Advanced Diploma in Economic Research Methods
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in Economic Research Methods at LSLPE is a UK Level 5 senior-track qualification running 12 to 15 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. The syllabus takes the practical econometric and research-methods toolkit used by UK government economists and think tanks — panel and time-series regression, differences-in-differences, instrumental variables, matching, and mixed-method design — and teaches them alongside applied cases drawn from IFS, ODI and NIESR publications.
By closing terms you will be running applied regressions in R or Stata, drafting an econometric methods paper, replicating a published study, and completing a supervised applied research report on a topic of your choice.
Key Features
- UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma with confirmed credit transfer into UK Bachelor top-up routes in economics or applied social science.
- Reading list aligned with Royal Economic Society (RES), Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) and NIESR publication conventions.
- Applied labs in R and Stata with tutor support.
- Assignments in methods-note, replication-study and applied-research format.
- Optional strands in labour-market, public-finance, and development-economics methods.
- Applied research report supervised by tutors with Government Economic Service or think-tank backgrounds.
What You Will Learn
- Design and run panel and time-series regression models.
- Apply differences-in-differences and instrumental-variables identification.
- Use matching and propensity-score techniques.
- Replicate a published applied paper end-to-end.
- Draft a methods note at RES publication standard.
- Handle mixed-method design combining survey and administrative data.
- Use R and Stata to production standard.
- Present findings at seminar standard.
Who This Course Is For
- Working analysts in Whitehall analytical services or local government.
- Diploma progressors preparing for a UK Bachelor's in economics.
- Career-changers moving from data or research roles into applied economics.
- NGO monitoring-and-evaluation staff.
- International applicants preparing for CFA UK study or a City career.
Career Pathways
- Econometrician
- Research Economist
- Government Economist
- Economic Policy Analyst
- Labour Market Analyst
- Public Finance Analyst
The LSLPE careers service links Advanced Diploma in Economic Research Methods finalists with Government Economic Service pipelines, IFS-adjacent think tanks and City research houses.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or at least two years of relevant professional experience in economics, statistics 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 applied-analytics or research portfolios are encouraged to include them.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE reads economic research methods as a working craft, taught alongside the policy institutions that use them. The Advanced Diploma sits in small tutor-visible cohorts drawn from Government Economic Service-adjacent, think-tank and academic backgrounds.
Central London puts IFS, NIESR, HM Treasury, the Bank of England 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 guidance.
Apply for Advanced Diploma in Economic Research Methods
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.
