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The London School of Economics and Political Science Houghton Street London WC2A 2AE United Kingdom Phone: +44 (0)20 7955 6613 Fax: +44 (0)20 7955 6001 Email: gc@lse.ac.uk Websites: lse.ac.uk/newArrivals or lse.ac.uk/generalCourse LSE-General Course
Contents
Congratulations 2 Summary of Key Dates and Actions 3
Welcome! 4
New Arrivals website and LSE for You The academic year at LSE 2013-14 Making contacts before you arrive 4 4 4
Academic Matters
What to bring with you to registration Confirming LSE course choices
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5 5 6 6 6
Registration 5
Departmental meetings and initial tutorial appointments Student Mentoring Scheme LSE Orientation Festival events
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7 7 7 8 8
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LSE Students Union (LSESU) Catering Facilities Adviser to Students with Disabilities and Dyslexia Support Tutor Adviser to Women Students Adviser to Male Students The Chaplaincy Office of Alumni Relations 20 20 20 20 22 22 22 22
Accommodation 11
Private accommodation 11
Gym/Fitness
Financial Matters
LSE Financial Undertaking Form Financial support Tuition fees Estimated living costs Payment for LSE/Intercollegiate accommodation Opening a UK bank account
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15 15 16 17 18 18 19 19 19 19
Safety
LSE and London Sources of Further Information Appendix: Course availability update
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Yours sincerely
Sunday 1 September Thursday 26 September Early September Mid-September Mid-September From Sunday 29 September Monday 30 September Once you have a settled address Between Monday 30 September and Friday 4 October Between Monday 30 September and Friday 4 October Between Monday 30 September and Friday 4 October Between Monday 30 September and Friday 4 October Tuesday 1 October Tuesday 1 October Thursday 3 October Thursday 3 October onwards Friday 4 October Friday 4 October Sunday 6 October Monday 7 October October October October By mid-October By Sunday 27 October
Academic Matters
Registration
To formally become a student at LSE, you must register with the central administration in person. Registration is usually a brief process, and just requires you to prove your identity and to collect and activate your student card. The card gives you access to some LSE buildings, including the Library, and examinations. students opportunities. However, circumstances beyond the Schools control may, very occasionally, make this impossible and for that reason the School reserves the right, according to circumstances, to alter or withdraw particular courses or course syllabuses. However, we will do everything possible to ensure that you can join the courses you choose. So, you should work on the assumption that you will get into the courses you want. In mid-September, you will need to enter your course choices online via LSE for You. The online course choice process will enable you to be automatically allocated to the classes for your selected courses. Your personal teaching timetables (lectures and associated classes) will be available to you when you arrive at LSE. You will be able to change your course choices up to the end of the fourth week of the Michaelmas Term (Friday 1 November 2013). It is your responsibility to ensure that the courses you have chosen fit with your home universitys academic requirements. LSE does not decide which courses will gain you credit this is always the decision and responsibility of your home university. If in doubt, contact your universitys foreign study advisor, the dean of your faculty, or the head of your department or degree programme.
Undergraduate exams
Like all undergraduate students, General Course students must take the examinations in all of the undergraduate courses they have followed during the year. Even if your home university requires less than four courses or you dont need the course for credit, you will still be required to sit the exam for each of your courses. The examination papers that you will sit are the same as those sat by all other undergraduate students, taken at the same time and under the same conditions. They are usually three-hour unseen papers, covering the whole of the years work on each subject. Exams at LSE are only held at the academic years end, usually over a four-week period, from mid-May to mid-June. The detailed examination timetable will be announced at the end of the second (Lent) term and these dates are then fixed and non-negotiable exams are to be taken at LSE on the days and times set. There are no resits or special sittings during the academic year. In 2013-14, the exam dates are likely to run to Friday 20 June 2014. This means you should not make any arrangements or commitments including internships prior to this date until you know your detailed exam schedule. You will not be allowed to withdraw or make alternative exam arrangements on the basis of taking up an internship prior to the date of your last scheduled exam paper. Remember: 100 per cent of your exam mark is based on your performance in a single three hour written paper at the end of the year. It is therefore extremely important that you work consistently towards these exams and that you make the most of the study skills support available to you, for instance in the Teaching and Learning Centre.
This will be judged on the quality (as distinct from the volume) of answers volunteered and engagement in class discussions. It is the responsibility of each student to confirm with their respective class teachers what is expected of them. The marking scheme employed is shown in the table below. An exam grade for each course: This is a separate letter grade based solely on your examination results for each course at the years end. If you do not sit your scheduled exams and this has not been approved prior to the exams by the Associate Dean for the General Course, your transcript will list Absent under the exam mark for that course. If, in exceptional circumstances, you have been given permission to withdraw from an exam, your transcript will state Withdrawn under the exam mark for that course. All General Course students are reminded that it is their home institution that determines if and how credit is awarded, not LSE. We provide grades that your home university can then decide how to use.
Transferring
Please note it is not possible to transfer to complete your degree at LSE on the basis of studying on the General Course.
Please note: General Course students receive only an electronic transcript at the end of their time at the School. This is the same for all LSE students.
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Differences in the structure of degree programmes Many overseas degrees run for four years with your first two years devoted to a broad liberal arts education in which you will have been required to take a wide range of courses outside your intended major. At LSE, degree regulations are more tightly structured and students often dont have the opportunity to take courses that are not related to their major. An important implication of this is that for some second and third year courses there will be a level of assumed knowledge that you should either already have or must catch up on. Differences in assessment At your home university, your final grade will often be based on your class attendance, participation, a number of multiple choice or pop quizzes, a term paper, and mid-term and final exams with marks awarded as a letter grade with expectations of B+ or A grades. At LSE you will encounter a very different form of assessment. For most LSE students on most courses, assessment will often be based entirely on the exam at the end of the year. The work done over the course of the year class presentations, essays is formative (helping you to come to grips with an understanding of the subject) rather than summative (counting towards the overall mark for the course). Rather than letter grades, marks are given as percentages. And while this notionally extends to a 100 per cent, marks above 70 per cent (a First in UK terms) are rarely given out. Getting a mark in the mid or upper 60s (an Upper Second or 2.1 in UK terms) is considered very good. However, to provide a more comprehensive reflection of your achievement, as a General Course student your transcript will have two letter grades one reflecting your formative work over the year; the other reflecting your performance in the end of year exam.
