LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree in the Political Economy of Development

Development is not just about increasing growth and political and social rights. It's about creating self-sustaining institutions that liberate societies from low-level deprivation traps by increasing productivity, freedom, and cooperative interdependence.

The double degree in this Political Economy of Development gives you the theory and practical tools to drive such transformations forward by enabling you to understand why some societies have succeeded and others have failed.

The programme is built around a theory-led approach to the role of institutions and organisations in development, using both classical institutional theory and the new institutional economics. We go very deeply into the role of institutions in explaining the comparative statics of development (why some countries are rich and others poor), as well as comparative dynamics (the development process per se across different countries and regions).

A distinctive feature of the programme is the Development Management Project, a team-based consulting exercise for real-world, public, private, and non-profit organisations, such as the World Bank, Oxfam, PricewaterhouseCoopers, GIZ, CARE, DFID, Save the Children, UNICEF, or the Emerging Markets Group.

You spend the first year at Sciences Po and the second year at LSE, where you'll study one of the following streams:

• MSc Development Management (Applied Development Economics)
• MSc Development Management (Political Economy).

Year 1, at Sciences Po

The first year is spent at Sciences Po. You join the Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs and study for one of the following programmes:

• Master in International Security
• Master in International Public Management
• Master in International Economic Policy
• Master in International Development
• Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action
• Master in Environmental Policy
• Master in International Energy

The double degree has specific requirements during the first year. You must pass the first year at Sciences Po to be permitted to proceed to LSE.

Year 2, at LSE

The second year is spent at LSE and runs from mid-September until the end of August of the following year. It comprises three terms and the summer period for completion of the dissertation. At LSE you'll study one of the following streams:

• MSc Development Management (Applied Development Economics)
• MSc Development Management (Political Economy).

Visit the respective programme pages to learn more about the courses you'll be studying at LSE.

Formed in 1990, our department provides a focus for postgraduate teaching and research on the processes of social, political and economic development and change.

We’re proud of LSE’s reputation as one of the top universities in the world for development studies. Our academics and researchers explore the causes of poverty, social exclusion, economic stagnation, humanitarian crises and human security. We look at why and how some late developing countries have succeeded in overcoming these problems while others have not or have seen their progress derailed by disasters and conflicts.

Currently, we offer six taught MSc programmes and a stimulating research programme – with research projects across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.

Teaching staff, who have considerable experience living and working in the developing world, engage in policy-relevant research and consultancy with international development agencies and non-government organisations. Research within the department spans several broad themes.

Our study programmes attract talented students from all over the world. Graduates find rewarding careers in a wide variety of government, non-government, UN, academic and private-sector organisations.

Department of International Development

We welcome applications from all suitably qualified prospective students and want to recruit students with the best academic merit, potential and motivation, irrespective of background.

Applications are administered by a joint admissions board of representatives consisting of both LSE and Fudan University. Successful applicants will be notified by email.

English is the only required language (though knowledge of French is useful). If you don't have a recognised secondary education or university degree taught and examined in English you must meet LSE’s Higher English requirement. See LSE's English language requirements.

Data sharing

Double degrees and certain other degrees and scholarships require that LSE shares personal data with another university or partner. In our agreements we will use the School’s standard data sharing template for universities and partners in the EU and EEA and in an adequate country. Standard contract clauses will be used for any other country. If you have any questions about this or how your personal data will be treated by LSE, please contact the Data Protection Officer via glpd.info.rights@lse.ac.uk or check our Student Privacy Notice.

Year 1 (at Sciences Po, 2025/26):

Home students: visit Sciences Po website

Year 2 (at LSE, 2026/27):

Home students: £30,400 (provisional)

Year 1 (at Sciences Po, 2025/26):

Overseas students: visit Sciences Po website

Year 2 (at LSE, 2026/27):

Overseas students: £30,400 (provisional)

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. All full-unit courses are assessed by three hour unseen examinations in the Spring Term. Half-units are assessed by two hour unseen examinations. Some of the half-unit optional courses also have group/individual project work as part of the assessment. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

We expect students to go on to work in careers in organisations as diverse as central banks, NGOs, multilateral organisations, charities, investment banks, government, consultancies, manufacturing firms and religious missions, and as independent experts and writers.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.