How long does the BA in Political Communication take?

The BA in Political Communication is a three-year full-time UK honours degree, with part-time and accelerated routes available. The BA in Political Communication includes a placement year in a party, agency, think tank or NGO.

In what modes is the BA in Political Communication delivered?

The BA in Political Communication is delivered on-campus in central London, online with live seminars and by distance learning. Every mode of the BA in Political Communication shares the same seminar and placement structure.

Is the BA in Political Communication UK-recognised?

Yes. The BA in Political Communication is a UK Level 6 honours degree aligned with Political Studies Association and CIPR guidance.

What are the entry requirements for the BA in Political Communication?

Applicants to the BA in Political Communication need BBB at A-level or an Access to HE Diploma, GCSE English and Mathematics at 4/C, and IELTS 6.5 where applicable, plus two academic references.

How much does the BA in Political Communication cost and is funding available?

Fees for the BA in Political Communication are quoted in your written offer. LSLPE supports BA in Political Communication applicants with instalment plans, employer sponsorship and early-application bursaries.

BA in Political Communication | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA in Political Communication is a three-year UK Level 6 honours degree training graduates in the theory and practice of political communication. Students read campaign strategy, party political broadcasts, media relations, public opinion research, digital campaigning and crisis communications. The syllabus is aligned with Political Studies Association and Chartered Institute of Public Relations guidance and prepares students for careers across parties, agencies, government and third-sector campaigns.

By graduation you will have written campaign strategy notes, produced press releases and rebuttal briefings, run a supervised media relations exercise, designed a digital campaign, completed a placement year in a party, agency, think tank or NGO, and defended a final-year dissertation on a political communication question.

Key Features

Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association and CIPR guidance.
Case-room seminars set against live UK election, party and campaign material.
Applied training in press releases, rebuttal briefings and social media.
Placement year in a party, agency, think tank or NGO campaign team.
Guided writing of media strategy notes and crisis communications plans.
Dissertation supervised by tutors with campaigns and agency backgrounds.
Three parallel study modes including online and distance routes.

What You Will Learn

Design and evaluate a UK political campaign.
Write press releases, op-eds and rebuttal briefings to house style.
Analyse public opinion polling and focus group data.
Trace agenda-setting across print, broadcast and social media.
Design a digital political campaign against target audiences.
Produce a media strategy note for a party or campaign body.
Manage a crisis communications sequence.
Structure a Level 6 dissertation on political communication.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers targeting party, agency or campaign careers.
Working communications officers moving to a full honours qualification.
Journalists and content producers moving into political communication.
Career changers moving into public affairs and campaigns.
International applicants planning UK-facing political communication careers.

Career Pathways

Political Communications Officer for a party, union or NGO.
Public Affairs Officer at a trade association or industry body.
Public Affairs Consultant in a campaigning consultancy.
Government Relations Manager at a professional body.
Political Consultant advising on campaign and rebuttal strategy.
Parliamentary Researcher supporting communications operations.
Election Analyst tracking campaign effectiveness.

The LSLPE careers service links BA in Political Communication students to parties, agencies, think tanks and public affairs employers at its annual careers day.

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.
International applicants to the BA in Political Communication receive dedicated visa and accommodation support.

Why Study at LSLPE

The BA in Political Communication is taught in central London within a short tube ride of Parliament, party headquarters, the LSE-adjacent think-tank ecosystem and the UK's public affairs consultancies. Cohorts are small and every seminar is argued in public in the case-room tradition.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, working communicators and international applicants complete the BA in Political Communication without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service refreshes its Political Studies Association and CIPR-aligned curriculum links annually.

Apply for BA in Political Communication

Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme with a placement year in chambers, government or a think tank included. Admissions responds within one working day to BA in Political Communication applicants. Enrol Now