A three-year BSc, LV25
Taught by the Department of Government, with 12 units over three years plus LSE100.
Undergraduate · LSE Politics and Philosophy
LSE Politics and Philosophy: political practice and moral argument together
LSE's BSc Politics and Philosophy is a three-year degree taught by the Department of Government. LSE says it is not politics and philosophy side by side: students look at how each subject helps explain political practice and the development of political ideals, including public policy seen through moral and political philosophy. It sets no required subjects and no Mathematics requirement. The decision is whether you want philosophy and politics without an economics half.
Official information · last verified for 2027 entry
What LSE asks for in Politics and Philosophy
Taken from LSE's BSc Politics and Philosophy programme page and read on 1 November 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.
Politics and philosophy integrated
LSE says the degree is not politics and philosophy side by side but examines public policy through moral and political philosophy.
Two units of each subject in the first year
First-year students take two units of compulsory philosophy and two of compulsory politics, plus LSE100.
Official sources
Read on 1 November 2026 on LSE's BSc Politics and Philosophy 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
Political practice and philosophical argument
LSE says students explore how government policies and decisions are formed and challenging philosophical questions on ethics, human rights and justice, and see how each subject helps us understand political practices and the development of political ideals. In the first year students take compulsory philosophy courses to the value of two units, including Introduction to Logic and The Big Questions, and compulsory politics courses to the value of two units, including Introduction to Political Theory and Introduction to Political Science. Second-year options include Philosophy, Morals and Politics and Contemporary Political Theory.
Is it the right degree?
Politics and Philosophy against PPE and single-subject degrees
LSE offers philosophy and politics in other combinations. The difference is the third discipline.
Choose Politics and Philosophy if
you want moral and political argument together, without economics as a third discipline.
Choose Philosophy, Politics and Economics if
you want economics as well. Avandy's LSE PPE guide covers it.
Choose single-subject Politics if
you want politics alone. Avandy's LSE Politics guide covers it.
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.
Do you enjoy argument about ethics and justice as well as politics?
The first year gives philosophy and politics equal weight.
Is a mix of essay-based and quantitative subjects in your plan?
LSE prefers a broad mix over Mathematics, Further Mathematics and one other subject.
Do you want to leave economics out?
This degree does not include it.
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 and Philosophy require?
AAA at A level with no set subject combination, in LSE's wording for 2027 entry.
Do I need Philosophy A-level?
No. LSE says there is no set subject combination, though typical choices include Government and Politics, History, English, Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, languages and Mathematics.
How is it different from PPE?
It has no economics half. LSE lists Philosophy, Politics and Economics as a separate degree.
How long is the degree?
LSE lists home and overseas full-time study as three years.
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 and Philosophy
Tell us about the student's curriculum, their essay-writing subjects, their interest in ethics and political theory and how this degree compares with Philosophy, Politics and Economics, the universities on the list, and the intended year of entry. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to prepare.