MSc Sustainable Economic Development & Emerging Markets

Examine the issues surrounding sustainable development involved in emerging market economies. This conversion course will equip you with skills enabling you to analyse, understand and interpret data to address significant issues facing humanity.

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Full-time with placement

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Why study MSc Sustainable Economic Development & Emerging Markets at BU?

Graduate with the skills ready to work in either the public sector, NGOs or private sector organisations with focus on emerging markets
Cover significant economic, political and social aspects of economic development
Tailor your study and choose from an offering of option units in areas such as supply chains, innovation and entrepreneurship
Study sustainable economic development in a globalised market, with particular emphasis on emerging markets
Flexible course entry points giving you options to start your studies in September or January
Gain valuable experience and enhance your employability through an optional 30-week work placement either in the UK or overseas.

Find out more about the content of this course.

Course accreditation

This course is delivered by the AACSB-accredited Business School, an accreditation attained by fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide. It recognises our focus on excellence in all areas.

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Next start date:

January 2023, September 2023, January 2024, September 2024

Location:

Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus (with additional activities on Talbot Campus)

Duration:

September: 1 year full-time; 2 years with optional 30-week work placement. January: 16 months full-time; 2 years with optional 30-week work placement

Accreditations:

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

Required subjects:

All subjects considered

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 or equivalent in any subject. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

Core units

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.
Research Project: The research project provides Master’s level students with an opportunity to undertake a significant piece of self-managed research in an area that interests you and is relevant to the course.

Option units (choose one)

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.

Placement

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.

Find out more

Programme specification

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.

Download the programme specification (PDF 141kb)

Your application

This course may suit applicants who wish to work in:

The public sector (national or regional level)
Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Multi-national business organisations
Organisations with interests in emerging markets.

What we’re looking for

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.

Selection methods

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

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.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

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

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject, or equivalent.

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.

International entry requirements

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
Thailand: Thai Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5/4.0
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 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.

Placements

An exciting and valuable part of your studies with us is the opportunity to gain valuable experience through full-time paid industrial placements, for a minimum of 30 weeks. You will have the option to start your placement when the taught units of the course are finished, and after the dissertation.

Find out more about placements for postgraduate students

What support is available?

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 covering 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. As you all probably know, it is hard work finding a job.

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.

International students

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.

Careers

What job roles can you expect?

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

Find out more about living expenses for postgraduate students

No hidden extras

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.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

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 shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses
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.

Repeat units

Deposits

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable £3,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. 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.

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

Dr Anna Hillingdon – Associate Professor & Programme Leader

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.

View Dr Anna Hillingdon's staff profile

Dr Mehdi Chowdhury - Deputy Head of Department

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.

View Dr Mehdi Chowdhury's profile

Dr Dermot McCarthy – Principal Academic

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.

Visit Dr Dermot McCarthy’s staff profile

Dr Davide Parrilli - Associate Professor

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.

View Dr Davide Parrilli’s staff profile

Professor Allan Webster - Professor of Economics

Allan has spent time outside the academic world with periods of employment as an associate director of an economic consultancy firm and in government. He has advised governments in a large number of emerging economies through consultancy projects funded by, amongst others, the World Bank, the European Union and the UN Development Programme. Countries which he has advised include Abu Dhabi, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago.

His core research interests are in the interaction between trade and FDI on the one hand and labour markets on the other. In recent years this has spilled over into an interest in tourism and labour market aspects of tourism in particular.

View Professor Allan Webster’s staff profile

Professor Sangeeta Khorana - Professor of Economics

Sangeeta's work focuses on conducting economic impact assessment (Brexit) and legal analysis of bilateral free trade agreements, EU’s trade agreements with emerging economies and public procurement reform. Ongoing and recently completed projects include economic assessment of Brexit for the Welsh Assembly and industry sectors, as well as providing advice on procurement reform in the Caribbean.

View Dr Sangeeta Khorana’s staff profile

Course changes

Changes for 2022 entry

Date	Changes to this course
29/04/2022	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Core unit title changes: Business & Finance Analytics is now Statistics & Data Modelling. And Emerging Market Economies is now Issues in Economic Development

Changes for 2021

Date	Changes to this course
17/05/2021	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Programme restructure, completion of dissertation before optional placement year.

Changes for 2019

Date	Changes to this course
30/05/2019	Where the change was made: Course details Change: Removal of unit: Entrepreneurial Management Previous text: Entrepreneurial Management: Here, you'll examine the nature of strategy and strategic management in entrepreneurial ventures. There's a particular focus on growth strategies and managing the consequences of growth, and on strategic management style and managerial activities for coping with the challenges facing entrepreneurial ventures, especially alternative competitive advantage-seeking behaviour.

Date

Changes to this course

30/05/2019

Where the change was made: Course details
Change: Removal of unit: Entrepreneurial Management
Previous text: Entrepreneurial Management: Here, you'll examine the nature of strategy and strategic management in entrepreneurial ventures. There's a particular focus on growth strategies and managing the consequences of growth, and on strategic management style and managerial activities for coping with the challenges facing entrepreneurial ventures, especially alternative competitive advantage-seeking behaviour.

Statistics shown throughout this page are taken from Unistats and BU institutional data unless otherwise stated.