Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Use philosophy, politics and economics together to examine public choices.
About the course
Use philosophy, politics and economics together to examine public choices. You will practise reasoned argument, analyse institutions and interpret economic evidence while making assumptions and values explicit.
What you'll learn
Construct and evaluate a logically organised argument.
Explain political institutions through competing perspectives.
Apply economic concepts to a public problem.
Identify ethical assumptions within policy proposals.
Integrate disciplinary evidence in a reasoned recommendation.
Requirements
Entry requires relevant A Level social science or humanities subjects, or a National Certificate in a related government or public-service field. English Language is required. A relevant National Diploma may support second-year entry where BMIT approves module equivalence and professional rules permit. Advanced entry is not automatic.
African Kalanga is a compulsory graduation subject in every year of this programme. BMIT confirms the approved entry route, any recognition of prior learning and access to required practical facilities before enrolment.
Course Content
The complete subject sequence below moves from foundations to specialist application. Levels show learning progression. Practical work and the final project draw together the subjects studied.
3 learning levels 39 subjects
Select a subject to read its learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment.
Level 1: Foundations
Africa Indigenous Language: African Kalanga 101Compulsory graduation subject · Year 1
Develop African Kalanga through foundations for government and political sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.
Learning outcomes
- Use African Kalanga accurately for Year 1 study and practice.
- Explain language choices to the intended audience.
- Revise your work using speaker and facilitator feedback.
Main topics
- Pronunciation
- Everyday vocabulary
- Listening
- Reading and respectful introductions
Practical task
Record a short introduction and explain its meaning to a peer.
Assessment
Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 101Compulsory core module · Level 1
Identify a real need, study the people affected and develop a responsible idea for a product, service or process. Apply this learning to Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Opportunity recognition
- Creative problem framing
- Community and user research
- Ethics and inclusion
- Idea generation and selection
Practical task
Investigate a need related to Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Interview or observe intended users with consent, compare possible responses and present one justified concept.
Assessment
Submit an opportunity brief, research notes, a concept sketch and a reflection on feedback. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
African History and Pan Africanism 101Compulsory core module · Level 1
Study African history through oral, written and archaeological evidence. Examine the diversity of African societies, knowledge and exchange, then trace the emergence of Pan African ideas about identity, solidarity and self-determination.
Learning outcomes
- Place selected African societies and events within a supported historical timeline.
- Compare historical sources and identify perspective, evidence and uncertainty.
- Explain the foundations of Pan Africanism and the contributions of Africans and the diaspora.
Main topics
- Historical inquiry, chronology, oral traditions and source evaluation
- African civilisations, states, trade, livelihoods and knowledge systems
- Southern African history, including Mapungubgwe and Great Zimbabwe
- Slavery, the African diaspora and changing ideas about identity
- Origins of Pan Africanism, solidarity, self-determination and cultural expression
Practical task
Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
Assessment
Submit the timeline or poster, an annotated source list and a short explanation of the evidence. Assessment considers chronology, historical accuracy, source judgement and the clarity of your interpretation.
Learning resources
Academic Literacy and Study Practice
Develop the reading, writing and evidence skills needed for study. You will examine reading strategies, argument structure, academic paragraphs. Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain reading strategies in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between argument structure and academic paragraphs.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing referencing, information checking and study planning.
Main topics
- Reading strategies
- Argument structure
- Academic paragraphs
- Referencing
- Information checking
- Study planning
Practical task
Write an evidence-based essay and document your revision decisions.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Digital Business Skills
Use everyday digital tools to organise business information accurately. You will build reliable spreadsheets, manage documents and share work responsibly. Activities address uneven connectivity, accessible communication and the protection of personal information in small organisations and public offices.