Differences in socialising As with most UK universities, the social life at LSE is very extensive from the Students Union bars on campus, to the pubs and clubs on your doorstep in London. Lots of activities are organised through the wide range of student societies which stretch from the rowdy sports and athletic societies to more mundane academic societies, into the off-beat, bordering on bizarre (note, there are no fraternities or sororities at UK universities). For many General Course students, joining these provides the easiest way of meeting and mixing with non-General Course students. Superficially, UK students seem to devote much more of their time to social activities rather than their studies. Dont be misled by this. While seeming to socialise non-stop, LSE students will be putting in serious hours on their studies they just wont admit it as they dont want to appear to be a swot (a British slang term which means to study assiduously and never used as a compliment). And, of course, the drinking age is 18 rather than 21. You need to enjoy this freedom responsibly. Differences between the cultures The cultural scene in London is very lively with General Course students characterising it as diverse and eclectic. And unless you come from a major city overseas, the sheer density of what is on offer can be overwhelming. Frustratingly, the release of films and TV programmes can lag several months behind their US release. And it is worth mentioning the language thing. In addition to the wide range of accents, it will take you a while to come to grips with similar words meaning different things. Perhaps the most important is learning to refer to trousers rather than pants (the latter is what you wear under your trousers)! Differences in the weather Finally, it is worth highlighting the weather (a favourite topic of conversation for the British). Depending on where you are from, you will have to get used to grey, overcast, often rainy weather for much of November through April. Luckily, from May onwards, the days lengthen and the weather is often glorious. Unfortunately, this coincides with the point at which you will be swotting for your exams. No doubt you will encounter other differences during your year at LSE. The important thing is to treat them as precisely that differences to be engaged with and enjoyed. If at any point you feel you need help or advice to deal with them, dont hesitate to contact your departmental academic adviser or the Associate Dean for the General Course, Mark Hoffman.
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Accommodation
All General Course students who accepted their offer of a place and applied for housing by the deadline of 30 June 2013 are guaranteed to be offered a place in LSE or University of London accommodation (though the School cannot guarantee that your offer will be for your preferred residence or in a single room). Further details of all LSE and Intercollegiate halls of residence, including location and rates, can be found at lse.ac.uk/accommodation You can apply online for accommodation in LSE and Intercollegiate residential accommodation. Using your unique student ID number, you can submit your accommodation application, check the progress of your application, pay your deposit and inform us of any changes by using our automated online systems. If you experience any difficulty registering on the online system, please contact the Accommodation Office who will be able to help with any queries. Housing offers are distributed by email, normally within six weeks of application. If you are allocated a place in LSE/Intercollegiate housing, then it will normally be available to you from Sunday 29 September 2013 (and rent will be charged from that date). If you wish to arrive earlier, youll be invited to do so through the online system. Information on payments for accommodation is detailed below in the section on Financial Matters. LSE halls of residence require a deposit to be paid on acceptance of an offer. This is held against further charges. The balance of this deposit is ultimately returnable as a credit to final term fees. Other halls of residence such as University of London Halls, or Kings Cross Urbanest require a registration fee on acceptance of an offer. In addition, some require a deposit. Please check your offer carefully for the relevant details.
Private accommodation
General Course students who missed the application deadline for university housing or who choose to rent in the private sector are strongly recommended to arrive in London prior to the start of term to allow themselves time to find housing. LSE can help in the following ways: From late August 2013, a temporary Private Housing Office is set up to offer practical help and guidance. Each years experience tells us that this system works extremely well, so please be reassured if you choose to seek housing in the private sector. During your housing search, temporary accommodation will be available on a nightly basis in a number of LSEs residences. This will be available from Mid-August 2013 through to the evening of Thursday 26 September 2013. There is a charge per night. Youll be prompted to book accommodation for short stays through your Hallpad account. Plan to arrive no earlier than Sunday 1 September 2013 to make use of this facility. If you come earlier, you will not find many other students with whom to search; if you come much later you may find the range of rented accommodation available more limited. After Thursday 26 September 2013, new students no longer have access to this temporary housing option. If you have any questions regarding accommodation, please contact the Accommodation Office and NOT the Associate Dean for the General Course.
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Financial Matters
LSE Financial Undertaking Form
The Financial Undertaking Form is enclosed with this Offer Pack. Please ensure you submit the Financial Undertaking Form (FUF) to the Student Recruitment Office within 28 days of receipt of this Offer Pack. If your college is paying some or all of your LSE tuition fee, it is important you indicate this on the FUF. When we are informed that your college is responsible for paying your LSE tuition fee, we will send them an invoice accordingly. Failure to notify us of this could ultimately result in you being recorded as a debtor and affect your access to the Library and other School facilities.
How to pay
Payment method Credit Card Time taken Allow two days Notes Only available online. If you have difficulty paying your fees online, for example if a large payment is declined, please contact your card provider for information on any security restrictions. Make sure you quote your LSE student number on the back of the cheque.
Cheque Allow seven days from the UK/EU. Bankers Draft Cashiers Cheque Allow three weeks from outside Europe. Immediate if handed over the counter (see below). Bank Transfer Allow at least one week from UK/EU. Allow at least three weeks from outside Europe.
For further details, please download lse.ac.uk/intranet/ LSEServices/ divisionsAnd Departments/ financeDivision/ feesAndStudent Finance/student Forms/bank TransferForm.pdf You are advised not to carry large amounts of cash around with you on campus. Cash can ONLY be accepted by National Westminster Bank on the corner of Houghton Street.
