Higher Diploma in Applied Economics
Course Overview
The Higher Diploma in Applied Economics at LSLPE is a UK Level 5 qualification running 15 to 18 months across on-campus, online and distance-learning routes, with structured articulation into a UK Bachelor's top-up in economics or applied economics. The programme is aligned with Royal Economic Society applied training standards, Government Economic Service graduate scheme competencies, Institute for Fiscal Studies methodological benchmarks and Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment applied economics content.
By graduation you will have produced a demand-elasticity study, run a difference-in-differences on a real UK policy change, drafted a full-scale economic evaluation using HM Treasury Green Book methods and completed a substantial capstone or workplace project.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with Royal Economic Society applied training standards and GES graduate scheme competencies.
- Applied econometrics workstations using Stata and R.
- Case-room seminars using IFS working papers, NIESR briefings and Bank of England Quarterly Bulletins.
- HM Treasury Green Book style appraisal workshops.
- Named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
- Confirmed credit transfer into a UK Bachelor's top-up at enrolment.
What You Will Learn
- Applied micro and macroeconomics for policy analysis.
- Panel data econometrics, instrumental variables and quasi-experimental methods.
- Cost-benefit analysis under the HM Treasury Green Book.
- Regulatory impact assessment and the Better Regulation Framework.
- Public finance modelling and fiscal impact analysis.
- Labour, health and education economics applications.
- Sector economics including energy, transport and financial services.
- Interpretation and presentation of applied economic evidence.
Who This Course Is For
- Analysts in Whitehall, agencies and regulators.
- Working practitioners in economic consultancies.
- Corporate strategy and pricing analysts moving into applied economics.
- Aspiring GES candidates preparing for the graduate scheme.
- International applicants preparing for UK applied economics practice.
Career Pathways
- Economic Policy Analyst
- Government Economist
- Economic Consultant
- Regulatory Economist
- Public Finance Analyst
- Research Economist
- Investment Analyst on regulated sectors
- Financial Economist
The LSLPE careers service holds at least one careers day each academic year connecting Higher Diploma in Applied Economics students with employers across the Government Economic Service, regulators, City economic consultancies and IFS-adjacent think tanks.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Advanced Diploma or comparable qualification.
- GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C or equivalent.
- IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
- One academic or professional reference.
- Working professionals moving from research assistant, analyst or economics support roles are welcomed.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE is the specialist law, politics and economics division of Harold International College of London, teaching in small tutor-visible cohorts within a short tube ride of HM Treasury, the Bank of England, the ONS and the City. The Higher Diploma in Applied Economics reads its subject through the datasets, models and evaluation reports that Whitehall and City firms produce every week.
Three parallel study modes let progressors, working practitioners and portfolio-route applicants complete the Higher Diploma without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service refreshes curriculum annually against Royal Economic Society and IFS guidance.
Apply for Higher Diploma in Applied Economics
Applications for the Higher Diploma in Applied Economics open with rolling intakes and admissions responds within one working day. Complete a Higher Diploma at LSLPE and articulate into a UK Bachelor's top-up in the same discipline with credit transfer confirmed at enrolment, and take a credentialed UK step into applied economics. Enrol Now