Learning outcomes
- Build a checked spreadsheet
- Organise retrievable business documents
- Apply appropriate access permissions
Main topics
- File organisation
- Word processing
- Spreadsheet formulas
- Presentations
- Collaborative working
- Privacy and access
Practical task
Create a shared office information pack with formulas, document versions and access instructions.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Business Communication
Prepare purposeful communication for colleagues, customers and decision makers. You will organise evidence, adjust tone for different audiences and check whether a message leads to the intended action. Examples include multilingual workplaces, professional correspondence and short management reports.
Learning outcomes
- Write a concise business report
- Record decisions and assigned actions
- Present evidence for a defined audience
Main topics
- Audience and purpose
- Professional correspondence
- Report structure
- Meeting records
- Presentations
- Intercultural communication
Practical task
Produce a report, meeting record and five-minute briefing about a service problem.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Foundations of Public Administration
Examine how public institutions organise accountable services. You will examine public purpose, administrative systems, institutions. Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
Learning outcomes
- Explain public purpose in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between administrative systems and institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing public servants, service delivery and accountability.
Main topics
- Public purpose
- Administrative systems
- Institutions
- Public servants
- Service delivery
- Accountability
Practical task
Map responsibilities and service flow in a public-service case.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Political Studies
Compare political institutions, ideas and participation. You will examine political authority, ideologies, political institutions. Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain political authority in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between ideologies and political institutions.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing representation, participation and power.
Main topics
- Political authority
- Ideologies
- Political institutions
- Representation
- Participation
- Power
Practical task
Analyse a public decision through contrasting political perspectives.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Microeconomics
Study how households and firms make choices under scarcity. You will examine prices, incentives and market structures, then use diagrams and calculations to explain changes in behaviour. Examples include food markets, informal enterprises and access to essential services.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse a market change
- Calculate and interpret elasticity
- Compare competitive and concentrated markets
Main topics
- Scarcity and choice
- Demand and supply
- Elasticity
- Consumer choice
- Production and costs
- Market structures
Practical task
Explain a local price change using data, diagrams and alternative explanations.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Macroeconomics
Examine output, employment, inflation and external trade at economy level. You will connect household and business conditions to fiscal, monetary and exchange-rate decisions. Work with published indicators while distinguishing nominal values, real changes and differences between national contexts.
Learning outcomes
- Interpret a macroeconomic indicator
- Explain a policy transmission process
- Distinguish nominal and real changes
Main topics
- National accounts
- Growth and employment
- Inflation
- Fiscal policy
- Money and banking
- External balance
Practical task
Prepare an economic conditions briefing comparing two Southern African economies.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Public Ethics and Accountability
Evaluate conduct through public duties and transparent reasoning. You will examine public interest, conflicts of interest, transparency. Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
Learning outcomes
- Explain public interest in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between conflicts of interest and transparency.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing integrity controls, complaints and accountability.
Main topics
- Public interest
- Conflicts of interest
- Transparency
- Integrity controls
- Complaints
- Accountability
Practical task
Analyse an ethical public-service case and document a response.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Business Statistics
Summarise data and judge the strength of numerical evidence. You will distinguish a population from a sample, choose appropriate summaries and interpret uncertainty. Business examples cover demand, customer service, workforce information and variation in operating performance.
Learning outcomes
- Select an appropriate data summary
- Interpret a confidence interval
- Explain limits of a correlation
Main topics
- Sampling
- Descriptive statistics
- Probability distributions
- Confidence intervals
- Hypothesis testing
- Correlation and regression
Practical task
Analyse an anonymised service dataset and write a short evidence report.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Research Methods and Evidence Analysis
Plan an enquiry suited to a specific social or organisational question. You will compare qualitative and quantitative approaches, prepare ethical data collection and assess evidence quality. The module connects research questions to sampling, analysis and clear reporting of uncertainty and limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Formulate a research question
- Select a defensible research design
- Prepare an ethical data collection plan
Main topics
- Research questions
- Literature review
- Design choices
- Sampling
- Ethics
- Data analysis
Practical task
Submit a research proposal, instruments and a worked analysis of a pilot dataset.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Level 2: Core subjects
Africa Indigenous Language: African Kalanga 201Compulsory graduation subject · Year 2
Develop African Kalanga through applied communication for government and political sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.
