How long does the MA in Political Economy take?

The MA in Political Economy runs one year full-time or two years part-time. Distance-learning students on the MA in Political Economy typically complete over the two-year part-time schedule.

Is the MA available online?

Yes. The MA in Political Economy is delivered on-campus, online with live seminars, and by distance learning. All modes include the dissertation.

What are the entry requirements?

You need a UK Bachelor's in a relevant subject (2:2 or above), plus IELTS 6.5 where relevant. Senior practitioners without a Bachelor's may apply on portfolio for the MA in Political Economy.

What are the fees and is funding available?

Fees for the MA in Political Economy vary by mode and are published on the LSLPE fees page. Instalment plans, employer sponsorship and postgraduate loan guidance are handled by the admissions team on request.

MA in Political Economy | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA in Political Economy is a UK Level 7 postgraduate degree running one year full-time or two years part-time across on-campus, online and distance routes. The programme reads political economy in the classical and contemporary traditions, moving through Smith, Marx, Keynes and Hayek to contemporary institutionalist and Piketty-style analysis, and covering comparative political economy across major regimes, aligned with Political Studies Association, Royal Economic Society and Institute for Government aligned themes.

By graduation, students on the MA in Political Economy are producing appellate-standard doctrinal essays, comparative political-economy analyses of live UK and international questions, reform memoranda for major policy areas, and a substantial dissertation on a political-economy reform question.

Key Features

Postgraduate modules mapped to Political Studies Association, Royal Economic Society and Institute for Government aligned themes.
Case teaching on major UK and comparative political-economy debates including industrial strategy, welfare and taxation.
Guest sessions from Chatham House, ODI, IFS-aligned and Institute for Government researchers.
Advanced reading in classical and contemporary political-economy theory.
Dissertation supervision by tutors active in political-economy research or practice.
Small cohort model with named programme tutor for every student on the MA in Political Economy.

What You Will Learn

Engage with Smith, Marx, Keynes, Hayek and contemporary political-economy theorists.
Apply institutionalist and varieties-of-capitalism analysis to UK and comparative cases.
Handle political-economy analysis of taxation, welfare and industrial strategy.
Draft reform memoranda to Whitehall and think-tank standard.
Handle mixed-methods research combining quantitative and interpretive evidence.
Handle ethics of political-economy research and reporting.
Draft policy-relevant working papers.
Design a supervised dissertation project with a defensible methodology.

Who This Course Is For

Bachelor graduates in politics, economics or PPE seeking a research-informed political-economy Master's.
Working professionals in Whitehall policy or think tanks.
Journalists and commentators seeking a rigorous theoretical foundation.
NGO senior staff working on economic policy and inequality.
International applicants preparing for senior policy or academic roles.

Career Pathways

Policy Adviser on political-economy questions in Whitehall.
Political Analyst at a think tank or research house.
Public Affairs Consultant on senior policy questions.
Think Tank Researcher on comparative political-economy.
Development Analyst on ODI or IDS-aligned political-economy programmes.
Strategy Adviser in a policy consultancy.
Programme Manager on integrated policy reform.

The LSLPE careers service supports every MA in Political Economy student on applications into Whitehall policy, think tanks and international bodies working on integrated political-economy analysis.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent international qualification in politics, economics, PPE or a related discipline for the MA in Political Economy.
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 policy, economics or political affairs are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal on the intended dissertation theme.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE reads political economy as the theoretical engine behind law, politics and economics together. Central London places Whitehall, Chatham House, IFS, the Institute for Government and think-tank research within a short tube ride of every classroom, and every MA cohort is taught in the small select-committee format that defines the school.

Three parallel study modes allow serving policy officers, journalists and international applicants to complete the MA in Political Economy without stepping away from work. Dissertation supervision draws on practising Whitehall economists, senior think-tank researchers and academic political economists.

Apply for MA in Political Economy

The MA in Political Economy closes with a dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising barristers, policy advisers and City economists across the LSLPE portfolio. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme. Enrol Now.