If you’re keen to develop the knowledge and skills to make the world a better place, this newly established degree could help you to make a real difference as it has been developed for innovators – those who are passionate about introducing change for good.
On the Global Innovations pathway, you’ll acquire knowledge about the causes and effects of real-world problems and will learn key skills to develop innovative and sustainable products and solutions that could change lives.
Within the core spine of your Global Challenges degree, you will take an in-depth look at issues such as climate change, sustainable development, migration, terrorism, aging inequality and poverty and how they affect the world we live in, which will be backed up by the focus on generating possible solutions through the Global Innovation pathway.
Well-designed innovations are needed to improve the world we live in, but real-world issues cannot be solved by technology alone. Your degree will cover a combination of sciences, social sciences and the humanities as different disciplines are woven together to give you a comprehensive understanding of how change happens and what factors determine success.
Hands-on learning is a strong focus of this degree, allowing you to develop skills which you can take to your future career. A large part of the course will be learning how to put your ideas through a process of investigations to test their viability in relation to the challenge you want to address. You will also look at the concepts, theories and history behind innovation.
You will learn how to take a product through important development phases by learning the basics in design, solid body mechanics and electronic systems which will allow you to bring your product ideas to life and will give you a portfolio of practical work to add to your CV.
A third year Enterprise Project will help to bring skills in project management, working to a brief and presenting together as you work on a group project with an external company to help solve a specific challenge.
You have the option to apply for an internship at the end of your first year and can take a one-year placement between years two and three, giving you valuable work experience and a step ahead for your career when you graduate.
Enrollment Cycles
September 2024
Entry Requirements
UK entry requirements
GCE A-level BBC.
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DMM in a related subject.
BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM in any subject with an A-Level at grade C.
BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma M in any subject with A-Levels grade BB.
International Baccalaureate Diploma 29 points.
Obtain a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
IELTS: 6.5 (min 5.5 in all areas)
Pearson: 59 (59 in all subscores)
BrunELT: 63% (min 55% in all areas)
TOEFL: 92 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
Your Global Challenges course is structured around a core spine of compulsory modules where you will tap into the expertise of several departments from across the university.In addition, you will study a set of modules which are focused on your Global Innovation pathway to build your specialist knowledge.
Core elements of the your degree have been developed to work in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). As the lead United Nations agency in tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing our world, this partnership ensures that what you’ll learn is timely, relevant and responsive.
In practice this includes working on real life case studies that bring the skills and experience of industry experts and academics to the student learning experience, to respond to live briefs aimed at supporting the UNDP’s international development priorities.
This connection not only ensures your project work will be specific and focused, but also develop your problem solving and project delivery skills in ways that, beyond supporting your future career, have the potential to bring real world impact through our partners.
Please see programme specification for the specific optional module combination choices that are available
This course can be studied 3 years full-time or 4 years full-time with placement, starting in September.
Year 1 Compulsory
Introduction to Global Challenges
Addressing Global Challenges
Addressing Global Challenges II
Introduction to Global Innovation
Fundamental Scientific and Engineering Principles and Methodology
Transdisciplinary Global Innovation in Society
Global Innovation Investigation
Year 2 Compulsory
Addressing Global Challenges
Transdisciplinary Knowledge Integration and Negotiation
Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
Transdisciplinary Global Innovation in Organisations
Global Innovation Integration
Addressing Contemporary Global Challenges
Year 3 Compulsory
Global Challenges in Practice
GI13XX Transdisciplinary Global Innovation in Society
GG33** Global Innovation Management
Global Innovation Practice
Arts and Sciences Dissertation in Global Challenge