Learning outcomes
- Use African Kalanga accurately for Year 2 study and practice.
- Explain language choices to the intended audience.
- Revise your work using speaker and facilitator feedback.
Main topics
- Workplace vocabulary
- Questions
- Instructions
- Short messages and feedback
Practical task
Prepare and test a bilingual message for a realistic community or workplace situation.
Assessment
Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 201Compulsory core module · Level 2
Turn a promising idea into a testable proposal using evidence, creative methods and basic resource planning. Apply this learning to Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Co-design and prototyping
- Value proposition
- Feasibility and costs
- Risk and responsible practice
- Testing and iteration
Practical task
Develop a small prototype or service model for a Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics problem. Test it with relevant users, record feedback and revise the proposal.
Assessment
Submit a prototype, a feasibility note, user feedback and a record of revisions. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
African History and Pan Africanism 201Compulsory core module · Level 2
Examine colonial change, resistance and liberation across Africa, with attention to Zimbabwe and South Africa. Compare Pan African movements, organisations and debates, including contributions from women, workers and diaspora communities.
Learning outcomes
- Analyse the effects of colonial rule on land, labour, institutions and social relations.
- Compare liberation movements and Pan African arguments using contextual evidence.
- Explain how different groups shaped independence, solidarity and debates about freedom.
Main topics
- Colonial rule, land, labour, education and forms of resistance
- Nationalism, liberation and the end of colonial rule and apartheid
- Pan African congresses, organisations and contrasting interpretations
- Women, labour movements and diaspora participation
- The Organisation of African Unity and debates about unity, sovereignty and development
Practical task
Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
Assessment
Submit the case study, a source comparison and a reflection on your conclusions. Assessment considers context, evidence, recognition of different perspectives and the quality of your argument.
Learning resources
Philosophical Reasoning and Ethics
Develop careful reasoning about knowledge and values. You will examine arguments, knowledge, moral reasoning. Write and defend a reasoned ethical argument.
Learning outcomes
- Explain arguments in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between knowledge and moral reasoning.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing political values, african thought and critical dialogue.
Main topics
- Arguments
- Knowledge
- Moral reasoning
- Political values
- African thought
- Critical dialogue
Practical task
Write and defend a reasoned ethical argument.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Introduction to African Philosophy
Examine African arguments about knowledge and community. You will examine oral and written traditions, knowledge, personhood. Compare philosophical arguments about a community issue.
Learning outcomes
- Explain oral and written traditions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between knowledge and personhood.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing community, ethics and contemporary debate.
Main topics
- Oral and written traditions
- Knowledge
- Personhood
- Community
- Ethics
- Contemporary debate
Practical task
Compare philosophical arguments about a community issue.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
African Politics and Governance
Examine African institutions through historical and contemporary evidence. You will examine state formation, colonial legacies, constitutional change. Prepare a comparative African governance study.
Learning outcomes
- Explain state formation in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between colonial legacies and constitutional change.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing political parties, civil society and regional governance.
Main topics
- State formation
- Colonial legacies
- Constitutional change
- Political parties
- Civil society
- Regional governance
Practical task
Prepare a comparative African governance study.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Intermediate Microeconomics
Develop analytical models of consumer, producer and market behaviour. You will examine optimisation, strategic interaction and market failure, then use the models to evaluate economic choices. The module requires explicit assumptions and explains when a simplified model leaves important institutional factors outside the analysis.
Learning outcomes
- Solve an optimisation problem
- Analyse strategic interaction
- Evaluate a market intervention
Main topics
- Consumer optimisation
- Production theory
- Cost functions
- Market power
- Game theory
- Market failure
Practical task
Analyse a regulated or concentrated market using diagrams and numerical examples.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Compare models explaining output, inflation and employment over time. You will examine short-run adjustment and longer-run growth while considering expectations and the open economy. Activities require you to state model assumptions and explain why different approaches produce different policy recommendations.
