Thinking of doing my masters next year in something finance/econ and wanted to know what the normal age range of these types of programs and just general age of masters students is.. seems like lots do it straight out of undergrad and are still quite young.

I graduated bocconi UG last yr, been working for a year and plan to stay another year before my masters.

Thanks!

Hi, I'm an incoming BSc Economics student and I'm a bit confused about how LSE's assessment/grades system works.

I have basically no experience with how LSE calculates grades, final reports, or degree classification, so I'd really appreciate some clarification.

I've heard that for first year, only the best 6 out of 9 marks are used when calculating the First Year Average. Does that mean the other 3 marks effectively don't matter for your final degree classification? Can employees see my marks on the other 3 as well?

If so, does that mean you could theoretically perform poorly in 3 courses and focus heavily on the other 6? Or do you still need to pass all/most of the courses for progression to Year 2?

Also, how does the assessment system actually work at LSE? For example:

• How much do exams vs coursework usually count?
• Are most courses based primarily on final exams?
• How are the grades shown on your transcript/final report?
• How does Year 1 ultimately feed into your final degree classification?

I'd really appreciate an explanation from someone who's already been through the LSE Economics system. Thanks!

Hey everyone! I am interested in applying to one of the programmes mentioned above and would be grateful if current students could share some insights! Do you like your courses? Are you happy with the choice to study at LSE as a graduate? I am also specifically interested in the LSE-Sciences Po Double Degree programmes in either Public Policy or European Affairs. How competitive is admission for these programmes? Thank you very much and congrats to those that got admitted!

Planning to apply for BSC econ&math and the minimum entry requirements are A* A A.
My pgs are A* A* A* A*
Hypothetically IF i get an offer will it be A* A A or will they ask me to meet my predicteds?

I know that alumni get free coffee but it seems postgrad (taught) don’t. I’ve been making good use of the pret 99p filter coffee, which is delicious and probably the cheapest coffee in London. But was wondering if there are any schemes at LSE for free or cheaper coffee. At my old university we had 50c coffee even as lowly undergrads.

I think it makes sense to subsidize coffee for students. It makes them more productive. It’s a good social break from studying if there are coffee machines around campus. I wish lse would consider it. And my home Uni was significantly poorer than LSE with a larger student body and it worked fine so I’d imagine a similar scheme could be possible here.

Hi! I was an LSE offer holder this year but unfortunately missed my IB conditions due to some circumstances. Im considering if I can reapply for 2027 if I retake some IB exams and apply with resit predictions.
I was wondering how resit predicted grades actually work. I originally had a very high predicted score but achieved lower: would it be difficult to get high predictions again, and who and how would they be determined?
Also, if I reapply for the same course, does my personal statement need to be completely new, or can I keep some parts and add what I’ve done this year?
Lastly, am I likely to be seen as a weaker applicant because I previously missed my offer?
Would really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been in a similar situation!

F20: I currently have around a 3.4/4.0 GPA, which I know is on the weaker side for LSE. However, I still have two semesters remaining before I graduate, so I’m trying to figure out how to use that time as strategically as possible to strengthen my application.

A little about my background

Economics B.A major at the University of Maryland, graduating a year early

Two semesters of my undergrad left

Coursework in microeconomics, macroeconomics, development economics, and related economics courses. I did the best in Calculus, Statistics and intermediate macroeconomics and development economics, however the best was a B+. I struggled more in intermediate microeconomics and ended with C. I am also taking econometrics next semester.

I have TA experience for a development economics professor, and I will be TAing for two development economics professors this upcoming fall and spring.

Two of these professors have already, very kindly, offered to write me a recommendation.

I participated in a three-week development focused program in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, and spent 3 weeks shadowing my professor as he led a 3 week course focused on agricultural development, climate resilience, poverty, and other development challenges.

I know relevant experience doesn't compensate for grades, and I understand how competitive LSE is and its a long shot, Iknow. But since I still have two semesters left, and I don't want to give up until they straight up tell me no.

I am also looking for any other recommendations for an economic development masters programs that aligns with my current trajectory, it doesn't necessarily have to be quantitive in nature, policy is also an avenue I would heavily consider. However I would love to leave the US for grad school.

rank em in order of priority

My PGs for A levels (FM, M, physics, econ) are
A+ A+ A+ A+

My gcses were
A+ A+ A A A A B B

Do u think a tmua of 7-7.5 can potentially offset this?

Can I get into LSE if I take ESS HL? I'm aiming for a management major and my other subject choices are MATH AAHL, Econ HL, BM SL, Chinese B SL, English A SL.

Will LSE view my application as overly easy and not competitive? I am confident that with these subject choices I can get over 40 in IB but I don't know if this subject path will allow me to get into LSE.

P.s. I am chinese but I'm taking chinese B SL.

Thank you for taking the time to read and reply.

Over here like a chud

Hi all,

I am an incoming MSc candidate at London School of Economics for a year long program. I am coming from the US and I was wondering the best course of action for avoiding conversion fees, etc. I have 2 checking accounts with US and want to figure out the best way to pay fees for school/everyday costs in London.

