. She teaches quantitative finance (e.g Risk Management, Derivatives, Statistics...). She has led a project for the UNWTO on crisis management, worked as a researcher for NATO on hybrid threats, as a consultant with the World Bank in Washington on reducing fragility and strengthening resilience post-conflict and presented oral evidence to the Parliamentary Committee on hybrid threats. Anna has given numerous interviews for various media outlets throughout the world, and currently reading for a PhD, this time in Economics, with the SOAS University of London.

Dr Mehdi Chowdhury is the Deputy Head of Department for Accounting, Finance & Economics in Bournemouth University Business School. Dr Chowdhury joined the School in September 2011 after obtaining his PhD from the School of Economics of the University of Nottingham. He received Master's Degrees in Economics from Ritsumeikan University, Kyoto, Japan and the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Dr Chowdhury worked as a Teaching Assistant in Economics at the Department of Economics of the University of Bristol from 2009-2011.

Dermot's research interests are cross-disciplinary, encapsulating areas of economics and employee relations. More specifically, his research focuses on public-sector economics, theory of the firm, public-sector industrial relations, employee share-ownership, and employee psychology.

Dermot has published a number of papers relating to the impact of privatisation and employee share-ownership on employee attitudes and commitment in the workplace.

His areas of research specialisation are:

• SME Clusters and industrial districts
• Regional innovation systems and business innovation modes
• Global value chains and global innovation networks
• Social capital and diasporas.

He has published in regional development journals, such as Research Policy, Technovation, Regional Studies, European Planning Studies, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, Small Business Economics, Revue d’Economie Industrielle, Journal of Technology Transfer, among others. 

Jens Hӧlscher is an economist. Before coming to Bournemouth he taught at the Universities of Berlin, Swansea, Birmingham, Chemnitz and Brighton. He held Visiting Professorships at the Universities of Halle (Institute of Economic Research IWH), Perugia, East Europe Institute Regensburg, Danube University, Bonn (ZEI), Bolzano-Bozen, Frankfurt (Viadrina), New Brunswick in Cairo, Almaty (KIMEP and KBTU) and the Centre of Economic Research at the Deutsche Bundesbank.

At Bournemouth University he acted as Head of Department for over 6 years and Trustee of the Board of Governors for 2 years. He is interested in institutional and transition economics, both areas in which he published widely. He is the co-editor of Palgrave's (Macmillan's Global Publishing) book series "Studies in Economic Transition".

His latest completed third party funded project sponsored by the Open Society Foundation was entitled "Wealth, Poverty and Life Satisfaction in Transition societies" and another one was entitled “Variety of institutional settings and socio-economic inequalities in the process of European integration“ was funded by the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. 

The latest awards have been granted by the ESRC for a project on 'Access to Finance for SMEs' and by Poole Borough Council on 'Poole Marine Supply Chain Management. His inaugural public lecture at Barclay's HQ in Poole on Brexit attracted a large audience and won considerable media interest.