Learning outcomes
- Compare macroeconomic models
- Analyse a policy shock
- Explain a growth mechanism
Main topics
- Income determination
- Aggregate demand and supply
- Expectations
- Business cycles
- Growth models
- Open-economy adjustment
Practical task
Evaluate a fiscal or external shock under two macroeconomic models.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Econometrics
Estimate and interpret relationships in economic data. You will develop regression models, check assumptions and assess threats to a credible conclusion. The module connects statistical output with economic reasoning, reproducible analysis and clear communication of uncertainty, rather than treating a fitted relationship as proof.
Learning outcomes
- Estimate an economic relationship
- Diagnose a model problem
- Explain limits of an estimate
Main topics
- Regression estimation
- Inference
- Model specification
- Heteroskedasticity
- Time-series foundations
- Causal limitations
Practical task
Submit a reproducible empirical analysis with diagnostics and an interpretation report.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Development Economics
Compare explanations of poverty, growth and structural change. You will examine how institutions, markets and public decisions affect livelihoods, then analyse development interventions using evidence. Southern African cases connect household experience with employment, productive capacity and unequal access to resources and services.
Learning outcomes
- Compare development explanations
- Interpret an inequality measure
- Evaluate a development intervention
Main topics
- Development theories
- Poverty and inequality
- Institutions
- Structural change
- Human development
- Policy interventions
Practical task
Prepare a development policy appraisal using a clearly defined community or sector case.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Public Finance and Fiscal Policy
Study how governments raise and spend resources. You will examine taxation, public expenditure and borrowing, then assess the distributional and economic effects of fiscal choices. Cases connect policy objectives with budget constraints, service outcomes and the need for transparent public accountability.
Learning outcomes
- Explain a fiscal policy choice
- Assess distributional effects
- Interpret a public budget
Main topics
- Public goods
- Tax design
- Expenditure choices
- Fiscal incidence
- Public debt
- Budget policy
Practical task
Produce a budget policy note comparing two expenditure or revenue options.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Public Policy Analysis
Analyse policy problems through evidence and alternatives. You will examine problem framing, policy actors, options. Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem framing in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between policy actors and options.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing policy instruments, implementation and evaluation.
Main topics
- Problem framing
- Policy actors
- Options
- Policy instruments
- Implementation
- Evaluation
Practical task
Prepare a policy brief comparing practical alternatives.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Geopolitics and International Political Economy
Examine the interaction of geography, power and economic relations. You will examine territory, resources, trade networks. Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
Learning outcomes
- Explain territory in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between resources and trade networks.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing global institutions, strategic interests and regional choices.
Main topics
- Territory
- Resources
- Trade networks
- Global institutions
- Strategic interests
- Regional choices
Practical task
Compare explanations of a regional policy issue.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Level 3: Specialist subjects and application
Africa Indigenous Language: African Kalanga 301Compulsory graduation subject · Year 3
Develop African Kalanga through specialist communication for government and political sciences. Practise with authentic tasks, feedback and reflection across the programme year.
Learning outcomes
- Use African Kalanga accurately for Year 3 study and practice.
- Explain language choices to the intended audience.
- Revise your work using speaker and facilitator feedback.
Main topics
- Field-specific terms
- Interviews
- Explanations and audience needs
Practical task
Interview a speaker about a field-specific issue and produce a checked bilingual summary.
Assessment
Submit the practical work, a brief reflection and evidence of language review. Assessment checks meaning, audience fit and improvement after feedback.
Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Innovation 301Compulsory core module · Level 3
Plan and evaluate the practical introduction of an innovation in a relevant organisation or community. Apply this learning to Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics through an authentic brief and feedback from an appropriate audience.
Learning outcomes
- Investigate a defined opportunity and explain the evidence behind it.
