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World-leading for economics & social science. This guide covers London School of Economics (LSE)'s courses, fees, English & academic requirements, scholarships, the step-by-step admission process, student-visa and post-study-work rules, and tips to get in — everything in one place.
▶ Predict my admission chances (free)📚 Courses & programs at London School of Economics (LSE)
London School of Economics (LSE) is best known for Economics, Finance, Social Science. Popular programs for international students include:
- MSc Economics
- MSc Finance
- MSc Data Science
- MBA
- MSc Management
Class profile: Avg GMAT 710 · strong quant. Notable alumni: John F. Kennedy, 18 Nobel laureates.
✅ Entry requirements
| IELTS (Academic) | 7 |
| TOEFL iBT | 100 |
| PTE Academic | 69 |
| Duolingo English Test | 125 |
| GRE | Recommended |
| GMAT (MBA) | 650 |
| Min GPA / grade | 3.5/4.0 (2:1) |
| Work experience | 2–4 yrs (MBA only) |
💰 Fees & cost of studying
| Tuition (international) | £38k/yr |
| Application fee | £80 |
| Living costs (est.) | £12,000–15,000/yr (£13,347 for visa) |
| Scholarships | Graduate Support Scheme, country awards |
Plan your budget for tuition + living + health insurance + the visa fee. Compare funding with the free scholarship finder.
📝 Step-by-step admission process
- Pick one-year master's programs
- Meet IELTS (6.5–7.5) & 2:1/First equivalent
- Write personal statement + 1–2 references
- Apply directly on university portal (rolling)
- Receive offer (conditional/unconditional)
- Pay deposit → CAS → Student visa
📄 Documents checklist
- Academic transcripts
- Personal Statement
- 1–2 References
- CV
- IELTS UKVI
- Passport
- Financial proof (CAS)
- Degree certificate
🛂 Student visa & post-study work · UK
- Student visa: Student visa (Tier 4)
- Work while studying: 20 hrs/week during term
- Post-study work: Graduate Route: 2 years (3 for PhD)
🎯 Tips & tricks to get admission
- Beat the bar. With about 9% acceptance, aim above the minimums — target IELTS 7.5+ and a strong GPA, and lead with research, projects or publications.
- Write a tailored SOP. Name the exact program and 1–2 professors/labs at London School of Economics (LSE) and connect your background to them — generic essays are the #1 reason strong profiles get rejected.
- Hit the English score first. London School of Economics (LSE) needs IELTS 7 / TOEFL 100 / PTE 69. Take a free full-length mock to find your weakest section before you book the real test.
- Prepare finances early. Budget for tuition (£38k/yr) plus living costs (£12,000–15,000/yr (£13,347 for visa)); visa officers want clear, stable proof of funds.
- Apply in the right intake. London School of Economics (LSE)'s main intakes are Sep/Oct — applying 4–6 months ahead keeps scholarships and on-campus housing open.
📅 Intakes & deadlines
| Intakes | Sep/Oct |
| Typical deadline | Rolling (apply by Jan) |
| Acceptance rate | 9% (competitive) |
All figures are indicative and change year to year — always confirm on the official site (lse.ac.uk) before applying.
How London School of Economics (LSE) compares in UK
The figures on this page mean little on their own. Set against the 31 other UK universities in our dataset, they say something more useful about where an application to London School of Economics (LSE) is likely to be won or lost.
- Selectivity. An indicative acceptance rate of about 9% against a median of 52% across the 31 other UK universities in our dataset. 0 of them are harder to get into than London School of Economics (LSE). It sits on the more selective side of its national peer group, so meeting the published minimums is the floor rather than the goal.
- Rank in context. QS #50, against a peer median of #108; 7 UK universities rank above it here. Rank is worth exactly this much and no more — it is driven by institution-wide research output and reputation surveys, not by the department you would actually join, so treat it as a coarse filter and judge the programme on its own page.
- English bar. IELTS 7 against a peer median of 6.5. That is above the national norm, so the English test is a live risk on this application rather than a formality — clear it before you spend money on the rest. Equivalents: TOEFL 100, PTE 69.
Programme areas: MSc Economics · MSc Finance · MSc Data Science · MBA · MSc Management. Entry requirements are set per programme, not per university, so the figures above are the institutional baseline — a competitive department inside an accessible university can run far tighter than the headline rate suggests.
Practical order of work for London School of Economics (LSE): clear the English requirement first, because it gates everything and is the only part of the application you fully control; then confirm which of the Sep/Oct intakes you are targeting, since the typical deadline is Rolling (apply by Jan) and funding decisions usually close before admission decisions; then build the application around one specific programme rather than the institution. Budget the application fee of £80 per programme, and living costs of £12,000–15,000/yr (£13,347 for visa) on top of tuition of £38k/yr.
Figures here are indicative and compiled for comparison. Acceptance rates in particular are institution-level estimates and move year to year — confirm anything you are deciding on against the university's official pages.
Frequently asked questions
- What IELTS score do I need for London School of Economics (LSE)?
- London School of Economics (LSE) typically requires IELTS 7 (TOEFL 100, PTE 69). GRE: Recommended.
- How much does London School of Economics (LSE) cost?
- International tuition is approximately £38k/yr, plus living costs of £12,000–15,000/yr (£13,347 for visa). Application fee: £80.
- What is the acceptance rate at London School of Economics (LSE)?
- London School of Economics (LSE) has an indicative acceptance rate of about 9% (Avg GMAT 710 · strong quant).
- What are the intakes and deadlines at London School of Economics (LSE)?
- Intakes: Sep/Oct. Typical deadline: Rolling (apply by Jan).
- Is London School of Economics (LSE) hard to get into?
- London School of Economics (LSE) is competitive, with an indicative acceptance rate of about 9%. Aim above the minimum scores and build a standout profile.
- Does London School of Economics (LSE) require GRE or GMAT?
- GRE: Recommended. GMAT (for MBA): 650. Always confirm the exact policy for your specific program on the official site.
- Can I work after studying at London School of Economics (LSE)?
- Graduate Route: 2 years (3 for PhD) (UK). You can typically also work part-time while studying: 20 hrs/week during term.
- What documents do I need to apply to London School of Economics (LSE)?
- Typically: Academic transcripts, Personal Statement, 1–2 References, CV, IELTS UKVI, Passport, Financial proof (CAS), Degree certificate. Check program-specific requirements before applying.
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