Advanced Diploma in Economic Analysis
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in Economic Analysis at LSLPE is a UK Level 5 senior-track qualification running 12 to 15 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. The programme takes economic analysis as an applied craft: how professional economists at HM Treasury, the Bank of England-adjacent research houses and the leading think tanks actually structure a piece of analytical work, from question through data through model to briefing.
By closing terms you will have run applied policy-analysis briefs, produced Green Book-standard cost-benefit assessments, drafted a Whitehall-standard analytical note, and completed a supervised applied research report of around 8,000 words.
Key Features
- UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma with confirmed credit transfer into UK Bachelor top-up routes in economics.
- Reading list aligned with Royal Economic Society (RES), Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and NIESR publication conventions.
- Case-room seminars set in the Whitehall analytical tradition.
- Applied assignments in cost-benefit, policy-analysis and analytical-note format.
- Applied labs in Excel and R with tutor support.
- Applied research report supervised by tutors with Government Economic Service or think-tank backgrounds.
What You Will Learn
- Apply the Green Book to a live policy costing.
- Structure a Whitehall-standard analytical note.
- Interpret ONS, OBR and Bank of England releases.
- Run cost-benefit and value-for-money analyses.
- Design a small applied econometric exercise.
- Draft a policy-analysis brief in under 750 words.
- Prepare an applied research report at Level 5 standard.
- Present orally in a case-room analytical setting.
Who This Course Is For
- Working analysts in Whitehall, local government or NGOs.
- Diploma progressors preparing for a UK Bachelor's in economics.
- Career-changers moving from data or research into economics.
- Aspiring Government Economic Service and think-tank staff.
- International applicants preparing for senior public-service or multilateral roles.
Career Pathways
- Economic Policy Analyst
- Public Finance Analyst
- Government Economist
- Research Economist
- Economic Consultant
- Regulatory Economist
The LSLPE careers service links Advanced Diploma in Economic Analysis finalists with Government Economic Service pipelines, IFS-adjacent research houses and City economic-consulting firms.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or at least two years of relevant professional experience in economics, public policy or applied research.
- 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.
- Applicants with policy-brief, analytical or research portfolios are encouraged to include them.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE reads applied economic analysis inside a school where the legal drafting and political argument around policy are taught alongside the analysis itself. The Advanced Diploma sits in small tutor-visible cohorts drawn from Government Economic Service-adjacent, think-tank and academic backgrounds.
Central London puts HM Treasury, the Bank of England, IFS, OBR and the leading research houses within a short tube ride of every classroom. Three parallel study modes let working analysts continue in employment while completing the programme, and the careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against RES and CIPFA guidance.
Apply for Advanced Diploma in Economic Analysis
Places are offered across three intake windows. Enrol on a UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma at LSLPE, credit transfer into Bachelor top-ups confirmed in writing at enrolment. Enrol Now.
