Overview
Introduction
Why does poverty still exist in the 21st century? What role does the welfare state have in people’s lives? Why is there still a gender pay gap?
Our BSc International Social and Public Policy explores some of the big questions we face in society around poverty, welfare, migration and gender equality. You’ll look at how social policies are formulated and implemented in industrialised societies, transition economies and the Global South, and explore the role of states, the nonprofit sector, financial markets and communities.
Drawing on LSE’s interdisciplinary strengths across the social sciences, you’ll study each topic from social, political demographic and economic perspectives – enabling you to develop a well-rounded understanding of these complex issues.
At LSE, you’ll learn in a department with outstanding research and teaching credentials. Our Department of Social Policy was ranked number 1 in the most recent research excellence evaluation (RAF, 2021) and our academics influence thinking and policy setting globally.
Preliminary readings
If you wish to gain further insight into social policy, you may be interested in some of the Department’s podcasts.
You may also like to look at one or more of the following books:
- 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)
Why study with us
Discover more about our students and department.
Meet the 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 2026). 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.
Why LSE
University of the Year 2025 and 1st in the UK in 2025 and 2026
Times and The Sunday Times - Good University Guide 2025 and 20261st in London for the 14th year running
The Complete University Guide - University League Tables 20265th in the world for the study of social sciences and management
QS World University Rankings by Subject 20266th in the world for leading the way in social and environmental sustainability
QS World University Rankings: Sustainability 2026Fees 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.
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 using The Higher education (Fee Limit Condition) (England) Regulations 2017.
Learn more about fee status classification.
We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. LSE offers a range of financial support to help eligible students with the cost of studying.
For UK Home fee status students, this includes the LSE Bursary, LSE Scholarships, the LSE Accommodation Bursary, and the Care-Experienced and Estranged Student Bursary. UK students may also be eligible for government student loans.
For Overseas fee status students, the School provides a range of bursaries and scholarships, including the LSE Access to Education Scholarships, to support your undergraduate study. These awards are funded by philanthropic donations to LSE and vary each year in number, value and eligibility criteria.
Learning and assessment
How you learn
Format and contact hours: lectures provide a broad overview of a topic while classes allow for more detailed discussion of the key themes in smaller groups. You’ll normally have weekly lectures and classes for each course, with around eight contact hours per week.
Hours vary depending on the course. Get a broad idea of the study time involved in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide.
Independent study: you’ll need to complete four to six hours of independent study per week per course. Independent study is a very important part of the programme. Typically, this involves reading, preparing for classes and completing assignments.
LSE teaching: LSE is internationally recognised for teaching and research and our academics have wide-ranging expertise. You’ll be taught by academic staff and graduate teaching assistants. Learn about the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide.
Academic mentor: you’ll meet with your academic mentor regularly to discuss your work. Your mentor can provide advice and guidance on academic issues and, where appropriate, personal concerns.
Other academic support: at LSE, we offer lots of opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom.
The Learning Lab is the place to discover and develop the skills you’ll need to reach your academic goals at LSE.
Through the Learning Lab, you can:
- attend practical workshops and one-to-one sessions on essay writing, conducting research, and on managing your reading lists, workloads, and deadlines
- develop your academic writing, reading, and critical-thinking skills to meet degree-level expectations
- work in study groups to strengthen collaboration, cross-cultural communication, and teamwork skills in a supportive environment.
Disability and Mental Health Service: we want all LSE students to achieve their full potential. Students can access free, confidential advice through our Disability and Mental Health Service. This is the first point of contact for students.
- The standard teaching day runs from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Undergraduate teaching is not normally scheduled for Wednesdays after 12 noon to allow for sports, volunteering and other extra-curricular activities.
- The lecture and seminar timetable is published in mid-August and the full academic timetable (with information on classes) is published by mid-September via the LSE timetables web pages.
- All personal undergraduate timetables are published in LSE for You (LFY). For personal timetables to appear, you must be registered at LSE, be signed up for courses in LFY and ensured that there are no unauthorised clashes in your course selections. We try our best to minimise changes once personal timetables have been published. However, you’ll be notified about any changes by email.
How you're assessed
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.
Graduate destinations
Overview
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
Top 5 sectors our students work in:
Career support
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.
Discover Uni
Every undergraduate programme of more than one year duration will have Discover Uni data. The data allows you to compare information about individual programmes at different higher education institutions.
Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary quite significantly. We recommend researching the programmes you're interested in and taking into account the programme structure, teaching and assessment methods, and support services available.
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