LSE MSc Economics

London School of Economics and Political Science · Department of Economics · London, United Kingdom
  • Full time
  • Houghton Street, London
  • Standard English
13 min read · Published on September 9, 2026 · Updated on November 2, 2026
Full-programme planning totalINR 69.28 lakh

Tuition, living, visa and estimated IHS.

TuitionGBP 41,000

overseas 2026/27

Duration10 months

full-time study

Demand8:1

2024 applications to intake

Next cycle2027/28

dates not yet published

TestRequired

GRE required for most applicants

ApplicationLSE portal

rolling until full

What is the LSE MSc Economics?

LSE’s MSc Economics is a full-time 10-month master’s focused on advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and research-led economic analysis. Its official 2026/27 overseas tuition is GBP 41,000, about INR 48.79 lakh. LSE counted 936 applications for 120 entrants in 2024, so programme-specific preparation matters more than a generic institutional minimum when judging this course.

The academic route moves from Microeconomics and Macroeconomics into Econometrics and Elective and extended essay. September 2026 entry is closed, while the 2027/28 timetable and fee are still unpublished. It isn’t safe to treat the older cycle as the next intake’s final timetable, so November 2026 is the next evidence check.

How much does the LSE MSc Economics actually cost?

The full-programme planning total is about INR 69.28 lakh. It starts with the official GBP 41,000 overseas tuition fee and adds 10 months at LSE’s GBP 1,550 living-cost estimate, the current Student visa fee and an estimated 18-month student IHS charge.

ItemINRLocal currencyWhen it is due
Tuition, full programmeINR 48.79 lakhGBP 41,000LSE instalment schedule
Living costs, 10 monthsINR 18.45 lakhGBP 15,500Budgeted monthly
Student visaINR 0.66 lakhGBP 558At visa application
Immigration Health Surcharge estimateINR 1.39 lakhGBP 1,164At visa application
Full-programme planning totalINR 69.28 lakhGBP 58,222Before flights and housing deposit

The separate visa maintenance proof is GBP 1,529 per month for up to nine months in London. It is living money, so it is not added again to this budget. Pound items use GBP 1 = INR 119.00, checked on 8 September 2026 against the Bank of England exchange-rate series . The IHS is an estimate; the exact charge follows the visa length on the CAS.

The full-programme planning total is about INR 69.28 lakh. It starts with the official GBP 41,000 overseas tuition fee and adds 10 months at LSE’s GBP 1,550 living-cost estimate, the current Student visa fee and an estimated 18-month student IHS charge.

Tuition is the published 2026/27 overseas figure for MSc Economics. It covers School teaching and assessment, but not accommodation, travel or fieldwork. A later intake may carry a different fee.

LSE advises at least GBP 1,550 per month for living expenses. That gives GBP 15,500 across this course, while the Student visa maintenance test uses a different statutory calculation of GBP 1,529 for no more than nine months.

The visa and IHS arrive before travel, as do any tuition deposit and housing deposit. Flights, document translation, optional test fees and personal contingency remain outside the headline total because they vary by applicant.

The sterling conversion can be cross-checked in the Bank of England exchange-rate database; the page retains its stated 8 September 2026 planning rate.

Can an Indian applicant meet the LSE MSc Economics entry rules?

The decisive rule is a first-class economics degree with strong quantitative preparation. LSE then reads the full file, including grades, statement, references and CV. The published test position is: GRE required for most applicants without a UK undergraduate degree. The English category is Standard.

RequirementPublished ruleWhat you do
MSc Economics: Prior degree (India)a first-class economics degree with strong quantitative preparationLink the evidence to Microeconomics and the published MSc Economics rule
MSc Economics: Academic fit (India)The file must support advanced study in advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and research-led economic analysisName assessed work supporting Macroeconomics and Econometrics
MSc Economics: GRE or GMAT (India)GRE required for most applicants without a UK undergraduate degreeSubmit the score or exemption that governs MSc Economics
MSc Economics: English (India)LSE Standard categoryMatch every LSE Standard component for MSc Economics
MSc Economics: References (India)The application uses two academic referencesAsk referees to discuss preparation for Elective and extended essay
MSc Economics: Statement (India)Programme-specific statement of academic purposeExplain why an extended economics essay backed by graduate-level theory and econometrics is the next step
Three-year Indian bachelor's (India)The official pages checked do not publish a programme-specific yes or no rule for a three-year Indian bachelor's degree.Applicants should treat the published degree-length rule as binding
Backlogs (India)No separate backlog cap or automatic acceptance policy is published for this programme.Submit the full transcript; do not assume a backlog is ignored

The decisive rule is a first-class economics degree with strong quantitative preparation. LSE then reads the full file, including grades, statement, references and CV. The published test position is: GRE required for most applicants without a UK undergraduate degree. The English category is Standard.

