Advanced Diploma in Economic Development
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in Economic Development is a UK Level 5 senior-track qualification running 12 to 15 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. The programme covers development economics from growth theory through poverty measurement, structural transformation and industrial policy, drawing on ODI and IDS-aligned themes. The syllabus is aligned with competencies referenced by the Royal Economic Society and the Overseas Development Institute.
By graduation you will have prepared country-level growth diagnostics, drafted development programme briefs, produced poverty and inequality analyses using real household survey data, and completed a capstone project on a live development question. Credit transfer into a UK Bachelor's top-up is confirmed in writing at enrolment.
Key Features
- UK Level 5 credential aligned with Royal Economic Society and ODI-aligned themes.
- Applied training in poverty and inequality measurement.
- Case-room seminars on live development questions.
- Guest sessions from ODI-adjacent researchers and multilateral practitioners.
- Capstone project supervised by a tutor with development-economics experience.
- Credit transfer into LSLPE Bachelor's top-up routes confirmed at enrolment.
- Careers-service introductions to NGOs, DFID-successor teams and think tanks.
What You Will Learn
- Growth theory from Solow through modern endogenous models.
- Poverty and inequality measurement using Gini, poverty gap and multidimensional indices.
- Structural transformation and industrial policy design.
- Trade and development: preferences, tariffs and value chains.
- Institutions, governance and development outcomes.
- Reading ODI, World Bank and IMF country reports.
- Programme evaluation using randomised control trial methodology at introductory level.
- Producing a country diagnostic and programme brief.
Who This Course Is For
- NGO staff and development professionals formalising Level 5 credentials.
- Government analysts moving into development portfolios.
- Progressors from a Level 4 Diploma toward a UK Bachelor's top-up.
- International applicants planning national development careers.
- Working professionals in humanitarian or programmatic roles.
Career Pathways
- Development Economist in an NGO or multilateral organisation.
- Economic Policy Analyst in a development think tank.
- Economist in a national planning ministry.
- Trade Economist working on development trade policy.
- Labour Market Analyst on developing-country data.
- Research Economist at an ODI or IDS-adjacent institute.
- Public Finance Analyst on donor-funded programmes.
The LSLPE careers service coordinates introductions with NGOs, multilateral bodies and think tanks and runs at least one careers day each academic year.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or at least two years of relevant experience in economics, policy or development.
- 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 programme-management or research portfolios are encouraged to include them.
Why Study at LSLPE
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches in small, tutor-visible cohorts and reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London gives Advanced Diploma students access to Chatham House, the ODI, and the LSE-adjacent development research ecosystem within a short tube ride of every classroom.
Every intake shares the same weekly seminar structure, and the careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Royal Economic Society and development sector guidance.
Apply for Advanced Diploma in Economic Development
Applications for the Advanced Diploma in Economic Development are reviewed on a rolling basis. Enrol on a UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma at LSLPE, credit transfer into Bachelor top-ups confirmed in writing at enrolment. Enrol Now.
