Deanna found BSc (Hons) International Development with Economics Bath both rigorous and rewarding, helping her explore the real-world impact of global policy and humanitarian work.

From gaining academic insights to going on a professional placement with purpose, she developed the confidence and experience to shape a career focused on knowledge-sharing and change

Choosing my degree

I’m from the UK but spent most of my upbringing in Hong Kong and Singapore. I returned to the UK for my undergraduate studies.

From early on, I had a strong interest in international development and the humanitarian sector, particularly NGOs. However, I wasn’t entirely sure what that path looked like or whether it was even a formal academic discipline. I considered studying economics and politics, but I found myself drawn more to the human and developmental aspects of global issues.

I discovered the course at Bath and thought it was a perfect match! It combines theoretical foundations with real-world applications, with a particular focus on how politics intersects with humanitarian aid.

The course covers a wide range of subjects, from psychology and environmental studies to criminology, which I found especially engaging. The global focus, with opportunities to specialise in different regions, added to its appeal.

Gaining academic experience

One of the highlights of my time at Bath was working with the lecturers themselves.

Their research spanned countries from Brazil to Bangladesh, and many of the classes were enriched by their personal fieldwork and academic contributions.

There was a need for independent work, which allowed me to explore specific areas of interest. I am also someone who likes the flexibility of research and writing over exams; this exploration is a key part of higher education and developing your own critical thinking.

Several units still stand out to me for how great they were, particularly those involving group presentations. These helped me develop skills in public speaking, teamwork, and collaborative research.

We had IT-based modules that taught us how to use practical tools like Excel. You tend to think of core course content when applying for a degree, but all these other skills that come with studying give you so much, especially for a career.

Exposure to the field

Throughout the course, there were regular talks from professionals in the international development sector. This provided great opportunities for networking.

Staying informed about global issues was essential - the fast-paced nature of international affairs meant that we needed to stay constantly up to date.

Placement experience

My professional placement was with the National Literacy Trust, a UK-based NGO.

It was an excellent opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the charity sector. Although my role focused more on communications than research or policy, it gave me a broad view of how the organisation operated.

Education has always been important to me, so working with a literacy-focused NGO felt meaningful. The placement helped me build both soft and hard skills by collaborating with colleagues, managing tasks, and understanding workplace dynamics. It also gave me the one year of experience that many employers now expect, playing a key role in securing my current job.

The course helped prepare me for my placement, especially in terms of writing, critical thinking, and being able to evaluate information with a more analytical lens.

The role was a welcome break from the intensity of back-to-back academic years. Having that time away from coursework gave me a chance to reset and return to my final year feeling more focused.

You don’t remember every detail from your course, but the broader capabilities you build are what you carry forward. And even if someone feels unsure about whether they are on the ‘right’ course, there’s usually flexibility to tailor it to their interests. Some of my peers focused on the financial side of development, whereas I leaned more toward the people-centred aspects.

Building a foundation for working in the sector

I have gained a solid understanding of the international development landscape; who the key actors are, how governments and institutions function, and how different sectors interact. These insights have proven incredibly useful in my career.

After graduating, I joined DAI on a two-year graduate scheme. The company is structured around two main areas: delivery of international development projects and business development, which involves bidding for new work from donors like the UN, World Bank, EU, and previously USAID.

I started in the delivery team, working specifically on evidence, learning, and technical assistance facilities. This meant focusing on how research and evidence can inform and shape future policy, something that aligned closely with the themes of my degree.

The work covers everything from climate change and women’s rights to humanitarian aid and conflict. Having the academic background that spanned a wide range of topics gave me a strong contextual understanding of the institutions I now work with; how they are structured, how they interact, and even where tensions might exist between them.

I oversee various projects, such as proposal writing and reviewing consultant reports and then in the other part of my work, I evaluate the impact of DAI’s work to see whether it made a difference and how we can share those insights to make sure valuable findings don’t just sit in a report but are shared with the wider community.

My next steps

Although the original plan was to rotate into the business development side of the company in my second year, I’ve ended up staying with my current team. I have really settled in, and I genuinely enjoy working with my manager and colleagues.

In this role, I still engage with business development tasks within my team, which gives me the best of both worlds.

Now that I have finished the graduate scheme, I’m still figuring out which area of international development excites me the most, whether that’s climate, gender, or something else. I’ve come to realise that I enjoy being on the support side of projects, observing, synthesising, and sharing insights, rather than being the consultant conducting the initial research.

I hope to continue in a communications-focused role, ideally one that is more specialised in knowledge management, learning, or even monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), or maybe at some time a master’s!