How long is the Higher Diploma in Trade Economics?

The Higher Diploma in Trade Economics runs 15 to 18 months. Full-time on-campus completion is inside 15 months, with slightly longer schedules for online and distance learners.

Can I study the Higher Diploma in Trade Economics online?

Yes. The Higher Diploma in Trade Economics runs on-campus, live online and by distance learning, with a shared seminar plan and named tutor across all three modes.

Does the Higher Diploma articulate into a Bachelor's degree?

Yes. The Higher Diploma in Trade Economics is a UK Level 5 credential articulating into a Bachelor's top-up in a cognate discipline, with credit transfer confirmed at enrolment.

What are the entry requirements?

A relevant Diploma or Advanced Diploma, GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C, IELTS 6.0, and one reference. Working trade officers are welcomed.

What are the fees and funding options?

Fees for the Higher Diploma in Trade Economics are published on the LSLPE admissions page. Instalment plans, employer sponsorship and international scholarships are available.

Higher Diploma in Trade Economics | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Trade Economics is a UK Level 5 qualification of 15 to 18 months articulating into a UK Bachelor's top-up. The syllabus is aligned with the applied competencies referenced by the Royal Economic Society, the Government Economic Service, ODI and CIPFA and covers trade theory, tariff and non-tariff policy, trade in services, digital trade, and applied trade analysis using UK, WTO and cross-national data.

By graduation you will have produced tariff schedule analytics, drafted a trade impact assessment, written a policy brief on a live UK trade negotiation, and completed a workplace capstone in a government department, trade body, think tank or multilateral programme.

Key Features

Aligned with Royal Economic Society, GES and ODI trade research programmes.
Applied trade analytics with Stata and R using WTO and UNCTAD data.
Tariff schedule and rules-of-origin analysis as taught in trade practice.
Practitioner sessions from Department for Business and Trade alumni and ODI fellows.
Three parallel study modes: on-campus, live online and distance.
Structured articulation into UK Bachelor's top-ups.
Workplace capstone in a trade economics setting.

What You Will Learn

Apply Ricardian, Heckscher-Ohlin and new trade theory to real trade data.
Analyse tariff schedules and rules-of-origin for a live trade agreement.
Model welfare effects of tariff, quota and non-tariff measures.
Interpret WTO, UNCTAD and OECD trade datasets.
Draft a trade impact assessment for a ministerial audience.
Evaluate services and digital trade under recent UK agreements.
Present findings in the select-committee tradition.
Deliver a capstone report to graduate practitioner standard.

Who This Course Is For

Diploma or Advanced Diploma holders in economics, IR or public policy.
Junior trade policy officers and desk officers.
Working analysts in trade bodies and consultancy.
NGO staff on trade justice or development files.
International applicants seeking a UK articulation into a Bachelor's top-up.

Career Pathways

Trade Economist in a government department.
Economic Policy Analyst in a think tank or NGO.
Research Economist supporting ODI-style programmes.
Regulatory Economist at a UK trade regulator.
Development Economist at a bilateral programme.
Public Sector Consultant on trade reform files.
Investment Analyst at a City firm covering trade sectors.
Economic Consultant on tariff and non-tariff work.

The LSLPE careers service maintains introductions to Department for Business and Trade alumni, trade bodies and ODI-adjacent programmes.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Advanced Diploma or comparable qualification in economics, politics 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 trade policy or economics roles are welcomed.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE places the Higher Diploma in Trade Economics within a short tube ride of the Treasury, the Department for Business and Trade, Chatham House, ODI and the LSE-adjacent trade research ecosystem. That geography anchors the programme in live UK trade policy work rather than in textbook cases alone.

Every intake joins the same weekly seminar with a named tutor. The careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Royal Economic Society and ODI programming so Higher Diploma in Trade Economics graduates step into UK and multilateral trade work with a current, credible skill set.

Apply for Higher Diploma in Trade Economics

The Higher Diploma in Trade Economics is a technician-to-graduate articulation route with an applied trade analytics spine. 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.