Social Policy with Government

The MSc Social Policy with Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science offers a comprehensive exploration of the policies, political processes, and administrative structures that shape social outcomes across different societies. This programme is designed for students interested in understanding and influencing the development, implementation, and evaluation of social policies within governmental and non-governmental organizations. Throughout the course, students gain a thorough understanding of key issues such as welfare provision, social justice, inequality, and public administration, supported by the academic expertise of leading scholars in the fields of social policy, politics, and government.

The curriculum combines core modules in social policy analysis, research methods, and public sector management with specialist electives that allow students to focus on specific policy areas such as healthcare, education, social security, or housing. Emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills and practical analytical competencies, enabling students to evaluate policy effectiveness and propose innovative solutions to pressing social challenges. The programme also offers opportunities for real-world engagement through case studies, policy simulations, and placements, providing valuable experience and networking opportunities within governmental agencies, NGOs, and international organizations.

Students benefit from LSE’s global reputation for research excellence and its vibrant academic community, gaining insights from current debates on social reforms, governance, and social justice. The programme prepares graduates for careers in policy analysis, advisory roles within government departments, international organizations, think tanks, and research institutions. Additionally, the curriculum emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and the social implications of policy decisions, fostering a well-rounded understanding of the complexities involved in shaping equitable and effective social policies. With a rigorous academic framework and practical focus, the MSc Social Policy with Government empowers students to become influential policymakers and advocates for social change, equipped with the skills necessary to address the diverse social issues faced by modern societies.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

First year:

• Foundations of Social Policy
• Introduction to Political Science
• Introduction to Political Theory
• One outside option
• LSE100 (Lent Term only)

Second year:

• Principles of Social Policy
• Research Methods for Social Policy
• One social policy option
• One government option
• LSE100 (Michaelmas Term only)

Third year:

• Comparative and International Social Policy
• One social policy option
• One government option
• Either one option from government or social policy or one outside option

Social policy options

This list shows the range of social policy options available in the second and third years. Some will be taught every year, some in alternate years, depending on demand.

• Sociology and Social Policy
• Population, Economy and Society
• Social Economics and Policy
• Crime and Society
• Education Policy
• European Social Policy
• Psychology of Crime and Criminal Justice
• Criminological Perspectives
• Poverty, Social Exclusion and Social Change
• Demographic Description and Analysis
• Criminal Justice Policy
• A long essay on an approved topic

Government options

• Public Choice and Politics
• Politics of Economic Policy
• Concepts in Political Theory
• Politics and Institutions of Europe
• States, Nations and Empires
• Public Policy Analysis
• Key Themes in the History of Political Thought
• Democracy and Democratisation
• Theories and Problems of Nationalisation
• Government, Politics and Public Policy in the EU

English Language Requirements

IELTS band : 7 CAE score : 80(Grade A) TOEFL paper-based test score : 627 TOEFL iBT® test : 107

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Course requirement: GCSE Mathematics, grade C or above

Usual standard offer: A level: grades A B BInternational Baccalaureate: Diploma with 37 points including 6 6 6 at Higher level
Other qualifications are considered.

English language requirements

Although it is not necessary to have the required grade in an acceptable English Language qualification when you make your application to LSE, if you are made an offer of a place and English is not your mother tongue, it is likely that you would be asked to obtain an acceptable English Language qualification as a condition of your offer.

The following qualifications are acceptable to LSE:

• GCSE English Language with a grade B or better.
• International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) English as a First Language with a grade B or better including the Speaking and Listening coursework component (Edexcel) or grade 2 in the optional speaking test (CIE).
• International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) academic test with a score of 7.0 in all four components.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 627 in the paper test including 5.5 in writing and 50 in TSE, or 107 in the internet based test with a minimum of 25 out of 30 in each of the four skills.
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) with grade B or better.
• Cambridge Advanced Certificate of English (CACE) with a grade A.
• Cambridge English Language (1119) conducted overseas by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate: B4 or better.
• O level (1120 Brunei, 1125 Mauritius A, 1127 Singapore) grade B or better.
• Singapore Integrated Programme (IP) Secondary 4 English Language grade B or better.
• Pearson Test of English (General) with a distinction at level 5 in both the written and the oral test.

Exceptions

If students offer the IGCSE in English as a First Language or O level (other than those specified above) and have been educated in the medium of English during their five most recent years of study (prior to 1 September 2011), then we will accept the qualification as sufficient evidence of English Language proficiency.

Please note that test scores must be achieved from one sitting of the relevant qualification. We will not accept individual component scores from multiple tests

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than London School of Economics and Political Science.

Funding

Financial support for 2011 entry

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. Government support, in the form of loans and grants, is available to UK and some EU students, while LSE provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships to UK, EU and overseas students.

Government support

for students from England

Student loan for maintenance

The student loan for maintenance helps students pay living costs during term times and holidays. The maximum loan available for students studying in London and living away from their parents' home is currently £6,928.

Maintenance grants

The means-tested maintenance grant (currently worth up to £2,906) also helps students with living expenses during their time at university. The amount a student is eligible to receive is assessed by Student Finance England. The grant does not have to be repaid.

