MPA International Development

This stream focuses on the analysis of economic and public policies for developing countries. Students receive a core training in political science, economics, quantitative methods and development management in the first year and then go on to take a development economics course and to develop more specialised interests in the second year. By providing a broad range of analytical tools and development-related policy applications, this stream prepares students to work at the highest levels in international development organisations, government development agencies, NGOs, development consultancies and private sector companies.

First year MPA students have the opportunity during Year 1 to apply to spend their second year at one of our partner institutions. See Dual MPA Degrees| for more information. (Information for first year students currently at a partner school is also available on that page.)

MPA International Development - 21 Month programme at LSE

Year 1

All students attend a September pre-sessional course, then take core courses essential for policy-making, additional stream-specific courses and option courses. 

Course title

1. GV478 - Political Science and Public Policy (1 unit)
2. EC440 - Micro and Macro Economics (for Public Policy) (1 unit)
3. EC455 - Quantitative Approaches and Policy Analysis (1 unit)
4. DV441 - Development Policy and Management (1 unit)

Year 2

Course title

1. EC454 - Development Economics (1 unit)
2. GV4D5 - Organisations, Power and Leadership (0.5 units)
3. MPA Capstone Project (1.5 units) (see below for further information)
4. Option courses totalling 1 unit (selected from the MPA Approved Options List)

Students may submit a 10,000 word dissertation in place of the 1 unit of options courses in Year 2.

The MPA Capstone Project

In the winter term of the LSE MPA second year, students are organised into groups of between three and six people and briefed on a policy problem faced by a major organisation active in the UK public sector (a government department or agency, regional or local government, a public health service authority, or perhaps a non-governmental organisation or consultancy firm closely involved with policy making). The group then has ten weeks of access to the client organisation to investigate the issues and develop a workable solution to the problem, reporting to the organisation at the end of this time. The LSE staff members who set up, coordinate and manage the projects, with inputs from the client organisation, assess students in each group on their performance. The project work is conducted in teams, and marked accordingly.

See The MPA Capstone Project| for further information, including previous clients and projects.