How long does the MA in Democracy and Governance take?

The MA in Democracy and Governance runs one year full-time or two years part-time on-campus, online and by distance learning. Every MA in Democracy and Governance cohort shares the same weekly seminar timetable.

How is the MA in Democracy and Governance delivered?

The MA in Democracy and Governance is taught on-campus in central London, online in live seminars, and by distance learning. Dissertation supervision is one-to-one across all three modes.

Is the MA in Democracy and Governance recognised in the UK?

Yes. The MA in Democracy and Governance is a UK Level 7 Master's award aligned with PSA, BISA and Institute for Government coverage of the discipline.

What are the entry requirements for the MA in Democracy and Governance?

A UK Bachelor's degree at 2:2 or above (or equivalent), plus IELTS 6.5 for non-native English speakers. Senior professionals without a first degree can enter the MA in Democracy and Governance on portfolio.

What does the MA in Democracy and Governance cost and is funding available?

Fees for the MA in Democracy and Governance vary by study mode and cohort intake. LSLPE admissions publishes the current schedule and advises on employer sponsorship and instalment plans.

MA in Democracy and Governance | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA in Democracy and Governance at LSLPE is a UK Level 7 postgraduate programme running one year full-time or two years part-time across on-campus, online and distance routes. Content is calibrated to the way democratic governance is actually studied, measured and defended: constitutional design, electoral integrity, checks and balances, democratic backsliding, rule of law and the international support architecture for democratic reform, drawing on Institute for Government (IfG), Chatham House and IDEA-adjacent commentary.

By graduation you are producing structured governance assessments, drafting democracy support programme designs, presenting to a seminar in the select-committee tradition, and delivering an original dissertation supervised by an academic or a practising governance analyst.

Key Features

Content aligned with Political Studies Association (PSA) senior-track coverage.
Themes aligned with British International Studies Association (BISA) comparative work.
Aligned with Institute for Government (IfG) and Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) programme areas.
Aligned with Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) coverage of political communication.
Dissertation supervision by academics and practising governance analysts.
Distance and online cohorts follow the same weekly seminar timetable as on-campus students.

What You Will Learn

Democratic theory and constitutional design.
Electoral integrity, election observation and reform.
Checks and balances, judicial independence and accountability.
Democratic backsliding: measurement, drivers, responses.
Rule of law programming and its evaluation.
Comparative democratic transitions.
Programme design and evaluation for democracy support work.
Research method design for a Master's-level dissertation.

Who This Course Is For

Officers, analysts and programme staff moving into senior democracy support roles.
Graduates of a Bachelor's in politics, international relations, PPE or law taking a specialist Master's.
International applicants seeking a UK Level 7 democracy and governance credential.
Working professionals in Whitehall, NGOs, multilaterals and think tanks.
Career changers moving from journalism, corporate international affairs or the third sector.

Career Pathways

Senior Policy Adviser on governance reform
Political Analyst on democratic backsliding briefs
Public Sector Consultant on governance programmes
Development Diplomat on democracy support
Think Tank Researcher on democratic institutions
Strategy Adviser to a public leadership programme
Programme Manager in an international democracy support NGO
Public Affairs Consultant on constitutional briefs

The LSLPE careers service maintains standing relationships with the Institute for Government, Chatham House, democracy support NGOs and multilateral bodies, and refreshes content annually against PSA and BISA guidance.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent international qualification in politics, international relations, PPE, law or a cognate discipline.
IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
Applicants without a Bachelor's degree but with 5+ years of senior professional experience in governance, democracy support or public policy are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE teaches democracy and governance from central London, within a short tube ride of Parliament, Whitehall, the Institute for Government, Chatham House and democracy-support NGOs. Every intake, on-campus or remote, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support, run in the case-room and select-committee tradition.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, working practitioners and portfolio-route applicants complete the MA in Democracy and Governance without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service maintains standing relationships with Whitehall, IfG, Chatham House and multilateral bodies.

Apply for MA in Democracy and Governance

The MA in Democracy and Governance is a senior UK credential for analysts, programme staff and policy advisers working on democratic institutions and reform. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme — dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising barristers, policy advisers and City economists. Enrol Now