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Students who elect to pay by cheque can visit the Student Services Centre (on the ground floor of the Old Building) and deposit their cheque in the Fees drop-box. The Centre is open between 10am 5pm each weekday except Wednesday, when it is open 10am 3pm only. If you have a query that cannot be answered by the general SSC counter staff, the Fees Office hold a drop-in session daily between 2-3pm or you can contact the LSE Fees Office directly (it always helps if you can quote your LSE student number the one beginning 2013XXXXX that appears on your offer letter). Federal (Stafford) loans If you have a Stafford Loan, this will continue to be administered by your home (US) college. If you are asked to arrange a Consortium Agreement, please ask the Financial Aid Adviser at your college to contact the Student Recruitment Office at LSE.
LSE students usually make savings on local travel costs and those who cater for themselves, eat at LSE or in their residence will have lower household expenses than those quoted. It is perfectly possible to live a well-nourished and entertaining life within the budget quoted.
barclays.co.uk
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Bank Citibank
Address
Telephone
Halifax
HSBC Bank
Unit 3 and 5, Paternoster +44 (0)20 7500 5500 House, St Pauls Churchyard, London EC4M 8AB Website: citibank.co.uk +44 (0)845 607 0810 51-55 The Strand, London WC2N 5LS Website: halifax.co.uk Charing Cross Branch, 455 +44 (0)845 740 4404 The Strand, London WC2R 0RH Website: hsbc.co.uk Law Courts Branch, 222 The Strand, London, WC2R 1BB Website: www.lloydstsb.co.uk +44 (0)845 300 0000
If you are expecting to receive money from overseas, such as US loan cheques, you should ask what charges may apply and how long it will take to make the money available in your account. Remember that transferring funds will also depend upon your home banks procedures and this could take more time than you expect. You should discuss this with your bank before leaving home. A UK bank account may take three weeks or more to open, so you need to have enough money to cover the first few weeks of term. If you are bringing a $US cheque with which to open an account, it may take about five weeks to clear before you can start to use that money. Alternatively, LSE has a special relationship with one local branch of Citibank (see table). They can open an account quickly and offer full web banking facilities with the ability to convert $US to in real time. For those in receipt of US Federal Loans, they will specially clear one loan cheque in three days to get you started, although personal cheques and other loans will take longer. Details are available when you collect your Federal Loan cheque. Until you are able to open an account, you can use your credit cards and possibly your own existing ATM cards to give you a cashwithdrawal facility (using a PIN number) throughout the UK. You should confirm this with your existing credit card/bank card issuer before arriving in London, as well as the local limits on the sums that can be withdrawn and the charges for such withdrawals. Banking hours in the UK are usually 9.30am 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Some branches are also open on Saturday morning. Certificate of Registration You will need a certificate of registration to open a bank account or for other reasons such as council tax exemption. Your certificate of registration contains the following information about you: Your full name Your student number Your date of birth Your term time address Your permanent home address The title and subject of your course The start and end dates of your course Your registration status The date of your graduation. These certificates are instantly available after registration via LSE for You. Simply log into LSE for You and select the option Certificate of Registration. If for any reason you are unable to print your certificate, or you need a certificate with additional information, email registry@lse.ac.uk. Please note that it may take the Registry team up to five working days to process these requests during busy periods. Some organisations such as the Home Office, Council Tax offices and banks will require your certificate to be signed and stamped by a member of LSE staff. Staff in the Student Services Centre will be happy to do this for you. International Movement of Money Some students have found that large transfers of money from the USA have attracted the attention of the Department of Homeland Security. If you are randomly selected, your General Course tuition fee invoice should be enough to satisfy the authorities. If, however, they require more information, please contact the Fees Office at LSE.
PO Box 221, Connaught National Westminster House, 65 Aldwych, London WC2B 4EJ Bank Website: natwest.com Nationwide 415 The Strand, London WC2R 0NS Website: nationwide.co.uk 406 The Strand, London WC2R 0NE Website: santander.co.uk 236-237 High Holborn, London WC1V 7DS Website: woolwich.co.uk
Santander
Woolwich
Please note that this list is not exhaustive and does not constitute a recommendation as the School is not permitted to advise on which account you should open. Some issues you should consider before opening an account include: The length of time it takes to open an account and receive your bank card. If you can begin, or even complete, the process before you arrive in the UK, this will speed up the process. You may be required to book an appointment in advance to open a bank account at your chosen branch. Please note that this may also be time consuming as many students will be setting up accounts at the same time. Be sure that your appointment falls after your registration date so that you have all the necessary documents to open the account. Some international student accounts may charge an initial or monthly fee. The additional services provided with these accounts will vary between each bank. Some banks will also offer a free but more basic account.
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Tembo
Tembo is the General Course newsletter. Produced weekly during term time, it provides General Course students with a dedicated forum for sharing their experiences, knowledge, ideas and queries. You will receive two issues prior to your arrival in London, providing you with useful information and advice before you land in the UK. These editions will also include details of how you can get involved; all budding journalists and amateur photographers are encouraged to contribute.
