Leadership for Global Challenges, BSc (Hons)

Teaching will be delivered across the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, on both Singleton Park and Bay Campuses.

The modules on this programme will be delivered using a wide range of traditional and innovative teaching and learning strategies, and methods that will vary across modules and cover:

formal taught sessions, practice-oriented modules, self-learning activities using Canvas (e.g quizzes, data collection exercises with real-world databases) and supervised sessions.

In your first year, you will follow a range of topics designed to show how Global Challenges are transnational by nature and cannot be addressed or resolved by one government or institution acting alone. You will acquire an understanding of the need to work within different political structures, legal frameworks, norms and ethical considerations, and economic contexts.

The key feature of your second year of study is a Global Summit simulation module, which will place you into a simulated real-world setting where leaders of governments and states come together to negotiate a new peace agreement, trade deal, or climate goal. You will also learn more about research methods that will equip you with the skills for evaluating policies and analysing the impact of human interventions.

Your final year includes two compulsory modules that connect directly with the focus of the programme.

Firstly, the Leadership module will introduce you to a range of classical and contemporary approaches to the study of leadership and will examine the practical implications of these for strategic leadership and the management of change.

The second compulsory module is a year-long Global Challenges Project, which serves as the programme’s capstone final year project. The module allows you to undertake an in-depth and applied research project on an academic or practical topic. You will undertake independent research in small groups, with each group working on a live issue with a real organisation.

Our standard requirement is 3 A Levels at grades of ABB (128 UCAS points) or equivalent. All applications will be considered on an individual basis, with GCSE grades, AS Level subjects and grades, work experience, references and personal statements taken into account.

We would be happy to discuss the grade requirements of your offer in more detail, and answer any queries. Please contact Dr Bettina Petersohn.

We also accept a range of advanced level qualifications including: International Baccalaureate 32-33 or higher; BTEC, with results of DDM or better. Please also view our alternative entry requirements to learn more about qualifications such as the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate and Extended Project Qualification, as well as calculating your UCAS Tariff points.

We welcome applications from students from around the world and require evidence of previous study that is equivalent to the entry requirements. Here are the requirements for International students.

For applicants whose first language is not English, we require IELTS 6.0 overall (with a minimum of 5.5 in each component) or equivalent English test.

We are proud to provide an outstanding educational experience, using the most effective learning and teaching approaches, carefully tailored to suit the specific needs of your course. Apart from a small number of online-only courses, most of our courses consist of in-person, on-campus teaching, enabling full engagement with your lecturers and fellow students.

Practical skills sessions, lab work seminars, and workshops predominantly take place in person, allowing for group working and demonstrations. We also operate virtual labs and Simulated Learning Environments which will facilitate greater access to training opportunities in the future. However, our approach also includes the use of some online learning to support and enhance traditional face-to-face teaching.

Online learning may take place ‘live’ using software such as Zoom, allowing you to interact with the lecturer and other students and to ask questions. Lecture recordings also allow for more flexibility to revisit material, to revise for assessments and to enhance learning outside of the classroom. Some modules have extra resources in Canvas, such as videos, slides and quizzes enabling further flexible study. 

You will be taught through a collection of lectures and seminars.

In addition to this, you will benefit from:

• Student-led critical learning groups
• Online learning opportunities, including discussion groups aligned to modules
• Social and networking events designed to encourage collaboration, and to give you the opportunity to meet with academics and practitioners
• Media training
• Visits to institutions

Teaching on the programme is led by the latest research in the field and delivered over a range of formats to promote student engagement and interaction while also allowing for independent development. 

Assessments are varied to include methods such as presentation of scenarios and plans, vlogs, research proposals, group work, briefing papers, campaign plans etc. as these reflect the skills and knowledge base that graduates require in related career paths.

This course may offer some modules taught through the medium of Welsh or bilingually for students who consider themselves to be fluent Welsh speakers. For more details on the provision available see the Welsh Provision expander below.

No Provision

Unfortunately, there is currently no formal Welsh-medium provision on this course. If you would like to let us know that you are interested in pursuing an element of your course through the medium of Welsh, please email astudio@abertawe.ac.uk to indicate your interest along with your year of entry and we will do our best to see what is possible.

