BA in Public Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies
Course Overview
The BA in Public Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies at the London School of Law, Politics and Economics is a three-year UK Level 6 honours degree combining public leadership training with interdisciplinary study across politics, economics and law. Part-time and accelerated routes are available. The syllabus is aligned with themes referenced by the Political Studies Association, the Institute for Government, CIPFA and Chatham House.
By graduation you will have led team-based policy exercises, produced integrated briefings that cross disciplinary lines, run a stakeholder consultation for a hypothetical public initiative, and completed a placement year in a Whitehall department, a think tank, an NGO or a local authority. Your capstone dissertation will present original interdisciplinary work on a live public leadership question.
Key Features
- Level 6 honours interdisciplinary degree aligned with PSA, IfG and CIPFA themes.
- Placement year in Whitehall, a think tank, an NGO or a local authority.
- Public leadership training including team-based decision exercises.
- Case-room seminars using live UK policy documents.
- Named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
- Guest sessions from senior civil servants, third sector leaders and public sector consultants.
- Dissertation supervised by an LSLPE tutor with active interdisciplinary profile.
What You Will Learn
- Foundations of public leadership theory and practice.
- Politics, economics and law as three interlocking disciplines.
- Team-based policy exercise design and delivery.
- Public communication and stakeholder consultation.
- Reading Whitehall, IfG and Chatham House outputs.
- Programme design across cross-cutting public issues.
- Ethical leadership in public administration.
- Producing an integrated capstone dissertation.
Who This Course Is For
- School leavers targeting public leadership careers.
- Career changers moving from private sector into public roles.
- Progressors from LSLPE Advanced Diploma or Higher Diploma routes with credit transfer.
- International applicants planning national public leadership careers.
- Working professionals in public administration formalising a Level 6 credential.
Career Pathways
- Public Leadership Fellow on a graduate scheme.
- Policy Adviser at a Whitehall department.
- Programme Manager in an NGO or local authority.
- Public Sector Consultant advising government clients.
- Civic Innovation Analyst.
- Strategy Adviser to a public body.
- Development Analyst in the FCDO successor context.
- Political Communications Officer at a public affairs firm.
The LSLPE careers service coordinates placements with Whitehall, think tanks and local government 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 explicitly reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines, making the BA in Public Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies a signature degree in the portfolio. Central London gives BA students access to Whitehall, Parliament, the Institute for Government and Chatham House 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 guidance.
Apply for BA in Public Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies
Applications for the BA in Public Leadership and Interdisciplinary Studies 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.