- Develop and refine a creative response that fits the people and setting.
- Evaluate feasibility, ethical implications and the quality of the result.
Main topics
- Implementation planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Resources and finance
- Monitoring and impact
- Learning from a pilot
Practical task
Prepare and defend a pilot plan for an innovation relevant to Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics. Set measures of success, identify risks and explain how results will guide improvement.
Assessment
Submit a pilot plan, budget assumptions, evaluation measures and an individual rationale. Assessment considers the quality of the evidence, the response to feedback, feasibility and your individual explanation.
African History and Pan Africanism 301Compulsory core module · Level 3
Evaluate the legacy of Pan Africanism in continental and regional cooperation, culture and public life. Apply historical inquiry to a heritage, community or professional issue, recognising both achievements and contested interpretations.
Learning outcomes
- Evaluate continuity and change from the Organisation of African Unity to the African Union.
- Assess a contemporary Pan African issue using historical evidence and contrasting views.
- Develop an ethical, well-sourced project connecting African history with your field or community.
Main topics
- The African Union, regional cooperation and Southern African integration
- Agenda 2063, development and debates about continental priorities
- Citizenship, migration, diaspora connections and cultural exchange
- African knowledge, heritage, public history and contested narratives
- Research ethics, source attribution and evaluation of a community or professional project
Practical task
Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.
Assessment
Submit a project brief, an annotated source portfolio, a public-facing learning resource and an evaluation of your interpretation. Assessment considers evidence, ethical practice, historical reasoning and usefulness to the intended audience.
Learning resources
Regional Integration and SADC Governance
Evaluate regional cooperation through institutional evidence. You will examine regionalism, sadc institutions, trade integration. Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Learning outcomes
- Explain regionalism in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between sadc institutions and trade integration.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing mobility, shared resources and implementation.
Main topics
- Regionalism
- SADC institutions
- Trade integration
- Mobility
- Shared resources
- Implementation
Practical task
Prepare a regional cooperation brief.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Public International Law
Examine law between states and international actors. You will examine sources, statehood, jurisdiction. Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Learning outcomes
- Explain sources in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between statehood and jurisdiction.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing treaties, responsibility and dispute settlement.
Main topics
- Sources
- Statehood
- Jurisdiction
- Treaties
- Responsibility
- Dispute settlement
Practical task
Prepare a legal briefing on a supplied international dispute.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Fundamental Rights
Evaluate rights claims and appropriate remedies. You will examine rights holders, protected interests, state duties. Write a rights analysis using supplied constitutional materials.
Learning outcomes
- Explain rights holders in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between protected interests and state duties.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing horizontal application, limitations and remedies.
Main topics
- Rights holders
- Protected interests
- State duties
- Horizontal application
- Limitations
- Remedies
Practical task
Write a rights analysis using supplied constitutional materials.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Social Policy and Welfare Services
Evaluate welfare through need, rights and access. You will examine social protection, poverty, household needs. Compare responses to a defined community welfare need.
Learning outcomes
- Explain social protection in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between poverty and household needs.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing service access, policy instruments and evaluation.
Main topics
- Social protection
- Poverty
- Household needs
- Service access
- Policy instruments
- Evaluation
Practical task
Compare responses to a defined community welfare need.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Poverty, Inequality and Livelihoods
Analyse disadvantage through household and institutional evidence. You will examine poverty measures, inequality, livelihood strategies. Prepare a livelihood analysis and justified support proposal.
Learning outcomes
- Explain poverty measures in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between inequality and livelihood strategies.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing vulnerability, social exclusion and policy responses.
Main topics
- Poverty measures
- Inequality
- Livelihood strategies
- Vulnerability
- Social exclusion
- Policy responses
Practical task
Prepare a livelihood analysis and justified support proposal.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Gender, Diversity and Social Inclusion
Examine unequal participation in institutions and communities. You will examine gender relations, intersectionality, discrimination. Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.
