Year 2

You can choose from a range of government options covering different sub-fields of political science – providing a good grounding in a broad range of topics.

Three government options

Browse your options

EITHER one further government option

Browse your options

OR one approved outside option

Browse your options

Programme regulations

For the latest list of optional courses, please go to the relevant School Calendar page.

You may be able to take a language, literature or linguistics option as part of your degree. Find all the details on our Language Centre web pages.

A few important points you』ll need to know:

We may need to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees due to unforeseen circumstances. We』ll always notify you as early as possible and recommend alternatives where we can.

The School is not liable for changes to published information or for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside our control (including a lack of demand, industrial action, fire, flooding or other damage to premises).

Places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements so we cannot therefore guarantee you a place.

Changes to programmes and courses may be made after you』ve accepted your offer of a place – normally due to global developments in the discipline or student feedback. We may also make changes to course content, teaching formats or assessment methods but these are always made to improve the learning experience.

For full details about the availability or content of courses and programmes, please take a look at the School』s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department.

Some major changes to programmes/courses are posted on our updated undergraduate course and programme information page.

In the final year, you』ll take more advanced courses that build on the topics covered in your second year. You』ll choose from a range of options, including a dissertation and courses from outside the department.

Courses to the value of two units from a range of government options

Browse your options

EITHER

OR one further government option

Browse your options

OR one approved outside option

Browse your options

EITHER one further government option

Browse your options

OR one approved outside option

Browse your options

Programme regulations

For the latest list of optional courses, please go to the relevant School Calendar page.

You may be able to take a language, literature or linguistics option as part of your degree. Find all the details on our Language Centre web pages.

A few important points you』ll need to know:

We may need to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees due to unforeseen circumstances. We』ll always notify you as early as possible and recommend alternatives where we can.

The School is not liable for changes to published information or for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside our control (including a lack of demand, industrial action, fire, flooding or other damage to premises).

Places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements so we cannot therefore guarantee you a place.

Changes to programmes and courses may be made after you』ve accepted your offer of a place – normally due to global developments in the discipline or student feedback. We may also make changes to course content, teaching formats or assessment methods but these are always made to improve the learning experience.

For full details about the availability or content of courses and programmes, please take a look at the School』s Calendar, or contact the relevant academic department.

Some major changes to programmes/courses are posted on our updated undergraduate course and programme information page.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Student stories

Studying Politics at LSE is not just about accumulating knowledge and information; it teaches you to actively engage with the world and develop thoughtful, innovative responses to challenges."

Advaita Sehgal, India, BSc Politics

Read more

The small class sizes here mean that you can get into in-depth debates about the topics you』re covering and with students from lots of different backgrounds and countries, there are always people who disagree with you, which makes for better discussion.

Catherine Rawsthorne, BSc Politics

The wealth of knowledge and experience that we have access to is second to none.

Eleanor Buxton, BSc Politics

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.

Department of Government

3rdIn EuropeQS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

6thIn the worldQS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

1stWe're ranked top university in London for the 13th year runningThe Complete University Guide - University League Tables 2025

Carbon NeutralIn 2021 LSE became the first Carbon Neutral verified university in the UK

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

academic achievement, including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
subjects and subject combinations (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
your personal statement
your teacher』s reference
educational circumstances

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

We』re looking for students who demonstrate:

an awareness of and genuine interest in current political issues
a willingness to read extensively
analytical skills
an ability to evaluate and challenge conventional views
initiative
good communication skills
excellent time-management skills
intellectual curiosity
self-motivation and a willingness to work hard.

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.

Fees:

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.

Fee status

Your tuition fees, and eligibility for any financial support, depend on whether you』re classified as a home or an overseas student – known as your fee status. We assess your fee status based on guidelines from the UK Government』s Department for Education.

Learn more about fee status classification.

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. LSE provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships, to UK, EU and overseas students.

Additionally, the UK Government provides loans to UK and some EU students. Some overseas governments also offer funding.

Further information on tuition fees, living costs, loans and scholarships.