MSc in Fiscal Policy
Course Overview
The MSc in Fiscal Policy is a UK Level 7 research-informed Master's degree running one year full-time or two years part-time, with online and distance-learning routes. The programme covers the design and appraisal of tax, spending and public borrowing at UK and international levels, drawing on Treasury, Office for Budget Responsibility, and Institute for Fiscal Studies-aligned themes. The syllabus is aligned with competencies referenced by the Royal Economic Society, CIPFA and the Government Economic Service.
By graduation you will have modelled tax and spending scenarios, prepared fiscal briefings on Budget and Autumn Statement measures, produced a departmental spending review analysis, and completed a dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project for a public body or think tank.
Key Features
- Level 7 credential aligned with Royal Economic Society and CIPFA themes.
- Applied Treasury Green Book training for policy appraisal.
- Case-room seminars linked to live UK Budget documents.
- Guest sessions from IFS-adjacent economists and former Whitehall analysts.
- Named programme-tutor support across all three study modes.
- Dissertation supervised by an LSLPE tutor with active public finance profile.
- Careers-service introductions to Whitehall, CIPFA-aligned public bodies and think tanks.
What You Will Learn
- Tax theory, incidence and behavioural response modelling.
- Public expenditure analysis and the UK spending review cycle.
- The Treasury Green Book methodology for policy appraisal.
- Fiscal rules, debt sustainability and the OBR forecasting process.
- Intergovernmental fiscal relations across the four UK nations.
- Reading IFS Green Budget and NIESR fiscal outputs.
- Distributional analysis for equity impact assessment.
- Producing briefings, notes and dissertations for policy audiences.
Who This Course Is For
- Government Economic Service and Whitehall staff formalising Level 7 training.
- Analysts in local government finance teams.
- Bachelor's graduates in economics or public policy targeting Treasury and OBR-adjacent work.
- Think tank researchers moving toward senior analytical roles.
- International applicants planning careers in national finance ministries.
Career Pathways
- Government Economist in the Treasury or a Whitehall department.
- Public Finance Analyst in a CIPFA-aligned team.
- Economic Policy Analyst in a think tank.
- Research Economist at IFS, NIESR or a similar institute.
- Regulatory Economist in a UK regulator.
- Economic Consultant in a City economics practice.
- Central Bank Analyst at the Bank of England or a foreign counterpart.
The LSLPE careers service coordinates introductions with Whitehall, think tanks and public finance teams and runs at least one careers day each academic year.
Entry Requirements
- A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent in economics, public policy or a quantitative discipline.
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- Applicants without a Bachelor's but with 5+ years of senior public finance or policy experience 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 in small, tutor-visible cohorts and reads law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London places the Treasury, the Bank of England, the IFS and the LSE-adjacent research ecosystem within a short tube ride of every classroom.
Every intake shares the same weekly seminar structure, and the careers service refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Royal Economic Society guidance.
Apply for MSc in Fiscal Policy
Applications for the MSc in Fiscal Policy are reviewed on a rolling basis. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme, dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising public finance economists. Enrol Now.
