Advanced Diploma in Development Economics
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in Development Economics at LSLPE is a UK Level 5 senior-track qualification running 12 to 15 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. The programme sits at the intersection of applied microeconomics, impact evaluation and international development practice, and is aligned with the Overseas Development Institute research agenda, the Institute of Development Studies scholarship community and Royal Economic Society guidance on applied economics.
By graduation you will have appraised a live development-programme business case, built a small-scale impact-evaluation design, produced a policy brief on a low-income country growth question, presented a cost-benefit analysis to a mock donor review board, and defended a capstone research piece on a specialist development-economics issue.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with ODI, IDS and Royal Economic Society applied-economics standards.
- Modules on impact evaluation, poverty measurement, human-capital economics and agricultural development.
- Case-room teaching on World Bank, DFID-legacy and FCDO programme evaluations.
- Workshops in cost-benefit analysis, theory of change and results-framework construction.
- CIPFA-aligned strand on public financial management for development ministries.
- Named programme-tutor support with weekly seminars for on-campus, online and distance learners.
- Credit-transfer route into a UK Bachelor's top-up in Economics confirmed at enrolment.
What You Will Learn
- Build applied microeconometric models for impact evaluation.
- Design randomised and quasi-experimental evaluations to a donor-ready standard.
- Interpret national-accounts and household-survey data from low-income countries.
- Advise on poverty targeting, cash-transfer design and social-protection systems.
- Evaluate the fiscal implications of development programmes.
- Draft theory-of-change and results frameworks for donor programmes.
- Present cost-benefit analyses to a technical review committee.
- Prepare a policy brief in the ODI and Chatham House house style.
Who This Course Is For
- Programme officers in NGOs and international agencies seeking a senior-track credential.
- Analysts in donor departments moving into evaluation and appraisal roles.
- Public-sector economists in low- and middle-income country ministries.
- Career changers moving from finance or consultancy into development practice.
- Graduates preparing to apply for Master's programmes in development economics.
Career Pathways
- Development economist in an NGO or donor department.
- Economic policy analyst for a development ministry.
- Research economist in a development-focused think tank.
- Public finance analyst working on donor budget support.
- Economic consultant advising international agencies.
- Labour market analyst focused on low-income country data.
- Regulatory economist supporting infrastructure programmes.
The LSLPE careers service maintains introductions with ODI-adjacent think tanks, City-based development advisory practices and multilateral graduate-entry programmes.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or at least two years of relevant professional experience in economics, development or policy work.
- GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C or equivalent.
- IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
- One academic or professional reference, ideally from a development or research supervisor.
- Applicants with programme-appraisal, evaluation or research portfolios are encouraged to include them.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London places the ODI, Chatham House, the IFS, the FCDO and the LSE-adjacent development ecosystem within a short tube ride of every classroom, which gives development-economics students unusually direct exposure to practising analysts.
Cohorts are small, tutor-visible and taught in the case-room and select-committee tradition. The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each year and briefs students individually on Chevening, JPO and multilateral graduate-entry pathways.
Apply for Advanced Diploma in Development Economics
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and admissions responds within one working day. Enrol on a UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma at LSLPE with credit transfer into a Bachelor's top-up confirmed in writing at enrolment. Enrol Now.
