International Social and Public Policy

Entry requirements

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

Months of entry

September

Course content

About this MSc programme

The ISPP programme addresses how states and societies respond to global challenges of social, demographic and economic change, and of poverty, migration and globalisation. It is underpinned by the LSE approach to social and public policy which is explicitly international, interdisciplinary and applied.

Meeting human needs and increasing well-being are universal policy goals but these are addressed differently around the world, with different roles for key stakeholders such as governments, NGOs, families and markets. ISPP approaches the policy process from an international and comparative perspective. Looking at low, middle, and high-income countries, you will gain the skills to identify key social challenges and to analyse the social and public policies used to address them, and the role of different actors in these processes.

You can choose to follow one of seven streams. You can take either the general stream:

• MSc International Social and Public Policy

Or you can choose one of the following specialist streams:

• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Development)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Education)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Migration)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Non-Governmental Organisations)
• MSc International Social and Public Policy (Research)
• LSE-Fudan Double Master's in International Social and Public Policy

Whichever stream you choose, ISPP will equip you for a career in social and public policy within government, NGOs, international organisations, private sector providers, or in academia.

The MSc ISPP replaces, consolidates and builds upon five previous MSc programmes: Social Policy and Planning, European and Comparative Social Policy, Social Policy and Development, Social Policy and Development (NGOs) and Social Policy (Research).

Department of Social Policy

The Department of Social Policy is an internationally recognised centre of research and teaching in social and public policy. From its foundation in 1912 it has carried out cutting edge research on core social problems, and helped to develop policy solutions. The Department today, with its international faculty, is distinguished by its multidisciplinarity, its international and comparative approach, and its particular strengths in behavioural public policy, criminology, development, economic and social inequality, education, migration, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and population change and the lifecourse. Their exceptional contribution to the field of Social Policy has been recognised in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF), with their submission obtaining the top-ranked score.

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students.

Fees and funding

Fees

Every graduate student is charged a fee for their programme. Visit the website for more information about the fees.

Funding

The School recognises that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country, and we provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is eligible for needs-based awards from LSE, including the Graduate Support Scheme, Master's Awards, and Anniversary Scholarships.

Selection for any funding opportunity is based on receipt of an application for a place – including all ancillary documents, before the funding deadline.

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.

Find out more about financial support.