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Graduate (Taught)
Application code:V3U1
Department of Economic History

MSc Economic History

Explore economic development, business growth, financial markets, government roles, and globalisation from an historical perspective.

Overview

Introduction

The MSc Economic History provides a historical and interdisciplinary perspective on important economic problems such as the causes of long-run economic development, the expansion of businesses and financial markets, the role of the government in the economy and the origins of globalisation.

You'll be able to choose from a wide range of elective courses in economic history, allowing you to compile a programme according to your interests and career goals. You'll also complete a dissertation on an approved topic of your choice.

Economic history combines the skills of the economist and statistician with those of the historian, political scientist and sociologist. The programme provides a broad training in social science research methods and their application to historical study, including the role of theory, evaluation, analysis and explanation, quantitative techniques and computing, the use of sources and presentational skills.

Entry requirements

Upper second class honours (2:1) degree or equivalent in social science.

Please select your country from the dropdown list below to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Overseas

Competition for places at LSE is strong. So, even if you meet the minimum entry requirements, this does not guarantee you an offer of a place.

However, please don’t feel deterred from applying – we want to hear from all suitably qualified students. Think carefully about how you can put together the strongest possible application to help you stand out from other students.

Programme content

The degree consists of one compulsory full unit course, another half unit compulsory course, a compulsory half-unit dissertation and optional courses to the value of two units selected from the prescribed list, which must include at least one of our advanced survey courses on modern or pre-modern economic history over the last millennium.

With the approval of your academic adviser, instead of taking the half-unit dissertation course, you may request to take the full-unit, 10,000 word dissertation and courses to the value of one and a half units from a range of options.

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

LSE is home to one of the largest specialist economic history departments in the world, with 25 permanent teaching staff, as well as visiting academics and researchers.

We use social science concepts and theories as a starting point to study the evolution of real economies in their social, political and cultural contexts.

Collectively, our academics have a huge breadth and depth of knowledge, ranging from the Medieval period to the current day, and covering every world economy, from the Americas to Asia, Africa and Europe.

The department’s research interests range from social well-being to technology and finance, and from the history of economic ideas to global trade patterns. Our research has informed decision-making in numerous government departments, NGOs, and international bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Drawing on their research strengths, our academics hold editorial and board membership roles on many world-renowned journals (such as Cliometrica and the Economic History Review) and regularly share their insights in the national and international media.

Currently, the department offers three undergraduate degree programmes and a range of postgraduate degrees and research opportunities. Many of our graduates secure high-profile teaching and research roles in the UK and internationally.

Learn more about our programmes and research.

Your application

Overview

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.

We carefully consider each application and take into account all the information included on your application form, such as your:

  • academic achievement (including predicted and achieved grades)
  • statement of academic purpose
  • two academic references
  • CV.

See further information on supporting documents.

You may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency. See our English language requirements.

Please note: The applications, intake and ratio values below include the MSc Economic History Research and MSc Global History Erasmus Mundus.

391
Applications
79
Intake
5:1
2023 Ratio

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for your programme. At LSE, 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.

Home

£18,300

Home student fee (2025/26)

For this programme, the tuition fee is different for home and overseas students depending on their fee status.

Learning and assessment

How you learn

Graduate destinations

Overview

Economic history graduates can be found in management and administration in the public and private sectors; banking; journalism; economic consultancy; and library and museum services, to mention just a few.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

Information, Digital Technology and Data
Financial and Professional Services
Education, Teaching and Research
Consultancy
Other Professional, Scientific and Technical Activities
This data is drawn from the 2021/22 Graduate Outcomes Survey, run by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and in full-time employment.

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