{"id":9733,"date":"2026-01-30T10:28:26","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T10:28:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/?p=9733"},"modified":"2026-02-03T14:43:39","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T14:43:39","slug":"why-i-chose-gdi-and-my-favourite-things-about-the-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.manchester.ac.uk\/humanities-blog\/2026\/01\/30\/why-i-chose-gdi-and-my-favourite-things-about-the-course\/","title":{"rendered":"Why I Chose BSc Global Development with International Study – and What I Love Most About It"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” fullwidth=”on” next_background_color=”#000000″ global_module=”322″][et_pb_fullwidth_menu global_parent=”322″ _builder_version=”3.17.6″ menu_id=”8″ submenu_direction=”downwards” fullwidth_menu=”off” module_class=”main-navigation” background_layout=”dark” \/][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”off” specialty=”on” prev_background_color=”#000000″ next_background_color=”#1d1d1d”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″][et_pb_row_inner locked=”off”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″][et_pb_post_title _builder_version=”3.0.106″ title=”on” meta=”on” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”on” featured_placement=”above” text_color=”dark” text_background=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.17.6″ background_layout=”light” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Manchester is my dream Uni city, so I built my degree choices around it. I originally aimed to study in London but realised it was infeasible due to living costs and my parents\u2019 safety concerns, so I looked to the next best thing. In hindsight, I could never see myself living in London but Manchester ticks all my boxes: it\u2019s diverse, there\u2019s so much food to try, I can cycle, there are study abroad options, and there are plenty of sober activities to try.<\/p>\n

On a more academic note, GDI is highly ranked for development studies and is in a Russel Group Uni: when I was applying it stood at 6th in the UK for Development Studies and even 2nd in the world for SDG impact. I didn\u2019t want to spend 3 years being bored and the curriculum of Global Development BSc was appealing. It\u2019s interdisciplinary so I get the chance to explore my preferences AND you can take stats class (puts the Science in BSc), which is a welcome boost to my grades.<\/p>\n

Favourite things !<\/strong><\/p>\n

Year abroad (vs semester)<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I\u2019m writing this, I am in Amsterdam undertaking my year abroad! This is by far my favourite feature of this course \u2013 many only offer a single semester in the second year. For me, the semester would have been much too short \u2013 I just felt settled in December! GDI has several options, mainly in Asia, North America and Oceania so you can pick which is right for you. Options to study abroad was one of my priorities when picking my degree.<\/p>\n

Small course<\/strong><\/p>\n

I love the course size – in my cohort there are less than 25 of us. Yes, it\u2019s a bit reminiscent of secondary school, but in my opinion it provides the ideal learning environment. There is always room for discussion, and there\u2019s less pressure when asking questions. And it\u2019s a major plus if you wear glasses, you don\u2019t have to squint to write your notes.<\/p>\n

If you want to experience the lecture hall life, you can always choose a course from Politics or another big degree programme from the second year onwards. It\u2019s also a good experience, but I still prefer it back home at GDI.<\/p>\n

It also means that I have a closer relationship with the lecturers and course convenors, so it doesn\u2019t feel like a first meeting when I go to office hours. I can easily discuss options for assignments and personal matters with them because we\u2019re familiar. Also, my course convenor often asks for my input for improving the course, something that\u2019s harder to achieve with hundreds of students.<\/p>\n

Networking<\/strong><\/p>\n

Connections are arguably the most important reasons to apply to a university. We have regular guest lectures by the big guys of GDI who have probably thousands of publications each to their name and we have also hosted conferences and foreign policy makers. I\u2019ve got to explore many career options and ask questions to the most experienced. Wherever you end up going for university, the best advice is to talk with people who know more than you. No conversation is ever wasted.<\/p>\n

A blog by Chiamaka O.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_post_nav _builder_version=”3.0.106″ in_same_term=”off” show_prev=”on” show_next=”on” prev_text=”Previous” next_text=”Next” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” \/][et_pb_comments _builder_version=”3.0.106″ show_avatar=”on” show_reply=”on” show_count=”on” background_layout=”light” header_font_size_tablet=”51″ header_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_button=”on” button_icon_placement=”right” button_text_color=”#ffffff” button_use_icon=”off” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_size__hover=”null” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover=”null” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover=”null” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover=”null” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover=”null” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover=”null” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover=”null” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover=”null” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover=”null” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover=”null” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover=”null” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover=”null” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover=”null” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover=”null” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover=”null” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover=”null” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover=”null” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover=”null” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover=”null” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Related posts” _builder_version=”3.0.106″ background_layout=”light” locked=”on” parent_locked=”off”]<\/p>\n

Related<\/h1>\n\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version=”3.0.106″ area=”sidebar-1″ orientation=”left” show_border=”off” background_layout=”light” locked=”on” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Connect Title” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” _builder_version=”3.0.90″ background_color=”#1d1d1d” module_class=”footer-section” prev_background_color=”#ffffff” global_module=”380″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” global_parent=”380″ locked=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” parallax_3=”off” parallax_method_3=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” make_equal=”off” module_id=”footer-row” _builder_version=”3.0.89″][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Contact Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Contact Us” global_parent=”380″ text_text_color=”#aaaaaa” parent_locked=”off” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_class=”contact-us” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

+44 (0) 161 306 6000<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Find Us Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Find Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Address” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” module_id=”address” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

The University of Manchester
Oxford Rd
Manchester
M13 9PL
UK<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Connect Title” global_parent=”380″ background_layout=”dark” text_text_color=”#ffffff” parent_locked=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]<\/p>\n

Connect With Us<\/h4>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code admin_label=”Social Media” global_parent=”380″ parent_locked=”off” _builder_version=”3.17.6″]<\/p>\n