Skip to main content
Students in the classroom participating in a lecture
Undergraduate
UCAS code:L230
Department of Government

BSc Politics

Understand how equality, sovereignty and rights are shaped by politics globally. Gain the skills for a rewarding career in politics, journalism, or policy.

Overview

Introduction

What is political power? How can we create a fairer society? How can world leaders combat climate change and fight terrorism?

Our Politics degree programme looks at the concepts and theories behind politics, exploring issues such as justice, democracy, liberty, sovereignty and rights.

You’ll compare political systems and practices in diverse cultures and countries, learning about political processes and using empirical analysis to answer the most pressing political and social issues of our time.

As you progress, you’ll be studying topics such as political science, comparative politics, rational choice theory, political economy, public administration and public policy, European politics and political theory.

In your third year, you can complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice – allowing you to pursue an area of specific interest and develop a whole host of transferable skills for your future career.

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.

Home

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.

Anthropology, International History and Sociology specialisms

If you’ve passed at least three full course units in Anthropology, International History or Sociology, you can opt to add a specialism in this subject to your degree certificate and transcript – for example, BSc Politics (with International History).

You can take courses in this specialism at any level but this must include at least one unit in the specialism in your third year. You’ll not be limited to certain courses or types of courses in any of the three other departments.

Year 1

You’ll take two compulsory and two optional courses in politics and LSE100.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

The Department of Government is an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research on politics and government.

Within our department, we have 850 undergraduates, postgraduates and research students and more than 40 faculty staff – who come from 80 countries.

Our research focuses on six main areas:

  • comparative politics
  • conflict studies
  • political behaviour and political psychology
  • political economy and institutional analysis
  • political theory
  • public policy and public administration.

The department’s work covers national, sub-national and global politics – with a strong emphasis on public-facing research.

Teaching within the department draws on these strengths and our central role in a prestigious social science institution. As a student, you’ll learn from internationally renowned academics and study in the heart of London, close to the UK’s political heartland in Westminster and the Houses of Parliament.

Our students gain the knowledge and skills to become sharp-minded critical thinkers who apply diverse analytical perspectives to political issues and conflicts around the globe. We encourage students to reflect on what it means to be responsible for addressing urgent public problems and engage in these issues in practical ways to prepare for their future careers. Our graduates find fulfilling roles in government, financial and professional services, teaching and research.

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

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.

306
Applications
25
Intake
12:1
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.

Home

£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

Politics graduates have a range of skills and can fit into a variety of positions in modern life. Our former students have followed careers in business and banking, in law, in central and local government, in teaching and research, in public and university administration, and in journalism and television.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating:

£38,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Financial and Professional Services
Consultancy
Information, Digital Technology and Data
Advertising, Marketing, PR, Media, Entertainment, Publishing and Journalism
NGOs and Charities
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.

Find out more

Explore LSE

Student life

Discover our campus and student services
Welcome at LSE

Student support

Find out more about our academic guidance, advice and pastoral care
A group of students sitting with an advisor at a LSE LIFE session

Accommodation

Explore the accommodation services we offer to our students
Two students taking part in Action for Happiness held in LSE Residences during London Wellbeing Week 2020.

Meet, visit and discover LSE

Attend our in-person events or explore LSE from home
Campus tour guide during a campus tour for prospective students.