Certificate in Policy Analysis Basics
Course Overview
The Certificate in Policy Analysis Basics is a UK Level 3 introductory programme running between three and six months, designed for applicants who want a credible first grounding in how policy analysis is actually produced inside Whitehall, think tanks and international bodies. The Certificate is delivered on-campus, online and by distance learning, and reads policy analysis as a written craft with defined outputs, evidence rules and audience conventions.
By the closing weeks you will be drafting short policy notes, structuring an options analysis, and defending a recommendation in a seminar-style panel run in the select-committee tradition. The Certificate articulates cleanly into LSLPE's Diploma in Public Policy and wider Politics and PPE routes.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association (PSA) and Institute for Government (IfG)-informed themes.
- Applied drafting exercises modelled on Whitehall submission and ministerial briefing formats.
- Weekly seminars in the case-room and select-committee tradition with named programme-tutor support.
- Three parallel study modes so working applicants can complete the Certificate without leaving employment.
- Direct articulation into LSLPE's Diploma in Public Policy and Politics routes.
- Central London base within a short tube journey of Whitehall and think-tank row.
What You Will Learn
- The policy cycle from problem definition through implementation to evaluation.
- How to structure an options analysis with costs, benefits and distributional impacts.
- The mechanics of a Whitehall ministerial submission and a select-committee briefing note.
- Introductory evidence-standards including hierarchies of evidence and simple counterfactuals.
- How to read a Green Book appraisal at surface level.
- How stakeholder mapping and consultation feed a real policy design.
- The written craft of the policy short-form, the two-pager and the executive summary.
- How to structure a spoken policy defence in a panel or committee setting.
Who This Course Is For
- New entrants and career changers targeting policy analyst work.
- Charity, NGO and campaigning staff moving toward formal policy roles.
- Undergraduates and gap-year applicants preparing for Politics, PPE or Public Policy degrees.
- International applicants planning a longer UK route in governance and policy.
- Public-sector administrators moving into more analytical briefs.
Career Pathways
- Junior Policy Adviser in a Whitehall-facing team
- Public Affairs Officer trainee in a government-relations team
- Think Tank Researcher assistant on a public-policy brief
- Political Analyst trainee at a consultancy or media desk
- Government Relations Manager support role
- Programme Manager assistant in an NGO or charity
- Parliamentary Researcher trainee
The LSLPE careers service supports Certificate students with a dedicated careers day, CV clinics and warm introductions to entry-level policy opportunities across government departments, think tanks and NGOs.
Entry Requirements
- GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent; open access for mature applicants at admissions review.
- No prior study of policy analysis required, the Certificate is a first-entry route.
- IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.0) for non-native English speakers, or equivalent.
- A short personal statement of 250 words describing your interest in policy analysis.
- International applicants supported through visa, accommodation and English-language guidance.
Why Study at LSLPE
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches policy analysis as a written craft in small, tutor-visible cohorts. Central London places Whitehall, Parliament, Chatham House and the LSE-adjacent think-tank corridor within a short tube ride, which matters for a subject whose seminar guests and briefing exercises are all rooted in that ecosystem.
Every intake, on-campus or remote, follows the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support, and the LSLPE careers service refreshes curriculum alignment each year against Political Studies Association and Institute for Government-informed guidance.
Apply for Certificate in Policy Analysis Basics
Applications for the Certificate in Policy Analysis Basics are reviewed on a rolling basis, and early applicants receive the widest choice of tutors and elective modules. Start with a UK Level 3 Certificate at LSLPE. Enrol Now
