London School of Economics

History

Founded by Fabians, Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Graham Wallas and George Bernard Shaw in 1895 to specialize in the advanced study of the social sciences.
Subjects pioneered at LSE include anthropology, criminology, international relations, social psychology and sociology.
LSE has produced 34 world leaders and heads of state, and 15 Nobel Prize winners in economics, peace and literature.

Location and Transport

Located in the heart of central London, LSE’s departments and institutes are concentrated on one campus.
Communication and travel links are excellent, with access to multiple bus routes and tube stations.

Accommodation

Student accommodation is conveniently located in central London with many halls within easy walking distance of the campus.
There are ten halls of residence in central London, accommodating almost 3,500 students in a variety of facilities including flats, single or shared rooms many with en-suite bathrooms at a range of prices.
There are also eight intercollegiate halls for students from those who wish to live with students of other University of London colleges.
New undergraduates are guaranteed an offer of accommodation subject to application deadline.
For more information on accommodation at LSE, click here.

Entry standards
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Entry standards are high and LSE encourages applications from all students with the best academic potential, irrespective of background.
Excellent grades at A level (including A* for some subjects) are required in traditional academic subjects plus good GCSE grades.
There are many widening participation activities including: LSE Choice, Pathways to Law, summer schools and student tutoring, mentoring and shadowing.
Details of entry standards at LSE can be found here.

In receipt of full Maintenance Grant: bursary between £1,000 and £2,500.
In receipt of partial Maintenance Grant: bursary up to £1,000.

Tuition fees (2010): £3,290 for home/EU and £13,680 for overseas students.
The LSE Bursary is awarded to UK students from low income backgrounds. The maximum value is £2,500 per year. Students in receipt of a partial MG receive a proportion of the £2,500 Bursary.
The Discretionary Bursary worth up to £2,500 is available for UK and EU students who have additional financial difficulties.
A Job Shop provides part-time employment opportunities for students.
Twenty-five per cent of additional fee income to be earmarked for bursaries.
For more information on bursaries and scholarships at LSE, click here.

Student mix

There are 4,200 undergraduates and 5,400 postgraduate students, representing around 150 countries and thereby making LSE one of the most international universities in the world.
There are roughly equal numbers of male and female students.
Around 19,000 applications for 1,200 undergraduate places were received in 2009.

Course flexibility

There are 38 programmes that often allow the combination of different social science subjects.
They cover subjects including economics, politics and government, history, management, law, accounting, finance, international relations, philosophy, geography, social policy and sociology.
New areas of study are frequently introduced to keep pace with changes in the social sciences.

Teaching standards
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Departments have achieved outstanding results in external assessments.
A variety of rigorous internal systems help to maintain teaching quality.
Student views are important as a measure: these are sought by the school each year and are acted upon.

Research standards
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In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise LSE had the highest percentage of world leading research of any university in the UK, topping or coming close to the top of a number of rankings of research excellence.
LSE received the highest percentage for research rated as world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour. Over 90% of eligible staff were returned to the Research Assessment Exercise.
From its foundation, the School has sought to disseminate its research to fellow academics, the media, policy makers, opinion formers and the general public. Its new website, which includes its pioneering Experts Directory, invites audiences to 'Join the global debate at LSE'.
Academics are in continual demand as commentators, analysts and advisers to governments and the civil service both in the UK and internationally.
The School has around twenty formal research centres focusing on a broad range of social science activities.

Academic strengths

LSE is a specialist university with an international intake and a global reach. Its research and teaching span the full breadth of the social sciences, from economics, politics and law to sociology, anthropology, accounting and finance. The School has one of the largest concentrations of applied economic, financial and social researchers in the world.
Close partnerships with other universities include Columbia University in New York, Sciences Po in Paris, Peking University in Beijing and the National University of Singapore.
LSE attracts some of the most influential figures in the world to give public lectures, including Kofi Annan, Bill Clinton, Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson and George Soros, with free access for all students.
LSE is home to a number of well-known research groups, such as the Centre for Economic Performance and the Financial Markets Group established in 1987 by Mervyn King, now governor of the Bank of England.
LSE Health and Social Care, a research centre within LSE's department of Social Policy, recently won a Queen's Anniversary Prize for applying research to the advancement of global health and social care policy.

Student facilities, including Library and Computing
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The library is the world’s largest social science library with 4 million printed items, 30,000 e-journals and 1,600 archive collections.
Laptop points are located around the campus and there is a wireless network for speedy access to the internet.
LSE students borrow approximately five times the national average of books from the library.

Disability Services

The LSE is committed to promoting equality and diversity in order to deliver the best possible service to its students, staff and the wider community. Details on the disability services at LSE can be found here.

Students’ Union

There are over 190 student societies covering most countries in the world and specialist interest.
Students can also get involved in the School’s Media Group, student magazine and radio station.
Union general meetings are the only weekly student union meetings where every student can attend and vote.
For more information on the Students' Union at LSE, click here.

Sport

Facilities include a fitness centre, badminton and squash courts and a gymnasium.
There are football, rugby and cricket pitches, with tennis during the summer at the sports ground.
Students can also access the University of London’s sports facilities.
Click here for more details on sport at LSE.

Recent/prospective new builds

A new academic building to house the departments of management and law was officially opened in November 2008.

Availability of part-time work

The Job Shop advertises part-time jobs at LSE and with outside employers.
Opportunities are frequently advertised at the LSE for internships and voluntary work experience.
The LSE Careers Service provides a varied and comprehensive careers guidance and employment service for students.

For further information

Last updated 30/4/10

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