Support during your studies
Academic guidance, advice and pastoral care
We encourage you to make full use of all of the support services and facilities available to ensure you have the best possible experience during your time at LSE.
Learning and academic support
As well as formal contact time, as part of your studies at LSE you'll need to spend a large amount of time studying independently. This could include reading and writing essays, projects and other course work assignments, and research.
To support you with this, we have a range of services to turn to for advice and to help you make the most of your time at the School.
For guidance about a particular class, you can turn to your class teacher and/or the teacher responsible for each course who guides the class teachers.
You will also have an academic mentor, who receives regular reports from class teachers and meets with you during the course of the year to discuss your academic progress. The academic mentor is also there to help you with any academic, administrative or personal questions and point you in the direction of the most appropriate service at LSE.
In addition, each department has a Departmental Tutor responsible for the day to day running of undergraduate studies in the department.
All members of academic staff set aside specified times (office hours) when they are free to see any student to discuss any academic issue.
Find out more
LSE's Library, the British Library of Political and Economic Science, founded in 1896, is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and it’s a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide.
Find out more
- Getting Started with LSE Library Services | student vlog
- Why the LSE Library is one of the best study spots on campus | student blog
- Everything you need to know about the LSE Library | student blog
Your time at LSE will be busy. So it's important that you make the most of it - whether that means discovering your own "best" ways to study, learning more about your personal interests and goals, focusing on how you can apply what you are learning, or thinking about where your studies might lead you in the future.
LSE LIFE can help you with this. The LSE LIFE team, together with advisers and specialists from the Learning Lab, Careers, the Library, the Language Centre, and others can offer you:
- a space where you can meet and work alongside students from other programmes and departments
- one-to-one advice and group workshops where you can get hands-on practice of reading, academic writing, critical thinking and communication skills
- special events to explore how to make the most of your time at LSE and in London and prepare for life after studies.
Find out more
- LSE's Learning Lab: a go-to place to support your studies | student blog
- LSE LIFE – your lifeline for outstanding success at university | student blog
The Language Centre specialises in offering modern language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences.
They offer a range of courses and support including English language support during your studies, proofreading and translation, English and modern language courses.
Find out more
- Opportunities with the LSE Language Centre | student blog
- My experience learning Arabic at LSE’s Language Centre | student blog
The PhD Academy has a common room, teaching room and advice hub for PhD students to meet, access specialist centralised services and take part in interdisciplinary events, training and other development activities.
We host Support Sessions from LSE Careers, the Financial Support Office (FSO), International Student Visa and Advice Team, the Language Centre and Methodology for PhD Students. There are also workshops focused on wellbeing, academic writing, project management, ethics and media and communications.
Read student Aishwarya's blog to find out more about LSE's PhD Academy.
Careers and alumni
LSE prepares you for life after study through LSE Careers and keeps you connected to the School after graduation with the LSE Alumni Hub.
Whether you already know where you want to go or you’ve barely even thought about the word "career", LSE Careers can help you connect with your future.
This could be working with you to understand yourself and how this can contribute to your next steps, or it could be providing opportunities for you to explore different sectors, get insights from LSE alumni, or meet with employers looking to recruit LSE graduates.
In addition to our overarching careers education programme of events, tools and resources, LSE Careers also offers department-specific sessions as well as tailored support for specific groups. Currently, this includes undergraduate students, postgraduate students, PhD students, international students, students looking to work in particular countries, students from underrepresented backgrounds, and students interested in specific sectors. You can get a full sense of these tailored programmes on our website.
If you have questions or need a one-to-one chat, you’ll also be able to book appointments with an LSE careers consultant. And, if you’re looking for part-time work, internships, or graduate roles, as an LSE student you’ll have exclusive access to hundreds of opportunities on our jobs board.
If you have any questions about careers support at LSE, you can email LSE Careers and the team will get back to you.
Once you have graduated you will become part of the LSE alumni community, which is a global network of 200,000 change makers, leaders and influencers. LSE Alumni are committed to engaging you in your lifelong relationship with the School, and to providing you with access to the network, the School's intellectual capital, volunteering opportunities and the resources you need to enhance your lives and careers beyond your degree years on campus.
Wellbeing, health and pastoral support
There are a range of services at LSE to ensure your health and wellbeing is taken care of - from medical centres on campus to teams specialising in counselling, disability and mental health.
LSE’s Student Wellbeing Service comprises of Student Wellbeing and Counselling Services and Disability and Mental Health Services. The team are dedicated to support students to reach their full potential with the aim of making their experience of studying at LSE rewarding and meaningful.
