How long is the MSc in Economic Policy?

The MSc in Economic Policy runs one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes available. All variants deliver the same MSc in Economic Policy dissertation and seminar programme.

Can I take the MSc in Economic Policy online?

Yes. The MSc in Economic Policy is available on-campus in central London, by live online seminar and by distance learning, with named tutor and dissertation supervision in all modes.

Is the MSc in Economic Policy recognised in the UK?

The MSc in Economic Policy is a UK Level 7 postgraduate degree aligned with Royal Economic Society, Government Economic Service and CIPFA competencies and valued across GES, think tank and Treasury employers.

What are the entry requirements?

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2) or international equivalent, IELTS 6.5, one academic and one professional reference, and a 500-word proposal. Portfolio applicants with senior policy experience are considered.

What are the fees and funding options?

Fees for the MSc in Economic Policy are published on the LSLPE admissions page. Instalment plans, employer sponsorship, alumni bursaries and international scholarships are available on request.

MSc in Economic Policy | LSLPE London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Economic Policy is a UK Level 7 postgraduate degree running one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance routes available. The syllabus is aligned with the applied competencies referenced by the Royal Economic Society, the Government Economic Service and CIPFA, and draws directly on the applied research programmes of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, NIESR and ODI.

By graduation you will have written a dissertation on a UK policy question, built econometric models on live administrative data, produced Green Book five-case impact appraisals, drafted policy briefs for a senior audience, and completed a supervised capstone or sponsor consulting project for a government department, think tank or international body.

Key Features

Aligned with Government Economic Service and Royal Economic Society senior competencies.
Green Book five-case impact appraisal drafting as a spine skill.
Applied econometrics with Stata and R using UK administrative and ONS data.
Supervised dissertation of 12,000 to 15,000 words.
Practitioner sessions from IFS, NIESR, Treasury and Bank of England alumni.
Three parallel study modes for progressors and working professionals.
Weekly case-room seminars in the select-committee tradition.

What You Will Learn

Build regression and identification models for policy datasets.
Interpret ONS, HMRC, DWP, OBR and BoE data releases.
Draft Green Book five-case business cases with monitoring and evaluation.
Analyse fiscal, monetary and tax reform proposals for distributional impact.
Evaluate public financial management under CIPFA-aligned standards.
Produce a policy brief for a ministerial audience.
Present research findings in the case-room seminar tradition.
Deliver a Master's dissertation to research-informed senior-practice standard.

Who This Course Is For

Bachelor's graduates in economics, politics or PPE moving to senior policy work.
Working policy advisers, analysts and consultants seeking a research anchor.
Public sector economists progressing to senior civil service roles.
International applicants seeking a UK Master's in economic policy.
Portfolio-route applicants with senior public sector experience.

Career Pathways

Government Economist on the GES senior track.
Economic Policy Analyst at a think tank or NGO.
Research Economist at NIESR, IFS or ODI-adjacent programmes.
Public Finance Analyst in a CIPFA-aligned team.
Regulatory Economist at a UK regulator.
Economic Consultant at a specialist practice.
Development Economist at a bilateral agency.
Central Bank Analyst on a policy team.

The LSLPE careers service maintains standing introductions to Treasury, GES, IFS, think tank and City recruiters for MSc students.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent international qualification in economics, PPE 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 five or more years of senior public sector or research experience are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE places the MSc in Economic Policy within a short tube ride of the Treasury, the Bank of England, Chatham House, the IFS and the LSE-adjacent think tank ecosystem, giving dissertation students direct access to the working data releases and research communities they draw on.

Every intake shares the same weekly seminar structure with a named programme tutor. The LSLPE careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Royal Economic Society, GES and CIPFA guidance so MSc in Economic Policy graduates step into senior policy roles with a current, credible skill set.

Apply for MSc in Economic Policy

The MSc in Economic Policy is the Master's-level credential for senior UK economic policy careers. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme, dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising barristers, policy advisers and City economists. Enrol Now.