Program Overview

Master of Public Policy

The Master of Public Policy (MPP) is a nine-month full-time programme designed for mid-career professionals with more than five years of experience. The programme brings together a global cohort to develop new perspectives and explore approaches to policy through theory and practical training.

Overview

The MPP is designed to provide rigorous training in areas of econometrics and quantitative methods, combined with an in-depth review of contemporary theories and practice for the management of public organisations. The programme attracts students from many different nationalities and professional backgrounds, providing a rich learning experience to develop a truly global perspective on policy.

Entry Requirements

• Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in any discipline.
• Applicants must have at least five years of policy-relevant experience, though exceptions may be granted for outstanding candidates with slightly less experience.
• English language requirements: The English language requirement for this programme is Higher.

Programme Content

The MPP has a core curriculum of economics, political science, quantitative methods, and philosophy for public policy, combined with an in-depth review of contemporary theories and practice for the management of public organisations. The core courses of the programme all apply leading scholarship to policy-making, thus ensuring immersion in the richest and most innovative research in the field.

Core Courses

• Political Science for Public Policy: Understand and analyse empirically the political context of policymaking.
• Quantitative Methods for Public Policy: Introduce you to some of the key principles and tools of quantitative evaluations which underpin policy interventions and outcomes.
• Public Management: Offers an intensive introduction into key literatures and themes in the study of public management.
• Economics for Public Policy: Learn the key principles of economic policy-making, including micro- and macro-economics.
• Public Policy Applications: Introduce you to the application of social science literatures to concrete policy issues.
• Philosophy for Public Policy: Develop the skills and insight to apply philosophical reasoning to your understanding and practice of the craft of government.

Option Courses

You'll also select courses to the value of one unit from a range of options.

Why Study with Us

Discover more about our students and department. The LSE School of Public Policy (SPP) is a global community united by a shared commitment to LSE’s founding mission: to understand the causes of things and work for the betterment of society.

Your Application

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.

Fees and Funding

• Home student fee (2026/27): £45,300
• Overseas student fee (2026/27): £45,300
• 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.

Learning and Assessment

The depth of study and the intensity of the curriculum make the MPP a highly demanding graduate degree programme. You'll be expected to read, understand, and critically assess the highest levels of research in disciplines ranging from economics to management theory.

Graduate Destinations

Many of our graduates go on to pursue careers in a wide range of sectors, including Government and Politics, Consultancy, Financial Services, NGOs and Charities, Data, Research and Think Tanks, International Development and Aid, Public Policy, and International Finance and Trade.

School of Public Policy

The SPP has an active global community of over 2,300 alumni. Our international network of alumni not only transforms the world around them by designing policy to tackle some of the world’s leading problems in the top levels of government, international organisations, and NGOs – but also makes our community a vibrant and supportive one long after graduation.