An equal split of politics and international relations, L290
LSE says your time is divided equally between politics and international relations. The programme lasts three years.
Undergraduate · LSE Politics and International Relations
LSE Politics and International Relations: politics at home and in the world
LSE's BSc Politics and International Relations divides study equally between politics, the theory and practice of political systems and ideologies, and international relations, how the international community works through rules, interests, institutions and customs. Its published entry standard is AAA or 38 IB points, the same headline as LSE's International Relations degree. The decision is therefore about content: do you want the joint programme with the Government department's political theory and science, or the international-relations-led degree?
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What LSE asks for in Politics and International Relations
Taken from LSE's BSc Politics and International Relations 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, or 38 IB points with 766 at Higher Level
The A-level requirement is AAA and the contextual offer is AAB. The IB requirement is 38 points overall including 766 at higher level.
Subject mix matters
LSE says Mathematics, Further Mathematics and one other subject at A level may be a less competitive combination than a broader mix of quantitative and qualitative subjects.
A first year of politics and one IR course
In the first year you take two compulsory politics courses and one in international relations, then one option, plus LSE100.
What LSE looks for
LSE looks for interest in current political issues, a willingness to read extensively, an ability to analyse data and to evaluate and challenge conventional views, and initiative.
Official sources
Read on 31 October 2026 on LSE's BSc Politics and International Relations programme page, which describes 2027 entry. LSE's general entry requirements and English-language pages, the fees pages, the contextual-offer details 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 programme
Political theory and science first, then international relations in depth
In the first year students take Introduction to Political Science, Introduction to Political Theory and International Relations: Theories, Concepts and Debates, one option, and LSE100. The second year includes two international relations courses from five options (International Political Ideas, Foreign Policy Analysis I, International Organisations, International Security and International Political Economy) and two government options. In the third year students choose government and international relations options and can complete a dissertation in either department. LSE says graduates go on to the financial sector, central and local government, policy work, teaching, research and IT.
Which LSE degree?
Politics and International Relations or International Relations?
Avandy's LSE International Relations guide records that degree's rules. The headline entry standards match; the content does not.
Choose Politics and International Relations if
you want political theory, political science and comparative politics as half of the degree, with international relations as the other half.
Choose International Relations if
the international system, its history and theory are the whole focus. Avandy's guide records AAA and IB 38 with a first year of two compulsory international relations courses and history options.
Choose Politics and Economics if
economics, not international relations, should share the degree with politics. Avandy has a separate guide.
Entry rules
AAA, a balanced subject mix and a reading habit
The A-level standard is AAA and the contextual offer is AAB; the IB standard is 38 points overall including 766 at higher level. LSE considers your combination of subjects as well as your grades. The page lists no additional admissions test. LSE looks for genuine interest in current political issues, willingness to read extensively, ability to analyse data and ability to evaluate and challenge conventional views. LSE's page shows 1,100 applications, an intake of 33 and a 33:1 ratio for 2025; these are historical figures, not a requirement or a prediction.
A decision framework
Three questions before you commit
This is Avandy's own framework, not LSE's.
Do you want political theory and science too?
Half the degree is politics, including theory and comparative study.
Which international relations strands interest you?
Second-year options include foreign policy, organisations, security and political economy.
Do you read widely about current politics?
LSE names a willingness to read extensively as a quality it looks for.
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, the subject-mix guidance and the programme structure: 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 any admissions test for 2028 entry: awaiting publication
Check LSE's programme page for the 2028-entry values when they appear.
What to do now
Choose a balanced subject mix, read widely on current politics and compare the first-year courses of the related LSE degrees.
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 and social-science mentoring; Avandy gives no scores or probabilities and does not write submitted work. No outcome is promised.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
What are the LSE Politics and International Relations entry requirements?
AAA at A level, or 38 IB points including 766 at higher level. This is LSE's wording for 2027 entry.
How is it different from LSE International Relations?
The headline entry standards match, but this programme divides study equally between politics and international relations, while International Relations focuses on the international system.
Are there required A-level subjects?
LSE's page lists no required subject but advises that a broad mix of subjects is more competitive than Mathematics, Further Mathematics and one other.
Is there an admissions test?
The programme page lists no additional test. Check LSE's page for 2028 entry.
Is there a dissertation?
Students can complete a dissertation in government or international relations in the final year.
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 and International Relations
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their interest in political ideas and international institutions and the subject mix they will take, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.