How long does the MA in Public Affairs take to complete?

The MA in Public Affairs runs one year full-time or two years part-time. On-campus, online and distance routes are available for the MA in Public Affairs.

Which delivery modes are available for the MA in Public Affairs?

The MA in Public Affairs is delivered on-campus in central London, fully online and by distance learning. Every mode of the MA in Public Affairs uses the same weekly seminar structure.

Is the MA in Public Affairs recognised in the UK?

Yes, the MA in Public Affairs sits at UK Level 7 and is a postgraduate award. The MA in Public Affairs is aligned with Political Studies Association and Chartered Institute of Public Relations standards.

What are the entry requirements for the MA in Public Affairs?

A UK Bachelor's degree at 2:2 or above in a cognate discipline is the standard route. Portfolio applicants with 5+ years of senior experience are considered for the MA in Public Affairs.

How much does the MA in Public Affairs cost and is funding available?

Fees for the MA in Public Affairs are published on the LSLPE fees page and can be paid by instalment. Employer sponsorship for the MA in Public Affairs can be discussed with admissions.

MA in Public Affairs | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MA in Public Affairs at LSLPE is a UK Level 7 postgraduate qualification running one year full-time or two years part-time on-campus, online or by distance learning. The programme combines advanced political-science teaching with practitioner-facing modules on government relations, lobbying regulation, campaigns and strategic communications, aligned with Political Studies Association, Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Institute for Government standards.

By graduation you will have written a full public-affairs strategy for a live client scenario, produced a stakeholder-engagement plan, drafted a campaigns brief for a Cabinet-adjacent policy question, prepared a regulator-facing communications piece, and completed a research-informed dissertation or sponsor-facing capstone.

Key Features

Curriculum aligned with Political Studies Association and Chartered Institute of Public Relations standards.
Modules on government relations, lobbying regulation, campaigns and political communications.
Case-room teaching on Institute for Government analyses of Whitehall.
Workshops in stakeholder mapping, submissions and lines-to-take.
Chatham House-aligned strand on international public affairs.
Named supervisor for a substantial dissertation or sponsor-consulting piece.
Weekly seminars in all three delivery modes.

What You Will Learn

Design a public-affairs strategy for a live client scenario.
Draft a stakeholder-engagement plan across Whitehall and Parliament.
Advise on lobbying regulation and transparency requirements.
Prepare submissions to Cabinet, select committees and consultations.
Design a campaigns brief for a Cabinet-adjacent policy question.
Handle regulator-facing communications.
Read Institute for Government analyses and translate into client advice.
Defend a Level 7 dissertation on a specialist public-affairs question.

Who This Course Is For

Public-affairs professionals moving into senior consultancy roles.
In-house government-relations managers in regulated firms.
Political-communications professionals seeking a postgraduate credential.
Career changers moving into public affairs from journalism or campaigning.
International applicants seeking a UK-centred Master's in public affairs.

Career Pathways

Public affairs consultant in a City or agency practice.
Government affairs manager in a corporate team.
Political communications officer for a national campaign.
Political consultant advising a party or campaign.
Strategy adviser to a minister or shadow team.
Parliamentary researcher on select committees.
Public sector consultant advising delivery bodies.
Think tank researcher on public-affairs portfolios.

The LSLPE careers service maintains introductions with public-affairs practices, in-house government-relations teams and political consultancies.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) in politics, public relations, communications 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 public affairs or communications are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal or practice statement outlining your public-affairs focus.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE is a specialist division of Harold International College of London reading law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London places Whitehall, Parliament, Chatham House and the LSE-adjacent public-affairs ecosystem within a short tube ride of every classroom.

Cohorts are small, tutor-visible and taught in the case-room and select-committee tradition. The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each year and refreshes syllabus alignment annually against Political Studies Association guidance.

Apply for MA in Public Affairs

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and admissions responds within one working day. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme with dissertation supervision from practising policy advisers and public-affairs consultants. Enrol Now.