How long is the MSc in Policy and Development Studies?

The MSc in Policy and Development Studies runs one year full-time or two years part-time. Distance learners on the MSc in Policy and Development Studies follow the same seminar calendar as on-campus cohorts.

How is the MSc in Policy and Development Studies delivered?

The MSc in Policy and Development Studies is available on-campus, online and by distance learning. All modes of the MSc in Policy and Development Studies include the sponsor project and dissertation.

Is the MSc in Policy and Development Studies recognised in the UK?

Yes, the MSc in Policy and Development Studies sits at UK Level 7 and is aligned with ODI-referenced frameworks. The MSc in Policy and Development Studies is recognised across Whitehall, NGO and multilateral employers.

What entry requirements apply to the MSc in Policy and Development Studies?

The MSc in Policy and Development Studies requires a 2:2 Bachelor's degree or equivalent, or five years of senior experience. IELTS 6.5 applies to international applicants for the MSc in Policy and Development Studies.

What is the cost of the MSc in Policy and Development Studies and is funding available?

Fees for the MSc in Policy and Development Studies are published on the LSLPE admissions page. Employer sponsorship and staged payment are considered for the MSc in Policy and Development Studies on application.

MSc Policy and Development Studies | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Policy and Development Studies is a UK Level 7 postgraduate degree delivered one year full-time or two years part-time on-campus, online and by distance learning. The programme is aligned with Overseas Development Institute-referenced frameworks, Institute of Development Studies thematic guidance and Institute for Government reform standards, and it trains senior practitioners operating at the intersection of UK domestic reform and international development.

By graduation you will have produced a full policy evaluation using theory-of-change instruments, drafted a country-programme business case, delivered a select-committee style oral evidence session, and completed a dissertation of approximately 15,000 words on a live policy or development question supervised by a practising adviser.

Key Features

Programme aligned with ODI-referenced frameworks and Institute for Government thematic guidance.
Seminars run in the select-committee tradition with named practitioner tutor supervision.
Live sponsor project undertaken with a partner NGO, think tank or government department.
Evaluation laboratory using ICAI and NAO methodology.
Guest sessions with practising policy advisers and development directors.
Field visits to Chatham House and IDS-adjacent public events.
Dissertation supervised by a practising policy or development adviser.

What You Will Learn

Design policy evaluations using theory-of-change instruments and mixed-methods evidence.
Build country-programme business cases with governance risk analysis.
Read ICAI, NAO and Public Accounts Committee reports critically.
Model policy options across UK domestic and international portfolios.
Handle political-settlement analysis in fragile-state contexts.
Design theory-of-change frameworks for public and development programmes.
Manage stakeholder engagement across ministries, donors and NGOs.
Communicate policy findings to ministers, boards and international counterparts.

Who This Course Is For

Serving policy practitioners at Whitehall, aid agencies and NGOs seeking a Level 7 credential.
Consultancy managers moving into director-level policy or development roles.
Portfolio-route senior professionals credentialing UK sector practice.
International applicants working with development or public reform bodies.
Career changers from finance or law entering senior policy careers.

Career Pathways

Policy Adviser at Whitehall director or deputy director level.
Development Analyst leading a country or thematic portfolio.
Public Sector Consultant on senior reform mandates.
NGO Programme Officer at director level.
Programme Manager on a cross-Whitehall reform portfolio.
Think Tank Researcher at senior fellow level.
International Development Officer at a multilateral body.
Public Leadership Fellow at a civic innovation programme.

The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each year connecting Master's cohorts to Whitehall directors, NGO chief executives, multilateral recruiters and consultancy partners.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent international qualification in politics, economics, international relations or 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 policy, development or reform are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement outlining your policy question.

Why Study at LSLPE

The London School of Law, Politics and Economics is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts. Whitehall, Chatham House, the ODI headquarters and the international NGO ecosystem sit within a short tube ride of every LSLPE seminar room.

Three parallel study modes let progressors, working senior practitioners and international applicants complete the MSc in Policy and Development Studies without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service maintains standing links with Whitehall, NGO and multilateral recruiters.

Apply for MSc in Policy and Development Studies

Enrol on the LSLPE Master's programme in policy and development studies. Your dissertation will be supervised by a practising policy adviser, and the sponsor project begins in week one. Enrol Now.