BSc History and Politics

at London School of Economics

The degree involves studying courses to the value of 12 units over three years, plus LSE100. 

First year
In the first year you will take Introduction to Political Science and Introduction to Political Theory. You will choose two history courses from a choice of four. You will also take LSE100.

LSE100*
A half unit, running across Michaelmas and Lent Term in the first year, LSE100 is compulsory for all LSE undergraduate students, and is designed to build your capacity to tackle multidimensional problems through research-rich education.

Second year 
In the second year you will choose two history options (either national or internationally-focussed) and two government options from an approved list.

Third year
In the third year, you can take more advanced courses in political science and history, including some which are taught in small group seminars and one assessed by a dissertation. 

You will take one advanced history option and one advanced government option. You will choose between a range of options in both Departments, one of which is a Dissertation, and outside options.

For the most up-to-date list of courses available on BSc History and Politics please read the Programme Regulations.

Below we list our entry requirements in terms of GCSEs, A-Levels (the entry requirements should be read alongside our A-level subject combinations information) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We accept a wide range of other qualifications from the UK and from overseas.
 

GCSEs

• A strong set of GCSE grades including the majority at A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9)
• GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades should be no lower than B (or 6)
• We also consider your overall GCSE subject profile

A-levels*

AAA
We also consider your AS grades, if available.

Contextual admissions A-level grades**

AAB

IB Diploma
38 points overall, including 766 at higher level

Contextual admissions IB grades**
37 points overall, including 666 at higher level

Every undergraduate student is charged a fee for each year of their programme.

The 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 does not cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees

Home students:
The 2023 tuition fee for new Home students has not yet been set. As a guide the 2022 fee for Home students is £9,250 per year. The Home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Government

Median salary of our UG students six months after graduating: £29,000

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Accounting and Auditing
• Education, Teaching and Research
• Government, Public Sector and Policy
• Information, Digital Technology and Data
• FMCG, Manufacturing and Retail

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2018-19 were the second group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes.

Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.Politics graduates have a range of skills and can fit into a variety of positions in modern life. Our former students have followed careers in business and banking, in law, in central and local government, in teaching and research, in public and university administration, and in journalism and television.