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UK power sockets. These can be purchased very cheaply airport shops have them in abundance. On campus, there are over 300 laptop plug-in points in the Library for students to use, and an extensive wireless network. You can also connect and print to LSE public printers on the main campus and in halls of residence from your laptop or mobile device. All LSE residences are wired for direct connection to the internet and the School network. You may use your own computer either by plugging in to a network point in your study bedroom, or in a wireless zone located in the social and recreational areas in residences. IT Help Desk The IT Help Desk, located on the first floor of the Library, is the first point of contact for students with IT-related queries who need information and help with IT facilities, common desktop applications and specialist software and with student IT accounts. See page 17 for contact details. Virtual IT Assistance Virtual IT Assistance (VITA) is a service that allows LSE students to chat online to our IT Advisors, who can assist them remotely, no matter where they are located. Virtual IT Assistance is available during IT Help Desk opening hours. Double-click on the Virtual IT Assistance icon on an LSE computer or visit lse.ac.uk/imt/vita. Out-of-hours support A telephone helpline service provides out-of-hours support, overnight, weekends and public holidays, 365 days a year. If you call the number of the IT Help Desk (020 7955 6728) after normal hours, your call will be redirected to this service. This service can answer most general IT queries, although LSE-specific questions may need to be referred to the daytime Help Desk service. Laptop Surgery The Laptop Surgery, located in the St Clements building (STC. S198), offers advice and hands-on assistance to students and staff with problems connecting to LSE resources from laptops and mobile devices. The surgery runs on a drop-in basis. For advice and free tools to protect and disinfect your laptop, visit lse.ac.uk/ imt/remote. LSE personal email account Prior to your arrival at the School, you will be sent information on how to set up your LSE email account. This will assign you a personal email address of the form i.j.surname@lse.ac.uk (which is not open to change) and password (that you should change to something more secure). Once you set this up, you will then be able to register for your courses online and also access the whole of LSEs website. In addition, you will be able to access the Schools email service via the Web at https://exchange.lse.ac.uk/. IT training Free IT training is available to all students via self-paced studentsupervised workshops, run daily throughout Michaelmas and Lent terms. As well as workshops, self-study resource and guides are available on a wide range of subjects, along with access to high quality video tutorials on over 700 topics. Visit lse.ac.uk/imt/ training for more information. Moodle Moodle is a course management system we use at LSE to provide web-based support for courses and programmes. In a Moodle
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course, teachers can bring together a range of activities, tools and resources for their students. The content of Moodle is the responsibility of your teacher and so it will vary from course to course. Not all lecturers choose to use Moodle. You can access Moodle anytime, anywhere via the internet at http://moodle.lse.ac.uk. Log in using your LSE network username and password. If you have any problems with Moodle, you should contact the IT Help Desk (see page 17 for contact details). LSE Mobile LSE Mobile is our free mobile app for students. Use it for campus maps, PC availability, news and events, LSE podcasts, course and exam timetables, your Library account and the Library catalogue. LSE Mobile is available on any mobile device that can access the internet. Search the Apps Store for LSE or visit lse.ac.uk/ lsemobile to find the version compatible with your device. Mobile Phones If you choose to buy a new mobile phone when you get to the UK, we recommend you shop around to get the best deal on a contract phone. Pre-pay phones can be bought for as little as 5, but individual call and text charges may be comparatively higher. Note that pre-pay phones do not require a UK bank account or address so may be easier to purchase if you are still waiting to open a bank account. Your Responsibilities As a member of LSE, you are bound by the Schools Policy Statement on the use of Information Technology and the Conditions of Use of IT facilities at LSE. In particular, you must not distribute or access offensive material, illegally copy software, breach copyright or send mass unsolicited email messages. Misuse may result in the withdrawal of your access rights. Full conditions are available at lse.ac.uk/imt/conditions-of-use.
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New students should be aware that there is a solid support system in place at LSE, both within and outside your department. These include your class tutors and academic advisers; the Associate Dean for the General Course; the Students Union; the Language Centre, and the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC), who will help you with any aspects of your studies. The TLCs role is to support learning across the School. Their activities are wide-ranging and include study support for students, advising disabled students and providing counselling. Services are free of charge for all students. The TLC also works closely with the Language Centre and the Careers Service. Study skills events The TLC offers a comprehensive programme of events throughout the year, open to all students. There is a popular series of open lectures beginning with an Introduction to Study at LSE and continuing with topics including essay writing, effective reading, preparing for quantitative tests and exam preparation. These talks and workshops can help you adapt to the new academic environment and methods of assessment at LSE. Learning World Details of study skills support are available on Learning World, a course set up by the TLC on LSEs virtual learning environment, Moodle. There are resources for a range of study related skills, advice from LSE staff and links to other student-centred departments. You can log in as a guest to get an idea of what Learning World has to offer and you will have access to all the materials once you get your LSE user name. One-to-one tutorials If you need more personalised support for any subject, your first port of call should be your class teachers and academic adviser. The TLC offers limited one-to-one and small group advice sessions with experienced study advisers. One adviser specialises in the qualitative disciplines, where writing and managing larger reading lists often give students cause for concern. The other specialises in quantitative disciplines, where core mathematical understanding may be an issue.
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Gym/Fitness
Within the LSE campus, you will find squash courts, badminton courts and the LSE Gym. The Gym is well equipped with cardiovascular and resistance machines, and fully qualified staff. Membership for LSE students is very reasonable, and personal training sessions are available at a cost of 15 per hour. For more information, see lsesu.com/facilities. In addition, the School has some 25 acres of sports grounds at New Malden in Surrey. Nearer by are the facilities of the University of London Union (ULU) which also include a swimming pool. Both LSESU and the ULU have a variety of sporting clubs and teams who welcome members at all levels up to and including high level inter-university competition. For more information, see lsesu.com/activities/ausports
Catering facilities
Services on the LSE campus include the 4th Floor Restaurant, Caf 54 and the LSE Garrick. The Students Union Caf is in the basement of the East Building. There are also cafeteria/restaurant/ bar facilities in Passfield Hall, Rosebery Avenue Hall, Carr-Saunders Hall, and Bankside House. sQuid sQuid (an eMoney payment network) on your LSE card allows you to conveniently and safely pay for food, drink and other items across the campus. You can use the card wherever you see the sQuid Q. You can view a statement of your transactions and top up your funds through an online account: squidcard.com/LSE
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Services you may access include: individual tutorials; small group sessions on specific topics; advice on applying for special exam arrangements; free photocopying facilities; extended library loans; and use of specialist IT software. For full details of School provision for students with disabilities/dyslexia, please see the Disability and Well-Being Offices website. If you need to be considered as a priority for LSE accommodation, you should follow the instructions on the online accommodation application form. There is an LSE Disabilities and Diversity Consultative Forum which meets once a term and provides an opportunity to discuss disability issues at LSE. It is chaired by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and attended by representatives of service staff from around the School. All disabled students are welcome to attend. Contact DWS if you are interested in attending or would like to suggest agenda items. LSE Policy on Disability The London School of Economics and Political Science is committed to complying with the Equality Act 2010 by: Maximising accessibility to the Schools services and activities for Disabled staff, students, alumni, visitors, and prospective staff and students, and to ensure that no-one is treated less favourably on the grounds of disability Developing a culture of inclusion and diversity in which people feel free to disclose a disability, should they wish to do so, and to discuss reasonable adjustments in order to promote equal participation in the Schools services and activities. In adherence to the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA 1998), such information shall be passed on only with consent and where there is a legitimate reason to do so Reviewing, monitoring and revising, as appropriate, all School systems, procedures, facilities, services and buildings in compliance with the Equality Act 2010 in addition to the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), which includes the right not to be denied access to education Creating, maintaining and disseminating information about services, support and facilities available for disabled staff, students, alumni, visitors and prospective staff and students. For the purpose of this policy, the term disability has the same meaning as that given in the DDA and SENDA (which are precursors to the Equality Act 2010: a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. In recognition of evolving case law, this includes, but is not limited to: sensory impairments, learning disabilities, mental illness, clinically recognised severe disfigurements, cancer, HIV/Aids, progressive conditions even at an early stage, conditions which are characterised by a number of cumulative effects such as pain or fatigue and a past history of disability.
