How long does the MSc in Public Finance take to complete?

The MSc in Public Finance runs one year full-time or two years part-time. On-campus, online and distance routes are available for the MSc in Public Finance.

Which delivery modes are available for the MSc in Public Finance?

The MSc in Public Finance is delivered on-campus in central London, fully online and by distance learning. Every mode of the MSc in Public Finance uses the same weekly seminar structure.

Is the MSc in Public Finance recognised in the UK?

Yes, the MSc in Public Finance sits at UK Level 7 and is a postgraduate award. The MSc in Public Finance is aligned with Royal Economic Society and CIPFA standards.

What are the entry requirements for the MSc in Public Finance?

A UK Bachelor's degree at 2:2 or above in a cognate discipline is the standard route. Portfolio applicants with 5+ years of senior experience are considered for the MSc in Public Finance.

How much does the MSc in Public Finance cost and is funding available?

Fees for the MSc in Public Finance are published on the LSLPE fees page and can be paid by instalment. Employer sponsorship for the MSc in Public Finance can be discussed with admissions.

MSc in Public Finance | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Public Finance at LSLPE is a UK Level 7 postgraduate qualification running one year full-time or two years part-time on-campus, online or by distance learning. The programme combines advanced public-economics teaching with practitioner-facing modules on tax policy, spending review, fiscal forecasting and public financial management, aligned with Royal Economic Society, Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and Government Economic Service standards.

By graduation you will have produced a full spending-review analysis, drafted a tax-policy submission, prepared a fiscal-forecast note against Office for Budget Responsibility conventions, delivered a public-financial-management review of a delivery body, and completed a research-informed dissertation or sponsor-facing capstone.

Key Features

Curriculum aligned with Royal Economic Society, CIPFA and Government Economic Service standards.
Modules on tax policy, spending review, fiscal forecasting and public financial management.
Case-room teaching on IFS Green Budget analyses, OBR forecasts and Treasury spending reviews.
Workshops in fiscal-note drafting and submissions to ministers.
Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Government-aligned strand on fiscal policy craft.
Named supervisor for a substantial dissertation or sponsor-consulting piece.
Weekly seminars in all three delivery modes.

What You Will Learn

Analyse the incidence of major UK taxes.
Prepare a spending-review submission on a departmental line.
Read OBR forecasts and interpret their fiscal implications.
Draft a tax-policy submission to a minister.
Advise on public financial management arrangements in delivery bodies.
Evaluate a fiscal rule against economic theory.
Handle IFS Green Budget-style analysis at practitioner level.
Defend a Level 7 dissertation on a specialist public-finance question.

Who This Course Is For

Analysts and senior officials in government departments and delivery bodies.
CIPFA-track finance professionals seeking academic depth.
Career changers moving from consultancy into public-finance advisory work.
International applicants targeting multilateral public-finance roles.
Applicants preparing for doctoral research in public economics.

Career Pathways

Public finance analyst in the Treasury or a delivery body.
Economist in a Government Economic Service team.
Economic consultant in a Big Four public-finance practice.
Research economist at the IFS or NIESR.
Regulatory economist supporting fiscal-adjacent regulation.
Economic policy analyst in a government department.
Central bank analyst on fiscal-monetary interaction.
Development economist on public-finance for development programmes.

The LSLPE careers service maintains introductions with Government Economic Service employers, IFS-adjacent research groups and Big Four public-finance practices.

Entry Requirements

A UK Bachelor's degree (2:2 or above) 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 degree but with 5+ years of senior professional experience in public finance are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal or practice statement outlining your public-finance focus.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE is a specialist division of Harold International College of London reading law, politics and economics as three interlocking disciplines. Central London places the Treasury, the Bank of England, the IFS, NIESR and the National Audit Office within a short tube ride of every classroom.

Cohorts are small, tutor-visible and taught in the case-room and select-committee tradition. The LSLPE careers service runs at least one careers day each year and refreshes syllabus alignment annually against Royal Economic Society and CIPFA guidance.

Apply for MSc in Public Finance

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and admissions responds within one working day. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme with dissertation supervision from practising public-finance economists. Enrol Now.