How long does the BA in Global Affairs take?

The BA in Global Affairs runs three years full-time with part-time and accelerated routes. Every mode of the BA in Global Affairs includes a structured placement year.

How is the BA in Global Affairs delivered?

The BA in Global Affairs is available on-campus in central London, online in live seminars, and by distance learning, with a placement year for every mode.

Is the BA in Global Affairs recognised in the UK?

Yes. The BA in Global Affairs is a UK Level 6 honours degree aligned with BISA, PSA and Chatham House coverage.

What are the entry requirements for the BA in Global Affairs?

A-levels at BBB or above, GCSE English and Maths at 4/C, and IELTS 6.5 for non-native English speakers, to join the BA in Global Affairs.

What are the fees and funding options for the BA in Global Affairs?

Fees for the BA in Global Affairs vary by mode and cohort. LSLPE admissions publishes the current schedule and advises on scholarships, sponsorship and instalment options.

BA in Global Affairs | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA in Global Affairs at LSLPE is a UK Level 6 honours degree running three years full-time with part-time and accelerated routes available. The programme reads global affairs as the practical business of understanding, forecasting and shaping the international system, taking in international politics, comparative political economy, international law, security studies and development, drawing on Chatham House, IISS and ODI commentary.

By graduation you are producing integrated global affairs briefings, running scenario exercises for corporate and public-sector clients, presenting country and issue analysis in seminar, completing a placement year in a think tank, an embassy or a multilateral, and delivering a dissertation supervised by an academic or a practising analyst.

Key Features

Content aligned with British International Studies Association (BISA) and Political Studies Association (PSA) undergraduate coverage.
Themes aligned with Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
Coverage aligned with United Nations Association UK and Diplomatic Academy themes.
Placement year in a think tank, embassy, multilateral body or international consultancy.
Seminars run in the case-room and select-committee tradition, evidence-led and argued in public.
Distance and online cohorts follow the same weekly seminar timetable as on-campus students.

What You Will Learn

The main analytical traditions in international relations and global affairs.
Comparative political economy across major powers.
International law and the multilateral system.
Security studies and strategic analysis.
Development, poverty and the SDG framework.
Foreign policy analysis and diplomatic method.
Scenario and risk analysis for corporate and public-sector clients.
Dissertation research on a self-chosen global affairs question.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers with A-levels at BBB or above targeting an international affairs degree.
Access to HE Diploma holders with a politics or international relations profile.
International applicants seeking a UK honours degree with a placement year.
Career changers moving into the FCDO, multilateral organisations or think tanks.
Working professionals in NGOs, corporate international affairs or media formalising a full degree.

Career Pathways

International Relations Analyst in a think tank
Foreign Policy Adviser trainee
Diplomat entry route
Political Analyst on a country desk
International Affairs Officer at an NGO or multilateral
Strategic Intelligence Analyst
Development Diplomat
Human Rights Officer on international briefs

The LSLPE careers service maintains standing links with Chatham House, IISS-adjacent teams, embassies and multilateral bodies, and refreshes the BA syllabus annually against BISA and PSA guidance.

Entry Requirements

A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or above, OR a UK Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level 3, in a mix suitable for international affairs study.
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.
International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE teaches global affairs from central London, within a short tube ride of the FCDO, Chatham House, IISS, embassies and the LSE-adjacent think-tank cluster. That geography lets the degree treat global affairs as live: ministerial statements, communiqués and think-tank briefings are treated as this week's material.

Every intake, on-campus or remote, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support. The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each academic year connecting BA students with Whitehall departments, think tanks and international bodies.

Apply for BA in Global Affairs

The BA in Global Affairs is calibrated for graduates aiming at the FCDO, multilateral bodies, think tanks and international NGOs. Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme — placement year in chambers, government or a think tank included, admissions responds within one working day. Enrol Now