BSc International Social and Public Policy with Economics

On this BSC International Social and Public Policy with Economics, you’ll look at how different policy and economic approaches can help address social problems such as poverty and low pay. You’ll explore how the market economy affects people’s lives and the arguments for and against government intervention in different social policy areas.

You'll learn how different countries approach funding benefits, health and social care, education and social services. The programme assesses economic success at a national and international level (macroeconomics) and the interactions between firms, governments and individuals within countries (microeconomics).

This degree is taught by academics from two world-leading departments and you’ll benefit from the interdisciplinary study of social policy and economics.

Our graduates are well prepared for careers in many different areas, such as government, NGOs and international organisations.

This is a major/minor degree programme – with the main focus on social policy and economics as the minor component.

Social policy

• H Dean Social Policy (2nd edition, Polity, 2012)
• D Garland The Welfare State: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2016)
• M Daly Welfare (Polity, 2011)
• P Alcock, M May and S Wright (eds) The Student's Companion to Social Policy (4th edition, Oxford: Blackwell, 2012)
• R Surender & R Walker (eds) Social Policy in a Developing World (Elgar, 2013)

Economics

• A V Banerjee and E Duflo Poor Economics: barefoot hedge-fund managers, DIY doctors and the surprising truth about life on less than $1 a day (Penguin, 2012)
• D Coyle, GDP: A Brief but Affectionate History (Princeton University Press, 2014)
• T Harford The Undercover Economist (Abacus, 2007) and The Logic of Life (Little Brown, 2009)
• P Krugman End This Depression Now! (W W Norton, 2012)
• S D Levitt and S J Dubner Freakonomics (Penguin, 2007) and Superfreakonomics(Penguin, 2010)

Listen to the podcasts of some of these books launches at LSE (and many other talks).

It's also a very good idea to have a look at one or more economics textbooks, to have a clear idea of what the serious university study of the subject involves, which will differ from these popular presentations. Although the texts and editions listed below are currently recommended for the first year, other editions of these books and other university-level textbooks are also entirely valid for this first investigation.

• N G Mankiw Macroeconomics (7th edition, Worth Publishers, 2010)
• W Morgan, M L Katz and H Rosen Microeconomics (2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 2009)

You’ll take two compulsory social policy courses, two half-unit mathematics courses, two half-unit economics courses, and LSE100.

You'll study compulsory courses in the second year to the value of three units and options to the value of one unit.

In the third year, you’ll complete a dissertation and take Public Economics or other economics options. You’ll also choose two options from social policy, economics, or another department.

The Department of Social Policy is an internationally recognised centre of research and teaching excellence in social and public policy.

From its formation in 1912, the department has conducted pioneering research on contemporary social problems and helped develop policy solutions.

The department has an interdisciplinary and international outlook. Our academics conduct research on pressing global issues such as poverty, inequality, crime, unemployment, healthcare, education and housing. Collectively, our faculty team draw on their backgrounds in anthropology, demography, economics, political science, sociology, as well as social and public policy.

We advise national and international governments and organisations and our research shapes decision-making and policy direction at the highest levels.

Within the department, we offer a mix of undergraduate and postgraduate study opportunities. Our department is rated number one in the UK for social policy (Good University Guide 2025). We were also awarded the highest UK ranking for research in the field of social policy in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (2021).

The teaching curriculum is research-led, focused on applying global insights and supporting students with their learning at every stage of their journey.

Our alumni work in prominent government positions, national and international NGOs, the public and private sectors, and universities across the world.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Department of Social Policy

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 (new guidance for students applying for 2026/27)
• 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.

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

• a genuine interest in both social policy and economics
• an interest in contemporary social problems and how to solve them
• confidence in using and applying mathematics
• an ability to ask incisive questions
• an ability to think and work independently
• a willingness to read widely
• initiative
• an ability to communicate with clarity
• a creative and flexible approach to study
• intellectual curiosity
• self-motivation and a willingness to work hard.

The 2026/27 tuition fee for home students hasn't yet been set. As a guide, the 2025/26 fee for home students is £9,535 per year. The home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

The 2026/27 tuition fee for overseas students is currently under review and will be set in Summer 2025. As a guide, the 2025/26 fee for overseas students is £29,200 per year.

The overseas student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years. Once announced, the overseas tuition fee will remain at the same amount for each subsequent year of your full-time study regardless of the length of your programme. This information applies to new overseas undergraduate entrants starting their studies from 2026 onwards.

Formative coursework

All taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps prepare you for summative assessment. We use a wide range of formative assessment methods, such as essays, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams.

Feedback on coursework is an essential part of the learning experience. Class teachers mark formative coursework and feedback is normally given within three weeks – provided the work is submitted on time.

Summative assessment

This assessment counts towards your final course mark and degree award.

Summative assessment varies from course to course but it may involve essays, exams, quizzes, blog posts and projects (except the third-year dissertation).

You’ll receive feedback on any summative coursework as part of the assessment for individual courses (except for final submitted dissertations). Feedback will normally be provided before the examination period.

Assessment on individual courses can change from year to year. See details of the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide.

Find out more about LSE’s teaching and assessment methods.

The skills you'll develop by studying social policy are attractive to a range of employers. Our graduates have found work in a variety of industries including; politics and government, education and teaching, banking and finance, NGOs, charities and international development, as well as journalism, media and publishing, advertising marketing and PR, and accounting and auditing.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.