Frequently Asked Questions

Psychology, behavioural science or a related social science background are relevant areas of study. We will also consider some other academic backgrounds on a case by case basis, particularly if combined with relevant work experience. It is advisable to speak to a potential supervisor about your academic background if you are unsure, and they will be able to advise you on the relevance and any other course you might be required to take if offered a place on the programme.

For more information about entry requirements, please read through the information provided on the .

We recommend that every applicant contacts a potential supervisor(s) before applying. Key to this is ensuring an overlap between your research proposal and their research interests. The best way to contact a potential supervisor is to email them directly. Contact details of each member of faculty, along with their research interests can be found on .

You can also contact pbs.phd@lse.ac.uk if you have any questions about the process of initiating contact with a potential supervisor.

All applicants who apply before the funding deadline and are subsequently made an offer will be considered for funding.

Currently we can offer two departmental studentships per year. All relevant offer-holders’ applications are assessed and ranked by our funding panel. The funding panel generally takes place in March, and the outcomes are communicated in April. If you have any concerns over this timeline, please contact pbs.phd@lse.ac.uk. Additionally, please note that although students can apply to up to two departments, if you select the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science as your second choice, there is the risk that we will only receive your application after our internal committee’s studentship shortlisting meeting has taken place, and therefore, we will not be able to consider you for one of our departmental studentships. This is because we will only receive your application after the review by your first-choice department has taken place. Please take this into consideration when making your application.

Should you be unsuccessful in gaining one of the two studentships, any offer made would still stand on a self-funding or alternative funding basis.

There are various other funding routes. Some students are sponsored by employers. Others will gain a studentship from another part of LSE. We have students with funding from The Grantham Research Institute (see https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/about/work-and-study/) and from the International Inequalities Institute (III) (see https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/Graduate/fees-and-funding/III-phd-studentships-analysing-challenging-inequalities).

See here for further details of funding:

The MPhil/PhD programme is a full-time programme. Occasionally, requests for a change of status to part-time will be accepted after starting on the programme (e.g. due to working more than 20 hours per week). However, please note that we cannot guarantee that an application to change to part-time status will be accepted.

Yes, one of the requirements of the programme is that you reside near enough to London to be able to visit the LSE campus on a regular basis.

All MPhil/PhD students must attend our weekly seminar (currently every Tuesday in term time). Students are also expected to attend regular supervision meetings, as well as any other courses agreed with your supervisor (a minimum of 10 hours of additional training per year).