MSc Political Science (Political Behaviour)

12 Months On Campus Masters Program

London School of Economics and Political Science

Program Overview

The MSc Political Science (Political Behaviour) at the London School of Economics gives you a world-class grounding in how citizens form political opinions and behave in elections, public life, and different political contexts across the globe. This one-year programme is ideal for students who want to blend rigorous methodological training with a deep understanding of voting behaviour, political identities, and public opinion.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 (full-time / part-time foundation)
In your first year, you’ll develop essential skills in both analytical methods and political inquiry. You’ll take Quantitative Analysis for Political Science to master data interpretation and empirical research, and Comparative Political Behaviour to explore how and why political behaviour varies across societies. Alongside these core modules, you’ll complete a 10,000-word dissertation where you independently research a topic of your choice, and choose optional courses to tailor your learning to your interests, such as political participation, ethnicity and politics, or the political economy of inequality.

(Note: This programme is structured as a single-year master’s with all core units concentrated in Year 1; part-time students spread these across two years.)

Focus areas:
Political behaviour and public opinion, voter decision-making, political identities including gender and ethnicity, comparative electoral politics, and advanced quantitative analysis.

Learning outcomes:
Students will graduate able to design and conduct rigorous empirical research, apply statistical methods to political data, critically analyse comparative behavioural trends, and present research findings with confidence.

Professional alignment (accreditation):
This LSE degree is recognised internationally and professionally across government, policy institutes, NGOs, consultancy, media, and research sectors, preparing you for both careers and further PhD study.

Reputation (employability rankings):
LSE is one of the world’s leading social science universities, ranked 6th globally for social sciences and management, giving graduates outstanding visibility and career opportunities in sectors where political insight and analytical skills are valued.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

On the MSc Political Science (Political Behaviour) you’ll gain hands‑on, practical experience with real political data, rigorous research methods, and interactive analytical work that prepares you for professional environments. Unlike many programmes where you only listen to lectures, here small‑group seminars, data analysis workshops, and supervised research on your own dissertation gives you the chance to actively apply what you’re learning throughout the year. When you study in the heart of London you’ll also benefit from being close to the UK’s political institutions and have access to world‑leading academic and career support facilities across campus:

These structured experiences include:

Interactive seminar work: Many modules emphasise group discussion, facilitated analysis of data sets and media resources, and student presentations — all designed to build practical research and communication skills, not just theory.
Dissertation supervision: You’ll conduct an independent research project tailored to your interests, supported by a faculty member, giving you direct experience in empirical research design and execution.
Access to LSE Library and archives: The British Library of Political and Economic Science — one of the world’s largest social science research libraries — offers millions of books, journals, archival documents and expert research support to strengthen your work.
Workshops and development support: Through LSE LIFE and other campus services, you’ll find training in academic writing, data tools, and research methodologies that reinforce your classroom learning.
Central London context: Being based next to Westminster, professional policy institutions and cultural centres gives you opportunities to attend public lectures, meet guest speakers, and connect with practitioners.

For a complete listing of the campus facilities and support services LSE offers, you can explore the school’s official facilities guide.

Link to facilities guide: info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/estates-division/facilities-guide

If you want, I can follow this up with how these experiential elements help shape employability and future careers — just let me know!

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Here’s the humanized version of the Experiential Learning section for the MSc Political Science (Political Behaviour) at LSE, with natural language and hyperlinks removed:

Experiential Learning

On the MSc Political Science (Political Behaviour), you’ll gain hands-on, practical experience with real political data, rigorous research methods, and interactive analytical work that prepares you for professional environments. Unlike many programmes where you only listen to lectures, small-group seminars, data analysis workshops, and supervised research on your own dissertation give you the chance to actively apply what you’re learning throughout the year. Studying in the heart of London also gives you access to the UK’s political institutions and world-leading academic and career support facilities across campus.

These structured experiences include:

Interactive seminar work: Many modules emphasise group discussion, analysis of data sets and media resources, and student presentations, all designed to build practical research and communication skills.
Dissertation supervision: You’ll conduct an independent research project tailored to your interests, supported by a faculty member, giving you direct experience in empirical research design and execution.
Access to LSE Library and archives: The British Library of Political and Economic Science, one of the world’s largest social science research libraries, offers millions of books, journals, archival documents, and expert research support to strengthen your work.
Workshops and development support: Through LSE LIFE and other campus services, you can receive training in academic writing, data tools, and research methodologies that reinforce your classroom learning.
Central London context: Being based next to Westminster, professional policy institutions, and cultural centres gives you opportunities to attend public lectures, meet guest speakers, and connect with practitioners.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the MSc Political Science (Political Behaviour) at the London School of Economics go on to rewarding careers where they apply their understanding of political behaviour, data analysis, and public policy to make an impact across a variety of sectors. Many find roles in government, public policy, international organisations, or research and consultancy within NGOs or the media. Typical job roles include Policy Analyst, Political Consultant, Public Affairs Specialist, and Research Associate, reflecting the programme’s strong grounding in both political science and empirical methods:

University career services: LSE Careers supports students from the start of the programme through to five years after graduation. Services include one-to-one appointments, workshops on CVs and interviews, events, job listings, and specialist advice tailored to your career goals.
Employment statistics: Recent graduate surveys show a median salary of £36,000 fifteen months after graduation, with alumni entering sectors such as government, consultancy, NGOs, and media.
University–industry partnerships: LSE offers opportunities to engage with employers through presentations, networking events, and recruitment fairs, as well as connections through global academic collaborations.
Long-term accreditation value: A degree from LSE is recognised worldwide and highly valued by employers in policy, public affairs, research, and consultancy, helping graduates stand out in competitive job markets.
Graduation outcomes: Alumni from the Department of Government move into fulfilling roles in government, professional services, teaching, research, and international organisations, bringing both analytical expertise and real-world problem-solving skills.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this MSc, you can continue into advanced research by pursuing a PhD in political science, public policy, or related social sciences. The methodological and analytical skills developed through the programme and the independent dissertation project provide a strong foundation for doctoral study at leading universities worldwide.