How long is the BA in Public Policy at LSLPE?

The BA in Public Policy runs for three years full-time, with part-time and accelerated routes available. Online and distance students complete the BA in Public Policy on the same seminar rhythm as the London cohort.

Does the BA in Public Policy include a placement?

Yes, the BA in Public Policy includes a year-two placement in Whitehall, local government, a think tank or an NGO. LSLPE careers works with each BA in Public Policy student to secure a matched placement.

Is the BA in Public Policy UK-recognised?

Yes, the BA in Public Policy is a UK Level 6 honours degree aligned with Political Studies Association and Institute for Government guidance.

What are the entry requirements for the BA in Public Policy?

The BA in Public Policy asks for BBB at A-level or an Access to HE Diploma, plus GCSE English and Maths. International applicants receive dedicated support onto the BA in Public Policy.

How much does the BA in Public Policy cost?

Fees for the BA in Public Policy are on the LSLPE fees page, with staged payment plans, scholarship windows and, where applicable, UK student-finance support. Personalised funding letters for the BA in Public Policy are issued on request.

BA in Public Policy | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BA in Public Policy at LSLPE is a UK Level 6 honours degree running three years full-time, with part-time and accelerated routes available on-campus, online and by distance learning. The programme is aligned with Political Studies Association and Institute for Government guidance and structured to give students a full analytical grounding in how UK policy is designed, contested, funded and evaluated.

By graduation you will have written costed policy briefs, produced impact assessments for real UK policy questions, completed a year-two placement in a government department, local authority or think tank and defended a final-year policy dissertation supervised by a practising adviser. The BA in Public Policy is a credentialed launch pad for policy careers in Whitehall, local government, NGOs and international bodies.

Key Features

Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association and Institute for Government guidance.
Case sequences drawn from HM Treasury Green Book, IFS analysis and Chatham House briefings.
Year-two placement in Whitehall, local government or a think tank.
Case-room and select-committee style seminars with named programme-tutor support.
Final-year policy dissertation with a practising adviser as second supervisor.
Three study modes with the same weekly seminar structure.

What You Will Learn

How the UK policy cycle runs from problem framing to post-implementation review.
Cost-benefit and impact-assessment methods to Green Book standards.
Quantitative literacy for reading and challenging policy modelling.
Political-economy analysis of policy formation.
Stakeholder mapping and consultation design.
Drafting for ministers, select committees, think tanks and NGO campaigns.
Comparative policy across the UK, EU and OECD.
Research methods for a Level 6 policy dissertation.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers targeting a first UK honours degree in policy.
International applicants preparing for policy roles in their home administrations.
Career changers moving from research, journalism or campaigning into policy.
Part-time learners already working in local government or the third sector.
Access to HE students progressing into a policy specialism.

Career Pathways

Policy Adviser
Public Affairs Consultant
Government Affairs Manager
Think Tank Researcher
Programme Manager
Public Sector Consultant
Development Analyst
NGO Programme Officer

The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each academic year connecting BA in Public Policy students with policy teams across government departments, think tanks 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, in a policy-relevant profile.
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 outlining your interest in public policy.
International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE reads public policy as an interlocking discipline of law, politics and economics — the reason our BA syllabus is co-taught by staff drawing on doctrinal, empirical and quantitative traditions. Our central London location places the Treasury, Whitehall departments, the Bank of England, Chatham House and the IFS a short tube ride from every classroom.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, working practitioners and portfolio-route applicants complete the BA in Public Policy alongside employment, with named programme-tutor support and a careers service that connects each cohort to real policy teams throughout the year.

Apply for BA in Public Policy

Applications for the BA in Public Policy are open across UCAS-equivalent windows and admissions responds within one working day. Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme with a placement year in chambers, government or a think tank included. Enrol Now