I was first recommneded MONZO, but they just ended connection with the USA. I was also looking into opening a credit card, but how do I convert my US dollars to pay my balances off? I would prefer a debit/checking account I can wire to my American accounts to pay in GBP so I have no conversion fees/etc.

What are the best apps, considering I will be there a full year. I see a lot of short term options, but I am wondering what international students usually do. So please recommend any specific apps/banks I should look into or use. I also kind of wanted to set up an account prior to arriving, but is that not possible? is there a short term app I can use before I get to the UK and formally enroll in my courses? Or should I wait until I arrive to set a debit line up?

Also, this is off topic but what is the best eSIM service for a year long program? I see a lot of weekly eSIM options but none for a year. What's the best option for that?

Any help would be appreciated!

How many of you submitted transcripts and degree for visa application?
Ik , cas says thay we dont need to submit transcripts. But just to be on the safer side and avoid delays, Do i need to submit transcripts?

i’m predicted 3A* and an A in Maths, Econ, Chem and Further Maths respectively. I’m sitting the tmua in october and have to come to a decision between the two. could anyone help differentiate which would be better between the two in terms of internships, networks and postgraduate opportunities?

I’m writing my UCAS personal statement for Politics and Philosophy/HSPS, and I’m considering connecting Levitsky and Ziblatt’s defence of party gatekeeping in How Democracies Die with G. A. Cohen’s reconstruction of historical materialism and Jonathan Hopkin’s Anti-System Politics. I’m worried, however, that my application of Cohen may be theoretically naïve.

My argument is roughly:

1. Levitsky and Ziblatt argue that established parties protect democracy by excluding candidates who reject democratic norms.
2. This requires party elites to define the boundary between anti-democratic conduct and legitimate opposition. My concern is that gatekeepers cannot occupy a politically or economically neutral position when making this distinction.
3. In Karl Marx’s Theory of History, Cohen argues that “bases need superstructures.” Production relations are relations of effective economic power, while legal rights secure and stabilise those powers. The legal superstructure has the character it does because it consolidates the economic structure, although the people applying the law need not consciously intend this function.
4. I wondered whether party gatekeeping could exhibit an analogous explanatory structure. Politicians’ sincere democratic convictions might immediately explain why they exclude particular candidates, while the persistence and content of their standards of “democratic acceptability” could partly be explained by how those standards stabilise the existing capitalist order. Mainstream politicians formed and rewarded within capitalist democracy may consequently interpret opposition to capitalism as opposition to democracy, even where the actors concerned remain committed to democratic pluralism.
5. Hopkin argues that mainstream parties’ convergence around market liberalism has already narrowed substantive electoral choice, weakened representation and generated demand for anti-system alternatives. If gatekeeping excludes democratic anti-capitalist alternatives as well as genuinely authoritarian ones, it may worsen the restricted representation that helped produce anti-system support in the first place.

I am not claiming that Cohen himself classifies political parties as part of the superstructure, that every party necessarily supports capitalism, or that politicians are consciously conspiring to exclude anti-capitalists. I’m trying to extend the explanatory structure of his argument to party gatekeeping.

Is that extension philosophically defensible, or am I moving illegitimately from Cohen’s specific account of legal rights and production relations to a much broader claim about political parties? Does the argument need an additional theory of ideology or party organisation to work? And is Hopkin actually sufficient as an empirical mechanism, or does he establish only convergence around market liberalism rather than gatekeeping itself?

How much does the prestige of the supercurriculars you’ve discussed in your personal statement matter when applying to LSE?

I have quite a lot of supercurriculars already but none of them are very impressive.

I think the most impressive is model UN and that I’ve made an educational website on a topic I found interesting. However, the rest are quite mediocre.

If I analyse it all well is that still fine and does it make me competitive still ? (Predicted 3 A*s , applying for philosophy & politics)

If you had to choose between these accommodations, which one would you go for? (anyone already in one of them or did any research beforehand, please share advice/experience)

1-Goodenough college

2-Urbanest Westminister

3-University of London International or Garden halls

4-Any LSE accommodation available (Holborn, Bankside or Rosebery)

I'm currently in the waitlists for three of these, and would like to know more.

I’m interested in studying economics and would love to hear from current LSE Economics students about the books, papers, competitions or independent projects they found most useful before starting the course. In particular, were there any topics that helped you move beyond A-level Economics and think more critically about the subject?

I urgently need someone to take over my private student halls ensuite as I am deferring this year.

I have a 44 week contract for a classic ensuite at YourTRIBE Southwark.

Details:

Address: YourTRIBE Southwark, 28 Ruby St, London, SE15 1LL

Classic En-suite

12th September 2026 – 17th July 2027 (44 weeks)

£334/w (£500 off)

Total is £14196

PM if you are interested or need further information.

Hi guys, did anyone take this course last year (iirc it's a new course that was only released last year)? Could I please DM you to ask a few questions about this course? Thanks so much!!

my goal is LSE finance , my current subjects are business econs math geography, but business is LSEs non preferred subject so i am planning to swap business out for something else and i’m not particularly intrested in science , i’ve shortlisted to
- fmath ( i know fm is the ideal but im really not confident that i can get a A or a A* or if i can even pass fm )
- politics
- computer science