Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems is a 12 to 15 month UK Level 5 senior-track programme reading the design, conduct and reform of elections in the UK and comparable democracies. Students study first-past-the-post, alternative vote, single transferable vote and mixed member proportional systems, and the specific institutional machinery of the Electoral Commission, returning officers and constituency boundary reviews. The syllabus is aligned with Political Studies Association and British International Studies Association guidance.
By graduation you will have written comparative electoral system briefings, produced a report on a live boundary review, staged a supervised electoral reform debate, and defended a Level 5 capstone examining an electoral question from Westminster, Holyrood, the Senedd or an international jurisdiction.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association guidance.
- Case-room seminars set against live Electoral Commission material.
- Comparative reading across UK, European, Commonwealth and US electoral systems.
- Guided drafting of electoral reform briefings.
- Capstone project supervised by tutors with campaign and research backgrounds.
- Credit transfer into UK Bachelor's top-up programmes confirmed in writing.
- Three parallel study modes for progressors, campaigners and international applicants.
What You Will Learn
- Compare majoritarian and proportional electoral systems and their party-system effects.
- Read a live boundary review against Electoral Commission guidance.
- Analyse constituency-level results and swing patterns.
- Assess electoral integrity, campaign finance and franchise rules.
- Trace an electoral reform debate through parliamentary and public phases.
- Design a comparative electoral system briefing for a senior audience.
- Present a defensible policy recommendation on electoral reform.
- Structure a Level 5 capstone on an electoral systems question.
Who This Course Is For
- Diploma holders in politics and international studies moving to senior-track work.
- Party researchers, agents and campaign staff.
- Electoral Commission and returning officer staff.
- Journalists and communications officers covering UK elections.
- International applicants working on democracy support programmes.
Career Pathways
- Election Analyst supporting a UK think tank or consultancy.
- Political Consultant advising on campaign and manifesto strategy.
- Parliamentary Researcher covering elections and boundary reform.
- Political Communications Officer for a party or campaigning body.
- Public Affairs Consultant on electoral policy.
- Political Analyst at a democracy support NGO.
- Strategic Intelligence Analyst for a UK-facing consultancy.
The LSLPE careers service links Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems students to think tanks, party research teams and public affairs employers at its annual careers day.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4) or Foundation Year in politics or international studies, or at least two years of relevant experience.
- 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, campaign or research portfolios are encouraged to include them with the Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems application.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE places Parliament, the Electoral Commission's central office and the LSE-adjacent think-tank ecosystem within a short tube ride of the seminar room, and the Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems is taught with live UK election material in the case-room.
Three parallel study modes let progressors, campaigners and international applicants complete the Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service refreshes its Political Studies Association-aligned curriculum links annually.
Apply for Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems
Enrol on a UK Level 5 Advanced Diploma at LSLPE with credit transfer into Bachelor top-ups confirmed in writing. The Advanced Diploma in Electoral Systems admissions team responds within one working day. Enrol Now
