International Development
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International Development Summer Courses
Explore the challenges and opportunities involved in improving lives and societies around the world with Atlas Summer Courses. Our two-week International Development summer courses, available for students aged 16–17 and 18–24, give you the opportunity to examine issues such as inequality, economic development, global cooperation and social change.
Through seminars, tutorials and independent study, you'll consider why development differs between countries and communities, evaluate different approaches to global challenges and develop your ability to analyse evidence and competing perspectives.
What's Included?
Your residential International Development summer course includes academic teaching, accommodation, meals, a certificate on completion, airport transfer from Heathrow and insurance.
Choose from Plus, Superior and Premier packages, with accommodation and additional benefits varying by package.
What Is International Development?
International Development explores how societies change and why people in different parts of the world experience different economic, political and social opportunities.
It is an interdisciplinary subject that can draw on economics, politics, sociology and international relations to examine questions surrounding poverty, inequality, economic growth, education, health and sustainability.
Studying International Development also means considering how governments, international organisations, charities, businesses and communities respond to these challenges. Different approaches can produce different outcomes, making it important to examine both their intentions and their impact.
An International Development summer course gives you the opportunity to explore these questions from multiple perspectives and develop a more nuanced understanding of global development.
What Will You Study on an International Development Summer Course?
There is no prescribed syllabus that every student follows. Atlas Summer Courses tutors create their own syllabi, drawing on their expertise while taking the interests and learning needs of their students into account.
Depending on your course, you could explore areas such as poverty, inequality, economic development, globalisation, sustainability, international aid, education, public health or the role of institutions in development.
You might consider questions such as:
- Why do levels of development differ between countries?
- How should poverty and inequality be understood and measured?
- What role can economic growth play in development?
- How effective is international aid?
- How do political institutions influence development?
- Can economic development and environmental sustainability be achieved together?
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This flexible approach allows tutors to explore their specialist areas while responding to the interests of the group and relevant developments within the field.
Any syllabus shown on our website is an example from a previous course rather than a guarantee of the exact topics you'll study.
How You'll Learn on an International Development Summer Course
The Atlas Summer Courses International Development summer course combines small-group seminars, tutorials and private study across the two-week programme.
18 hours of small-group seminars
You'll take part in six three-hour seminars, exploring development questions through discussion, case studies and activities. You'll be encouraged to analyse evidence, compare different perspectives and consider why approaches to development can produce different outcomes.
2 hours of tutorials
You'll have one tutorial each week, providing a focused environment in which to discuss the essay or problem sheet you've been working on and receive detailed feedback.
Around 20 hours of private study
You'll complete reading in preparation for seminars and work independently on an essay or problem sheet for each tutorial.
Together, these give you experience of a more independent approach to academic learning, where research, analysis and developing your own arguments all play an important role.
Who Are Our International Development Summer Courses For?
Our International Development summer courses are designed for students who are curious about global challenges and want to understand why economic, political and social conditions vary around the world.
You don't need to have studied International Development before. The course may particularly appeal to you if you're interested in global affairs, economics, politics, inequality, sustainability or how societies respond to complex problems.
You'll develop transferable skills including critical thinking, analysing evidence, evaluating different perspectives, independent research and communicating complex arguments clearly.
If you're interested in related global and political questions, you can also explore our International Relations summer courses, Politics summer courses and Economics summer courses.
Learn from Expert Tutors
Atlas Summer Courses tutors are experienced educators and subject specialists active across academia, industry and education.
They bring their own academic expertise and interests into their teaching and have the freedom to shape their syllabus around both their specialism and the students in their group. This allows each International Development summer course to explore different global challenges and perspectives while responding to relevant developments within the field.
Tutors are confirmed closer to the summer, so profiles on our website are examples of tutors who have previously taught with us rather than confirmation of who will teach your course.
Where Can International Development Take You?
International Development connects with a wide range of subjects across the social sciences.
Students interested in the field may go on to study International Development itself or related subjects such as international relations, economics, politics, development economics, sociology, public policy or human geography.
The research, analytical and communication skills associated with International Development can also support future paths across international organisations, government, public policy, charities, non-governmental organisations, research, consulting and international development.
An International Development summer course gives you the opportunity to explore the subject before making longer-term academic decisions and discover which global challenges and areas of development interest you most.
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FAQs about Our Summer Courses
No. You don't usually need to have studied your chosen subject before joining an Atlas Summer Courses summer course. Courses are designed for the relevant age group, and tutors can adapt their approach to the abilities, interests and experience of the students in their group.
There is no fixed curriculum that every student follows. Our tutors create their own syllabi based on their academic expertise and the interests and learning needs of their students.
This means the exact topics can vary between courses and years. Any syllabus or topics shown on our website are examples from previous courses and shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of exactly what you'll study.
Teaching depends on your age group. Students aged 9–12 and Scholars aged 12–14 learn through structured, interactive small-group classes. Students aged 13–15 combine small-group seminars with private study, while students aged 16–17 and 18–24 experience seminars, tutorials and independent study.
Across our programmes, teaching is designed to encourage active participation, questioning and independent thinking rather than simply listening to lectures.
Your course includes your academic programme, accommodation, meals and a certificate on completion, alongside the activities and experiences included within your programme.
What's included can vary depending on the programme, age group and package you choose, so we recommend checking the individual course details for the full inclusions before applying.
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