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The Chaplaincy
The Chaplaincy is available for all students. Whilst it has a Christian identity, it is nevertheless open to all, regardless of belief or non-belief. There is a contact list for all the religious societies at LSE available on the Chaplaincy website.
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What are the maintenance/financial requirements? You will have to prove that you have: Funds to cover your LSE General Course tuition fee Maintenance for up to nine months of your programme (for 2013 UKBA have set this at 1,000 a month. 9 X 1,000 = 9,000). Important Notes: You are required to have had the neccessary funds in your bank account continuously for at least 28 days before you apply for a visa. UKBA will only accept specific documentation (for example, UKBA will only accept cash accounts and only certain formats with specific detailed information) and it is essential that you read our guidance and the policy guidance from UKBA to ensure that you obtain the appropriate documentation. In 2012, mistakes in this area were the most common reason LSE students Tier 4 (General) Student visa applications were refused. Money paid towards tuition and maintenance costs LSE will update the UKBA visa database with details of any tuition fee payments you or your home institution make. This enables the UKBA to take such payments into account when calculating your ability to finance your studies and living costs. Your CAS Statement will list any deposit you have made for accommodation. It is advisable not to pay for your accommodation until you have obtained your Tier 4 visa. Please see ISIS website for details on this. If you make a payment towards your fees we will issue you with an updated CAS statement approximately 48 hours after the money has cleared with the bank. You must wait for the updated CAS statement before applying if you need to show that you have paid money to LSE. Important note: It can take up to two weeks for monies to clear depending on how you pay, (you can contact the Fees Office for payment timeframes). Because of this you should not make a fees or accommodation payment if you have a visa appointment within the next fortnight as it is likely that we will be unable to issue you with an updated CAS statement before your appointment. English language requirements The UKBA now requires sponsoring institutions to verify that students have achieved the necessary level of English proficiency. LSE will assess your English language qualification(s) and inform the UKBA as appropriate. If you are taking the IELTS or TOEFL test we would encourage you to sit the exam as early as possible, as test dates can be fully booked by mid to late summer. Important note: The UKBA will not accept IELTS or TOEFL results that are more than two years old. If your results are dated prior to 1 October 2011 you will need to resit the test. How do I apply for a General Student visa? This is a general guide and the order you do things in varies between countries.
Step 1 LSE provides you with a CAS once you have firmly accepted an unconditional offer. Step 2 You complete two UKBA visa application forms and book an appointment to provide (in person) your biometric data to the local visa processing centre. Step 3 You send a copy of your visa application with the required documents (as specified on the visa application form), which will include your passport, LSE CAS number, evidence (original certificate or transcript) of the qualification(s) listed on your LSE CAS statement, and financial documents to the local visa processing centre. Please see guidance for low risk nationals. Some students need to have documents in place but do not need to actually submit them. Step 4 You attend your biometric appointment and provide your biometric data. Step 5 Once your biometric data has been provided, your visa application will be assessed by the UKBA. Step 6 The UKBA will return the documents to you either with the decision on your visa application or with a request for you to attend an appointment.
Working in the UK
As a Tier 4 General Student, you are able to work for up to 20 hours a week during term time and full time during the vacation. General Course Students will usually have a Tier 4 visa that expires two months after the end of the programme. You can work full time between the end of term and the expiry date of your visa. Our own advice is that you work no more than 15 hours per week during term time and that you make no job plans at all until you know the details of your LSE schedule and the extent of the academic demands that we will be making of you. If you do take paid employment, you must ensure that it does not interfere with your studies, which are, after all, the reason you are coming to LSE.
