BA in Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies
Course Overview
The BA in Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies is a three-year UK Level 6 honours degree with part-time and accelerated routes, deliberately designed for applicants who want to read global affairs across the interlocking disciplines of law, politics and economics rather than through a single lens. Core modules in international relations, political economy, international law and comparative governance are complemented by an interdisciplinary placement year in a think tank, international NGO, government-relations firm or diplomatic support role.
By graduation you will be running interdisciplinary policy analyses, drafting global-affairs briefs across legal, political and economic dimensions, and defending an original dissertation on a live global question in front of a panel drawn from Chatham House-adjacent researchers and practitioners.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association (PSA), Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) and Overseas Development Institute (ODI)-informed themes.
- Genuinely interdisciplinary modules across international law, political economy and comparative governance.
- Year-two placement in a think tank, NGO, government-relations firm or diplomatic support role.
- Weekly seminars in the case-room and select-committee tradition with named tutor support.
- Final-year capstone or dissertation supervised by practising analysts.
- Central London base within reach of Whitehall, Chatham House and the FCDO.
What You Will Learn
- How the international legal order interacts with real geopolitical outcomes.
- The political economy of trade, sanctions, climate finance and industrial policy.
- The mechanics of multilateral negotiation across the UN, WTO and regional bodies.
- Comparative governance across advanced, emerging and post-conflict states.
- The applied methods of global-affairs analysis, including scenario planning and stakeholder mapping.
- How international law and soft-law standards shape corporate and state behaviour.
- Applied writing for global-affairs audiences, from strategy notes to Chatham House-style papers.
- How to defend an interdisciplinary global-affairs recommendation in a panel setting.
Who This Course Is For
- School-leavers and career changers targeting global-affairs careers.
- Working professionals in international-facing roles moving toward formal qualification.
- Journalism, communications and campaigning staff broadening an interdisciplinary base.
- International applicants planning a UK global-affairs degree with a placement.
- Applicants intending Master's-level research in international relations or development.
Career Pathways
- Political Analyst on an international-affairs desk
- Global Affairs Analyst in a corporate strategy team
- Foreign Policy Adviser support role in a government department
- International Development Officer in an NGO or foundation
- Public Affairs Consultant on international briefs
- Think Tank Researcher at a Chatham House-adjacent institute
- Programme Manager on a multilateral programme
The LSLPE careers service supports Bachelor's students with placement matching, FCDO application clinics and warm introductions to think-tank and international-programme recruiters.
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 setting out your interest in global affairs.
- International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.
Why Study at LSLPE
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches global affairs as an interdisciplinary applied field in small, tutor-visible cohorts. Central London places Chatham House, the FCDO, Whitehall and the LSE-adjacent think-tank corridor within a short tube ride, and LSLPE's house method reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines rather than three separate silos.
The LSLPE careers service refreshes curriculum alignment each year against Political Studies Association, Chatham House and ODI-informed guidance.
Apply for BA in Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies
Applications for the BA in Global Affairs and Interdisciplinary Studies are reviewed on a rolling basis. Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme with an interdisciplinary placement year included. Enrol Now
