How long does the BA in Policy and Development Studies take?

The BA in Policy and Development Studies runs three years full-time, with part-time and accelerated routes available. The BA in Policy and Development Studies includes a year-two placement in government, an NGO or a think tank.

Can I study the BA online?

Yes. The BA in Policy and Development Studies is delivered on-campus in central London, online with live seminars, and by distance learning. All routes share the same placement, dissertation and named programme tutor.

Is the degree UK-recognised?

The BA in Policy and Development Studies is a UK Level 6 honours degree aligned with Political Studies Association, ODI and Institute for Government themes, positioning graduates for Whitehall, NGO and think-tank routes.

What are the entry requirements?

Applicants need BBB at A-level or an equivalent qualification, plus GCSE English and Maths at 4/C. International applicants on the BA in Policy and Development Studies need IELTS 6.5 overall.

What are the fees and is funding available?

Fees for the BA in Policy and Development Studies are published on the LSLPE fees page. Instalment plans, employer sponsorship and international scholarships are handled by the admissions team, and eligible UK students may access government student finance where applicable.

BA in Policy and Development Studies | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA in Policy and Development Studies is a UK Level 6 honours degree running three years full-time, with part-time and accelerated routes across on-campus, online and distance learning. The programme reads policy and development as an interdisciplinary field drawing on politics, economics and law, with modules on UK public policy, comparative development, programme design and evaluation, and the political economy of aid, aligned with Overseas Development Institute, Institute of Development Studies and Institute for Government themes.

By graduation, students on the BA in Policy and Development Studies have completed a year-two placement in government, an NGO or a think tank, produced policy briefs to Whitehall standard, run monitoring-and-evaluation exercises on live programmes, and completed a final-year dissertation on a policy or development question.

Key Features

Three-year honours structure with a year-two placement in government, NGOs, chambers or think tanks.
Modules mapped to Political Studies Association, ODI and Institute for Government aligned themes.
Guest sessions from Whitehall policy advisers, CIPFA public-finance analysts and NGO programme officers.
Structured methods training in qualitative interviews, quantitative analysis and evaluation design.
Named programme tutor for every student on the BA in Policy and Development Studies.
Final-year dissertation supervised by a tutor active in policy or development research.

What You Will Learn

Analyse UK public-policy processes across Whitehall, devolved administrations and local government.
Map the aid architecture and the role of major donors and the ODI-aligned research base.
Design a monitoring-and-evaluation framework for a development programme.
Run cost-benefit and value-for-money analysis for public programmes.
Read and critique impact evaluations to graduate research standard.
Draft policy briefs and cabinet-standard option memos.
Handle ethics and safeguarding for research with vulnerable populations.
Present dissertation research to a professional audience.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers seeking a UK honours degree with strong professional destinations in policy and development.
Career changers moving from teaching, journalism or the military into policy work.
International applicants preparing for policy or development careers in the UK or at home.
Working professionals in NGOs, local government or civil society seeking a formal UK degree.
Aspiring civil servants preparing for Fast Stream, policy or ministerial roles.

Career Pathways

Policy Adviser in a Whitehall department or devolved administration.
Development Analyst on an ODI or IDS-aligned programme.
Programme Manager in an NGO or international development team.
Public Sector Consultant on service transformation or performance.
International Development Officer in an aid programme or foundation.
NGO Programme Officer running a live development portfolio.
Strategy Adviser in a policy consultancy.
Political Analyst in a think tank or research house.

The LSLPE careers service supports every BA in Policy and Development Studies student on placement applications and graduate roles across Whitehall, NGOs, City policy consultancies and international bodies.

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, ideally referencing your interest in the BA in Policy and Development Studies.
International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE reads policy and development as a discipline that requires law and economics as its neighbours. Central London places Whitehall, the ODI-aligned research base, Chatham House, the Institute for Government and major donor headquarters within a short tube ride of every classroom, and every intake shares the same weekly select-committee seminar structure in small tutor-visible cohorts.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, working practitioners and international applicants complete the BA in Policy and Development Studies alongside other commitments, and the LSLPE careers service maintains standing relationships with Whitehall, think tanks, NGOs and City policy consultancies recruiting graduate policy talent every year.

Apply for BA in Policy and Development Studies

Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme and gain a placement year in chambers, government or a think tank as a core part of the BA in Policy and Development Studies. Admissions responds within one working day. Enrol Now.