LSE is a world-leading pioneer of the social sciences, having played a unique role in defining and developing key academic subjects.
International relations, social policy, sociology, social anthropology, social psychology and criminology all have their origins as subjects of university study in the innovative work carried out by LSE academics.
Teaching staff have included some of the world's most influential social scientists. Harold Laski was hugely significant in political science, as was R H Tawney in economic history, Friedrich Hayek in economics, Malinowski in anthropology, Richard Titmuss in social policy and Sir Arthur Bowley in statistics. A total of 16 alumni or staff have been awarded Nobel Prizes, and the research carried out at LSE has long been disseminated around the world, informing government policy and business practice.
With the highest percentage of world-leading research of any university in the UK, the School is committed to continuing its role as a guardian of the social sciences, leading the debate in new intellectual areas.
LSE continues to attract some of the most influential academic researchers from across the globe.
See Academic Departments| and Research Centres| indexes.