Higher Diploma in International Relations
Course Overview
Designed for students moving from a diploma toward postgraduate study in international politics, the Higher Diploma in International Relations at the London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a senior academic programme. It sits within our Law & Social Sciences department, takes fifteen to eighteen months to complete, and is offered on-campus in central London, fully online and by distance learning.
The Higher Diploma in International Relations covers IR theory, security studies, global political economy and the analytical methods that distinguish serious policy work. By the end of the diploma you will have produced a substantial policy paper and a dissertation-style research piece.
Industry Context
UK foreign policy is operating against a layered backdrop: the Integrated Review Refresh's Indo-Pacific commitments, sustained Russia sanctions enforcement, the FCDO's expanded development remit, and AUKUS-related industrial implications. The Higher Diploma in International Relations is sequenced against those drivers so the research-paper capstone speaks to current UK consultations and inquiries rather than evergreen examples.
Key Features of the Higher Diploma in International Relations
- Political Studies Association-aligned content drawing on UK political-science teaching standards.
- Three study modes — on-campus, online or distance learning.
- UN-style negotiation exercise.
- Quantitative methods module with introductory R.
- Field-session opportunities at Westminster and major UK think tanks (subject to availability).
- Research-paper capstone on a chosen international issue.
What You Will Learn on the Higher Diploma in International Relations
The Higher Diploma in International Relations takes students from confident readers of international news to confident producers of analytical work on it. You will graduate able to design a short research project, write a UK FCDO-style policy paper, and defend an evidence-led recommendation under cross-examination.
- IR theory and contemporary debates.
- International security and conflict studies.
- Global political economy and trade.
- UK foreign policy and the FCDO.
- Regional studies (selected regions in depth).
- Quantitative and qualitative research methods.
- Policy-paper writing for UK government audiences.
- Ethics and international law fundamentals.
- Cyber and information operations in international politics.
- Research-paper capstone.
Assessment Approach
Assessment is portfolio-led. Students submit critical theory essays, a quantitative-methods coded portfolio, a UK FCDO-style policy paper on a current issue, a regional case study, a UN simulation transcript and the research-paper capstone. The capstone is defended in a 30-minute panel that mirrors UK Diplomatic Service Fast Stream assessment formats.
Who the Higher Diploma in International Relations Is For
- Diploma in International Relations graduates ready to step up.
- Civil servants and policy professionals preparing for senior research roles.
- NGO researchers seeking stronger methods literacy.
- International students aiming for UK postgraduate study in politics or IR.
- Journalists and content researchers covering foreign affairs full-time.
Career Pathways for Higher Diploma in International Relations Graduates
The Higher Diploma in International Relations supports applications into senior research and policy positions across UK Civil Service, parliamentary research, NGOs and think tanks. The diploma supports applications but does not by itself guarantee employment or visa outcomes. Typical destinations include:
- Policy Adviser (Civil Service)
- Senior Parliamentary Researcher
- NGO Senior Researcher
- Think-Tank Research Fellow (junior)
- Public Affairs Consultant
- International Trade Adviser
The Higher Diploma also stacks credit toward our MSc in Political Science and onto LLM and MA programmes in international affairs.
Entry Requirements
- An Advanced Diploma (Level 5), HND, Foundation Degree, or equivalent prior study in politics, IR, history or a related subject.
- Three years' relevant work experience considered in lieu of academic prerequisites (mature applicants).
- English language: IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
- A personal statement and one academic or professional reference.
Why Study at LSCT
The London School of Commerce and Technology (LSCT) is a specialist higher-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. We teach in small cohorts so every student is visible to their tutor, run a single intake schedule that students can rely on, and partner with UK professional bodies so qualifications carry weight with employers. London puts Whitehall, the City, Silicon Roundabout, the Royal Courts of Justice, the West End and the NHS estate within a short tube ride of every classroom — and our students use that proximity in their projects, placements and graduate job hunts. International relations students benefit from a campus a short tube ride from Westminster and the UK's largest think-tank cluster.
Research Seminar Series
The Higher Diploma in International Relations runs a research seminar each term where students present working capstone chapters to peers and a visiting researcher from a UK think tank or IR department. Visitors across recent years have included staff from the Royal United Services Institute, the Institute for Government and IR departments at LSE and SOAS, drawn in through working relationships rather than one-off lectures. Personal academic tutors also run two structured career-conversations across the year to keep onward Master's and Civil Service applications grounded in real available routes.
Apply for Higher Diploma in International Relations
Close the gap to a Bachelor's degree with the Higher Diploma in International Relations. Click Enrol Now to apply; admissions confirm your credit-transfer route within one working day.
