Study at The London School of Economics and Political Science

Location and student life

LSE has a single compact campus around Houghton Street in Aldwych, on the border of Westminster and Camden in central London, between Covent Garden and Holborn. Most teaching buildings, the library and the Students' Union are within a few minutes' walk, and halls of residence are spread across the city with good Underground, bus and rail links from across the capital. Living centrally means easy access to museums, theatres, the City and Westminster, alongside high London living costs that applicants should budget for.

Courses and subjects

LSE teaches only social sciences, organised into about 27 departments and institutes. Core areas include Economics, Finance, Accounting, Government, International Relations, Law, Management, Sociology, Geography, Anthropology, Economic History, Statistics and Philosophy. Undergraduate degrees are single-subject and academically demanding, while the graduate school offers a large range of taught master's programmes, diplomas and MPhil/PhD research across the same disciplines. Offer holders who need extra English preparation can take pre-sessional courses through the LSE Language Centre rather than a general foundation year.

Entry requirements for international students

International applicants qualify with school-leaving results accepted as equivalent to UK A levels (such as the International Baccalaureate) or a recognised bachelor's degree for postgraduate study; exact grades vary by course, so check individual programme pages. For undergraduates, IELTS Academic is typically 7.0 overall with 7.0 in each component from a single sitting within two years of entry. Graduate programmes set Standard, Higher or Research English levels, so requirements differ. The LSE Language Centre offers pre-sessional English courses for offer holders who narrowly miss their condition.

Accommodation

LSE houses students in its own halls of residence across London. New first-year undergraduates and General Course (study abroad) students are guaranteed a place if they book by the published deadline; new postgraduate and continuing students are not covered by the guarantee and apply subject to availability. Private renting is common in later years, and LSE runs a rent guarantor scheme to help non-UK residents secure private tenancies. Check the LSE accommodation pages for the current deadline and policy.

Scholarships and funding

The Uggla Family Scholars Programme offers around ten undergraduate awards each year, including three for new students with Overseas fee status, combining a partial tuition fee award with a full maintenance stipend (described by LSE as worth over £23,000 a year). For taught master's and diploma students, the means-tested Graduate Support Scheme gives awards ranging from £5,000 to £20,000 to supplement other funding. Criteria and values change each year, so check the LSE fees and funding pages for current details.