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Arriving in the UK
Getting from the airport
When you arrive in the UK, you are likely to come into either Heathrow or Gatwick airports two of the worlds busiest international airports. Each is some 25/30 miles (30/40 kilometres) from the city centre, but both have good public transport links to central London. There are several options for travel from Heathrow airport into central London: Take the Underground/Tube (Piccadilly Line, every five minutes) into central London. A single one-way ticket costs 5.50. We recommend you head for one of the Tube stations close to your residence with easy access to local taxi services (for the final few minutes of your luggage-laden journey). Please note: not all Tube stations have escalators. See tfl.gov.uk for further information. There is also a regular National Express coach (bus) service (nationalexpress.com) to Victoria Coach Station (a single/ one-way ticket costs 6); both modes of transport will take from about 50 minutes. Then get the Tube or a taxi for the final stage of your journey to your residence (the London black cabs operate with standard fares and are very reliable). An alternative is the Heathrow Express train link from the airport to Paddington rail station (a 15 minute journey, every 15 minutes; single fare 20 when bought online at heathrowexpress.com). Paddington station is very convenient for Tube connections (it is on the Circle, District and Bakerloo lines) or taxis to any of the halls of residence. From Gatwick airport, there are also several possibilities: Take the mainline train Gatwick Express (single/one-way ticket price 17.70 when bought online at gatwickexpress.com). There is a train every 15 minutes into Victoria railway station which takes about 30 minutes. Then proceed by Tube or taxi on the final stage of your journey to your residence. Alternatively, you can take Southern or First Capital Connect trains, which leave approximately every 10 minutes for central London. The journey time is 30-40 minutes and single/one-way tickets start from 8.90. For more information, see nationalrail.co.uk From both Heathrow and Gatwick: A London black cab, although these can prove expensive as you pay by distance and time (there are no fixed fares from the airport). The expense can be cut if you share a cab with someone else. Ask the driver for the estimated cost, make sure you have sufficient cash and/or ask whether you can pay by credit card. Taxi companies who offer fixed price pre-bookable meeting services will meet you from your flight and then drive you direct to your residence; prices from about 36, but this same charge would be made if there are two (or more) of you. European flight arrivals may also bring you into Luton, Stansted or, closest of all, London City airport. The first two have excellent cheap high-speed rail links into central London (nationalrail.co.uk); City airport is a simple cab ride to any residence. If you come into the country by rail via the Eurostar (eurostar.com) then you will arrive at St Pancras International station, a short cab ride to any residence. Information on timetables and prices for all mainline railway services throughout the UK can be obtained by phoning +44 (0)8457 484950. For information on London Transport, including the underground and bus services, tel: +44 (0)20 7918 3015. Maps of the LSE area can be found at: lse.ac.uk/ mapsAndDirections/findingYourWayAroundLSE.aspx
Getting around
Student Oyster Cards Public transport in London is covered by a contactless ticketing system called the Oyster Card. The card can be used on all forms of public transport, including Tube, bus, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), trains and some river boats. You can get a variety of tickets on your Oyster Card; the best one for you will depend on the number of journeys you make, and which zones you use. If you use public transport regularly, then an 18+ Student Oyster Card is likely to be the best option. The Student Oyster Card gives you a 30 per cent discount off adult travel cards, bus passes and tram passes valid for seven days, one month or longer periods up to one year. Full details of eligibility and how to apply are available at www.tfl.gov.uk/tickets/14312.aspx, along with a side by side comparison of whether the Student Oyster Card is the right one for you. You should be aware that it may take a few weeks for your Student Oyster Card to be processed, so its worth applying as soon as you know your UK address.
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A wallet for your Oyster Card is included with this Pack. If you need further information on travel services in London and outer London, please see Transport for London: tfl.gov.uk Barclays Cycle Hire A relatively new addition to the London transport network is the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme. Access fees range from 2 for 24 hours to 90 for an annual pass. Apart from the first 30 minutes which is free, you will then need to pay a usage charge dependent on length of use. There are three docking stations on campus.
Money We recommend you carry only a small amount of cash with you for the journey. Please use the information in this booklet to estimate how much you will need for your journey and your first few weeks at LSE. Clothing The weather in the UK is changeable. Temperatures may go down as low as -3 degrees Celsius in the winter months (January, February and March), and rise as high as 32 degrees Celsius in the summer months (June, July and August). London tends to be a little warmer than the rest of the UK. Rainfall is common, but is often only light. We recommend you bring with you a sweater and/or a light (ideally waterproof) jacket or a small umbrella for your journey to London in September. A pair of comfortable waterproof shoes is also recommended. There is no dress code at LSE. Generally, students dress informally (jeans, T-shirt, trainers) on campus. Smart clothing (shirt, tie, blazer, and smart shoes) is occasionally worn by students at recruitment events held at LSE by potential employers. There may also be club or society events where you want to dress formally. Books Full reading lists may not be provided until the start of term. If you want to get a head start, you can look up the courses you plan to take in the course guides in the School Calendar, available at lse.ac.uk/calendar. Indicative reading lists will be listed under each course description. What not to bring Restricted and banned goods You should not bring illegal drugs into the UK. There are severe penalties for anyone found carrying drugs into the UK. There are restrictions on the amount of alcohol and cigarettes you can bring into the UK. You should also note that smoking is banned in all public buildings. See hmrc.gov.uk for a full guide on what you can bring to the UK. Some food and plant based products If you are travelling from a country outside the EU, you will not be allowed to bring certain food items into the country. Carrying restricted goods may lead to delays, fines or prosecution. You should check the full guide on the UK Governments website before travelling: direct.gov.uk/en/TravelandTransport/ Foreigntravel/index.htm. Many food products can be bought in the UK from specialist shops or ordered online.
Safety
London is generally a safe place to live. As with any city, it is sensible to be aware of your personal safety and to take simple precautions. Some things to remember: Lock your door when leaving your room, even for a short time, and keep valuable personal items out of sight Keep your personal information, credit cards, mobile phone etc safe, and be aware of your valuables when out and about Take care at cash points protect your PIN (Personal Identification Number) and put both your cash and card away as soon as possible On a night out, never leave your drink unattended nor accept a drink from a stranger. Dont take risks getting home avoid illegal minicabs. Use Transport for Londons Cabwise service (text CAB to 60835) to find licensed minicabs/taxis in your area When walking at night, stick to well-lit/populated areas as much as possible. Plan your route in advance. If you need to report a crime, you can dial 999 in an emergency (if a crime/incident is happening now, or if someone is in immediate danger) to contact the police. Non-emergency calls should be made to 0300 123 1212.
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Around LSE
As you can see from the map, LSE is located in central London with many familiar landmarks within easy walking distance. Our campus guide LSExplorer, available as a PDF at lse.ac.uk/study/meetLSE/ pdf/LSExplorer.pdf, will help you find your way around.
