MSc in Policy Economics
Course Overview
The MSc in Policy Economics is a UK Level 7 postgraduate degree running one year full-time or two years part-time. It applies advanced microeconomic and macroeconomic reasoning to policy design, appraisal and evaluation, drawing on Green Book methodology, HMT Magenta Book evaluation guidance, IFS analytical practice, and Government Economic Service applied casework. It is calibrated for senior-track policy economists and consultants.
By graduation you will have produced Green Book five-case appraisals on live policy questions, applied causal-inference methods to a chosen evaluation, written a rigorous policy-economics dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project, and defended your reasoning under adversarial expert questioning.
Key Features
- One year full-time or two years part-time, on-campus, online or by distance learning.
- Syllabus aligned with HM Treasury Green Book and Magenta Book methodology.
- Guest input from Government Economic Service alumni, IFS-adjacent researchers and City economists.
- Dissertation, capstone or sponsor consulting project supervised by a working policy economist.
- Case material drawn from HMT, OBR, IFS, and departmental impact assessments.
- Named programme tutor and full academic-writing support for the dissertation.
What You Will Learn
- Advanced microeconomic reasoning applied to regulation, competition and public services.
- Advanced macroeconomic reasoning applied to fiscal and monetary policy.
- Green Book five-case appraisal to production standard.
- Causal-inference methods: RCTs, differences-in-differences, RDD, IV and synthetic controls.
- Distributional analysis using microsimulation and IFS-style modelling.
- Behavioural economics applied to policy design.
- Evaluation frameworks under HMT Magenta Book guidance.
- Writing a policy-economics dissertation to Master's-level standard.
Who This Course Is For
- Working economists in the Government Economic Service, regulators and consulting firms.
- Working policy officers seeking a senior policy-economics credential.
- City economists moving toward public-policy consulting.
- International applicants pursuing UK senior-track policy-economics experience.
Career Pathways
- Economic Policy Analyst at senior level
- Government Economist at senior grade
- Public Finance Analyst
- Economic Consultant
- Research Economist
- Regulatory Economist
- Central Bank Analyst
- Development Economist
The LSLPE careers service holds year-round links with HM Treasury, the OBR, sectoral regulators, IFS-adjacent think tanks and applied-economics consultancies, and supports MSc candidates from CV clinic through to dissertation and interview.
Entry Requirements
- A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) or equivalent international qualification in economics or a quantitative 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 or public finance 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 policy economics where UK policy economics is done, within a short tube ride of HM Treasury, the Bank of England, the OBR and IFS. Guest sessions come from Government Economic Service alumni and IFS-adjacent researchers.
Three parallel study modes let qualified practitioners, in-post economists and international applicants complete the MSc without leaving employment, and the LSLPE careers service maintains active links with Whitehall, applied-economics consulting and think tanks.
Apply for MSc in Policy Economics
Applications for the MSc in Policy Economics are open, with named admissions support for international applicants. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme, dissertation, capstone or sponsor project supervised by practising barristers, policy advisers and City economists. Enrol Now
