MSc Innovation Policy

Innovation influences how economies grow, how societies respond to global challenges and how organisations adapt to change. The MSc Innovation Policy explores how governments and institutions support innovation, how the private sector engages in research and development activities, and how policy decisions shape research, technology and economic development.

You'll study innovation through the lens of economics, policy and institutions, drawing on evidence and case studies from a range of economic and regional contexts. Teaching is grounded in frontier research and informed by contributions from practitioners and policymakers working in the field, connecting academic insights with current policy debates.

By the end of the programme, you should have a solid grounding in how innovation policies are designed, implemented and assessed – alongside the research and analytical skills to apply that understanding across policy, academic or private sector settings.

Programme highlights

• Innovation systems and policy – you'll explore the drivers of innovation, and the economic, institutional and policy conditions that shape it, from national research systems to broader technology ecosystems.
• A global perspective – you'll examine evidence and case studies from diverse economic and regional settings, including both developed and developing economies.
• Independent research – you'll develop your own research question through your dissertation, applying analytical methods to a topic in innovation policy.
• Learning beyond the classroom – you'll engage with major research infrastructures and industry collaborations through field trips and applied learning activities, exploring how innovation ecosystems function in practice.

Our department is highly regarded both nationally and internationally – ranked second for Geography in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.

Here at LSE, we offer a unique opportunity to study geography in a university with a worldwide reputation in the social sciences. We specialise in economic, urban and development geography, environmental social science and climate change, all with a strong emphasis on real-world applications.

Many of our academics are internationally renowned in their fields. You’ll find a good balance of experienced and younger academics in the department. Within the team, we’ve had three holders of the highly prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize Fellowships for researchers under the age of 36.

Our research is interdisciplinary and international in its scope and we work closely with academics from several other departments at LSE. Teaching staff are active within the following research centres:

• Cañada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies
• Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy
• Centre for Economic Performance
• Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
• LSE London
• Middle East Centre
• Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre
• Transition Pathway Initiative Centre
• What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth

Based in the heart of London opposite Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the department offers a lively, welcoming and supportive community for students and staff.

Learn more about our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD study opportunities, as well as our research.

Department of Geography and Environment

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.

Applications for this programme are considered on a rolling basis. This means that applications will close once the programme is full.

There is no fixed deadline. However, if you’d like to be considered for any funding opportunities, you must submit your application (and all supporting documents) by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section below for more details.

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

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

All taught courses are required to include formative coursework which is unassessed. It's designed to help prepare you for summative assessment which counts towards the course mark and to the degree award. LSE uses a range of formative assessment, such as essays, problem sets, case studies, reports, quizzes, mock exams and many others. Summative assessment takes the form of essays, debates, examinations and coursework. An indication of the formative coursework and summative assessment for each course can be found in the relevant course guide.

Our graduates enter a wide variety of employment opportunities in the public sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), international organisations, research, consultancy and international firms.

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.