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Undergraduate
UCAS code:L400
Department of Social Policy

BSc International Social and Public Policy

Gain the skills to help tackle pressing social problems we face in the UK and internationally.
BSc International Social and Public Policy at LSE

Overview

Introduction

Why does poverty still exist in the 21st century? What role does the welfare state have in people’s lives? Why is there still a gender pay gap?

Our BSc International Social and Public Policy explores some of the big questions we face in society around poverty, welfare, migration and gender equality. You’ll look at how social policies are formulated and implemented in industrialised societies, transition economies and the Global South, and explore the role of states, the nonprofit sector, financial markets and communities.

Drawing on LSE’s interdisciplinary strengths across the social sciences, you’ll study each topic from social, political demographic and economic perspectives – enabling you to develop a well-rounded understanding of these complex issues.

At LSE, you’ll learn in a department with outstanding research and teaching credentials. Our Department of Social Policy was ranked number 1 in the most recent research excellence evaluation (RAF, 2021) and our academics influence thinking and policy setting globally.

Entry requirements

Here, you can check our entry requirements for GCSEs, A-levels (please read them alongside our information about subject combinations) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We also consider applications from students with a range of other UK qualifications and from overseas. Please select the overseas button below and choose your country from the dropdown list to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.

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We welcome students from all walks of life at LSE. We want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation. So, whatever your background, please do apply. Get all the details on our general entry requirements.

Competition for places at LSE is high. We cannot guarantee you an offer of a place even if you’re predicted or achieve our standard entry requirements.

Our standard offer requirements are intended only as a guide and, in some cases, you’ll be asked for different grades.

Programme content

On this programme, you’ll study 12 units over three years, plus LSE100.

The programme introduces you to social policy before progressing to more advanced topics and study in specialist areas. It culminates in a third-year dissertation where you apply your learning to conduct independent research on your chosen theme.

You can choose to take a specialism in Development, which focuses on middle and low-income countries and how social and public policy help to address inequalities and improve overall wellbeing.

Year 1

You’ll take four compulsory courses and LSE100.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

The Department of Social Policy is an internationally recognised centre of research and teaching excellence in social and public policy.

From its formation in 1912, the department has conducted pioneering research on contemporary social problems and helped develop policy solutions.

The department has an interdisciplinary and international outlook. Our academics conduct research on pressing global issues such as poverty, inequality, crime, unemployment, healthcare, education and housing. Collectively, our faculty team draw on their backgrounds in anthropology, demography, economics, political science, sociology, as well as social and public policy.

We advise national and international governments and organisations and our research shapes decision-making and policy direction at the highest levels.

Within the department, we offer a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate study opportunities. Our department is rated number one in the UK for social policy (Good University Guide 2024). We were also awarded the highest UK ranking for research in the field of social policy in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021).

The teaching curriculum is research-led, focused on applying global insights and supporting students with their learning at every stage of their journey.

Our alumni work in prominent government positions, national and international NGOs, the public and private sectors, and universities across the world.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Your application

Overview

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage. See our English language requirements page.

272
Applications
57
Intake
5:1
2022 Ratio

Fees and funding

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

You're charged a fee for each year of your programme. 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.

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£9,250

Home student fee per each year of your programme

This is the 2025/26 tuition fee. The home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Graduate destinations

Overview

The skills you'll develop by studying social policy are attractive to a range of employers. Our graduates have found work in a variety of industries including; politics and government, education and teaching, banking and finance, NGOs, charities and international development, as well as journalism, media and publishing, advertising marketing and PR, and accounting and auditing.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating:

£34,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Government, Public Sector and Policy
Information, Digital Technology and Data
Financial and Professional Services
Consultancy
Accounting and Auditing
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.

Discover Uni

Every undergraduate programme of more than one year duration will have Discover Uni data. The data allows you to compare information about individual programmes at different higher education institutions.

Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary quite significantly. We recommend researching the programmes you're interested in and taking into account the programme structure, teaching and assessment methods, and support services available.

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