The services are free, confidential and based on self-referral and helping students improve their wellbeing whilst studying at LSE.
Student Wellbeing and Counselling Service
The LSE Student Wellbeing and Counselling Service aims to enable students to cope more effectively with any personal or study difficulties that may be affecting them while at LSE.
The service is free of charge, and sessions either in-person or via Zoom can be booked in advance with our professionally qualified and experienced counsellors, and there is also a daily drop-in service.
Disability and Mental Health Services
We're committed to enabling all students to achieve their full potential in an environment characterised by dignity and mutual respect, and we aim to ensure that all individuals are treated equitably.
The School's Disability and Mental Health Service provides a free, confidential service to all students and is a first point of contact for all disabled students, prospective and current. Specialist advisers are available to see students on a one-off or ongoing basis and cover a range of conditions.
Prospective students are encouraged to make early contact with the team and, where possible, to make a preliminary visit to the School. UK students may be eligible for a Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) to fund disability-related costs of study.
LSE Careers offers tailored services for students with disabilities or neurodiverse conditions including a dedicated careers consultant specialising in disability and employment, and longer, flexible appointments to accommodate individual needs. They also offer advice on recruitment processes, disclosure, reasonable adjustments to recruitment processes and the workplace environment, legal issues and other disability careers topics.
Find out more
- How LSE’s Student Wellbeing and Counselling Service helped me | student blog
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Support | student vlog
- Student wellbeing support at LSE | student blog
Peer Supporters are trained student volunteers who help their peers by offering a non-judgmental, confidential listening space to any LSE student. No issue is too big or small to bring to a peer supporter. They will listen, and if you wish, can help you explore options for how to move forward.
The Medical Centre, based in Tower Three at Pethick-Lawrence House, provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.
Sardinia House Dental Practice offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.
The Faith Centre is home to the LSE's diverse religious activities, transformational interfaith leadership programmes and a space for prayer, worship and reflection for all staff and students.
Accommodation and practical support
Read about LSE's residential and financial services, as well as practical support from the Student Services Centre, IT team and LSE Nursery.
Our Accommodation team can support you whilst living in LSE residences and can also help you find private accommodation after first year. Each hall of residence has its own team of wardens, peer supporters and a student committee who are there to provide practical advice, pastoral support and organise a programme of social activities.
Take a look at blogs from our students on what living in student halls is like and tips for finding private accommodation.
The Financial Support Office team administer School funds and a variety of scholarships, studentships, prizes and awards.
They also give advice on budgeting and provide support to students through maintenance payments, the Postgraduate Travel Fund, Financial Support Drop-in sessions and more.
Find out more
- How to navigate financial support at LSE | student blog
- LSE funding for UK undergraduates – financial support and bursaries | student blog
- How to secure financial support – tips for prospective doctoral students | student blog
The Student Services Centre, based in the ground floor of the Old Building, is a useful central point for all queries relating to your studies, including academic and pastoral care.
We can signpost and refer you to the most appropriate services or teams; as well as talk to you about your options and explain processes if you're having any difficulties.
The LSE Nursery has an ongoing partnership scheme with three local nurseries for working families wanting to access discounted childcare close to campus. The scheme is open to both LSE staff and students.
As an LSE student, you can make use of a range of IT resources, facilities and technology, through the Data and Technology Services team.
Need help? Don't worry - there are people to ask, as well as guidance so you can ensure you're making the most of the technology available.
- online training and guidance
- free anti-virus software and Microsoft Office downloads for the duration of your studies
- specialist facilities, support and assistive technology available for disabled students
- connect your own computer to the LSE environment and access services and resources off and on campus
- virtual learning environment, offering a range of resources online
- lecture capture
Community, equity and advice
LSE is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students. Discover our services and resources.
The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Office serves as a vital resource and leader in promoting and furthering LSE’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion for all members of its community.
The EDI Office provides the delivery of services for students, academic staff, professional services staff, and senior management to support diversity, inclusiveness, equal access, equitable treatment, and multicultural understanding and competency. For example, EDI has set up the Safe Contacts Scheme with 39 trained staff volunteers across departments and divisions who provide a signposting service for any students who might want to report or discuss incidents of bullying and harassment of any form. Learn more about how EDI affects students and support services available here.
Feel free to get in touch with EDI by emailing edi@lse.ac.uk, if you have any concerns or questions regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion at LSE.
Studying through adversity: equity, diversity and inclusion at LSE | student blog
The Students' Union Advice Service offers all LSE students free, independent and confidential advice on academic and housing matters. It also administers a hardship and childcare fund for students who find themselves in unforeseen financial hardship.