Learning outcomes
- Explain gender relations in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between intersectionality and discrimination.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing representation, inclusive practice and evidence.
Main topics
- Gender relations
- Intersectionality
- Discrimination
- Representation
- Inclusive practice
- Evidence
Practical task
Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Applied Economics Research Project
Investigate an economic question using an explicit theoretical argument and suitable evidence. You will develop a research design, analyse data and assess alternative explanations. The completed study connects findings to policy or economic understanding while making limitations, uncertainty and reproducibility clear.
Learning outcomes
- Develop a testable economic question
- Analyse economic evidence
- Defend a qualified conclusion
Main topics
- Question and theory
- Literature synthesis
- Data preparation
- Empirical analysis
- Policy interpretation
- Research reporting
Practical task
Complete an empirical economics dissertation-style report and oral presentation.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Programme Impact and Evaluation Methods
Assess the evidence supporting claims about programme change. You will examine causal questions, comparison strategies, mixed methods. Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
Learning outcomes
- Explain causal questions in a relevant case.
- Analyse the relationship between comparison strategies and mixed methods.
- Produce a reasoned response addressing contribution, bias and interpretation.
Main topics
- Causal questions
- Comparison strategies
- Mixed methods
- Contribution
- Bias
- Interpretation
Practical task
Design an evaluation and explain its causal limitations.
Assessment
Submit the practical output with supporting evidence and an individual written or oral explanation. Assessment considers subject knowledge, accuracy, reasoning and the quality of the completed work.
Workplace Learning and Professional Portfolio
Connect taught subjects with supervised or carefully designed simulated professional work. You will agree learning objectives, record tasks and evaluate your decisions against evidence. The portfolio makes your individual contribution visible and identifies areas requiring further practice or specialist supervision.
Learning outcomes
- Set assessable workplace objectives
- Document your contribution
- Evaluate professional learning needs
Main topics
- Learning agreement
- Professional conduct
- Work evidence
- Supervisor feedback
- Reflective analysis
- Improvement planning
Practical task
Compile a verified or simulated workplace portfolio with supervisor or facilitator feedback.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Integrated Business Research Project
Investigate a defined business problem by combining knowledge from several management subjects. You will frame a useful question, gather appropriate evidence and compare feasible responses. The final report explains the recommendation, implementation implications and limitations of the enquiry rather than claiming certainty.
Learning outcomes
- Frame a researchable business problem
- Analyse relevant evidence
- Defend a feasible recommendation
Main topics
- Problem definition
- Research ethics
- Evidence collection
- Analysis
- Recommendations
- Implementation evaluation
Practical task
Complete an individual business investigation and present the resulting improvement proposal.
Assessment
Assessment combines applied exercises, a documented case or practical portfolio and an individual written or oral explanation. Judgement considers technical accuracy, reasoning, evidence quality and the feasibility of recommendations.
Practical Learning
Authentic e-learning at BMIT
BMIT uses Authentic E-Learning to connect your studies with practical problems in your field. You use digital resources to investigate a realistic brief, make decisions and produce work for a defined purpose and audience. Your qualification's activities below put this approach into practice.
How you will learn
The approach draws on nine elements of authentic learning:
- Realistic contexts: Work with situations relevant to your profession or community.
- Purposeful tasks: Investigate a substantial problem with more than one possible solution.
- Expert examples: Examine demonstrations and examples of professional reasoning.
- Different perspectives: Compare sources and consider the needs of different people.
- Collaboration: Share ideas and review work with peers, while showing your own contribution.
- Reflection: Record what worked, what changed and what needs improvement.
- Explanation: Present your reasoning and support your decisions with evidence.
- Guidance: Use tutor feedback and structured support as you develop independence.
- Authentic assessment: Demonstrate learning through the task and its practical outcome.
From a brief to a practical outcome
Start by identifying the problem, intended audience and assessment criteria. Investigate relevant evidence, plan your response and develop an initial solution. Use discussion and feedback to test your ideas, then revise your work and explain your choices.
