PGCert Global Development (Online)
Online
Postgraduate Certificate
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 4,000
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
About: The PGCert Global Development (Online) at SOAS University of London equips you with critical knowledge and practical tools to understand global development dynamics. You'll study social, economic, political and cultural change across the Global South, middle-income countries and the Global North, using critical, interdisciplinary methods to build cultural sensitivity. SOAS is ranked 2nd worldwide for Development Studies and offers postgraduate study tours to New Delhi, Seoul, Kigali.
Career Outcomes: You graduate with applied projects and skills in research, communication and critical thinking, preparing you for roles in public policy, international development, business, sustainability, and NGOs.
The PGCert Global Development will equip you with critical knowledge and the practical tools to understand complex global development dynamics.
You will explore social, economic, political and cultural transformations across the Global South, middle-income countries, and the Global North, recognising their deep interdependence. Emphasising critical and interdisciplinary thinking, the programme cultivates global awareness and cultural sensitivity as you engage with major policy challenges like poverty, inequality, and insecurity.
Graduates emerge with a nuanced understanding of global development as a shared and interconnected process, and are prepared for academic, policy, and professional roles across international contexts.
Studying at SOAS
We're ranked 2nd in the world for Development Studies and 2nd in the world for Academic Reputation in Development Studies (QS World University Rankings). Gain a global perspective unlike any other from a world-renowned university based in the heart of London.
Study Tours
All postgraduate students can take part in our Study Tours and explore the world. Destinations include New Delhi, Lahore, Seoul, Luang Prabang, Almaty, Bishkek, Kigali, Johannesburg, and Doha.
We know you’re choosing this programme to advance your career and make a real difference in the world. That’s why we embed employability in every module and offer a range of innovative assessment methods. Graduates leave with:
- Substantial independent projects that demonstrate applied expertise.
- The ability to articulate the value of their degree to employers or future collaborators.
- A range of practical skills valued by employers.
You’ll develop communication, research, and critical thinking skills, the ability to synthesise and evaluate information, and much more. These attributes are valued across sectors including public policy, international development, business, sustainability, media, and NGOs.
Each module is 14 weeks long and represents 300 hours of learning: 100 hours of assessment preparation and 200 hours of directed and self-directed learning with extensive teacher contact throughout.
Assessment
Instead of exams, we use a range of assessment methods designed to reflect different learning styles and develop real-world employability skills, giving you a real opportunity to demonstrate what you’ve learned.
Our new online learning portfolio offers a mix of innovative practical projects, such as creating a policy brief or fact-checking generative AI; participation activities like video presentations and feedback; and reflective written work.
You can study this programme as an:
- MSc: six modules
- Postgraduate Diploma: four modules
- Postgraduate Certificate: two modules
Year 1
- Tackling Inequalities - 30 credits
- Contested Development - 30 credits