Understanding the Workload at LSE Summer School

The word intense is a good way to describe LSE Summer School – however, it is one of the most rewarding, fun, and unique summer experiences I have ever had. To help you make the most of it, I want to share four tips that helped me thrive at LSE Summer School without burning out. 

Prepare

One of the most important things to know before arriving at Summer School is the packed structure of the programme. LSE Summer School compresses an entire term’s worth of university material into 3 weeks; expect three hour lectures, daily work groups, and in-depth readings. A great first way that I got to know the pace of my programme was by reading the syllabus, which helped me get a feel for the different types of material I would be dealing with. I also planned how to deal with this material by adding my class schedule into a Google Calendar, which helped strategise my various extracurriculars ahead of time.

Think critically

If you are passionate enough about your studies to consider attending LSE Summer School, you are most likely a hard worker. But you cannot just work hard at LSE; you also need to think critically about the material you study and how you study it. When taking notes on dense academic articles, I paid attention to key concepts that I never learned before, like Esping-Andersen’s 'The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Studying concepts like these in a quiet space in the library immensely aided my exam preparation, rather than trying to memorise a list of facts. This is because, in reality, no one will be able to cover every single piece of material. Without prioritising core readings over optional readings, you risk drowning in information and not understanding the core ideas discussed in class. That is why you should also set boundaries to yourself in order to focus on what is important; I told myself I would not do any schoolwork past 11:00 PM, which increased my productivity instead of decreasing it.

Take care of yourself

Speaking of productivity, it is essential that you maintain good physical and mental health throughout LSE Summer School. Aim for a minimum of seven hours of sleep each night, which gives you sufficient energy to study and socialise in the day. Regarding food and caffeine, LSE’s campus and its surrounding area has endless options to keep you energised. My personal favourite is Greggs, which sells coffee and sandwiches at an affordable price. Finally, remember to embrace the quiet time that you may have in your day, whether it be at home, at a public park, or anywhere else. My favourite spot to take a mental pause was at the St. Anselm and St. Cecilia Church close to school, which allows anyone entering to sit down and quietly reflect.

You’re not alone!

Students at LSE Summer School will not be handling all of this alone. In fact, one of my favourite aspects of my programme was meeting other students who were passionate about pursuing an international relations career. After only a couple of days on campus, I made some friends that I discussed concepts such as Modernisation Theory with. Besides making the workload easier, having a support network during my studies also made the entire experience extremely enjoyable. A favourite memory of mine was when our group finally submitted our midterm assignment and went down to the George IV Pub on campus for a pint. After all, Summer School is about academics just as much as it is about creating friendships and professional networks that will last you a lifetime.

In conclusion, managing the LSE workload involves a combination of effective planning, study habits, and time for your health and social life. In doing so, you can also go above and beyond in one of the world’s most prestigious academic environments that will you follow you for years to come.