Reflections from an LSE Summer School student

My experience at LSE Summer School was beyond memorable, both academically and socially. It’s hard to decide what to cover first, as each memory is unique and varied – from my first lecture, to getting lost in colourful Notting Hill, to lively debates in my seminar with my classmates. I remember hangouts after class, diving headfirst into my course content and exploring everything London had to offer – every day at Summer School was different and made my summer special. In my blog, I’m going to highlight some of the best parts of attending LSE over the summer and reflect on how the experience helped me to grow.

One of the many factors that makes LSE Summer School so unique is the international community. From the very first day, anyone I met came from a different place in the world, with different motivations for joining the programme. On my course, IR105: Understanding Foreign Policy: the Diplomacy of War, Profit and Justice, some students were similar to me, undergraduates, but others came from completely different backgrounds. I met high school graduates about to start university, then individuals already working in the field, looking to explore it further, as well as people from completely different academic backgrounds. The diversity of classroom perspectives was further enhanced by how international the environment was. I remember on our first day, we went around the class introducing ourselves and where we came from. One by one, we all illuminated a different part of the globe. Everyone there came from completely different backgrounds, universities and cultures, which only fuelled the nuanced debates and perspectives in seminars and at meetups after class. It was incredibly easy to meet people and make friends at Summer School thanks to the class structure and events hosted by LSE, like the Welcome Reception on the first day, where I met professors and people in my subject area, who would later become a core component to enjoying my time at Summer School.

Alongside the great friendships I made, there was something about studying in London that only added more vibrancy and energy to my time there and made for a great place to create memories with new friends. Whether we were walking around Covent Garden, getting lost in books and vintage trinkets at Portobello Market, coffee dates right before class or dinners in Chinatown, there was truly a never ending ‘bucket list’ we never got close to finishing. There was always something to do, a hangout somewhere, meeting students from other courses and corners of the world. I found that there was always something for everyone, and all students were just as open and excited to meet new friends. Even now, after having had 3 weeks of non-stop adventures and plans, I find myself reminiscing on the many other experiences waiting for me in the city – hopefully I’ll be back again soon!

When I applied to LSE Summer School last year, I was intrigued by the long-standing academic prestige and its programme filled with opportunities to meet fellow international relations students from around the world. As an international relations student, perspective plays a key role in our understanding of the world. Academically, Summer School transformed and reignited my passion for my degree. In our very first lecture, the classes were filled with complex conversations on foreign policy and its significance in today’s political setting. The content of the lectures inevitably domino-ed into a constant reflection of why I study international relations in the first place. I had never seen a theory come to life so vividly, with such precise examples, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Similarly, seminar classes transformed into a challenging debate, making you re-examine every assumption and the foundation of every answer. Every class was intricate and complex, and I came away with a far deeper understanding of my subject,

Looking back now, LSE Summer School was much more than what I had initially imagined. The course challenged the way I thought about and looked at international relations, reawakening my passion for the field. The people I met along the way have become life-long friends, and London, a place I adored exploring, is ready to welcome me back.

 

This blog was written by one of our 2025 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.