MSc in Economic Thinking
Course Overview
The MSc in Economic Thinking is a UK Level 7 research-informed Master's degree running one year full-time or two years part-time, calibrated for senior-track applicants who want a Master's that reads economic thought across its major traditions rather than through a single school. Delivered on-campus, online and by distance learning, the programme is deliberately synthetic and closes with a dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project.
By dissertation stage you will be running a full argued research paper across at least two economic traditions, defending an original position on a live policy question, and presenting to a panel drawn from IFS-adjacent researchers, Bank of England staff and City economists.
Key Features
- Curriculum aligned with Royal Economic Society (RES), Society of Professional Economists (SPE) and Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS)-informed themes.
- Modules covering classical, neoclassical, Keynesian, Austrian, institutional and behavioural traditions.
- Applied policy-writing exercises using HM Treasury and Bank of England formats.
- Weekly seminars in the case-room tradition with named programme-tutor support.
- Dissertation or sponsor consulting project supervised by a practising economist.
- Central London base within reach of the IFS, NIESR, the Bank of England and the Treasury.
What You Will Learn
- The classical tradition from Smith and Ricardo through to Mill.
- The neoclassical revolution and the marginalist project.
- Keynesian macroeconomics and the post-Keynesian tradition.
- Austrian and institutional traditions and their modern applied uses.
- Behavioural economics as a synthesis with psychology and public policy.
- Applied economic-thinking exercises on tax, welfare, monetary and trade policy.
- Applied research methods for argued comparative work.
- How to write a full argued economics paper defending an original position.
Who This Course Is For
- Working economists broadening a formal grounding across traditions.
- Policy advisers moving into economics-heavy roles.
- Applicants preparing for PhD study on a comparative-traditions basis.
- International applicants targeting UK senior-track economics careers.
- Journalists and communications staff specialising in economic policy.
Career Pathways
- Research Economist at the IFS, NIESR or a think-tank team
- Economist in a Government Economic Service track
- Behavioural Economist in a consultancy or public body
- Economic Consultant supporting cross-tradition mandates
- Central Bank Analyst on a research team
- Financial Economist on a City strategy desk
- Economic Policy Analyst in a Whitehall-facing team
The LSLPE careers service supports Master's students with dissertation-to-publication guidance, PhD application coaching and warm introductions to research recruiters. Dissertations, capstones and sponsor projects are supervised by practising barristers, policy advisers and City economists.
Entry Requirements
- A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent international qualification in a relevant 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 economics, finance 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
The London School of Law, Politics and Economics teaches economic thinking as a synthetic discipline in small, tutor-visible cohorts. Central London places the IFS, NIESR, the Bank of England, the Treasury and the City within a short tube ride, and LSLPE reads economics alongside law and politics because economic thought is always argued through political forums and constrained by legal frameworks.
The LSLPE careers service refreshes curriculum alignment each year against Royal Economic Society and Society of Professional Economists-informed guidance.
Apply for MSc in Economic Thinking
Applications for the MSc in Economic Thinking are reviewed on a rolling basis. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme with a dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising economists. Enrol Now
