Welcome to the Department of International Development in Global Studies – and Congratulations! You have gained a place to study at the University that has this year again been ranked number one in the world for Development Studies. The reputation of our research and the vibrant atmosphere across campus, home to more than 150 Development scholars, makes Sussex a very exciting place to be.

The study of International Development has never been more important or interesting with transformations in the global economy currently taking place alongside political and social upheavals that are provoking intense debate about the nature of poverty, inequality, development and aid at local, national and international levels.

Here at Sussex, we explore the complexity of these processes, and help you to think critically about how development works. This means helping you to understand the different visions of what ‘development’ can mean, and the many challenges to achieving social justice globally. For us, International Development is really global development, concerned not only with economic, social, environmental and cultural transformations in the Global South but also here in the UK and other countries of the Global North.

In the School of Global Studies, undergraduate programmes in development are taught by faculty from our own department as well as the departments of Anthropology, Geography, International Relations, Economics, Sociology, Education and History. Our aim is to offer you interesting and relevant modules that give both an excellent grounding in the subject and an introduction to issues at the cutting edge of the discipline. At the same time, for those of you who hope to work in development, we train you in practical skills and other relevant educational practices that will help you find employment in this burgeoning and varied field.

We look forward to meeting you. Once again, welcome to Sussex!