The Student Room Group

Americans applying to university in the UK

Scroll to see replies

Original post by arielvale
I realize I am super late, but I'm a junior in the US and I am interested in applying to universities in the UK because unlike the US universities, the UK ones seem more geared towards students with a clear path in mind. I am thinking of applying to LSE, and possibly Warwick. I would love to double major in Economics and Political Science, and continue my chinese studies, although I am not sure whether LSE or Warwick offer Chinese. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice?

Thanks so much in advance (:


Neither LSE or Warwick offer Chinese as a undergraduate degree, so its highly unlikely. Maybe you could learn that on the side in your spare time? I don't think its likely that you'll be able to do the minor in Chinese in the UK, but Economics and Politics/Government (same as political science) is more then possible at Warwick or LSE.
Original post by Tsunami2011
Neither LSE or Warwick offer Chinese as a undergraduate degree, so its highly unlikely. Maybe you could learn that on the side in your spare time? I don't think its likely that you'll be able to do the minor in Chinese in the UK, but Economics and Politics/Government (same as political science) is more then possible at Warwick or LSE.


I know Chinese already, so for me the major point would be to continue it, and not lose it, since I dedicated 11 years of my life to it. How is the application process for Warwick? (As in, is it very competitive for international students?)
Original post by arielvale
I know Chinese already, so for me the major point would be to continue it, and not lose it, since I dedicated 11 years of my life to it. How is the application process for Warwick? (As in, is it very competitive for international students?)


It's fairly competitive, but not 'too' competitive if you have the right grades and a solid personal statement. I understand your point now, I'm sure you would be able to keep it up in some way, Warwick and LSE both have big Chinese communities and societies so this may aid you. The application process will be the same as LSE, apply on UCAS and pick your five choices! no additional tests. Have you considered Oxford PPE? as you can drop Philosophy after year 1
Original post by arielvale
I realize I am super late, but I'm a junior in the US and I am interested in applying to universities in the UK because unlike the US universities, the UK ones seem more geared towards students with a clear path in mind. I am thinking of applying to LSE, and possibly Warwick. I would love to double major in Economics and Political Science, and continue my chinese studies, although I am not sure whether LSE or Warwick offer Chinese. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice?

Thanks so much in advance (:


You can go for BSc Government and Economics at LSE, and you can do a Chinese module as an outside option if you'd like. The LSE Language Centre now offers modules so you can take a language as part of your degree (one of my friends is currently doing this with Chinese, actually), or you can take it as a separate class and graduate with a certificate in it (this is not an actual part of your degree, but a separate qualification). If you have any questions about this, let me know! :smile:
Original post by avash27
You can go for BSc Government and Economics at LSE, and you can do a Chinese module as an outside option if you'd like. The LSE Language Centre now offers modules so you can take a language as part of your degree (one of my friends is currently doing this with Chinese, actually), or you can take it as a separate class and graduate with a certificate in it (this is not an actual part of your degree, but a separate qualification). If you have any questions about this, let me know! :smile:


aha glad to be proved wrong:smile:
Original post by Tsunami2011
aha glad to be proved wrong:smile:


The Language Centre is relatively new, so lots of people don't know about it haha. I'm trying to spread the word lol :biggrin:
Original post by avash27
You can go for BSc Government and Economics at LSE, and you can do a Chinese module as an outside option if you'd like. The LSE Language Centre now offers modules so you can take a language as part of your degree (one of my friends is currently doing this with Chinese, actually), or you can take it as a separate class and graduate with a certificate in it (this is not an actual part of your degree, but a separate qualification). If you have any questions about this, let me know! :smile:


What is a BSc? Oh that language module sounds AMAZING. Do you currently go to LSE?
Original post by Tsunami2011
It's fairly competitive, but not 'too' competitive if you have the right grades and a solid personal statement. I understand your point now, I'm sure you would be able to keep it up in some way, Warwick and LSE both have big Chinese communities and societies so this may aid you. The application process will be the same as LSE, apply on UCAS and pick your five choices! no additional tests. Have you considered Oxford PPE? as you can drop Philosophy after year 1


I'm not quite sure what the Oxford PPE is...can you explain it please? :smile:
Original post by arielvale
What is a BSc? Oh that language module sounds AMAZING. Do you currently go to LSE?


BSc is just the type of degree - Bachelor of Science. Most LSE degrees are BSc, we hardly have any BAs (Bachelor of Arts). Yep, I'm a first year Politics and Philosophy student :smile:
(edited 11 years ago)
Reply 4109
Original post by thesmiter
@Dnibara: Thanks for the response. I've marked down the earlier application due date in my calendar. The personal statement is different from American universities in that it's supposed to describe your interests in the subject, right? And this is different from the American statement, which focuses on your achievements in general.

I checked out the 2000 word essay - the page implies that it should be some form of schoolwork. So does that mean I should submit an original history class homework essay (most likely an FRQ or DBQ)? Or do I have to write an entirely different essay?

As for the History Aptitude Test, did you take yours at school? How should I go about registering? Thanks for all your help.


