MSc Economic Policy for International Development

Overview

Introduction

Introduction

The MSc Economic Policy for International Development is aimed at those interested in applied development economics as a rigorous postgraduate qualification.

Set within the multi-disciplinary Department of International Development, the programme provides a stepping-stone into the professional worlds of development economics (eg, World Bank, LDC ministries of finance), fiscal and social policy making (LDC treasuries and health and education ministries, NGOs), and international business consulting.

Having successfully completed this programme, students will be familiarised with frontier topics in development economics and be able to critically engage with advanced quantitative policy analysis.

Entry requirements

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in a social science background and two undergraduate quantitative courses preferable.

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

Overseas

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

Students will have an opportunity to explore ideas and concepts in development economics and international development more broadly in depth through a combination of core and elective courses. The core courses provide both an applied introduction to quantitative causal inference and an opportunity to engage with frontier applied policy analyses across a range of key issues in development economics. Topic areas covered by core courses include: quantitative causal inference and policy analysis; macroeconomic aspects of long-run growth, globalisation, and debt/financial crises; microeconomic policies relating to health, education, and labour markets; government policies relating to taxation, social security, and public service delivery; and the political economy of policy-making in developing countries. Each theme will be approached through a combination of theory and empirics, and links will be clearly established between the topics. Students will additionally choose from a range of elective courses in International Development, Public Policy and Management, and will complete a 10,000-word piece of original empirical research.

Year 1

Year 1

DV494

Half unit

Foundations of Applied Econometrics for Economic Development Policy

DV496

Half unit

Applied Econometrics for Economic Development Policy

DV495

One unit

Dissertation in Economic Development Policy

Courses to the value of one unit from a range of options

Browse your options

For the latest list of courses, please go to the relevant School Calendar page.

A few important points you’ll need to know:

We may need to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees due to unforeseen circumstances. We’ll always notify you as early as possible and recommend alternatives where we can.

The School is not liable for changes to published information or for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside our control (including a lack of demand, industrial action, fire, flooding or other damage to premises).

Places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements so we cannot therefore guarantee you a place.

Changes to programmes and courses may be made after you’ve accepted your offer of a place – normally due to global developments in the discipline or student feedback. We may also make changes to course content, teaching formats or assessment methods but these are always made to improve the learning experience.

For full details about the availability or content of courses and programmes, please take a look at the School’s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department.

Some major changes to programmes/courses are posted on our updated graduate course and programme information page.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department
Why LSE

Meet the department

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

Overview

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

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
statement of academic purpose
two academic references
CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

447

Applications

15

Intake

30:1

2023 Ratio

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
Overseas

Home

£18,300

Home student fee (2025/26)

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

Fee reduction

Students who completed undergraduate study at LSE and are beginning taught graduate study at the School are eligible for a fee reduction of around 10 per cent of the fee.

Scholarships and other funding

We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town/city or country and we provide generous scholarships to help both home and overseas students.

We offer some needs-based awards for this programme, including the Graduate Support Scheme, Master's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships. Competition for these awards and scholarships is strong. To apply for an award, you must have an offer of a place and submit a Graduate Financial Support application before the funding deadline.

The funding deadline for needs-based awards from LSE: 24 April 2025.

In addition to our needs-based awards, we offer scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for certain subjects.

You can’t apply for a Graduate Support Scheme or LSE scholarship once you’ve joined the School.

Please note: we do expect students who register for a programme to have sufficient funds for the duration.

Government tuition fee loans and external funding

The UK Government offers a postgraduate loan for eligible students studying for a first master’s programme. This is designed to help with fees and living costs. Some other governments and organisations also offer tuition fee loan schemes.

Find out more about tuition fee loans.

Further information

Learn more about fees and funding opportunities.

Learning and assessment

How you learn
How you're assessed

How you learn

Within your programme you will take a number of courses, often including half unit courses and full unit courses. In half unit courses, on average, you can expect 20-30 contact hours in total and for full unit courses, on average, you can expect 40-60 contact hours in total. This includes sessions such as lectures, classes, seminars or workshops. Hours vary according to courses and you can view indicative details in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide.

You're also expected to complete independent study outside of class time. This varies depending on the programme, but requires you to manage the majority of your study time yourself, by engaging in activities such as reading, note-taking, thinking and research.

LSE is internationally recognised for its teaching and research and therefore employs a rich variety of teaching staff with a range of experience and status. Courses may be taught by individual members of faculty, such as assistant professors, associate professors and professors. Many departments now also employ guest teachers and visiting members of staff, LSE fellows and graduate teaching assistants who are usually doctoral research students and in the majority of cases, teach on undergraduate courses only. You can view indicative details for the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide.

The programme is taught through a combination of lectures and seminar discussions.

Academic mentor: you’ll meet with your academic mentor regularly to discuss your work. Your mentor can provide advice and guidance on academic issues and, where appropriate, personal concerns.

Other academic support: at LSE, we offer lots of opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom.

LSE LIFE is a great place to get advice and practise the skills you’ll need during your studies and beyond.

Through LSE LIFE, you can:

attend workshops on developing leadership skills, finding the right study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work
develop your reading, academic writing and critical-thinking skills
gain experience of working in study groups and develop your cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills.

Disability and Mental Health Service: we want all LSE students to achieve their full potential. Students can access free, confidential advice through our Disability and Mental Health Service. This is the first point of contact for students.

Graduate destinations

Overview
Career support

Overview

Students in the Department come from a wide range of international and professional backgrounds. Graduates from the Department of International Development go on to work for a wide range of employers including NGOs, INGOs, government, the private sector and research institutions.

Further information on graduate destinations for the department

Median salary of our graduate taught students 15 months after graduating:

£32,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Government, Public Sector and Policy

Education, Teaching and Research

Health and Social Care

Consultancy

Financial and Professional Services

This data is drawn from the 2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey, run by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and in full-time employment.

Find out more

Explore LSE

MSc Economic Policy for International Development

Overview

Introduction

Entry requirements

Overseas

Programme content

Year 1

Courses to the value of one unit from the following:

Programme regulations at LSE

Why study with us

Meet the department

Why LSE

University of the Year 2025 and 1st in the UK

1st in London for the 13th year running

6th In the world

Carbon Neutral In 2021, LSE became the first Carbon Neutral verified university in the UK

Your application

Overview

When to apply

Fees and funding

Home

Overseas

Fee status

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Contact hours and independent study

Teaching methods

Academic support

How you're assessed

Graduate destinations

Overview

Median salary of our graduate taught students 15 months after graduating:

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Career support

Find out more

Explore LSE