Entry requirements

Applicants should usually have completed at least two years of study at an overseas university by the time they begin studying at the School.

However, we will also consider, on a case-by-case basis, applications from students who have directly entered the second year of university on the basis of A levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

Students undertaking a degree through the University of London International Programmes with LSE as the lead college are also eligible for entry after just one year of study. 

Students who have directly entered their second year on the basis of Advanced Placement exams will not normally be considered for a place. 

We positively welcome good applicants from any university in any country (except the UK), and will consider applications from students at institutions using any grading scale.

In general, we are looking for students who are in the top 10-15% of their class. If your country's entry requirements are not listed below, please consult the graduate entry requirements listed on these country pages. Your average cumulative grade should be the same as these. 

We look in detail at each applicant's recent university academic record, at what subjects have been studied and the level of success in those studies. We are primarily interested in a student's academic work in social science subjects and will be especially interested in the quality of work in the fields which they might wish to pursue at LSE.

English language test scores are not required from applicants who are either:

• a national of Canada (whose first language is English)
• a national of one of the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries
• studying for a degree taught entirely in English in one of the UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries

UKVI list of majority English-speaking countries

If you do not meet the above requirements, we accept a number of English language test scores, including the following: 

Other tests under the English language requirements section of the undergraduate entry requirements may be acceptable if you have already taken them.

Please note: You do not need to have obtained the required marks before you apply. If you receive an offer it will be conditional upon you subsequently providing an acceptable English language test score.