A three-year BSc, L230
Taught by the Department of Government, with 12 units over three years plus LSE100.
Undergraduate · LSE Politics
LSE Politics: political power and fairness, with no fixed subjects
LSE's BSc Politics is the Department of Government's single-subject degree: what political power is, how societies can be made fairer and how governments handle democracy, inequality and climate change. It sets no required subjects and, unlike LSE's Politics and Economics, no Mathematics. The decision is whether you want politics on its own or with a second discipline.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What LSE asks for in Politics
Taken from LSE's BSc Politics programme page and read on 31 October 2026. For a normal 2028-entry application, made in 2027, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; LSE's 2028-entry requirements and dates are awaiting publication.
AAA, with no set subject combination
The standard A-level requirement is AAA; LSE says there is no set subject combination.
IB 38 with 766
The IB requirement is 38 points overall including 766 at higher level.
No Mathematics requirement
Typical subject choices include Government and Politics, History, English, Economics and languages; none is required.
An optional third-year dissertation
Students may complete a dissertation on a topic of their choice.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on LSE's BSc Politics programme page, which describes 2027 entry. LSE's general entry requirements, the fees pages and the 2028-entry values were not read, and the page lists no additional admissions test or interview so none is stated and are not stated.
The degree
Power, fairness and the challenges of governing
LSE says the programme asks what political power is, how a fairer society can be created and how citizens and governments address new challenges to democracy, rising inequality, climate change and changing technologies. In the third year students can choose to write a dissertation on a topic of their choice.
Is it the right degree?
Politics against its LSE siblings and UCL
Two things differ: the second discipline and the subject rule.
Choose Politics if
you want politics alone and have no wish to take Mathematics or Economics.
Choose Politics and Economics if
you want economics as half the degree and have A-level Mathematics. Avandy's LSE Politics and Economics guide covers it.
Choose Politics and International Relations if
you want the international dimension. Avandy's guide to it covers that, and UCL's equivalent.
Entry rules
AAA with an open subject profile
A-level applicants need AAA, with no set subject combination. IB applicants need 38 points overall including 766 at higher level. The page lists no additional test or interview. This page states no scores.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not LSE's.
Is politics enough on its own?
The degree has no second discipline.
Do you want a dissertation?
It is optional in the third year.
Is your profile broad?
LSE expects at least two full A-levels in traditional academic subjects.
Planning for 2028 entry
Planning for 2028 entry: what carries over and what is awaiting publication
Applying for 2028 entry means applying in 2027, under rules LSE has not yet published for that cycle. Each item below carries one of two labels. Last verified for 2027 entry means LSE published it for the previous cycle and it may change. Awaiting publication for 2028 entry means LSE has not yet published it.
Grades, subject requirements and the subject-mix guidance: last verified for 2027 entry
These are the best guide to what to prepare. LSE has not confirmed them for 2028 entry.
The UCAS deadline and the 2028-entry requirements: awaiting publication for 2028 entry
Check LSE's programme page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
What to do now
Confirm the required subjects, read the programme's course structure and plan your preparation around it.
Support
Independent support with course choice and preparation
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the London School of Economics and Political Science or any of its colleges or departments. Preparation sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant, a PhD-level Academic Mentor and a Subject-specific Tutor, working to the actual requirements of each course. Support here means course-fit advice, subject mentoring and ethical preparation; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not write applications. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What does LSE BSc Politics require?
AAA at A level with no set subject combination, in LSE's wording for 2027 entry.
Do I need Government and Politics A-level?
No. The page lists it as a typical subject, not a required one.
Is there a dissertation?
Optional, in the third year.
How is it different from Politics and Economics?
It has no economics half and no Mathematics requirement.
Is there an admissions test or interview?
The page lists none, so this guide states none.
Are these the rules for 2028 entry?
No. They are LSE's wording for the 2027 application cycle. Check the programme page again when LSE publishes its 2028-entry requirements.
Students and families
Talk to us about LSE Politics
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their essay-writing subjects, their interest in political power and how this degree compares with Politics and Economics and International Relations, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.