History & Politics @ Oxford is very small - c. 50 places- and you have to convince both the H & P departments that you are right for both. If you get to interview you will be probably be asked if you would accept a place in straight History (it is a much bigger course). The HAT can be a nuisance to organize if your school isn't helpful, but it can be done. Start early! Troll the Oxford 2013 forum on TSR- you can learn a lot.
Original post by arielvale
I realize I am super late, but I'm a junior in the US and I am interested in applying to universities in the UK because unlike the US universities, the UK ones seem more geared towards students with a clear path in mind. I am thinking of applying to LSE, and possibly Warwick. I would love to double major in Economics and Political Science, and continue my chinese studies, although I am not sure whether LSE or Warwick offer Chinese. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice?

Thanks so much in advance (:


Nottingham offers everything you want. They'll be perfect for you because they have a fantastic program in chinese and a campus there(in china) too. And they're very well known for their economics too. Not sure about politics but I have a friend who does politics there and she doesn't seem to complain.

Oh... And this independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/nottingham-beats-harvard-to-be-the-talk-of-the-town-6256293.html
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by avash27
BSc is just the type of degree - Bachelor of Science. Most LSE degrees are BSc, we hardly have any BAs (Bachelor of Arts). Yep, I'm a first year Politics and Philosophy student :smile:


Hmm that's interesting. How do you like LSE? I go to a high school with 2700 kids..is LSE bigger or smaller? (sorry for the multitude of questions :P)
Original post by alexs2602
Nottingham offers everything you want. They'll be perfect for you because they have a fantastic program in chinese and a campus there(in china) too. And they're very well known for their economics too. Not sure about politics but I have a friend who does politics there and she doesn't seem to complain.

Oh... And this independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/nottingham-beats-harvard-to-be-the-talk-of-the-town-6256293.html


I will definitely look at Nottingham then :smile:
Wow that article is intense..debate in Chinese, that has to mean you're fluent
Original post by arielvale
I will definitely look at Nottingham then :smile:
Wow that article is intense..debate in Chinese, that has to mean you're fluent


Any questions just ask. I study maths at Nottingham. Economics wise Nottingham isn't as good as LSE(because LSE is the best in the UK for econ afaik) but it's approximately as good as Warwick iirc. As we have a campus in China you can easily spend time there(either a semester or a year, I can't be sure without checking). They are also chinese students who study on the chinese campus and spend time over here. You'd have to do your own research for politics I'm afraid - just not my field.
Original post by DCDude
History & Politics @ Oxford is very small - c. 50 places- and you have to convince both the H & P departments that you are right for both. If you get to interview you will be probably be asked if you would accept a place in straight History (it is a much bigger course). The HAT can be a nuisance to organize if your school isn't helpful, but it can be done. Start early! Troll the Oxford 2013 forum on TSR- you can learn a lot.


Wow, that's tiny. I would take a place in History, but I guess my second choice after History and Politics would be History and Economics. Of course, frankly, I'd be happy enough getting into Oxford - getting the exact course I want to take would make me cry tears of joy. I'm going to ask my counselor about the HAT very soon and see what he thinks. I desperately need to take it at my school. The nearest open testing center is a 6-7 hour drive down to San Diego...

I will check out the Oxford 2013 forum, but I feel as though I might get lost there, since I'm not actually a British student...

Also, what's the interview like? How was it conducted?
Reply 4115
Original post by thesmiter
Also, what's the interview like? How was it conducted?


My interview was held at my school, in my counselor's office. It was over Skype, and there was no one else in the room. It actually wasn't that bad. I had thought that it would be really scary, but it wasn't. The interviewers are pretty nice, and they try to help you as much as they can. The questions that you'll be asked will be related to your subject, not random questions like "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Discuss in length." :tongue:
Original post by Dnibara
My interview was held at my school, in my counselor's office. It was over Skype, and there was no one else in the room. It actually wasn't that bad. I had thought that it would be really scary, but it wasn't. The interviewers are pretty nice, and they try to help you as much as they can. The questions that you'll be asked will be related to your subject, not random questions like "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be? Discuss in length." :tongue:


Oh, okay, whew. I was reading up on the interview process on the site, and from the language they use, it sounded terrifying - like they'd ask me to read and analyse historical documents on the spot or something. x_x
Reply 4117
Original post by thesmiter
Oh, okay, whew. I was reading up on the interview process on the site, and from the language they use, it sounded terrifying - like they'd ask me to read and analyse historical documents on the spot or something. x_x


Oh haha they do that:tongue:. They'll probably give you a document ten/fifteen minutes before your interview, and then ask questions on it during the interview. But from my experience, that was easier than when they asked questions without anything for me to look at, but it might be different for history interviews, I don't know.
Original post by arielvale
Hmm that's interesting. How do you like LSE? I go to a high school with 2700 kids..is LSE bigger or smaller? (sorry for the multitude of questions :P)


LSE has about 4500 undergraduates, so it's bigger haha. I love LSE, it's a great school in an amazing city, and you have the opportunity to meet all types of people from around the world. I happen to like the fact that it's not a campus uni, but everything is so close together that you won't have a problem ever finding a building or anything.

I also replied to your PM :smile:
Original post by arielvale
I'm not quite sure what the Oxford PPE is...can you explain it please? :smile:


Oxford PPE stands for (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) so you'd be able to drop the Philosophy after year 1 and focus on your two passions!

Quick Reply

Latest