Certificate in Political Science Introduction
Course Overview
The Certificate in Political Science Introduction at LSLPE is a UK Level 3 introductory qualification running 3 to 6 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. The course is built as a first-entry route into the study of political institutions, ideology, comparative government, elections and international order, taking Westminster and Whitehall as its immediate laboratory.
By graduation you are writing short structured essays on comparative political systems, reading party manifestos and select committee reports with confidence, and completing a guided research task that prepares you for a Diploma in a chosen area of political study.
Key Features
- Content introduced with reference to Political Studies Association (PSA) coverage of the discipline.
- Case examples drawn from Westminster, Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont.
- Themes aligned with the Institute for Government (IfG) framing of how UK government actually works.
- Introductory international politics drawing on Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) commentary.
- Rolling intakes and small tutor-visible cohorts.
- Progression route to any LSLPE Diploma in politics or international studies.
What You Will Learn
- The core concepts of political science: power, legitimacy, sovereignty, representation.
- Comparative government across parliamentary, presidential and semi-presidential systems.
- UK political institutions: Cabinet, Parliament, the civil service and devolved administrations.
- Elections, electoral systems and voter behaviour.
- Introductory international politics and world order.
- Basic policy analysis and how briefings are structured.
- Reading political science as a discipline: methods and traditions.
- Structuring a short evidence-based political argument.
Who This Course Is For
- Sixth-form leavers and mature applicants considering politics as a subject.
- Career changers moving into policy, public affairs or think tank work.
- International applicants seeking a UK Level 3 grounding in political science.
- Advice workers, journalists and public sector officers who use political analysis daily.
- Applicants planning to progress to an LSLPE Diploma in a substantive political subject.
Career Pathways
- Political Communications Assistant in a public affairs agency
- Parliamentary Researcher supporting a Member's office
- Public Affairs Assistant in a corporate team
- Election Analyst trainee in polling and research
- Political Analyst trainee at a think tank
- Government Relations Assistant in a trade body
- Foreign Policy Adviser trainee route entry
The LSLPE careers service links Certificate students to entry-level roles across Westminster, public affairs agencies and NGO campaigns, and refreshes foundation content annually against Political Studies Association guidance.
Entry Requirements
- GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent; open access for mature applicants at admissions review.
- No prior study of politics required — the Certificate in Political Science Introduction is designed as 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 politics.
- International applicants supported through visa, accommodation and English-language guidance.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE teaches from central London, with Parliament, Whitehall, Chatham House and the LSE-adjacent think-tank cluster all a short tube ride from the classroom. Teaching an introductory politics Certificate from that vantage point makes concrete what would otherwise be abstract: select committee reports, ministerial statements and think-tank briefings are treated as live material.
Three parallel study modes let progressors, working professionals and international applicants complete the Certificate without leaving employment. The LSLPE careers service connects graduates to entry-level roles across Parliament, public affairs and NGO work.
Apply for Certificate in Political Science Introduction
The Certificate in Political Science Introduction is a structured first step into the discipline, especially for applicants who want the subject taught from where it happens. Start with a UK Level 3 Certificate at LSLPE — rolling intakes, early applications receive the widest choice of tutors and elective modules. Enrol Now
