Advanced Diploma in International Economics
Course Overview
The Advanced Diploma in International Economics at the London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a senior-track Level 5 qualification for practitioners already working on trade or country-desk economics and ready to lead a piece of work end-to-end — a senior trade adviser at a UK trade body, a sector economist at a City house, or a lead analyst inside HM Treasury or the Department for Business and Trade. Sitting inside the International Business & Trade faculty, it covers applied trade policy modelling, FDI economics, sanctions analysis and open-economy macro appropriate for a senior desk brief.
The Advanced Diploma runs over 12 to 15 months and is available on-campus in central London, fully online, or by distance learning. Tutors are practising senior economists drawn from the Society of Business Economists, GES fast-stream and City sector desks, and the closing brief asks each student to write a full trade-impact assessment for a simulated UK FTA chapter or sanctions round. The sections below cover modules, audience and progression.
Key Features
- Curriculum reviewed against Government Economic Service (GES) senior-analyst standards and Society of Business Economists chartered content.
- Applied focus — recent UK trade deals (CPTPP, UK-Australia, UK-EU TCA), Russia sanctions and CBAM.
- Three study modes — central London campus, fully online, or distance learning — with UK/APAC cohort calls.
- Closing brief: a trade-impact assessment for a simulated UK FTA chapter or sanctions round.
- Direct articulation into the LSIBM Higher Diploma or BSc top-up in International Economics.
What You Will Learn
The Advanced Diploma builds a senior trade economist. You will finish able to lead a trade-impact assessment, run a small CGE analysis at commissioning level, brief a minister-track official, and defend the numbers to a scrutiny committee.
- Applied trade policy modelling — partial equilibrium, gravity, CGE at commissioning level.
- FTA chapters — market access, rules of origin, services and digital trade.
- FDI economics — location theory, Dunning's OLI, real-option valuation basics.
- Sanctions analysis — OFSI regime, third-country effects and diversion.
- Border regimes — Border Target Operating Model, CBAM, single-use plastics duty.
- Open-economy macro — Mundell-Fleming, capital flows, current-account sustainability.
- WTO dispute-settlement and appellate-body-review basics.
- Writing to Green Book and Better Business Case standards.
Who This Course Is For
- Diploma-level international economists stepping into senior desk seats.
- Trade advisers at UK trade bodies, chambers and government departments.
- Sector economists at City banks and asset managers.
- Policy leads at UK exporters running structured trade-impact work.
- GES fast-streamers preparing for senior progression board.
Career Pathways
Advanced Diploma graduates step into senior trade-economics roles across UK consultancies, government departments, trade bodies, City sector desks and exporter policy functions. Outcomes remain individual.
- Senior International Economist
- Trade Economist (lead)
- Sector Economist (City)
- Policy Lead (economics)
- Senior Trade Adviser
- FDI Analyst (senior)
The Advanced Diploma is a direct feeder into the LSIBM Higher Diploma, BSc top-up, GES senior applications, and applied MSc programmes.
Entry Requirements
- A relevant Diploma (Level 4), Foundation Year, or two years of substantive economics or trade-policy experience — numeracy comfort is expected.
- 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 SBE membership or GES fast-stream progress 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 International Economics
Step up into the senior track with the Advanced Diploma in International 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.
