Overview
1st place in the National Student Survey for Combined Studies 2022.
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.
"I wanted to study something that combined science with geopolitics in order to understand the world that we live in today." - Giacomo Garberoglio
"I wanted to study something that combined science with geopolitics in order to understand the world that we live in today." - Giacomo Garberoglio
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
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 global innovation pathway have been developed in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and integrating elements from Engineers Without Borders, UK.
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.
Compulsory
- Methods for addressing global and local challenges
- Addressing Global Challenges II
- Global Challenges: contested science, ethics and numbers
- Introduction to Global Innovation
- Fundamental Scientific and Engineering Principles and Methodology
- Transdisciplinary Global Innovation in Society
- Global Innovation Investigation
Compulsory
- Constructing Knowledge: Developing a qualitative methods toolkit
- Practical and theoretical responses to the challenges of global change
- The World through Data
- Transdisciplinary Knowledge Integration and NegotiationOn this module students will develop their understanding in the integration and negotiation of theories and concepts from varying problem domains, and demonstrate convergent and divergent thinking to integrate and expand concepts from multiple fields to explore new concept.
- Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Transdisciplinary Global Innovation in Organisations
- Global Innovation Integration
Compulsory
- Global Innovation Practice
- Transdisciplinary Global Innovation Management
- Transdisciplinary Global Innovation in Sustainable Infrastructure
- Transdisciplinary Global Innovation in Multiple Representations
- Global Challenges in Practice
- Arts and Sciences Dissertation in Global Challenges
- Global Challenges in Practice Enterprize Project
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of undergraduate degrees at Brunel.
Careers and your future
Today’s workforce seeks graduates who are not only flexible and determined, but also have the awareness and ability to respond to the challenges faced by different industries across a rapidly-changing world.
Global Challenges is both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. Having developed skills in scientific, social scientific and humanities fields, our graduates will be able to confidently engage with a range of perspectives, evidence bases and stakeholders.
Ultimately, graduates will be able to actively contribute and lead the necessary change needed to respond to emerging issues. You’ll be able to innovate and improve processes in a dynamic manner, and to actively contribute to improving outcomes for employers, or as an employer yourself.
Graduates from this programme will be equipped for roles in a number of industries including, but certainly not limited to, business, media and communications, systems design and consulting, international development, healthcare, government and diplomatic services.
UK entry requirements
2024/25 entry
- GCE A-level ABB-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.
- T levels : Merit overall in Digital Productions, Design and Development, Design and Development for Engineering and Manufacturing, Engineering, Manufacturing, processing and Control.
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.
Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.
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: 90 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2025/26 entry
UK
£9,535 full-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£20,400 full-time
£1,385 placement year
Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,535 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.
More information on any additional course-related costs.
See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Please refer to the scholarships pages to view discounts available to eligible EU undergraduate applicants.
Teaching and learning
Global Challenges is an emerging and exciting subject area which will challenge you to think differently about humanity's relationship with the contemporary world.
You'll have the chance to choose one of four specially curated pathways alongside the ‘core spine’ of the degree so your learning experience will be truly unique. This programme offers you the opportunity to switch between science and non-scientific disciplines whilst providing both local and international contexts to ground everything you learn. This will ultimately give you full exposure and knowledge to the challenges society faces globally, without any restrictions.
Uniquely, the programme is designed in study and assessment blocks. In Levels 4 and 5, the core study block consists of 50 credits and the pathway study block of 70 credits. In Level 6, the core study block consists of 70 credits, whereas your pathway study block is weighted as 50 credits.
Main activities include:
- lectures (weekly);
- seminar (weekly),
- pathway small group classes (weekly);
- module classes curated by your pathway lead.
All lectures, seminars, pathway small group classes and module classes curated by your pathway lead are in-person, on campus. Attendance will enable you to participate fully and with minimal disruptions, and ensure you are able to engage in meaningful discussions.
We're committed to enabling dynamic knowledge sharing, and students have noted repeatedly that in-person learning makes personal connections with like-minded peers not only easier but that this form of bonding forges opportunities for deeper understanding of key concepts and support in learning.
Through seminar series and a network of staff members, students are also connected with industry partners in order to independently access extracurricular opportunities, paid employment or internships.
Students are strongly advised to purchase core texts from module reading lists, although copies are also available via Brunel Library.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
The aim of this new Bachelor of Arts and Sciences is to develop your knowledge and understanding of the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, technology, philosophy and ethics and how they can contribute to identifying, understanding and responding to global issues and concerns.
This is the first course of its kind to offer students opportunities to work across disciplines in a global context between science, social science and humanities disciplines.
You'll be taught by staff who are actively engaged in research or relevant professional practice, making your learning up-to-date with current findings in real-world experiences which will feed into teaching. You'll learn in a variety of ways including lectures, tutorials, workshops and seminars, as well as one-to-one supervision in your final year project.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
Course assessments are synoptic in nature as they will draw on the knowledge you acquire across the various disciplines covered. Assessment methods may include presentations, written and audio-visual reports in the form of vlogs and blogs, essays, examinations, laboratory worksheets, coursework, and peer assessment.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.
