How long is the Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies?

The Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies runs for 15 to 18 months at LSLPE, with a capstone project and confirmed articulation into a UK Bachelor's top-up.

Is the Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies recognised in the UK?

Yes, the Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies sits at UK Level 5 with credit transfer into UK Bachelor's top-ups and alignment with ODI and IDS competencies.

What are the entry requirements for the Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies?

You need a Level 4 Diploma or comparable qualification, GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C, IELTS 6.0 if applicable, and one academic or professional reference.

What are the fees and funding options for the Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies?

Fees are confirmed at application, with instalment plans and employer-sponsorship guidance available for NGO staff studying the Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies.

Higher Diploma in Policy and Development | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies is a UK Level 5 qualification running 15 to 18 months, calibrated for progression into a Bachelor's top-up in development studies, public policy or international relations. The syllabus is aligned with Overseas Development Institute and Institute of Development Studies-mapped competencies and draws on the applied practice of the FCDO and its bilateral programme partners.

By graduation you will have produced a full country-level development diagnostic, a programme design document in DFID-legacy format, a monitoring and evaluation framework, and a capstone case tracing a development intervention from theory of change to outcome review. You will articulate directly into a Bachelor's top-up with confirmed credit transfer.

Key Features

Fifteen to eighteen months of substantive policy and development content with capstone project.
Syllabus aligned with ODI, IDS and Institute for Government policy-cycle standards.
Case material drawn from bilateral programmes, multilateral bank operations and NGO delivery.
Named programme tutor plus a development-practitioner mentor.
Three parallel study modes and confirmed credit transfer into a UK Bachelor's top-up.
Two intake windows a year, with named admissions support for international applicants.

What You Will Learn

Theories of development from modernisation through structural adjustment to human capabilities.
Poverty measurement, inequality indices and the essentials of household-survey analysis.
Programme design using logframes and theory of change in DFID and multilateral formats.
Monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks aligned with OECD DAC criteria.
Fragile and conflict-affected states: political-economy analysis and adaptive programming.
Climate, gender and disability mainstreaming across programme cycles.
Working with bilateral, multilateral and NGO delivery partners across the aid chain.
Writing a country-level policy brief and defending it under expert questioning.

Who This Course Is For

Policy officers and programme staff in NGOs, multilateral agencies and consulting firms.
Working professionals in government aid programmes or diplomatic missions.
Graduates progressing towards a UK Bachelor's top-up in development or public policy.
Career changers moving from research or journalism into development practice.

Career Pathways

Development Analyst
International Development Officer
NGO Programme Officer
Programme Manager
Policy Adviser on international portfolios
Public Sector Consultant on aid-financed projects
Think Tank Researcher on development themes

The LSLPE careers service links Higher Diploma graduates with entry pipelines into FCDO delivery partners, ODI-adjacent think tanks, multilateral secretariats and the UK international-development consulting sector.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Advanced Diploma or comparable qualification in development, policy or a related 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 policy officer, programme officer or research assistant roles into development practice are welcomed.

Why Study at LSLPE

The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches development where UK development policy is contested and delivered, within walking distance of the Overseas Development Institute, Chatham House and the international-affairs cluster of central London. Guest sessions come from active programme managers and development economists working across bilateral and multilateral programmes.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, in-country practitioners and international applicants complete the Higher Diploma without leaving their post, and the LSLPE careers service maintains links with delivery partners, think tanks and multilateral secretariats.

Apply for Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies

Applications for the Higher Diploma in Policy and Development Studies are open, with confirmed articulation into a Bachelor's top-up. Complete a Higher Diploma at LSLPE and articulate into a UK Bachelor's top-up in the same discipline, credit transfer is confirmed at enrolment. Enrol Now