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How to apply

 

The application process for GO LSE exchanges is open to all second-year undergraduate students. The number of places available is limited so the process is competitive and conducted in two-stages. Interested students first complete LSE's own application, details of which are provided below. Subsequently, the applicants selected by LSE must then apply to, and be accepted by, the host institution before their place on a GO LSE exchange programme is confirmed. 

Study Abroad Information Session: 

Study Abroad Information Session: Before completing the GO LSE undergraduate study abroad application form, students must attend the Outbound GO LSE Study Abroad Information Session which will take place in October to gain more information about the application process.

PLEASE NOTE:  The GO LSE application for 2024/25 is now closed

CIVICA Engage Track: Students accepted into the CIVICA Engage Track programme must first undergo a separate CIVICA selection process prior to completing the GO LSE undergraduate study abroad application form.

For any questions, please email civica@lse.ac.uk

PLEASE NOTE:  The GO LSE application for 2024/25 has now closed. Applications for 2025/26 will open from 1 - 15 November 2024.

Assessing your suitability to study abroad

Your application will be assessed by an LSE panel that is looking for candidates who who have considered, and can identify, the positive benefits of study abroad for both themselves, LSE and wider society. The panel are also seeking applicants who will represent the School to the best of their ability during their time abroad. Accordingly, you are required to answer a number of set questions.

Entry requirements

As part of your application for a GO LSE exchange, you will need to include your marks from the first year of your studies at LSE and the name and contact details of one academic referee. Your referee can be any academic member of staff from your department at LSE.


In order to be eligible for consideration, you must have an overall average of 60% or above from all of your first year courses. Applicants with individual module scores under 60% will be considered, as long as the overall average grade is 60% or above. Generally we require applicants to have passed all of their first year exams (without resits).

Destination preferences

Applicants can be considered for a place at one of the following four institutions. The application form asks you to rank these in order of preference, and also allows you to indicate if there are any institutions you don't wish to be considered for.

  • Bocconi University (2 places available, CIVICA Engage Track only)
  • Central European University (CEU), Vienna (2 places available, open to all applicants)
  • IE University, Spain (3 places available, open to all applicants)
  • National School of Political and Administrative Studies (SNSPA), Bucharest, Romania (2 places available, open to all applicants)
  • Sciences Po, France (10 places available, 5 of which are for  CIVICA Engage Track students)
  • SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland (2 places available, open to all applicants)
  • University of California, Berkeley (5 places available, open to all applicants)
  • University of California, Los Angeles (5 places available, open to all applicants)
  • University of California, San Diego (5 places available, open to all applicants)
  • Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), Sweden (3 places available, CIVICA Engage Track only)

Whilst every effort will be made to place successful applicants at their first choice institution the limited number of places available means this may not always be possible.

Reference

You will need to include the contact details of one academic referee in support of your application to the GO LSE exchanges. Your referee can be any academic member of staff from your department who has taught you, or your academic mentor.

Your referee will be contacted only if you are shortlisted but we recommend speaking with them prior to submitting your application. Shortlisted applicants and their referees will be notified before the Christmas closure.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be in their second year, and must return to LSE after the year abroad to complete their degree. The year abroad does not contribute to your LSE degree classification (apart from PPE students), but your host institution should provide a separate transcript of your results.
  • We are particularly keen to receive applications from students from Widening Participation students and LSE Bursary recipients. Information on fees and funding can be found here.

 

After submitting your application

Shortlisting

  • After the application deadline, applicants will be shortlisted internally by an LSE panel and notified by Friday, 15th December 2023.
  • Applications will be assessed holistically and shortlisted applications will be will be contacted and should begin preparing for the second stage of the application process - submitting an application to one of the host institutions - in the New Year.
  • Academic referees will be contacted directly by the GO LSE team and invited to provide their reference in support of the shortlisted applicants.

Final outcome

An LSE panel will meet to assess shortlisted applications, and applicants will be notified by Friday, 26 January 2024 of the final outcome.

Successful applicants will be provided with details of the exchange they have been selected for, and must accept their place on the exchange within one week of receiving the final decision. Failure to do so will result in the offer being withdrawn and the place awarded to a waitlisted applicant.

The GO LSE team will work with successful applicants to help them submit their application to the host institution and prepare them for the exchange.