How long does the BSc in Economic Research Methods take?

The BSc in Economic Research Methods runs three years full-time, with part-time and accelerated routes. The BSc in Economic Research Methods includes a year-two placement in a research economics team.

Can I study the BSc online?

Yes. The BSc in Economic Research Methods is delivered on-campus, online with live seminars, and by distance learning. All routes include the same placement, dissertation and named programme tutor.

What are the entry requirements?

Applicants need BBB at A-level, ideally including Mathematics, or an equivalent Access to HE route. International applicants on the BSc in Economic Research Methods need IELTS 6.5 overall.

What are the fees and is funding available?

Fees for the BSc in Economic Research Methods 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.

BSc in Economic Research Methods | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The BSc in Economic Research Methods 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 develops applied econometric technique, quantitative research design and reproducible analysis, alongside core micro and macroeconomic theory, aligned with Government Economic Service technical framework and Royal Economic Society applied-economics standards.

By graduation, students on the BSc in Economic Research Methods have completed a year-two placement in a government economics team, City research desk or think tank, produced peer-reviewed style econometric working papers, and delivered a final-year dissertation project on a live research question drawing on UK microdata or panel data.

Key Features

Three-year honours structure with a year-two placement in a research economics team.
Modules mapped to Government Economic Service technical framework and Royal Economic Society applied-economics standards.
Guest sessions from IFS-aligned research economists, City econometricians and Bank of England analysts.
Reproducible analysis training using open-source tools common in UK government economics.
Named programme tutor with applied-economics background for every student on the BSc in Economic Research Methods.
Final-year dissertation with formal econometric methodology review.

What You Will Learn

Design and estimate linear, instrumental variable and panel-data models.
Apply difference-in-differences and regression-discontinuity design in policy evaluation.
Handle microdata from the Labour Force Survey, Understanding Society and equivalent sources.
Present econometric findings in reproducible, peer-review style working papers.
Interpret and critique IFS, NIESR and Bank of England research outputs.
Handle research ethics for economic research with human-participant data.
Build data pipelines and versioned analysis code.
Defend a research proposal to graduate research-methods standard.

Who This Course Is For

School leavers with strong maths seeking a UK honours pathway into professional economics.
Career changers with a quantitative background moving into research economics.
International applicants preparing for graduate economics or PhD-track study in the UK.
Working professionals in analytics, data engineering or public administration seeking economic-research grounding.
Aspiring Government Economic Service Fast Stream applicants.

Career Pathways

Government Economist in a Whitehall department or devolved administration.
Econometrician in an IFS or NIESR-aligned research team.
Research Economist in a City investment or macro strategy desk.
Economic Policy Analyst on regulatory economics.
Central Bank Analyst on Bank of England graduate schemes.
Investment Analyst on quantitative research desks.
Economic Consultant in a competition or regulatory practice.
Behavioural Economist working on trials-based evidence.

The LSLPE careers service supports every BSc in Economic Research Methods student on placement and graduate applications into Whitehall economics, think tanks and City research desks.

Entry Requirements

A-levels (or equivalent) at BBB or above, ideally including Mathematics, 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 BSc in Economic Research Methods.
International applicants receive dedicated visa and accommodation support from LSLPE admissions.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE reads applied economics alongside law and politics, giving research economists a strong sense of the policy and legal environment their models feed into. Central London places HM Treasury, the Bank of England, IFS-aligned research and City analytics teams 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 analysts and international applicants complete the BSc in Economic Research Methods alongside other commitments, and the LSLPE careers service maintains standing relationships with Whitehall economics, think tanks and City research desks recruiting graduate quantitative talent every year.

Apply for BSc in Economic Research Methods

Apply for the LSLPE Bachelor's programme and gain a placement year in a research economics team as a core part of the BSc in Economic Research Methods. Admissions responds within one working day. Enrol Now.