Digital tools support research, collaboration, simulation and the presentation of evidence. Your output depends on the module. Examples include a business proposal, technical design, tested program, investigation report or community resource. Keep drafts, calculations, test results and reflections to show how your work developed.
The module brief sets the required tasks, individual and group responsibilities, submission format and assessment criteria. The practical activities and supervision requirements for this qualification are set out below.
Research informing this approach
- Herrington, J. Authentic Learning: nine elements of authentic learning.
- Lombardi, M. M. (2007). Authentic learning for the 21st century: An overview. EDUCAUSE Learning Initiative.
- Parker, J., Maor, D. and Herrington, J. (2013). Authentic online learning: Aligning learner needs, pedagogy and technology. Issues in Educational Research, 23(2), 227–241.
Use guided online cases, realistic briefs and feedback to develop practical work. Any workplace or community activity requires suitable supervision and permission.
What you will practise
- Microeconomics: Explain a local price change using data, diagrams and alternative explanations.
- Econometrics: Submit a reproducible empirical analysis with diagnostics and an interpretation report.
- Gender, Diversity and Social Inclusion: Review a programme for barriers to equitable participation.
Applied project
Examine a proposed regional policy question from all three disciplines. Identify empirical evidence, normative judgements and analytical assumptions separately before defending a recommendation.
Evidence and feedback
- Philosophical arguments and economic exercises.
- Comparative political and policy analyses.
- An interdisciplinary research paper and oral defence.
Assessment considers the practical work you submit, the evidence behind your decisions and how you respond to feedback.
African History and Pan Africanism practical learning
- African History and Pan Africanism 101: Create an annotated timeline or digital learning poster on a selected African society or historical development. Compare at least two credible sources and explain one connection with your field of study.
- African History and Pan Africanism 201: Develop a comparative case study of a liberation issue or Pan African debate relevant to Southern Africa. Use a historical document alongside a scholarly account and explain differences in purpose and interpretation.
- African History and Pan Africanism 301: Prepare a sourced heritage or civic-learning project connected with your field or a Southern African community. Explain its historical basis, audience, permission needs and limits. Obtain consent if you conduct interviews.
Career Prospects
These examples show work across this qualification pathway, from support roles to specialist and management posts. Your entry point depends on your study, experience and employer requirements. Regulated roles require separate recognition or registration.
Top Career Paths and Job Titles
- Policy research assistant: Collects economic and political evidence for briefings.
- Economic policy analyst: Examines how public decisions affect households, markets and institutions.
- Development finance analyst: Reviews funding options, public value and implementation risks.
- Political risk analyst: Assesses policy change and its effect on organisations or investments.
- Policy programme lead: Coordinates interdisciplinary analysis and evidence-based advice.
Growth and Leadership Trajectory
- Starting practice: After meeting entry and any registration requirements, begin with the work represented by Policy research assistant. Build supervised experience and keep a record of reliable work.
- Specialist progression: Relevant study and evidence from more complex projects support a move towards Economic policy analyst or Development finance analyst.
- Leadership: With substantial experience, a role such as Policy programme lead adds responsibility for people, quality, budgets or service decisions.
Further Education to Boost Prospects
- Next study step: An honours degree, postgraduate diploma or relevant master’s degree in political economy and economic policy may follow, subject to admission requirements.
Professional Certifications and Registrations
- Role-specific requirements: No single statutory credential covers every role in political economy and economic policy. Employers may require a relevant short course, supervised experience or role-specific licence. Check the requirements for the job and country before applying.
Potential Government and Industrial Employers
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management: Start or manage a small venture related to this field. Regulated work still requires the relevant professional registration or licence.
- Private and commercial organisations: Trade and policy consultancies.
- Specialist employers: International organisations and NGOs.
- Research and community organisations: Research institutes.
- Government departments and public bodies: Foreign-affairs and trade departments.