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Graduate (Taught)
Application code:V2IA
Department of International History

LSE-PKU Double Degree in MSc International Affairs

Jointly organised by LSE and Peking University, this degree offers you the chance to study international relations in China, Asia Pacific and global history.
Explore the LSE-PKU Double Degree in MSc International Affairs at LSE

Overview

Introduction

Organised jointly by LSE and Peking University (PKU), this double master’s degree offers an outstanding opportunity for graduate students and young professionals to study the international relations of China and the Asia Pacific region, as well as the theory and history of global international relations.

You'll engage at an advanced level with the latest academic research and undertake your own research-based term work and dissertation. This programme will be a good preparation for further research work or for a career in education, public administration or the private sector, the media, politics and law.

Assessment is primarily by examination, although some courses also have an assessed course work component. The courses in London will be taught in English, while those in Beijing will be taught in Chinese or English, giving students a choice about which language they want to use for their study.

Once you successfully complete your studies at both institutions, you'll be conferred Master Degree of Law and Master Degree of Sciences by PKU and LSE respectively.

Entry requirements

Upper second class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent in any discipline.

Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Overseas

English language requirements

The English language requirement for this programme is Higher. Read more about our English language requirements.

Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this does not guarantee you an offer of a place.

However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out from other students.

Programme content

This is a two year full-time course. Students will spend the first year at PKU and the second year studying at LSE in London.

The first year is spent at Peking University, with a focus on public policy and administration in China and the Asia Pacific region. The second year is spent at LSE and includes a range of compulsory and optional courses, as well as completing a research-based dissertation.

The courses in London will be taught in English, while those in Beijing will be taught in Chinese or English, giving students a choice about which language they want to use for their studies.

Year 1

First year, at Peking University

At Peking University, you'll take a compulsory course on Thesis Writing and complete your first year with a dissertation. If you're a non-Chinese student, you're required to take a compulsory Chinese Language Course offered by the PKU Chinese Language Centre in the first semester and a compulsory course on Chinese Politics and Diplomacy in the second semester.

Chinese mainland students are required to take a foreign language course, and the following courses: "The Theory and Practice of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era" AND "Marxism and Social Science Methodology" or "Introduction to Dialectics of Nature".

Students from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are required to take a foreign language course and a compulsory course on "Chinese Politics and Diplomacy" in the second semester.

Required electives and free electives courses

You can select required electives and free electives among the wide variety on offer in the School of International Studies. You must obtain six credits for required electives and six credits for free electives. Extra credits obtained from required electives can be substituted for credits of free electives. Chinese students need to complete at least six credits from free electives taught in English. All courses are three credits, except one, which is two credits. Learn more about which core and elective courses are available at PKU.

Dissertation

Dissertation and oral defence: you complete the first year programme by writing and defending a dissertation on a topic relevant to their studies. The dissertation can be written in English or in Chinese.

Progression to Year 2

In order to successfully progress to year 2 at LSE, you must obtain 20 (18+2 for the language course) credits and complete your dissertation at Peking University. NB: Even though it's compulsory to complete a dissertation at PKU, the PKU dissertation doesn't carry any credits.

You'll progress to Year 2 at LSE upon meeting the following standards:

You're required to achieve minimum pass grades in all courses and dissertation as formulated by PKU for this programme.

Failure to achieve pass in any courses (including the dissertation) will lead to retaking the courses and re-sitting the exams in the following year.

In addition to passing all PKU required exams to progress to Year 2, you're required to pass your PKU dissertation defence before 15 July, which is the date when the progression list is sent to LSE. If you fail who failto pass the thesis defence you will NOT progress to the second year study at LSE. As per PKU regulations for graduate students, all the study and assignments should be completed within two academic years. If you cannot meet this requirement and need to defer graduation due to delay in thesis defence, you must formally request an extension by submitting the extension application form to the university.

PRC students who cannot achieve the English language proficiency qualifications required by the LSE for this Programme by 15 July of Year 1 won't be allowed to progress to Year 2 and consequently drop off from the programme.

Students in their Year 1 at PKU will receive visa invitations to the UK (including the CAS code) and information on registration at LSE only after LSE has received the progression list from SIS/PKU in mid-July. This list contains the names of students who are qualified for progression to Year 2 at LSE.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

History is a wide ranging and challenging subject to study. It seeks to understand the past and to make sense of the present, adding an important dimension to the understanding of many aspects of human society. The department is world renowned in its field, offering a unique perspective on the history of relations between states, peoples and cultures. We pride ourselves on giving students the benefit of ground-breaking research throughout our teaching programmes.

Our degrees will give you a broad international perspective on the past. We give attention both to domestic and international issues and many of the courses we offer deal with major events in the history of international relations.

Since the behaviour of countries in the international arena cannot be understood without a knowledge of their distinct social, political, economic and cultural characteristics, we provide courses covering major aspects of the history of ideas and mentalities.

LSE was founded in 1895 originally as an institute of higher education for graduate students. The department reflects this tradition and takes its responsibility for undergraduate teaching and supervision very seriously. We admit nearly as many undergraduate students as master's students. We have one of the most cosmopolitan undergraduate communities in London and one of the most vibrant and dynamic.

Learn more about our programmes, research, public events and people.

Who's who

Your application

Overview

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Home

Year 1 (at PKU, 2025/26):

International (non-Chinese) students: RMB 95,000
Chinese students: RMB 8,000

Year 2 (at LSE, 2026/27):

Home students: £30,400 (provisional)

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Graduate destinations

Overview

The programme provides an excellent preparation for careers in academia, business or consulting, government or international agencies, the media, politics and law.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

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