Each level of graduate study (diploma, master's, MPhil/PhD) has particular minimum entry requirements which you must have in order to be considered. These consist of your degree(s) and your proficiency in the English language. Please consult individual programme entries as well as reading the information below.
Your application will be considered on its academic merits. An offer of a place may be conditional on attending additional courses and/or passing qualifying examinations at a suitable standard, in addition to your degree. You should note that there are always many more applications than places available at LSE and possession of the minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee that you will be offered admission. It is therefore in your interests to apply as early as possible.
Applications for entry in 2012 opened on 10 October 2011.
If you are taking, or have taken, a recognised degree programme outside the UK you will need to have obtained, or expect to obtain, at least 70 per cent of the available marks in your final year examinations. If your institution uses the cumulative grade point average (GPA) system you should normally have obtained, or expect to obtain, a GPA of at least 3.5 (out of 4) or above. For detailed information about the equivalence of non-UK qualifications, please see Information for international students|.
Most graduate programmes assume that you will have prior knowledge to degree level in particular disciplines. Competition varies between programmes and the level of grades/marks required will vary. Popular programmes will often look for a first class honours degree or its equivalent.
The minimum entrance requirements for each type of programme are normally as follows:
Diploma
A degree or equivalent qualification and experience. You will not normally be accepted for a diploma programme similar in content to one that you have already taken at the School.
Master's degree
A first or upper second class honours (2:1) degree from a UK university or a non-UK equivalent in a subject appropriate to the programme to be followed.
MPhil/PhD and MRes/PhD Political Science
Normally a UK taught master's degree with merit or a non-UK equivalent in a subject appropriate to the research to be undertaken. The most appropriate supervisor for your work will be allocated with particular reference to your research proposal.
Any offer of a place would depend on:
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the quality and feasibility of your research proposal
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your academic qualifications, and relevant professional or other experience, if appropriate
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the ability of the department to provide adequate and appropriate supervision
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an interview with the department, unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent this
MRes/PhD Economics
Your entry qualification determines which track you will follow if your application is successful. For entry onto either track, candidates should have, as a minimum, a first or upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, in a closely related discipline. Track 1 students fulfil the entry requirements for a master's degree and follow the 2+2 structure laid out below. Track 2 may involve an exemption from some of the taught courses and will only be recommended by the course conveners if, in their judgement, a student already has appropriate prior training in quantitative methods and has already completed an MA or MSc in a relevant discipline. Upgrade to the PhD depends on successful completion of the MRes in either track.
MSc (Research) 1+3/2+2 programmes
These programmes are structured to comply with the requirements for financial support from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), which is available only to those applicants from the European Union. The programmes themselves are open to students from any part of the world. A 1+3 programme is a linked programme of a one year master's followed by PhD study. A 2+2 programme is a linked programme of a two year master's followed by PhD study.
For information on ESRC studentships, please see www.esrc.ac.uk| (click on the 'Academic' link, then the funding opportunities icon), which also includes the ESRC application form and lists of eligible programmes.
The total duration of ESRC funding for full-time programmes is four years and for part-time, seven years. If you wish to study part-time, you must check that your chosen programme is one of those that have been specifically recognised by the ESRC for part-time study. Some programmes have been recognised on a 2+2 basis – a two year master's programme followed by two years of further study for the PhD.
Admission to 1+3 or 2+2 programmes
If you wish to be considered for a 1+3 or 2+2 programme – usually listed as MSc (Research) – you must include an outline research proposal with your application. This proposal should be a brief description of the research topic you are considering pursuing during your PhD and should explain why you are interested in this area of research. As your research interests will develop further over the year of your master's training your proposal need only be indicative.
If your application is successful you will be offered admission either:
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to the master's programme only, with no commitment at this stage to the PhD programme, or
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to the master's and PhD programme, with entry to the PhD subject to you achieving specific marks/grades in your final master's examinations and/or other conditions. Where such an offer is made, an interview with the department will usually be required unless there are exceptional circumstances which prevent this.
Visiting research students
Visiting research students| attend for one or more terms and study up to four graduate or undergraduate courses. Examinations are optional, but students wanting to sit the examination in a course must have attended the course for the full year.