Information for parents and carers

Studying at LSE will be a challenging, stimulating and eye-opening experience. We expect our students to critically engage with their degree and consider the real-world application of the academic topics they are studying.

Our academics: Our students are taught by world-leading academics whose research plays a key role in informing public debates and shaping the world we live in. Over 97% of our academic staff are actively engaged in research, with many acting as expert advisers to political parties, the Civil Service and policy pressure groups. 

Our programmes: We offer over 40 undergraduate programmes, many of which are joint or combined honours programmes. As we are keen for students to develop transferable skills and understand the interdisciplinary nature of social science, almost all programmes allow students to select “outside” options during their studies. These could be courses from other academic departments, or language or literature courses offered by our Language Centre.

Please visit our teaching and assessment page to find out about teaching, learning and assessment methods at LSE. 

LSE provides a range of academic, personal and pastoral support systems. 

Academic 

Every student is allocated an academic mentor who is responsible for maintaining an overview of their academic progress and general wellbeing throughout their time at School. 

Students can also seek guidance from their academic departments, class teachers, seminar leaders and academic support librarians. 

LSE LIFE our centre for academic, professional and personal development, offers support in a variety of ways. These include one-to-one advice sessions, study skills workshops and peer-to-peer mentoring. 

Our Language Centre offer modern language courses, a proofreading and translation service and English language support. 

Personal and pastoral  

Personal and pastoral support can be provided by lots of teams at the School, including:

• Student Services Centre: This is the first point of contact for most general queries, including admissions, financial support, immigration and visas and exams.
• Disability and Wellbeing service: The Disability and Wellbeing team offer support to students with disabilities and long-term medical conditions.
• Student Wellbeing and Counselling service 
• Peer Support Scheme: The Peer Support Scheme offers students the chance to talk to other students about anything they are worried about. 
• LSE Students’ Union Advice Service
• Careers Service: The Careers Service offer support in finding part time jobs, internships, volunteering opportunities and graduate roles. They offer career advice appointments, run events and help students explore their different career options.
• Residential Services: Every hall of residence has its own team of wardens and a hall committee, who are there to provide practical and pastoral support. They also have a private housing service who can help students find private accommodation.  
• Faith Centre 
• Medical care 

Parents or carers of international students may find our guidance for students moving to the UK and overcoming culture shock helpful. 

Find out more about how we support students at LSE.

Our Careers Service provides a great deal of support, from helping students begin their career research when they first arrive at the School, to providing guidance to alumni up to five years after graduation.

The Careers Service offer a range of events, information and advice to help the personal and professional develop of each individual student at the School. Career seminars, sector specific events and employer presentations are designed to help students investigate their career options and start building their career. They also run overseas events in in Brussels, Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, reflecting the global opportunities for our students. 

Employers value an LSE education because of the intellectual rigour, real-world application and global outlook of our programmes. A degree from LSE is widely recognised internationally and our students go on to work all over the world. 

Visit our Graduate destinations database to find out more about what LSE graduates do.

Our International Student Visa Advice Team (ISVAT) can provide information for international students who wish to work in the UK post-graduation. More information can be found in their information sheets and FAQs for international students.

You may also find the advice from the LSE Careers service for prospective students helpful. 

For many of our undergraduate students this will be their first time living away from home. LSE has advice and guidance on hand to help them manage their money and to make their budgets go further. 

We generally  recommend that students budget at least £1,550 a month for living expenses and offer our own financial support awards including scholarships and means-tested bursaries to assist with these living costs. More information about living costs and preparing (and sticking to!) a budget can be found on our London on a budget page.

Tuition fees 

All LSE tuition fees are published on the Table of fees. This is updated in Spring each year. 

If students have any queries about their tuition fee payments they should contact the Fees Office. 

Tuition fee loan 

UK students can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of the fee for the duration of their undergraduate programme. The money is paid directly to the university through the Student Loans Company. Students apply for the loan annually, for each year of their studies. The loan is repaid once the student has graduated and is earning over the repayment threshold.

Full details of eligibility criteria for funding. 

Find out about interest rates and repaying loans

Maintenance loan 

UK students can apply for a Maintenance Loan from the UK government to assist with their living costs. Students apply for the loan annually, for each year of their studies. This is repaid once the student has graduated and is earning over the repayment threshold. 

The Maintenance Loan value will be determined by household income, UK government funding arrangements where the student normally lives (arrangements will be different in England and Wales for instance) and whether the student will be living at home or not. 

Students should apply initially for both loans (maintenance and tuition fee) in the spring before starting university. 

Please check the government website for more information about eligibility, applying for loans and repayment. 

LSE Financial Support 

LSE offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to new students each year. Applicants apply for these awards before they enrol at the School. However, the School can also offer assistance to students who encounter unexpected financial difficulties once they have enrolled. Further information and guidance, along with contact details, can be found on our Financial Support Office website. 

LSE Students' Union 

The LSESU can also provide guidance and support on financial matters and administers a hardship fund for students facing unexpected financial difficulties. Further information can be found on the LSESU website.