Your Student ID card is your gateway to many services at LSE. It is required for access into many buildings on campus and will serve as your library card.

New students will receive their student ID card at Registration. (LSE is unable to give you a card before your designated date.) If you would like to access the Library before registration, cut out the temporary pass provided in your welcome/offer pack and present it to Library reception. Alternatively, you may bring your offer letter to Library reception and staff will issue a temporary pass.

You do not need to do anything to activate your ID card. It should work as soon as you receive it.

Please be aware that information regarding the use of your student ID card is accessible to members of LSE staff and the use of this information includes but is not limited to determining whether a card is functioning accurately or for the purposes of attendance monitoring.

Replacement cards
sQuid
Alumni and staff
FAQs

Expired student ID cards

A replacement card can be ordered online via the LSE Online Store (eShop) website. You must select the 'expired ID card' option, so that you are not charged a fee.

If the order is placed before 4pm the card will usually be available for you to pick up from the Student Services Centre the next working day.

You will need to take your old card along to swap for the new card. Failure to present an expired card will likely result in you being unable to pick up the new card. If you no longer have the expired card you will have to order and pay for a replacement via the 'lost ID card' option.

Lost, stolen or damaged cards

How to order

Recent graduates and 12 month Msc students who are awaiting results are not eligible for a replacement student ID card. Visit the Alumni tab for details.

It is important that you follow these four steps as soon as possible. If your card was lost, you may want to consider first visiting main reception in the Old Building to see if it has been found.

1) Put a hold on your sQuid account: If you have activated the sQuid option on your card and topped it up with funds, immediately go to the sQuid website and choose Lost or stolen card. This will block your card and prevent further usage of the funds. (If you have not registered your card with sQuid, then you can skip this step.)

2) Order a new card: All replacement cards must be ordered and purchased (when necessary) online via the LSE Online Store (eShop) website. Please note that although the LSE Online Store requires that you enter an address, ID cards are NOT posted to students.

Lost cards can be replaced for a fee of £10. Visit the LSE online Store, read the information provided and select "Lost ID card replacement."

Stolen cards will be replaced free of charge if you supply a police crime reference number. To report a stolen card and get a crime reference number see: London Metropolitan Police. Visit the LSE Online Store and select "Stolen ID card replacement (with a crime reference number)".

Damaged cards will be replaced free of charge if you turn in the old card to the Student Services Centre when you collect your new card.  Visit the LSE Online Store and select "Damaged ID card replacement".

3)   Collect your new card when it is ready: If ordered online Monday to Friday before 4pm, your new card will be ready to collect from the Student Services Centre the following working day. If ordered Monday to Friday after 4pm, or over the weekend, it will be ready for you to collect after 2 working days. Please see Student Services Centre for opening hours.

If you need access to buildings before your card is ready for collection, you may print a copy of the order confirmation which will be emailed to you and use it to gain access.

4) Go back to the sQuid website and transfer your balance to your new card:   (If you have not registered your card with sQuid, then you can skip this step.) Applying for a new card at the Student Services Centre will NOT put a hold onto your sQuid account. You must follow all of the steps above.

sQuid

sQuid offers the option for your student ID card to be topped up with money online and used at a variety of vendors on the LSE campus. You must register your sQuid card in order to add money to it. Visit sQuid for details.

Alumni

LSE alumni and 12-month Masters students who are waiting for results may apply for a Library card from Library Reception. Visit Library services for LSE Alumni for further information.

Staff

Staff should request a card from Library Reception. If you are both a student and a member of staff, you should hold a staff card. Visit the Library to request to change your card from student to staff.

Frequently asked questions

1. I ordered my card several weeks ago and I have not yet received it in the post. When will I receive it?

Although the LSE Online Store requires you to enter your address when placing an order, cards are not posted to students. You should visit the Student Services Centre to collect your replacement card.

2. My card is about to expire or has expired. What should I do?

Follow the directions to order a replacement ID card. Please note that graduates and

12-month Masters students who are waiting for results are not eligible for a replacement Student ID card. See the "Alumni ID and staff" tab for details.

3. How can I access buildings while I wait for my new card to be ready for collection?

You will receive a confirmation email when you order a new card. Print the confirmation and show it to staff at building reception areas to request access to secure buildings until your new card is ready.

4. Can I have more than one ID card?

No. You may only hold one student ID card at a time. If you request a replacement card, and then find your old card, you are required to return the inactive card to the Student Services Centre

5. I found my old card. Can I have a refund?

No. Once an order has been placed for a new card, a refund can not be issued. Please note that it is LSE's policy that you hold only one student ID card at a time. You are required to return the inactive card to the Student Services Centre.

6. My card will allow me to use the magnetic strip to swipe into the Library, but will not allow me to tap into the Library. What should I do?

Check first to be sure that you are not storing your student card with an Oyster or a credit card. This can disrupt the sensor that allows you to tap into buildings. If the card still won't allow you to tap into buildings, then it is possible that your card has been damaged. Visit the Replacement card tab and follow the directions for a Damaged card to order a replacement card free of charge.

7. My card is not allowing me to access areas of campus that I think I should be able to access. Who can help?

There are a number of reasons why your card may not be allowing you to access buildings:

Are you suddenly unable to access main buildings that you were previously able to enter? Check first to be sure that you are not storing your student card with an Oyster or a credit card. This can disrupt the sensor that allows you to tap into buildings. If the card still won't allow you to tap into buildings, then it is possible that your card has been damaged. Visit the Replacement card tab and follow the directions to order a replacement card free of charge.
Do you require access to specialised areas of campus? If your card is allowing you to access main areas on campus, but will not allow you to enter specialised restricted areas (such as departmental study rooms or research labs), you should visit the LSE Security office (OLD 1.02) to request an upgrade to your access level.

Student ID card