For MSc Economics, Microeconomics is the first transcript test because it supplies core graduate theory. Marks and module descriptions should show the method actually assessed, not merely a neighbouring subject name. That evidence has to support the published entry position of a first-class economics degree with strong quantitative preparation.

The second academic check comes from Macroeconomics, where the course expects core graduate theory. An Indian syllabus that hides this work inside a broad paper needs a concise topic list, assessment description and result. LSE’s country equivalence is only a grade guide; this programme’s direction runs from Microeconomics towards Elective and extended essay.

The later-stage evidence should connect Econometrics with Elective and extended essay. Together they indicate whether an applicant can progress from core empirical methods to chosen field and research. The test position is GRE required for most applicants without a UK undergraduate degree, and the separate English classification is LSE Standard. A polished statement can’t replace either condition.

London School of Economics and Political Science does not publish a programme-specific acceptance rate, intake target or admitted-class GPA for this course on the official pages checked on 2 November 2026. Admission chances therefore have to be judged against the published subject and grade rules, not an invented percentage.

“First class honours degree in economics or equivalent with concentration in economics and quantitative subjects.”LSE MSc Economics entry requirement

How should an Indian applicant apply for the LSE MSc Economics?

The application moves through one LSE portal, but the preparation has several owners. The applicant assembles records and tests, referees submit recommendations, and LSE reviews the complete file. The 2026/27 programme page is now closed; 2027/28 dates are not yet published.

The application moves through one LSE portal, but the preparation has several owners. The applicant assembles records and tests, referees submit recommendations, and LSE reviews the complete file. The 2026/27 programme page is now closed; 2027/28 dates are not yet published.

StepTaskAllowanceWhy it matters
01Map academic fit14 daysCompare modules, marks and assessed work with the exact programme.
02Complete tests90 daysGRE required for most applicants without a UK undergraduate degree; meet the English category.
03Arrange references28 daysGive two academic referees enough time and programme context.
04Submit the LSE file1 dayUpload the complete application once the 2027/28 cycle opens.

The allowances are preparation estimates, not deadlines or processing times published by London School of Economics and Political Science. The process starts with dates remain unconfirmed.

The LSE route permits up to two programmes in the allowed preference order. The programme-specific file, references and application assessment fee where applicable must be complete before the Graduate Applicant Portal can show a review-ready file.

Waiting for a nominal final date is risky when the programme uses rolling admission. A file is considered only after the required documents and references arrive, and high-demand courses can close when capacity is reached.

For MSc Economics, the safe order is academic mapping, required tests, references and statement, then submission. The 2026/27 status is evidence that the course can close before a late applicant is ready.

What jobs can follow the LSE MSc Economics?

The defensible directions are economic consulting, central banks, government, finance, international organisations and PhD study. The programme page describes graduate destinations, but it does not promise a job. From 1 January 2027, an eligible master’s graduate who applies under the UK Graduate route receives 18 months, not two years.

MeasureFigureBasis
Course-to-role directioneconomic consulting, central banks, government, finance, international organisations and PhD studyBased on curriculum and LSE's named graduate destinations
Strongest work samplean extended economics essay backed by graduate-level theory and econometricsAssessed programme output
Graduate route18 monthsFor eligible applications made from 1 January 2027
Guaranteed placementNone publishedNo programme promise or audited placement rate located
Named programme recruitersNo programme-specific recruiter list publishedLondon School of Economics and Political Science programme and careers pages checked 2 November 2026
Programme salary figureNo programme-specific salary figure publishedLondon School of Economics and Political Science programme and careers pages checked 2 November 2026

LSE publishes destinations for MSc Economics, but no guaranteed placement, audited salary distribution or individual sponsorship probability. The strongest inspectable output is an extended economics essay backed by graduate-level theory and econometrics.

