How long does the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics take?

The Higher Diploma in Security and Politics runs 15 to 18 months. All modes of the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics follow the same weekly seminar and capstone timetable.

How is the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics delivered?

You can study the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics on-campus in central London, fully online or by structured distance learning. All modes of the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics share the same supervised capstone pathway.

Is the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics recognised in the UK?

Yes. The Higher Diploma in Security and Politics is a UK Level 5 award with confirmed Bachelor's top-up credit transfer, aligned with BISA, IISS and Chatham House working conventions.

What are the entry requirements for the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics?

You need a relevant Level 4 Diploma or comparable qualification for the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics. Serving defence and intelligence officers are welcomed onto the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics.

What are the fees and funding options for the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics?

Fees vary by study mode and residency. LSLPE offers structured instalment plans and early-application discounts on the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics; contact admissions for a personalised quotation.

Higher Diploma in Security and Politics | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Security and Politics at LSLPE is a Level 5 programme running 15 to 18 months across on-campus, online and distance routes, with structured articulation into a UK Bachelor's top-up in the same discipline. Sitting within Politics and International Studies, the syllabus is aligned with British International Studies Association, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and Chatham House working conventions, and reads security policy as the intersection of political intent, capability and law.

By graduation you will have produced a country-risk brief, a defence-posture analysis, a critical-national-infrastructure assessment, and a supervised capstone project on a live security file.

Key Features

Alignment with British International Studies Association (BISA), International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and Chatham House working conventions.
Case sessions on NATO postures, hybrid threats and critical-national-infrastructure security.
Guest input from defence-policy analysts and intelligence-adjacent practitioners.
Capstone project supervised by a practising analyst.
Confirmed credit transfer into a UK Bachelor's top-up.
Three parallel study modes so serving analysts and progressor students share the same cohort.

What You Will Learn

Framing a security question with political-intent, capability and legal dimensions.
Reading NATO doctrine, UK Integrated Review documents and IISS Strategic Survey material.
Producing a country-risk brief with a defence overlay.
Analysing hybrid, cyber and disinformation threats.
Handling critical-national-infrastructure and supply-chain security files.
Applying international humanitarian law and rules of engagement.
Running structured foresight and red-team exercises.
Defending a capstone conclusion in an oral panel.

Who This Course Is For

Serving defence, intelligence and security officers moving into analyst grades.
Progressor students from a Level 4 Diploma articulating into a Bachelor's top-up.
Corporate security and political-risk professionals moving into structured analysis.
International applicants preparing for defence-attache or international-organisation entry.
Journalists moving into serious defence and security reporting.

Career Pathways

Defence Policy Analyst
Strategic Intelligence Analyst
Political Analyst on security portfolios
Foreign Policy Adviser
Parliamentary Researcher on defence committees
Public Affairs Officer at a defence-adjacent think tank
International Affairs Officer at an NGO or international body
Political Consultant on security matters

The LSLPE careers service curates introductions across the defence-adjacent think-tank community, Whitehall security teams, corporate security and international organisations, and refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Bar Standards Board, Political Studies Association and Royal Economic Society guidance.

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 paralegal, policy officer, research assistant or public administration roles are welcomed.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts. Central London places Whitehall, the defence-adjacent think-tank community, Chatham House, the IISS and the LSE-adjacent research ecosystem within a short tube ride of every seminar room, which matters when the security decisions you will study are made nearby.

Every intake, on-campus or remote, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support. Seminars are run in the case-room and select-committee tradition, evidence-led and argued in public, and the careers service connects students with employers across defence-adjacent think tanks, Whitehall and international organisations.

Apply for Higher Diploma in Security and Politics

Applications for the Higher Diploma in Security and Politics are open now with confirmed Bachelor's top-up articulation. Complete a Higher Diploma at LSLPE and articulate into a UK Bachelor's top-up in the same discipline with a security-and-politics portfolio to your name. Enrol Now