Whilst this course does not offer academic content delivered in Welsh, the University can provide you with the following, and Academi Hywel Teifi is here to support you:

• An interview through the medium of Welsh when applying for a place.
• The option to receive your personal correspondence in Welsh, English or bilingually.
• The option to write and submit your coursework or exams through the medium of Welsh (even if you have chosen to study in English), and your work will be marked in Welsh.
• A Welsh-speaking Personal Tutor.
• One-to-one support to improve your academic Welsh language skills.
• An opportunity to gain an additional free qualification that serves as evidence of your Welsh language ability for future employers.
• Opportunity to be a member of the Swansea University Branch of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

To learn more about the above and all the opportunities available to you through the medium of Welsh, visit Academi Hywel Teifi's undergraduate pages.

Our degrees are taught by industry experts, who have real-world experience, providing them with a wealth of knowledge, which can be passed on to you.

You can find out more about our academic expertise on our staff pages.

Fees for full time Undergraduate UK students may be increased in subsequent years of study by an inflationary amount determined by Welsh Government.

Fees for full time Undergraduate EU/International students will increase by 3% for each subsequent year of study.

During a sandwich year (e.g. year in industry, year abroad or placement year) a lower fee will apply. For more information visit our tuition fees page.

You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Current students: You can find further information of your fee costs on our tuition fees page.

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study.

To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit the University's scholarships and bursaries page.

Academi Hywel Teifi at Swansea University and the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol offer a number of generous scholarships and bursaries for students who wish to study through the medium of Welsh or bilingually. For further information about the opportunities available to you, visit the Academi Hywel Teifi Scholarships and Bursaries page.

Access to your own digital device/the appropriate IT kit will be essential during your time studying at Swansea University. Access to wifi in your accommodation will also be essential to allow you to fully engage with your programme. See our dedicated webpages for further guidance on suitable devices to purchase, and for a full guide on getting your device set up.

You may face additional costs while at university, including (but not limited to):

• Travel to and from campus
• Printing, photocopying, binding, stationery and equipment costs (e.g. USB sticks)
• Purchase of books or texts
• Gowns for graduation ceremonies

Swansea Employability Academy (SEA) will support you at each stage of your career journey helping you build a bright future.

Our career support services include:

• Employability workshops, employers’ talks, bespoke events and careers fairs
• Individual advice and guidance from professionally qualified Careers Advisers
• Help with finding jobs, internships, work placements and volunteering opportunities
• Access to information resources on a wide range of career management topics
• Advice and guidance on postgraduate study and funding
• Funding to support student internship opportunities and Student Society/Club events.

We also provide help and advice for Swansea University Alumni up to two years after you graduate.

Employability Support at the School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Sciences takes a proactive approach to enhancing graduate employability, with a dedicated Employability and Placements Team. The School offers a range of placements, as well as the advice and support to help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to achieve your ambitions.

As well as subject specific support by college teaching staff and your personal tutor, the Centre for Academic Success provides courses, workshops and one-to-one support in areas such as:

• Academic writing
• Maths and statistics
• Critical thinking
• Time management
• Digital skills
• Presentation skills
• Note taking
• Revision, memory and exam techniques
• English language skills (if English is not your first language).

In addition, if you have a Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), disability, mental health or medical condition, the Centre for Academic Success have Specialist Tutors to support your learning, working alongside the Disability Office and Wellbeing Service to support all your needs and requirements whilst studying at Swansea University.

To learn more about study abroad, visit our Go Global webpages. Enrolment on a programme with a semester/year abroad does not guarantee you a semester/year abroad placement. Spaces are limited and subject to a competitive selection process. In the event you do not secure a semester/year abroad placement, you will be transferred to the standard variant of your degree scheme without a semester or year abroad.

International summer programmes are open to students from all schools. Programmes typically range from 2 to 6 weeks, across destinations such as China, Zambia, South Korea, Japan, Canada and across Europe. For more information about programmes and eligibility visit our Summer Abroad webpages.

Apply now – UK, EU and international students.

For further guidance please visit our how to apply pages.

EU students - visa and immigration information is available and will be regularly updated on our information for EU students page.

We recommend that you submit your application to our courses as early as you can in advance of our application deadlines. Courses will close earlier than the application deadlines listed if all available places are filled. You can find further information on our Application Deadlines webpage.

Make an undergraduate enquiry

International students contact our International Team

This course offers you the opportunity to spend a Year In Industry, in the UK or overseas*, giving valuable workplace experience. The University advocates for only paid placements which on average have a salary of over £15,000. Unpaid placements are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Although securing a placement is the responsibility of the student, we work with a number of organisations who provide a range of placement opportunities. Students are also supported throughout their application journey with advice, guidance and additional resources. If you are unable to secure a placement by the end of the second year of your studies, you will transfer onto the equivalent degree programme.

*overseas locations are dependent on VISA restrictions per country