How long does the MSc in Public Policy and Governance take?

The MSc in Public Policy and Governance runs one year full-time or two years part-time. Online and distance modes of the MSc in Public Policy and Governance follow the same weekly seminar and supervision timetable.

How is the MSc in Public Policy and Governance delivered?

You can study the MSc in Public Policy and Governance on-campus in central London, fully online or by structured distance learning. All modes of the MSc in Public Policy and Governance share the same seminar and dissertation-supervision structure.

Is the MSc in Public Policy and Governance recognised in the UK?

Yes. The MSc in Public Policy and Governance is a UK Level 7 award aligned with Institute for Government, CIPFA and PSA working standards, and is recognised across Whitehall, local government and consultancies.

What are the entry requirements for the MSc in Public Policy and Governance?

You need a UK Bachelor's degree at 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) for the MSc in Public Policy and Governance. Portfolio applicants with five or more years of senior public-policy experience are considered for the MSc in Public Policy and Governance on portfolio review.

What are the fees and funding options for the MSc in Public Policy and Governance?

Fees vary by residency and study mode. LSLPE publishes a full fee sheet at application and offers structured instalment plans and early-application discounts for the MSc in Public Policy and Governance; contact admissions for a personalised quotation.

MSc in Public Policy and Governance | LSLPE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The MSc in Public Policy and Governance at LSLPE is a research-informed Master's programme running one year full-time or two years part-time on-campus, online or by distance learning. Sitting within PPE and Interdisciplinary Studies, the syllabus combines quantitative policy-evaluation techniques with governance theory drawn from Institute for Government, CIPFA and Political Studies Association working conventions.

By graduation you will have produced a policy impact evaluation with real UK microdata, a governance-review memo for a Whitehall department, a stakeholder analysis, and a supervised dissertation or sponsor consulting project.

Key Features

Alignment with Institute for Government (IfG), CIPFA and Political Studies Association (PSA) working standards.
Quantitative labs on Understanding Society, Labour Force Survey and administrative data.
Guest sessions from senior civil servants, National Audit Office alumni and think-tank fellows.
Supervised dissertation or sponsor consulting project on a live public-policy file.
Three parallel study modes so serving officers and progressor graduates share the same cohort.
Careers-day introductions across Whitehall, local government, think tanks and consultancies.

What You Will Learn

Running a difference-in-differences policy evaluation using UK microdata.
Reading select-committee reports, National Audit Office findings and Public Accounts Committee sessions.
Producing a governance-review memo for a director-general.
Handling multi-level governance across central government, devolved administrations and local authorities.
Applying the Green Book and Managing Public Money.
Running structured stakeholder-engagement and consultation exercises.
Writing a policy-evaluation report to think-tank quality.
Defending a dissertation or sponsor project in an oral viva.

Who This Course Is For

Serving civil servants, local-authority officers and NHS analysts moving into senior policy grades.
Graduates aiming for the Civil Service Fast Stream, think-tank fellowships or consulting careers.
Third-sector staff moving into structured governance analysis.
International applicants preparing for senior public-service roles in their home ministries.
Portfolio-route applicants with five or more years of senior public-policy experience.

Career Pathways

Policy Adviser at director level
Think Tank Researcher
Public Sector Consultant
Programme Manager on cross-cutting files
Development Analyst
Government Affairs Manager
Public Leadership Fellow
Strategy Adviser

The LSLPE careers service curates introductions across Whitehall departments, local government, the NHS, arm's-length bodies and consultancies, and refreshes curriculum alignment annually against Bar Standards Board, Political Studies Association and Royal Economic Society guidance.

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 the civil service, local government or a think tank are considered on portfolio.
One academic and one professional reference.
A 500-word research proposal or professional practice statement identifying your proposed dissertation or sponsor project area.

Why Study at LSLPE

LSLPE is a specialist division of Harold International College of London teaching in small, tutor-visible cohorts. Central London places Whitehall, the Treasury, Parliament, the National Audit Office, the Institute for Government and the LSE-adjacent think-tank ecosystem within a short tube ride of every seminar room, which matters when the governance files you will study are drafted nearby.

Every intake, on-campus or remote, joins the same weekly seminar structure with named programme-tutor support. Seminars are run in the select-committee tradition, evidence-led and argued in public, and the careers service connects students with employers across Whitehall, local government, think tanks and consultancies.

Apply for MSc in Public Policy and Governance

Applications for the MSc in Public Policy and Governance are open now, with a sponsor consulting project option available at enrolment. Enrol on an LSLPE Master's programme and complete a supervised dissertation on a live governance file. Enrol Now