The defensible directions are economic consulting, central banks, government, finance, international organisations and PhD study. The programme page describes graduate destinations, but it does not promise a job. From 1 January 2027, an eligible master’s graduate who applies under the UK Graduate route receives 18 months, not two years.

Microeconomics supports core graduate theory, which is relevant to economic consulting, central banks, government, finance, international organisations and PhD study. The useful employment claim stops at that skills connection. A course title cannot establish how an employer will value a candidate’s earlier degree, work history, interview performance or right-to-work position.

Macroeconomics adds core graduate theory, while Econometrics adds core empirical methods. A graduate can turn those assessments into interview evidence by stating the question, analytical choice, result and limitation. That is stronger than listing LSE modules and weaker than claiming a placement outcome that LSE has not published.

The most distinctive evidence is an extended economics essay backed by graduate-level theory and econometrics. For MSc Economics, that output can demonstrate a deliberate direction towards economic consulting, central banks, government, finance, international organisations and PhD study. It still does not promise salary, sponsorship or time to first job, and the 936 applications for 120 entrants admission statistic describes entry competition rather than graduate success.

The programme figures use the university’s presentation of the HESA Graduate Outcomes survey; they describe respondents and do not guarantee an individual result.

Who is the LSE MSc Economics actually for?

The programme fits applicants who can connect prior work in Microeconomics with a clear reason to study Elective and extended essay. It is not a safe prestige-only choice, and the INR 69.28 lakh budget must work without assuming secure immediate London earnings.

VerdictYour backgroundWhy
Strong fitStrong subject matchPrior study directly supports advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and research-led economic analysis.
Strong fitApplicant with a specific output planThe candidate can use an extended economics essay backed by graduate-level theory and econometrics for a defined next step.
Needs evidenceAdjacent-discipline applicantA broad degree label may fit, but the detailed transcript still has to prove readiness.
Needs evidenceApplicant at the published minimumCompetition was about 8 applications per entrant in 2024, so the minimum is only the start.
Do not shortlistCandidate affected by the key drawbackThe mathematical pace is severe, and the ten-month award may not meet Bologna-format recognition expectations in every country.
Do not shortlistPlacement-dependent borrowerNo guaranteed job or programme-level placement rate supports a repayment plan.

The programme fits applicants who can connect prior work in Microeconomics with a clear reason to study Elective and extended essay. It is not a safe prestige-only choice, and the INR 69.28 lakh budget must work without assuming secure immediate London earnings.

The strongest MSc Economics profile can point to completed preparation for Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. That candidate is choosing the route towards Elective and extended essay deliberately, rather than using the LSE name to postpone a subject decision. Their plan has a clear reason for progressing into Econometrics.

An adjacent-discipline applicant has a narrower case. Evidence for Econometrics may help, but it cannot silently replace preparation in Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. The department reads the whole record, and 936 applications for 120 entrants shows why a plausible record is not the same as a competitive one.

The clearest negative fit is someone whose intended work cannot be advanced through Elective and extended essay or the programme’s assessed output. That mismatch is independent of affordability. A fully funded applicant can still be academically unsuited, just as a strong academic applicant can still have an unworkable London cash-flow plan.

The first-class economics requirement isn’t a formality, and a strong aggregate doesn’t replace advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and mathematics. The programme won’t work as a conversion route for an applicant whose prior degree contains only introductory economics. The transcript should show the theory and quantitative progression that the core courses assume.

What will the LSE MSc Economics actually cover?

The MSc Economics totals four LSE units in the published structure. Its compulsory direction joins Microeconomics to Macroeconomics, while later work reaches Econometrics and Elective and extended essay. The exact option list can change or restrict places after an offer.

ComponentLSE unitsWhere it sits
Microeconomics1Core graduate theory
Macroeconomics1Core graduate theory
Econometrics1Core empirical methods
Elective and extended essay1Chosen field and research
Total4
  • Complete four LSE units in the published combination.
  • Follow the compulsory courses before using the permitted option list.
  • Applicants should treat listed options as subject to timetable, prerequisite and capacity rules.

The MSc Economics totals four LSE units in the published structure. Its compulsory direction joins Microeconomics to Macroeconomics, while later work reaches Econometrics and Elective and extended essay. The exact option list can change or restrict places after an offer.

The compulsory sequence establishes the relationship between Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Options add depth, but they cannot be assumed available merely because they appear in a catalogue.

