BA in Development Politics
Course Overview
The BA in Development Politics at LSLPE is a UK Level 6 honours degree combining political science with international-development theory and practice, running three years full-time with part-time and accelerated routes on-campus, online and by distance learning. The programme is aligned with Political Studies Association and British International Studies Association guidance and draws structured case content from the ODI, Institute of Development Studies and Chatham House.
By graduation you will have written country-briefings for development contexts, produced political-economy analyses of development interventions, completed a year-two placement in an international NGO, development body or think tank and defended a final-year development-politics dissertation. The BA is a credentialed launch pad for careers in international development, foreign-policy analysis and rights-based advocacy.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association and BISA guidance.
- Case sequences drawn from ODI, IDS and Chatham House work.
- Year-two placement in an international NGO, development body or think tank.
- Seminars in the case-room and select-committee tradition.
- Final-year development-politics dissertation with a practising researcher as second supervisor.
- Three parallel study modes on the same weekly rhythm.
What You Will Learn
- Political theory of development and dependency debates.
- Comparative politics of low- and middle-income states.
- The political economy of aid and development finance.
- Human-rights approaches in development contexts.
- Political-economy analysis for development programmes.
- Anti-corruption frameworks and governance reform.
- Environmental and climate politics in a development frame.
- Research methods for a Level 6 development-politics dissertation.
Who This Course Is For
- School leavers targeting a development-focused politics degree.
- International applicants preparing for development roles at home.
- Career changers moving from NGOs, journalism or business into development politics.
- Part-time learners in NGO, campaigning or diplomatic roles.
- Access to HE students progressing into a development-politics specialism.
Career Pathways
- Development Diplomat
- International Development Officer
- Political Analyst
- Foreign Policy Adviser
- NGO Programme Officer
- International Relations Analyst
- Human Rights Officer
- Global Affairs Analyst
The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each academic year connecting BA in Development Politics students with international NGOs, development bodies, think tanks and diplomatic services.
Entry Requirements
- A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or above, or a UK Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3.
- GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- Two academic references and a personal statement outlining your interest in development politics.
- International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE reads development politics inside a wider law-politics-economics conversation because development outcomes are shaped by treaties, political incentives and public finance at once. Central London places the ODI, IDS-adjacent researchers, Chatham House and the international-development NGO sector a short tube ride from every classroom.
Three parallel study modes let progressors, working practitioners and portfolio-route applicants complete the BA in Development Politics alongside employment, with named programme-tutor support and a careers service linking each cohort with real development work.
Apply for BA in Development Politics
Applications for the BA in Development Politics open across UCAS-equivalent windows and admissions responds within one working day. Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme with a placement year in an NGO, development body or think tank included. Enrol Now
