Higher Diploma in Interdisciplinary Political Studies
Course Overview
The Higher Diploma in Interdisciplinary Political Studies at LSLPE is a UK Level 5 qualification running 15 to 18 months across on-campus, online and distance routes. The programme reads politics through neighbouring disciplines rather than a single tradition: history, philosophy, economics, sociology, law and international relations all appear as complementary lenses on the same problems, drawing on Political Studies Association (PSA) and BISA methodological coverage.
By graduation you are producing structured cross-disciplinary briefings, integrating quantitative and qualitative evidence on political questions, presenting in seminar in the select-committee tradition, and completing a capstone project that spans at least two disciplines.
Key Features
- Content aligned with Political Studies Association (PSA) and British International Studies Association (BISA) coverage.
- Themes aligned with Institute for Government (IfG) and Chatham House programme areas.
- Content aligned with Royal Economic Society (RES) coverage of political economy.
- Structured articulation into a UK Bachelor's top-up in politics, PPE or international relations, credit transfer confirmed at enrolment.
- Seminars run in the case-room and select-committee tradition, evidence-led and argued in public.
- Distance and online cohorts share the same weekly seminar timetable as on-campus students.
What You Will Learn
- Cross-disciplinary analysis of political questions.
- Political history, philosophy and their contemporary application.
- Political sociology and identity politics.
- Political economy of institutions and reform.
- Comparative government and area studies.
- Political theory and normative argument.
- Mixed-methods research design.
- Capstone research design and defence.
Who This Course Is For
- Policy officers and analysts moving into a senior graduate-level cross-disciplinary role.
- Diploma and Advanced Diploma holders taking the articulation route into a UK Bachelor's top-up.
- International applicants seeking a UK Level 5 interdisciplinary political studies award.
- Working professionals in NGOs, think tanks and consultancies wanting a formal credential.
- Career changers from journalism, teaching or public administration.
Career Pathways
- Political Analyst in a think tank
- Policy Adviser in a government department
- Public Affairs Consultant on cross-cutting briefs
- Parliamentary Researcher on interdisciplinary questions
- Public Sector Consultant in a strategy team
- Political Communications Officer supporting complex campaigns
- International Relations Analyst on cross-regional briefs
- Public Leadership Fellow on a development programme
The LSLPE careers service maintains standing relationships with Whitehall departments, think tanks and public-affairs agencies, and refreshes content annually against PSA and BISA guidance.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Advanced Diploma or comparable qualification in politics, PPE, international relations or a cognate discipline.
- 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 paralegal, policy officer, research assistant or public administration roles are welcomed.
Why Study at LSLPE
LSLPE reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines, and the Higher Diploma in Interdisciplinary Political Studies is designed to sit deliberately across that seam. It is taught from central London, within a short tube ride of Parliament, Whitehall, Chatham House and the LSE-adjacent think-tank cluster.
Every intake, on-campus or remote, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support, and three parallel study modes let progressors and working practitioners complete the Higher Diploma without leaving employment.
Apply for Higher Diploma in Interdisciplinary Political Studies
The Higher Diploma in Interdisciplinary Political Studies is a rigorous UK Level 5 route for applicants who want politics taught through its neighbouring disciplines, with clean articulation into a UK Bachelor's top-up. Complete a Higher Diploma at LSLPE and articulate into a UK Bachelor's top-up in the same discipline. Enrol Now