Special Support Grant

The special support grant replaces the maintenance grant for some students who during the course of the academic year, meet the conditions for being a 'prescribed person' under the income support or housing benefit regulations. Students who are likely to qualify include:

• Single parents
• Other student parents if they have a partner who is also a student
• Students with certain disabilities

Other students may be eligible for the Special Support Grant. You don't necessarily have to receive or even have applied for Income Support or Housing Benefit.

for students from elsewhere in the UK

Different financial support packages are available for students from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Students from these countries should refer to one of the following websites:

Student Finance Wales

www.studentfinancewales.co.uk

Student Awards Agency Scotland

www.saas.gov.uk

Student Finance Northern Ireland

www.studentfinanceni.co.uk

for EU students

Students from the EU are not usually eligible for UK Government financial support. However, EU nationals (or children of EU nationals) who have lived in the UK or islands for three years before the start of their course (ie, since 1 September 2008 for a course starting on 1 September 2011) may now qualify for a student loan and grants.

for overseas students

Students from outside the EU are not eligible to apply for UK Government funds. However, there is a range of funding available for overseas students from external agencies, bodies or your home government, details of which are available from your home government or nearest British Council office (www.britishcouncil.org/learning), or UKCISA (www.ukcisa.org.uk).

LSE financial support

for UK students

LSE Bursary

The LSE Bursary is available for students from low-income backgrounds (from England and Wales) and is worth up to £7,500 over a three-year programme. The value of the LSE Bursary is linked to students' (or their family's) income levels, which will be assessed when calculating the maintenance grant. The maximum LSE Bursary of £2,500 per year is awarded to those students with the lowest residual income. These Bursaries do not have to be repaid.

LSE Discretionary Bursary

The LSE Discretionary Bursary is available for new LSE students (from the UK and the EU) who face exceptional financial needs, including, for example, caring responsibilities, financial need related to disability or an unavoidable requirement to live at home. The value of the award may vary according to need. These Bursaries do not have to be repaid.

LSE Scholarships

Each year LSE awards a number of scholarships - funded by private or corporate donation - to UK applicants to the School. The number, value, eligibility criteria and type of awards vary from year to year. Awards are made on the basis of financial need and academic merit.

Stelios scholarships

Four Stelios scholarships, currently worth £5,444 per year, are available for UK students applying for business subjects at LSE.

Access to Learning funds

Registered UK students from low-income households can apply directly to LSE for Access to Learning funds. These funds are designed for students who may need extra financial support for their course, and are provided by the Government to assist with living expenses.

for EU students

LSE Discretionary Bursary

The LSE discretionary bursary is available to EU students. For information about this bursary and how to apply, please see the section on LSE financial support for UK students.

LSE scholarships

LSE offers a number of undergraduate scholarships of varying amounts each year to EU students.

Stelios scholarships

Six Stelios scholarships, currently worth £5,444 per year, are available for EU students applying for business subjects at LSE.

for overseas students

LSE undergraduate support scheme

The LSE undergraduate support scheme (USS) is designed to help overseas students who do not have the necessary funds to meet all their costs of study. In 2008, the School disbursed nearly £1 million in entrance awards available to self-financing students of all nationalities. This financial aid is available only for study at LSE. If you are made an offer of admission, we will advise you on how to apply to the USS online. This system is able to provide an immediate indication of an applicant's eligibility for assistance. In the first instance, you will be assessed on the basis of your financial circumstances. Awards are renewable for each year of your course. Applications will be considered between the end of February and the middle of August.

LSE scholarships

The School offers a limited number of undergraduate scholarships of varying amounts each year for overseas students.

Social Policy with Government at the London School of Economics and Political Science offers an in-depth exploration of the ways in which government policies impact social issues and citizens' lives. The programme is designed to develop students' understanding of the policy-making process, the functioning of government institutions, and the broader social, political, and economic context within which policies are formulated and implemented. Students examine the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies related to welfare, health, education, housing, and employment, integrating theoretical perspectives with practical analysis.

The curriculum combines core modules in social policy, public administration, and government, alongside optional modules allowing students to specialise in areas such as social justice, health policy, or public management. A distinctive feature of the programme is its emphasis on quantitative and qualitative research methods, equipping students with the tools to conduct policy analysis and to critically evaluate policy outcomes. The programme also offers opportunities for practical engagement, including internships, policy debates, and interactions with policymakers, providing valuable real-world experience.

Students benefit from MSc-level teaching by world-renowned academics and practitioners who contribute to the active learning environment. The programme is suitable for those interested in careers within government departments, international organisations, think tanks, NGOs, or academic research. The course typically lasts one year full-time and provides a rigorous grounding in social policy and government, preparing graduates to effectively analyze and influence policy processes. Graduates can expect to gain vital skills such as policy analysis, research methodologies, critical thinking, and effective communication, all of which are highly valued in the public and third sectors.

The London School of Economics and Political Science leverages its prestigious reputation, extensive resources, and strategic location in London to enhance students’ learning experience. The programme fosters a multidisciplinary perspective, combining insights from sociology, economics, political science, and public administration. As a part of the Department of Social Policy, students join a vibrant academic community engaged in cutting-edge research and policy debates. Overall, the programme aims to produce informed, analytical, and proactive policy professionals who are capable of addressing complex social challenges and contributing meaningfully to the development of equitable and effective policies in government and beyond.