BA in Public Affairs
Course Overview
The BA in Public Affairs at the London School of Law, Politics and Economics is a three-year UK Level 6 honours degree combining political analysis, lobbying practice and public communications. Part-time and accelerated routes are available. The syllabus is aligned with themes referenced by the Political Studies Association, the Institute for Government, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Chatham House.
By graduation you will have run mock public consultations, prepared parliamentary briefings, drafted press strategies for a hypothetical issue, and completed a placement year in a public affairs agency, a Whitehall department, a trade association or a think tank. Your capstone dissertation will present original applied work fit for a public affairs audience.
Key Features
- Level 6 honours public affairs training aligned with PSA and CIPR themes.
- Placement year in a public affairs agency, Whitehall, a trade association or a think tank.
- Case-room seminars using live UK consultation and lobbying documents.
- Guest sessions from public affairs practitioners and communications directors.
- Named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
- Dissertation supervised by an LSLPE tutor with active public affairs profile.
- Careers-service introductions to public affairs agencies, trade associations and think tanks.
What You Will Learn
- UK political system and the parliamentary process.
- Public affairs strategy design across issue and reputation work.
- Lobbying practice and the Register of Consultant Lobbyists framework.
- Public consultation design and stakeholder mapping.
- Media relations and press strategy for public affairs.
- Reading IfG, Hansard and select committee outputs.
- Drafting parliamentary and ministerial briefings.
- Producing an applied capstone dissertation.
Who This Course Is For
- School leavers targeting a career in public affairs.
- Career changers moving from journalism or corporate communications.
- Progressors from LSLPE Advanced Diploma or Higher Diploma routes with credit transfer.
- International applicants planning careers in national public affairs.
- Working professionals in communications or public sector roles.
Career Pathways
- Public Affairs Officer at a public affairs agency.
- Public Affairs Consultant supporting corporate and NGO clients.
- Government Affairs Manager in a corporate setting.
- Political Communications Officer at a think tank or agency.
- Political Analyst on public affairs files.
- Parliamentary Researcher supporting an MP.
- Strategy Adviser on issue campaigns.
- Public Sector Consultant on communications projects.
The LSLPE careers service coordinates placements with public affairs agencies, trade associations, Whitehall and think tanks and runs at least one careers day each academic year.
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 receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.
Why Study at LSLPE
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches in small, tutor-visible cohorts and reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London gives BA students access to Whitehall, Parliament, the Institute for Government and the public affairs cluster in Westminster within a short tube ride of every classroom.
Every intake shares the same weekly seminar structure, and the careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Political Studies Association and CIPR guidance.
Apply for BA in Public Affairs
Applications for the BA in Public Affairs are reviewed on a rolling basis. 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.