Crown copyright
Ro seb ery
Rd Inn y's Gra
Euston
Euston Sq Warren St
ad Ro ton s u E
Passeld Hall
University College
UCH
International Hall
Carr-Saunders Hall
Russell Sq
Av e
Goodge St
Street Oxford
Oxford Circus
Sh aft es bu ry Av e
Aldw
m ha ten Tot
Clerken
well Ro
ad
Barbican
British Museum
oad sR ld' a b eo Th
Farringdon
ad Ro urt Co
Tottenham Court Rd
et tre rS we Go
Chancery Lane
St Pauls Cathedral
City Thameslink Blackfriars
ch
Green Park
London Eye
Yor kR d
Historic buildings If you turn left from Houghton Street, you will walk past the Royal Courts of Justice, opened by Queen Victoria in 1882. Opposite the Royal Courts of Justice you will find Inner Temple one of Londons four medieval Inns of Court. Many Inns of Court still
Millennium
Blackfriars Bridge
Bridge
Piccadilly Circus
National Gallery
Trafalgar Sq British Council
d an Str
loo ter Wa
e dg Bri
National Theatre
Northumberland House
Whiteha
all eM h T
Waterloo East
Southwark
Waterloo
Butlers Wharf Residence (25 mins by tube to LSE) Sidney Webb House (35 mins to LSE)
ll
Westminster Bridge Houses of Parliament
function as offices for barristers. Within the grounds of Inner Temple is the Temple Church, familiar to anyone who has read Dan Browns The Da Vinci Code. A short walk along Fleet Street will take you past the historic homes of some of the best known British newspapers and periodicals (now mostly moved to the east
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of the City) and up towards St Pauls Cathedral. Built after the first cathedral was destroyed during the Great Fire of London, the Christopher Wren dome provides one of Londons most distinctive landmarks, as well as being a truly spectacular building. Museums and galleries Tate Modern; the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery; the British Museum; the Courtauld Institute of Art and the Museum of London are all within a short distance of the LSE campus. Slightly further away in Knightsbridge you will find the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum. Many of Londons museums have free entry. Shopping London is a shoppers paradise. Covent Garden, with its famous Piazza and market stalls, is only a few minutes walk from LSE. Londons other famous shopping streets are only a few stops further on the Underground. At the weekends, you can enjoy Londons many markets in different parts of the city, selling a wide variety of goods from fresh fruit and vegetables to vintage clothing, crafts and antiques. Music and theatre London is home to a wide range of music and theatre venues. From opera and ballet at the Royal Opera House to cutting edge theatre at the Young Vic, from Shakespeare at the Globe Theatre to musicals in the West End, and from jazz and soul at the legendary Ronnie Scotts to the latest indie, pop and dance at Koko there is something for every taste.
Green spaces London is one of the worlds greenest cities, boasting a surprising number of green spaces for the public to enjoy whether you prefer an energetic game of football or a leisurely amble amongst welltended flower beds. See the Royal Parks website for information on activities, events and seasonal highlights: royalparks.gov.uk Sport London is home to a number of world famous sporting events, teams and venues. Fans of more unconventional sports will be pleased to know that London has much to offer, from indoor climbing to dance.
Useful links
visitlondon.com timeout.com/london londonnet.co.uk viewlondon.co.uk studylondon.ac.uk
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Environmental Statement
LSEs Student Recruitment Office is committed to minimising its impact on the environment. Initiatives are in place to reduce energy consumption in the Office and the number of flights taken, and others continue to be developed. This Offer Pack has been printed on 100 per cent recycled paper using vegetable inks. At the end of your year at the School, please think of the environment and recycle it.
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Appendix
Course availability update
The following information should be referred to when completing the Course Choice Form, which you will receive by email and which should be returned to the Student Recruitment Office by Friday 2 August 2013. The list below details courses that are currently available to General Course students; available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible; not available to General Course students; and suspended for 2012-13. Please note that as the 2013-14 calendar is not yet available, you will be asked to confirm your course choices again, online, in September. Timetabling details for lectures for the academic year 2013-14 will be available at lse.ac.uk/intranet/diaryAndEvents/timetables from late August 2013. Whilst it cannot be guaranteed that every course on the timetable will be available, as some may be withdrawn at the last minute due to changes in staff availability, this will happen only in exceptional circumstances. Please note: It is not necessary to obtain permission to take a course before you arrive at the School. H = Half Unit
AN223 AN226 The Anthropology of South-East Asia (H) Political and Legal Anthropology AN227 The Anthropology of Economic Institutions and their Social Transformations AN230 The Anthropology of Industrialization and Industrial Life (H) AN231 AN235 AN237 AN238 The Anthropology of China (H) The Anthropology of Southern Africa (H) The Anthropology of Development (H) Anthropology and Human Rights (H)
AN240 Investigating the Philippines: New Approaches and Ethnographic Contexts (H) AN243 AN244 AN245 AN246 AN247 AN248 AN250 AN268 AN269 AN300 AN301 Children and Youth in Contemporary Ethnography (H) Anthropology and Media (H) The Anthropology of Borders and Boundaries (H) The Anthropology of Post-Soviet Eurasia (H) Anthropological Approaches to Questions of Being (H) Ethnography of a Selected Region (H) The Anthropology of South Asia (H) Anthropology of Schooling (H) The Anthropology of Amazonia (H) Advanced Theory of Social Anthropology The Anthropology of Religion
Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
AC211 Managerial Accounting AC310 Management Accounting, Financial Management and Organisational Control AC330 Financial Accounting, Analysis and Valuation
EH240 Business and Economic Performance since 1945: Britain in International Context
EH304 The Economic History of North America: from Colonial Times to the Cold War EH326 Innovation and Finance in the 19th and 20th Centuries EH327 Chinas Traditional Economy and its Growth in the Very Long-Term EH390 Dissertation in Economic or Social History
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EC220 Introduction to Econometrics (at a minimum, students will be expected to have two semesters of calculus, including knowledge of multivariate differential calculus, and two semesters of statistics with a minimum of A- grades in these courses.) EC221 EC310 EC311 EC321 EC325 Principles of Econometrics Behavioural Economics History of Economics: How Theories Change Monetary Economics Public Economics
ID205 Corporate Social Responsibility and International Labour Standards ID316 Managing Diversity in Organisations
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Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
