📸 At a Glance
🌍 London, England
🎓 Russell Group ✅
⚖️ Race Equality Charter ✅ Member, but no award
💰 Scholarships Available ✅
🏅 Ranking: 3 (Complete University Guide 2026)
🔎 Overview
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a public research university in central London, founded in 1895. Specialising in social sciences, it’s globally renowned for economics, politics, law, and international relations, with a highly international student body and a strong track record of producing world leaders and Nobel laureates.
📊 Ethnicity Breakdown
- Black: 7%
- Mixed race: 9%
- White: 42%
- Asian: 33%
- Other: 4%
- Unknown: 5%
💷 Scholarships & Funding
- Catherine and Joyce Wood Scholarship – The Catherine and Joyce Wood Scholarship supports Black and ethnic minority students who demonstrate academic excellence but require financial assistance to study at LSE.
- The Black Heart Scholars Programme – This scholarship supports candidates at any stage of education, from preparatory through to postgraduate, covering both formal and experiential learning costs, primarily for study in the UK or US. Competition is high, so applicants whose goals closely align with the Foundation’s aims have the strongest chance of success.
- AKO Scholarships – The AKO Foundation Scholarships offer two fully funded awards (fees and stipend) and eight tuition fee-only awards through LSE’s Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science. Applicants should demonstrate the societal impact they plan to make in their home region after graduating.
- Atlantic Fellowship for Social and Economic Equity – The Atlantic Fellows for Social and Economic Equity (AFSEE) Programme at LSE’s International Inequalities Institute is open to experienced academics and senior practitioners. Offered across Residential and Non-Residential tracks, it combines academic coursework with practical approaches to driving social change. Applications for the 2027/28 cohort open in Autumn 2026.
- Firoz and Najma Foundation Scholarship – The Firoz and Najma Foundation Scholarship supports students from Belize or Uganda studying at LSE, with the aim of developing future leaders who will contribute to their country’s growth. If no suitable applicant from either country is found, students from other countries may be considered.
- Commonwealth Scholarships – The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) offers UK government-funded scholarships led by international development objectives, open to applicants from a range of Commonwealth countries including Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda and Zambia.
- Chevening Scholarships – Chevening is the UK Government’s international awards scheme for developing global leaders, funded by the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office and partner organisations. It offers two types of award, Scholarships and Fellowships, with recipients selected by British embassies and high commissions worldwide.
- Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Programme – Open to citizens of over 90 eligible developing countries, this scholarship is for applicants with a Bachelor’s degree earned at least three years before applying and a minimum of three years’ paid development-related work experience. Applicants should have a track record of contributing to their country’s development efforts.
- Undergraduate Support Scheme – This scheme offers financial assistance to overseas students who demonstrate financial need.
👩🏿🎓👨🏾🎓 Student Life & Support
- LSESU African & Caribbean Society (ACS)
- Advancing Black Careers Society
- BME Mentoring Programme
- African Business Society
- Advancing Black Careers Society
- Black Student Network (student representation network)
ℹ️ The university also points students to its full clubs and societies directory under cultural/national societies, which may include additional or more up-to-date groups not listed here.
⭐ Things Uni To Know
There are a range of support services, mentoring schemes and student-led communities for students at the LSE. These include race equity initiatives, wellbeing and careers support, student networks and cultural societies such as:
Ubuntu Cafe – The Ubuntu Café is an informal space for African students and friends of Africa at LSE to connect, debate and be empowered. Founded in 2022, it aims to create a vibrant, intellectually stimulating environment that celebrates African culture and ideas.
Ethnic Minority Mentoring Scheme
Anti-racism Reporting & Safe Contacts Scheme – Students can report incidents of racism and harassment. Students can also receive support from trained staff volunteers across departments and divisions who provide a signposting service for any students who might want to report or discuss incidents of bullying and harassment.