Work produced through Elective and extended essay is the practical basis for comparison with the portfolio, dissertation or professional project offered by competing degrees.

Should an Indian applicant shortlist the LSE MSc Economics?

Shortlist MSc Economics if your transcript establishes the prerequisite work behind Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. LSE recorded 936 applications for 120 entrants in 2024, so an eligible file still needs a coherent academic reason for choosing this exact course before applying.

Shortlist MSc Economics if your transcript establishes the prerequisite work behind Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. LSE recorded 936 applications for 120 entrants in 2024, so an eligible file still needs a coherent academic reason for choosing this exact course before applying.

The positive case for MSc Economics is its sequence from Microeconomics through Elective and extended essay. That progression can support a reasoned career move, but it does not supply a guaranteed employer outcome.

Two issues can end the MSc Economics case. The mathematical pace is severe, and the ten-month award may not meet Bologna-format recognition expectations in every country. Separately, the applicant must fund GBP 58,222 in the planning model without treating a London student job, scholarship or future salary as certain income.

Key takeaways
  • LSE lists MSc Economics as a full-time 10 months master's for 2026/27.
  • The 2026/27 overseas tuition fee is GBP 41,000.
  • A full-programme plan using GBP 1,550 monthly living costs is about GBP 58,222, or INR 69.28 lakh.
  • The 2024 page reports 936 applications and 120 entrants, roughly 8 to 1.
  • The published test position is GRE required for most applicants without a UK undergraduate degree.
  • Eligible master's graduates applying from 1 January 2027 receive an 18-month UK Graduate visa.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the LSE MSc Economics for Indian students?

The 2026/27 overseas tuition fee is GBP 41,000. Adding 10 months at LSE's GBP 1,550 monthly living estimate, a GBP 558 Student visa and an estimated GBP 1,164 health surcharge gives about GBP 58,222, or INR 69.28 lakh, before flights and a housing deposit.

What is the deadline for the LSE MSc Economics?

The 2026/27 programme is now closed. Its published closing position was rolling; now closed. LSE has not yet published the complete 2027/28 timetable, so prepare the academic map, tests and references now, then check the official programme page when the next cycle opens.

Does the LSE MSc Economics require GRE or GMAT?

The published rule is: GRE required for most applicants without a UK undergraduate degree. Read the programme-specific exemption wording before deciding not to test. Where a score is required, it must be submitted with the application and cannot substitute for the degree result, subject preparation, references or English evidence.

Is the LSE MSc Economics difficult to get into?

It is competitive. LSE reports 936 applications and 120 entrants for 2024, about 8 applications per entrant. That is not an acceptance rate because offers, withdrawals and deferrals are not the same as entrants, but it shows why meeting the published minimum does not guarantee admission.

Can I work in the UK after the LSE MSc Economics?

An eligible graduate can apply from inside the UK after LSE reports successful completion. For Graduate visa applications made from 1 January 2027, permission lasts 18 months. It allows most work and job-seeking but cannot be extended; staying longer requires eligibility for another visa.

Is the LSE MSc Economics full time?

Yes. This page covers only the full-time 10 months route at Houghton Street in London. The programme totals about four LSE units and centres on advanced microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and research-led economic analysis. Any part-time mode shown by LSE has a different calendar and is outside this page.

Sources

Official programme, admissions, fee, outcome and immigration sources checked on 2 November 2026 support the facts on this page.

Sources checked on November 2, 2026. The next intake covered here is 2027 intake.

No.SourceEvidence role
01LSE, MSc Economics programme page for 2026/27Core programme facts
02LSE, 2026/27 programme availabilitySupporting external facts
03LSE, graduate fees and GBP 1,550 monthly living-cost guidanceSupporting external facts
04LSE, entry equivalence guidance for IndiaSupporting external facts
05LSE, graduate English-language categoriesSupporting external facts
06LSE, GRE and GMAT rulesSupporting external facts
07GOV.UK, Student visa feeSupporting external facts
08GOV.UK, London Student visa maintenance fundsSupporting external facts
09GOV.UK, student Immigration Health SurchargeSupporting external facts
10GOV.UK, 18-month Graduate visa from 1 January 2027Supporting external facts
11Bank of England, exchange-rate databaseCurrency conversion
12HESA, Graduate OutcomesGraduate outcomes survey

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