Program Overview

Introduction to the BSc Politics and International Relations Programme

The BSc Politics and International Relations programme at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the theory and practice of politics in the contemporary world. This programme allows students to explore the complex relationships between different nations and the role of politics and power in international relations.

Programme Overview

• The programme is offered by the Department of Government, an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research on politics and government.
• Students will study 12 units over three years, plus LSE100, which introduces students to the fundamentals of social science.
• The programme covers a range of topics, including comparative politics, conflict studies, political behaviour and political psychology, political economy and institutional analysis, political theory, and public policy and public administration.

Entry Requirements

Home Students

• GCSEs: A strong pre-16 academic profile, including several GCSE grades of A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9), and a minimum of grade B (or 6) in GCSE English and Mathematics.
• A-levels: AAA, with consideration given to AS grades if available.
• Contextual admissions A-level grades: AAB.
• A-level subject combinations: A broad mix of traditional academic subjects, with no set subject combination, but typical choices include Government and Politics, History, English, Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, languages, and Mathematics.

Overseas Students

• Select a country to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.
• The Department welcomes students from all walks of life and considers each application carefully, taking into account academic achievement, subjects and subject combinations, personal statement, teacher’s reference, and educational circumstances.

Programme Content

Year 1

• Two compulsory courses in politics: GV101 Introduction to Political Science and GV100 Introduction to Political Theory.
• One compulsory course in international relations: IR100 International Relations: Theories, Concepts and Debates.
• LSE100: The LSE Course.
• One course from a range of options in international relations and from other departments.

Year 2

• Two international relations courses from five options: IR200 International Political Theory, IR202 Foreign Policy Analysis I, IR203 International Organisations, IR205 International Security, and IR206 International Political Economy.
• Two government options from an approved list.

Year 3

• One government course option to the value of one unit.
• One international relations course option to the value of one unit.
• One outside course option to the value of one unit.
• Either a dissertation in government (GV390) or international relations (IR398), or further courses, including an external option from outside the department.

Why Study with Us

• The Department of Government is an internationally renowned centre for teaching and research on politics and government.
• Our research focuses on six main areas: comparative politics, conflict studies, political behaviour and political psychology, political economy and institutional analysis, political theory, and public policy and public administration.
• Teaching within the department draws on these strengths and our central role in a prestigious social science institution.

Fees and Funding

• Home student fee per year: £9,535 (provisional 2026/27 tuition fee).
• Overseas student fee per year: £30,700 (2026/27 fee).
• Fee status: Your tuition fees and eligibility for financial support depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student.
• Scholarships, bursaries, and loans: LSE provides generous financial support, and the UK Government offers loans to UK and some EU students.

Learning and Assessment

• Teaching: Regular lectures and classes, with a focus on detailed discussion of lecture topics and presentation and critique of arguments.
• Independent study: Around four hours of study for every hour of contact time, roughly 30 hours of independent study per week.
• Academic support: Academic mentor, Learning Lab, and Disability and Mental Health Service.
• Assessment: Formative coursework, summative assessment, including written examinations, assessed essays, and in-class assessment.

Graduate Destinations

• Politics graduates have a range of skills and can fit into various positions in modern life.
• Our former students have followed careers in business and banking, law, central and local government, teaching and research, public and university administration, and journalism and television.
• Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating: £35,000.
• Top 5 sectors our students work in: Financial and Professional Services, Consultancy, Government, Public Sector and Policy, Accounting and Auditing, and FMCG, Manufacturing and Retail.

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• Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary significantly.

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