Teaching & modules
Modules
Course Structure
Programmes are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 180 credits.
Required Modules
You are required to take the following modules:
- Leadership and Society (30 credits)
- Emerging Powers in Global Leadership (15 credits)
- The State and Development in Africa and Asia (15 credits)
- Dissertation: MSc Leadership and Development (60 credits)
- Research Methods in Global leadership (15 credits)
If you are a part-time student, you will take Leadership and Society in your first year, and Research Methods in Global Leadership plus Dissertation: MSc Leadership and Development in your second year. You must choose a further 45 credits of taught modules in year one and 30 additional credits in year two, from across the core and optional modules.
Optional Modules
In addition, you are required to take 45 credits from a range of optional modules, which may typically include:
- Gender, Leadership and Society (15 credits)
- Youth and Society in the Developing World (15 credits)
- African Issues in Global Affairs (15 credits)
- Applied Global Leadership (15 credits)
- President’s Global Leadership Award (15 credits)
- Natural Resource Governance (15 credits)
- Governance of Security (15 credits)
Up to 15 credits of level 7 optional modules may be taken from modules offered in the Global Institutes, or any KCL Departments outside of the Global Institutes (subject to the Programme Convenor’s email approval and the agreement of the external department).
Teaching methods - what to expect
For every 15-credit module, we will typically provide 15-20 hours of lectures and seminars, and we will typically expect you to undertake 130-135 hours of independent study. A typical 30 credit module will involve 20-30 hours of lectures/seminars plus 270-280 hours of self-guided or group-based learning/project work. For your dissertation, we will provide 5 hours of discussion time with your supervisor, and we will expect you to undertake 595 hours of independent study and project work. Students should note that the self-study aspect of every module is extremely important: the readings given to students are a compulsory and a key component of the learning experience.
| Module | Lectures, seminars and feedback | Self-study |
| Per 15-credit taught module | Typically 15-20 hours. |
130-135 hours (including engaging with specially prepared module materials and self-guided learning). |
| Dissertation module | 5 hours supervision time | 595 hours of self-study |
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Application closing date guidance
Key Information
Course type:
Master's
Delivery mode:
In person
Study mode:
Full time / Part time
Duration:
One year full-time, September to September, two years part-time
Application status:
Open
Start date:
September 2026