How long is the Higher Diploma in Market Structures?

The Higher Diploma in Market Structures runs 15 to 18 months across all modes. Distance learners on the Higher Diploma in Market Structures can extend delivery to fit around employment.

How is the Higher Diploma in Market Structures delivered?

The Higher Diploma in Market Structures is available on-campus in central London, online and by distance learning. Every mode of the Higher Diploma in Market Structures includes the modelling capstone.

Is the Higher Diploma in Market Structures recognised in the UK?

Yes, the Higher Diploma in Market Structures sits at UK Level 5 and is aligned with Royal Economic Society guidance. The Higher Diploma in Market Structures articulates into a Bachelor's top-up in economics.

What entry requirements apply to the Higher Diploma in Market Structures?

You will need a Level 4 Diploma, Advanced Diploma or equivalent for the Higher Diploma in Market Structures, plus GCSE English and Maths. IELTS 6.0 applies to international applicants for the Higher Diploma in Market Structures.

What is the cost of the Higher Diploma in Market Structures and is funding available?

Fees for the Higher Diploma in Market Structures are published on the LSLPE admissions page. Staged payment and employer sponsorship are considered for the Higher Diploma in Market Structures on application.

Higher Diploma in Market Structures | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Market Structures is a UK Level 5 qualification running 15 to 18 months across on-campus, online and distance routes, with confirmed articulation into a UK Bachelor's top-up in economics. The programme is aligned with Royal Economic Society thematic guidance and mirrors the market-analysis workstreams used by the Competition and Markets Authority, Ofcom and Ofgem in their published market studies.

By graduation you will have modelled Cournot and Bertrand competition, run a Herfindahl-Hirschman concentration analysis on a real UK sector dataset, prepared a market-study style briefing, and delivered a capstone project examining a live platform-economy question on standards suitable for regulator advocacy.

Key Features

Programme aligned with Royal Economic Society guidance and CMA market-study methodology.
Structured articulation into a UK Bachelor's economics top-up confirmed in writing at enrolment.
Case-based teaching from published Ofgem, Ofcom and CMA market investigations.
Modelling laboratory using Excel, R and simple Python notebooks.
Weekly seminars in the select-committee tradition, argued on evidence.
Guest sessions with practising regulatory economists and City sector analysts.
Dedicated stream on platform, two-sided and digital-market economics.

What You Will Learn

Model perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition and oligopoly on standard tools.
Apply Cournot, Bertrand and Stackelberg models to real UK market cases.
Calculate concentration ratios and Herfindahl-Hirschman indices on Companies House data.
Reconstruct CMA merger-review reasoning from published decisions.
Analyse two-sided platform markets and network-effect dynamics.
Assess entry barriers, sunk costs and contestability in regulated markets.
Interpret price discrimination, bundling and tying under UK competition law.
Communicate market-structure findings to policy and executive audiences.

Who This Course Is For

Junior analysts in competition and regulatory economics consultancies.
Working policy officers at Ofgem, Ofcom, Ofwat or the FCA supporting market studies.
Graduates from Diploma or Advanced Diploma routes moving to Bachelor's top-up.
International applicants building UK regulatory economics literacy.
Career changers from strategy, competitor intelligence or corporate development.

Career Pathways

Economic Consultant on merger, market-abuse and market-study mandates.
Regulatory Economist at a sector regulator or challenger utility.
Investment Analyst covering regulated sectors and infrastructure.
Economist inside a competition-focused consultancy.
Research Economist at an IFS-aligned market policy programme.
Trade Economist analysing sectoral competition effects of trade policy.
Behavioural Economist on digital-market consumer research.
Public Finance Analyst on regulated-utility investment cases.

The LSLPE careers service links directly to competition consultancies, sector regulators and City infrastructure analytics teams, and runs technical interview preparation for Higher Diploma cohorts.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Advanced Diploma or comparable qualification in economics, business or quantitative studies.
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 junior analyst, regulatory affairs or strategy roles are welcomed to reference their case work at application.

Why Study at LSLPE

The London School of Law, Politics and Economics is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts. LSLPE sits within a short tube ride of the CMA, the FCA and every major sector regulator, giving Higher Diploma in Market Structures students routine access to the environment they are training for.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, working regulator staff and international applicants complete the Higher Diploma in Market Structures without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service maintains standing links with competition consultancies, sector-regulator recruiters and City analyst teams.

Apply for Higher Diploma in Market Structures

Complete the Higher Diploma in Market Structures at LSLPE and articulate directly into a UK Bachelor's top-up in economics. Credit transfer is confirmed in writing at enrolment. Enrol Now.