The information below offers an overview for graduate students on what to expect during your first few days. For a timeline of events, visit the Orientation Timetable| or the Students' Union website| for a filtered calendar of events.
PhD/Research students should visit the Orientation information for PhD/Research students| provided by the Research Degrees Unit.
Registration
Registration is the important compulsory process that will finalize your status as a student on a degree programme at LSE. Assuming you have come prepared with the correct documentation (see the links below for details), our staff will simply confirm the authenticity of your paperwork and issue you a student identity card. Although you should plan for long queues, once you are registered, you will officially be a student at LSE! Assuming you have no other scheduled events, the rest of the day is yours.
Need proof that you are a student? If you need documentation that proves that you have registered, you can print copies of your Certificate of Registration| approximately one hour after you have registered by logging into LSE for You. Then, bring the printed Certificate of Registration and your new ID card to the Student Services Centre during open hours| to have it signed and stamped by a member of staff. It will then be an official document that can prove that you are a student.
Important Note: Registration should only be attended at your assigned time, which can be found by visiting the links below. Unless you are registering for a pre-sessional course, please do not arrive in London early hoping to register in advance. You will not choose individual classes at Registration. See the Choosing Courses section below for details.
School Orientation Presentation
This welcome presentation given by key LSE staff offers essential information about the School structure, registration and academic life. All students are expected to attend Orientation, which typically lasts no longer than an hour and a half.
Students with disabilities are also invited to attend the Orientation Meeting for Disabled Students|.
Departmental Orientation
Your department will also likely hold a separate meeting in order to give you the opportunity to meet your lecturers and fellow students in your department. Visit the Orientation Timetable| to confirm the dates and times that are applicable for you. Events usually vary depending on your department, so please contact them directly with any questions.
Information sessions for students on a Tier 4 visa
Tier 4 students are strongly advised to attend one of the information session being held by the International Student Immigration Service (ISIS). No need to book in advance! Just turn up at one of the scheduled sessions. Visit Tier 4 Info Sessions| for further details regarding times, dates and locations.
Freshers' Fair
The Freshers' Fair is not just for undergraduate students! All students who register at LSE automatically become a member| of the LSE Students' Union. Each year, the Freshers' Fair gives incoming students a chance to join the many clubs and societies available at LSE as well as get information on relevant companies and University services all in one place. The Fair will feature booths from each sport and society. Stop by booths that catch your interest to gather further information. Most of the booths will be the same on both days, so you will probably only need to set aside one day to take the time to visit the stalls. Social events are also held during the Freshers' Fair. Keep in mind that you are generally required to sign up for these events, and there may be a small fee to participate.
This year's Fair will take place on Thursday, 29 September 2011, 10am-7pm at Victoria House| (Bloomsbury Place, London, WC1A 2EB). Contact the Students' Union with questions.
Campus Tours
Feeling a little lost? There are tours available during the Orientation period. Details can be found on the Help Points and campus tours website|.
Choosing Courses
Some students, including international students who are studying in the UK for the first time, may find the LSE course selection process to be different than what they have experienced in the past. New students can typically start selecting courses prior to arriving at LSE. See Course Registration| for details on how to register for courses and the Timetables| website for details about lectures and graduate seminars.
If you have any questions about which courses you should be choosing, please consult with your department.
Important Note: Keep in mind that the option to select courses will only become available after all of your required admissions documents have been received and processed by Graduate Admissions. Late submission of your documentation could result in delays to your course choice process as well.
Events to consider
There are a number of other administrative and social events going on before, during and after Orientation Week to help you get settled. Visit the Orientation Timetable| and see the Events to Consider section at the bottom for further details.
Drop-in sessions
There are a number of places to go if you have questions. The Advice and Reception team| are available during the Student Services Centre opening times| to answer general questions and to help you find the right place to go for assistance.
For specialist help regarding your fees, financial support, admissions, or for student immigration support, you may consider meeting face-to-face with a member of staff during a scheduled drop-in session|. Some services will offer extended drop-in hours during the Orientation period.