GV227 GV303 The Politics of Economic Policy From Empire to Globalization
GY244 Londons Geographies: An Introduction to Cultural and Historical Geography GY301 GY302 GY303 GY324 GY325 Political Geography of Development and the South Urban Development: Politics, Policy and Planning The Geography of Gender: Global Perspectives Environmental Governance Environment and Development
Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
GY300 Theories of Regional Development and Change
HY216 Four Reichs: Austria, Prussia and the Contest for Germany since 1618 HY221 HY226 The History of Russia, 1682-1825 The Great War 1914-1918
HY230 Early Colonial Empires: Europe and the World 1400-1750 HY232 Frontiers of Nationalism, Statehood and Independence: the History of South-Eastern Europe 1914-190 HY233 Empire and Nation: Britain and India since 1750 HY234 Muslims, Christians and Jews in the Early Modern World HY235 Modernity and the State in East Asia: China, Japan and Korea since 1840 HY238 HY239 The Cold War and European Integration, 1947-1992 Latin America and the United States since 1988
HY240 From Empire to Commonwealth: War, Race and Imperialism in British History 1780 1979 HY2XX What is History? Methods and Debates HY3XX Nazi Germany and the Second World War Causes and Course, 1933-1945 HY302 HY303 HY304 Anglo-Spanish Relations in the Age of Elizabeth I Russia in Revolution, 1914-1921 Germanys New Order in Europe, 1939-1945
GV305 Sustainable Science and Policy: Problems and Perspectives GV310 GV350 Democracy and Democratisation Theories and Problems of Nationalism
HY311 Limited War During the Cold War Era: The United States in Korea (1950-53) and Vietnam (1954-75) HY315 HY319 HY320 HY321 The European Enlightenment, c.1680-1799 Napoleon and Europe The Cold War Endgame The Struggle for the Persian Gulf, 1945-2003
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IR308 Systemic Change in the Twentieth Century: Theories of the Cold War IR311 IR312 IR313 IR314 IR315 IR316 Europes Institutional Order Genocide Managing Chinas Rise in East Asia Southeast Asia: Intra-regional Politics and Security The Middle East and International Relations Theory United Nations
Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
IR304 The Politics of International Economic Relations
Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
LN100 LN101 LN102 LN104 LN110 LN120 LN121 LN122 LN130 LN131 LN132 Russian Language and Society 3 (Advanced) Russian Language and Society 1 (Beginner) Russian Language and Society 2 (Intermediate) Mandarin Language and Society 1 (Beginner) German Language and Society 3 (Advanced) Spanish Language and Society 3 (Advanced) Spanish Language and Society 1 (Beginner) Spanish Language and Society 2 (Intermediate) French Language and Society 3 (Advanced) French Language and Society 1 (Beginner) French Language and Society 2 (Intermediate)
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LN140 LN142 LN200 LN210 LN220 LN230 LN240 LN270 LN320 LN330 LN340
Mandarin Language and Society 3 (Advanced) Mandarin Language and Society 2 (Intermediate) Russian Language and Society 4 (Proficiency) German Language and Society 4 (Proficiency) Spanish Language and Society 4 (Proficiency) French Language and Society 4 (Proficiency) Mandarin Language and Society 4 (Proficiency) Society and Language: Linguistics for Social Scientists Spanish Language and Society 5 (Mastery) French Language and Society (Mastery) Mandarin Language and Society 5 (Mastery)
Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
LL207 LL272 Civil Liberties and Human Rights Outlines of Modern Criminology
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Graph Theory (H) Complex Analysis (H) History of Mathematics in Finance and Economics (H)
Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
OR304 OR307 Decision Sciences in Theory and Practice Simulation Modelling and Analysis (H)
Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
MN302 MN303 MN304 MN307 International Marketing: A Strategic Approach International Context of Management (H) Strategy (H) Aspects of Marketing Management (H)
Mathematics Available to General Course students with the permission of the teacher responsible:
MA100 MA103 MA107 MA110 MA203 MA207 MA208 MA209 MA210 MA211 MA212 MA212 MA300 MA301 MA303 MA305 MA310 MA313 MA314 MA315 Mathematical Methods Introduction to Abstract Mathematics Quantitative Methods (Mathematics) (H) Basic Quantitative Methods Real Analysis (H) Further Quantitative Methods (Mathematics) (H) Optimisation Theory (H) Differential Equations (H) Discrete Mathematics (H) Algebra and Number Theory Further Mathematical Methods (Calculus) (H) Further Mathematical Methods (Linear Algebra) (H) Game Theory Game Theory I (H) Chaos in Dynamical Systems (H) Optimisation in Function Spaces (H) Mathematics of Finance and Valuation (H) Probability for Finance (H) Theory of Algorithms (H) Algebra and its Applications (H)
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Social Psychology Available to General Course students with permission of the teacher responsible:
PS102 Self, Others and Society: Perspectives on Social and Applied Psychology PS203 Societal Psychology: Theory and Applications
SO221 Researching London: An Introduction to Social Research Methods SO224 SO307 SO308 The Sociology of Race and Ethnicity Human Rights, Social Suffering and Justice Personal Life, Intimacy and the Family
ST330 Stochastic and Actuarial Methods in Finance (in conjunction with ST302)
This information can be made available in alternative formats, on request. Please contact: Student Recruitment Office tel: +44 (0)20 7955 6613 email: gc@lse.ac.uk
Design: LSE Design Unit (lse.ac.uk/designunit) Photography: Nigel Stead, LSE Photographer. The London School of Economics and Political Science is a School of the University of London. It is a charity and is incorporated in England as a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Acts (Reg No 70527). The School seeks to ensure that people are treated equitably, regardless of age, disability, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation or personal circumstances. Freedom of thought and expression is essential to the pursuit, advancement and dissemination of knowledge. LSE seeks to ensure that intellectual freedom and freedom of expression within the law is secured for all our members and those we invite to the School. On rare occasions, UK universities experience industrial action by staff which may prevent the full range of services, including teaching, being offered to students. The right to take industrial action is permitted by law and the members of staff concerned have legal protection if acting within the law. If services are affected by industrial action or other events beyond the Schools control, the School will use its best endeavours to provide alternative facilities, not necessarily at the time of the action or event. Students should be aware that the School will not issue refunds of fees where industrial action or other events beyond the Schools control affect teaching or other services.
Contact information lse.ac.uk/generalCourse Student Recruitment Office The London School of Economics and Political Science Houghton Street London WC2A 2AE Tel: +44 (0)20 7955 6613 Fax: +44 (0)20 7955 6001 Email: gc@lse.ac.uk LSE-General Course