How long is the Advanced Diploma in Economics?

The Advanced Diploma in Economics runs twelve to fifteen months across modes, closing with an econometrics coursework and a full policy dossier.

Is the Advanced Diploma in Economics recognised by UK employers?

The Advanced Diploma in Economics is designed around Royal Economic Society, Society of Business Economists and GES economist-level competencies, credentials UK regulators and consultancies engage with.

What are the entry requirements for the Advanced Diploma in Economics?

A Level 4 Diploma in economics or a quantitative subject, or two years of substantive analytical experience, plus GCSE English and Maths at grade 4/C and IELTS 6.0 for non-native speakers.

How much does the Advanced Diploma in Economics cost?

Tuition varies by route and domicile. Contact LSIBM admissions for the current fee schedule, instalment options and scholarship eligibility for the Advanced Diploma in Economics.

Advanced Diploma in Economics | LSIBM London | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Advanced Diploma in Economics at the London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a Level 5 senior-track qualification for candidates preparing to work as an economist inside a UK consultancy, regulator, think tank or central-government economics team. Sitting in the Accounting, Finance & Economics faculty, this programme covers advanced microeconomics and macroeconomics, applied econometrics with a UK administrative dataset, and the production of a full Government Economic Service (GES) standard policy dossier defended in front of a working economist.

The Advanced Diploma is designed for holders of a Level 4 economics Diploma, junior economists and analysts moving to senior tracks, and civil-service applicants preparing for the GES economist scheme. Content is designed around the Royal Economic Society and Society of Business Economists senior-practitioner syllabuses and GES economist-level competencies, and study is available on-campus in central London, fully online, or by distance learning. Course material engages with live UK evidence — the Bank of England Monetary Policy Report, the OBR Fiscal Outlook, ONS labour releases and CMA merger decisions — so senior-track students read the same primary sources a working analyst actually engages with.

Advanced Diploma teaching runs at senior-track pace, with a diagnostic in week one, a weekly seminar clinic, fortnightly working-practitioner sessions and structured application coaching in the final term. Assessment maps closely to UK professional-body rubrics so evidence built during the programme feeds directly into CIPD, CIM, CMI, ACCA or IOE&IT membership routes rather than sitting unused in a file. Online cohorts share the same intake calendar and receive the same tutor allocation as the on-campus route.

Key Features

Curriculum designed around the Royal Economic Society and Society of Business Economists senior-practitioner syllabuses and GES economist-level competencies.
Three study modes — central London campus, fully online, or distance learning — with a single intake schedule.
Applied econometrics coursework using a UK administrative or public-use dataset.
Fortnightly practitioner clinic with a working consultancy economist and a UK regulator senior analyst.
Assessment mix — advanced micro / macro exams, an econometrics coursework and a full policy dossier.
Structured application coaching for GES, City-firm economist and consultancy routes in the final term.
Structured route toward Royal Economic Society graduate-track membership and Government Economic Service assistant recognition.
Assessment combines a rolling analytical portfolio with a summative policy-brief case defence.

What You Will Learn

The Advanced Diploma teaches the senior-track applied economist's toolkit — reading, replicating and criticising a published UK regression, designing an evaluation, and writing a policy dossier a Whitehall director will act on.

Advanced microeconomics — game theory, mechanism design, contract theory basics.
Advanced macroeconomics — DSGE overview, growth theory and open-economy models.
Applied econometrics — panel, IV, difference-in-differences and RDD at intermediate level.
Programme evaluation — HM Treasury Green Book and Magenta Book methodology.
UK competition and regulatory economics for CMA-style investigations.
UK monetary and fiscal policy analysis at practitioner level.
International economics and post-Brexit UK trade policy in depth.
Behavioural economics — UK Nudge Unit case studies.
Writing a full GES-standard policy dossier.
Presenting economic analysis to a Whitehall director-level audience.
Reading a Bank of England Monetary Policy Report and defending a written economic-reasoning position.
Producing a cost-benefit analysis note in the format used by UK public bodies.
Applying intermediate econometrics in R against an open ONS dataset.
Writing a short economics-and-competition brief in a CMA-recognisable format.

Who This Course Is For

Holders of a Level 4 economics Diploma progressing to senior tracks.
Junior economists and analysts in UK consultancies, regulators and think tanks.
Civil-service applicants preparing for the GES economist scheme.
Public-sector officers moving into evidence-and-policy senior roles.
International candidates preparing for a UK MSc in economics.
Regulatory analysts at UK bodies moving into a senior economist-track role.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the Advanced Diploma typically move into applied-economist and senior-analyst roles across UK economic consultancies, regulators, central government and think tanks. The Advanced Diploma supports applications but does not by itself substitute for an honours economics degree. Typical destinations include:

Economist (junior grade)
Senior Economic Analyst
Regulatory Economist
Policy Analyst (economics)
Sector Analyst
GES Economist Scheme Applicant
Regulatory Economist (mid-track)
Economics Consultant (associate)

The Advanced Diploma articulates directly into the LSIBM Higher Diploma in Economics, a BSc in Economics or International Economics top-up, or a taught MSc route.

Advanced Diploma holders progress onto the LSIBM Higher Diploma or BSc in Economics, and the natural longer-run track is Government Economic Service assistant recognition or a full economics Master's.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Diploma (Level 4) in economics or a quantitative subject, or two years of substantive analytical experience; numeracy diagnostic set at application.
GCSE English Language at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short statement of intent and one academic or professional reference — applicants with a professional-body membership (AAT, CIPD Foundation, CIM Associate, CMI Level 3) should mention it on application.

Why Study at LSIBM

The London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a specialist business-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. Advanced Diploma cohorts sit in small groups so tutors track progress course by course, and every route is mapped to UK professional-body competencies — ACCA, CIMA, CIM, CIPD, CMI, CIPS, IOE&IT, CFA UK — so employers recognise the credential.

London puts the City, Canary Wharf, Whitehall, Companies House, the FCA, the Bank of England and the West End within a short tube ride of every classroom. Advanced Diploma students access a fortnightly practitioner clinic, an industry-careers day each cohort and structured application coaching in the final term.

Apply for the Advanced Diploma in Economics

Step up into the senior track with the Advanced Diploma in Economics. Click Enrol Now and our admissions team will respond within one working day with intake dates, credit-transfer guidance and current fees. Advanced Diploma graduates articulate directly into LSIBM Higher Diploma or Bachelor's top-up routes.