.n.b. We highly recommend that all new students fully read the new arrivals webpages in full: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/studentServicesCentre/newArrivals/Default.htm| a lot of important information is detailed here.

HOW DO I REGISTER AT THE SCHOOL?

The school registry publish all the relevant dates for registration on the new arrivals webpage (a link to this website can be found above). It is imperative that all new students check the date, time and location for your relevant registration period and attend this. Once you have registered you are given your LSE ID card, details about how to create a LSE email account and information about accessing your LSE For You account (LSE's web-based self-service student administration system).

Please note, school 'registration' and 'course selection' are 2 different things. Students must register with the school and then select courses to study.

See here for further information http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/studentServicesCentre/RegistrationUg/registrationug.2009.htm|

WHAT IS A STUDENT MENTOR AND WHY DO I HAVE ONE?

The LSE Student Mentoring Scheme was set up in an effort to help new undergraduate students at the School during their first year of study. The scheme was created to help new students settle in, and find out more about, the LSE. The scheme pairs all Undergraduate students with a 'mentor' who is sometimes a second or third year undergraduates in the same department.

The Scheme is optional for all new Undergraduates students and while we strongly advise you to take advantage of it, there are some students who may never feel the need to contact their mentor. All the student mentors have been through a training session and are aware of the available support services for students around the LSE campus. Mentors are able to help answer queries which many new students have as all mentors were new undergraduates during the previous year. It is hoped that experiences of mentors, will be passed onto mentees and help new students settle in.

Once you have a confirmed place at LSE you will be allocated to a student mentor, who will make contact with you through your LSE email account, in early - mid September. Two rooms are usually set aside on LSE premises during induction week. This is so that mentors can arrange a first meeting there with their mentees.

If you have any further queries about the School-wide student mentoring scheme, please email studentmentoring@lse.ac.uk|. And more information can be found here: http://www2.lse.ac.uk/intranet/students/supportServices/schoolWideMentoringScheme.aspx|

HOW DO I SET UP A BANK ACCOUNT?

It is essential that all new Undergraduate students begin the application to set up a UK bank account as soon as possible. British banks have introduced strict regulations about opening bank accounts. Security procedures have been implemented which can lead to delays for students who try to open an account on arrival in the UK.

The bank will ask you to provide documentation that confirms some or all of the following details:

Your identity
Your student status
Your London address
Your overseas address

Different banks require different forms of documentation and you should allow for delays in obtaining these. The Student Services Centre have information which details the specific information needed when opening new accounts with various UK banks.

HOW DO I SELECT MY COURSES?

All students are advised to read the course guide| section of the website and select 4 full units of study which they feel appeal to them. The courses which you select must comply with the programme regulations|. During your first meeting with your personal tutor, you will be required to discuss the courses which you are thinking of studying. Your tutor will then advise whether they think your selection is appropriate and may be able recommend other courses to better suit your needs etc.

Once you have agreed with your tutor which courses you wish to study, you will select these using LSE For You. Your tutor is required to approve these choices, via Lse For You (LSEforYou), LSE's web-based self-service student administration system. After you have selected them. All courses are subject to approval and selection of any course is also subject to availability and timetabling constraints.

The online course selection facility will be accessible from early September and you are required to register for your courses by late October. After this date the facility will be switched off.

I HAVE SELECTED MY COURSES ON LSE FOR YOU, WHERE DO I GET MY TIMETABLE?

Timetables are generated centrally by the Student Services Centre. They are only available once both the student, and tutor, have inputted the course selection, and approval, on Lse For You. Once this has been done, students are able to access their personal timetables on the web via Timetables at the end of week 1 of the Michaelmas Term.

I HAVE ACCESSED MY TIMETABLE AND I CANNOT MAKE THE TIMES OF MY CLASS.

Undergraduate classes are allocated centrally by the Student Services Centre.

Students may only request to change timetabled classes in exceptional circumstances. You can apply to change class online via LSEforYou by selecting the option 'Change Class Group' which appears within the 'Selection of Courses' tab. Please include all relevant dates and times in your request e.g. if your class change request is due to a recurring medical appointment, please list all days and times that you cannot make.

All requests to change class group must be approved by Hannah Wood. An email will be sent to your LSE email address from registry@lse.ac.uk| on behalf of the Department once a decision has been made on whether you have been permitted to change class group. If your request was approved, the revised class details will be posted on your individual timetable on the web within three working days.

Class sizes are carefully monitored. For this reason, you must attend the class to which you have been allocated, and is shown on your personal timetable. Even if you request to change class, you must continue to attend the class you were originally allocated to until your change is authorised. A warning email is automatically generated if a student is marked absent from two consecutive classes. Your class teacher will advise you if your name does not appear on his/ her class register.

While we strive to accommodate students' needs and outside obligations we are unable to allow students to join full classes.

I AM REGISTERED ON A JOINT DEGREE, WHICH DEPARTMENT AM I REGISTERED IN?

The Government Department is the lead Department for the single honours degree in Government and for the joint degrees in Government and Economics, Government and History and Politics and Philosophy. All students taking those degrees have their 'home' in the Government Department and have a Government tutor.

I THINK I WANT TO CHANGE MY DEGREE, WHAT DO I DO?

If you wish to change your degree programme then the matter should be first discussed with your tutor, or Undergraduate Student Advisor, and then the Departmental Tutor. If the change is to a degree within the Government Department then it is usually arranged without difficulty provided it is a suitable academic choice.

However, if the change involves transfer to another Department then that Department will need to give approval and the process of change will involve discussion with both departments involved.

More information see changing degrees|.

WHAT IS AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR?

Each Undergraduate student is allocated an academic advisor - the name of your advisor, along with your first appointment to meet them, will be given to you at the departmental induction meeting. The department views the pastoral care of its students very seriously. It is hoped the advisory system is a way for students to seek advice on a range of academic and welfare matters. The duties of advisors and their relations to their students are set out in your Undergraduate hand book (given to you at your induction meeting).

The Departmental Tutor (Jonathan Hopkin) is responsible for organising the advisory system within the guidelines laid down by the School and the Convenor of the Department.

WHO DO I TALK TO IF I HAVE A PROBLEM?

There are various people you are able to talk to.

The Government Department's Undergraduate Student Advisor, Hannah Wood, acts as the first point of contact for students seeking advice on academic related and pastoral matters. Hannah liaises closely with a range of departments to facilitate access to, and further enhance, the range of services provided to Undergraduate students. Hannah can be contacted during office hours (10.30 - 12.30 & 1.30 - 3.30pm during term time) in H318 and aims to advise and inform Undergraduate students on any issues which, directly and indirectly, affect their academic progress. Your tutor is able to discuss various school, academic and welfare issues with you. All departmental staff hold office hours on a weekly basis (a list of such hours is posted outside the Government office, H318) or you could e-mail your tutor and arrange an appointment to meet with them.

The Departmental Tutor is also available to give advice and help on any matters of concern to students, and certain procedures (e.g. changing degree courses, suspension of regulations) necessitate the approval of the Department Tutor before they can be implemented.