LSE Application 2024

Hi,
I am applying to study accounting and finance at LSE. Due to disruptions such as my mum getting mental health problems where she could not attend work and participating in numerous extracurricular activities. I have been predicted an A*AB . I should be eligible for a contextual offer. Would you still recommend for me to apply?

Your predicted grades of A*AB exceed to contextual requirements for BSc Accounting and Finance of AAB (assuming you are predicted at least an A in Maths), so you should absolutely apply.

Just note that LSE is very competitive, so even applicants who exceed the entry requirements don't necessary get an offer. So make sure you have some unis / courses amongst your five which are less competitive and/or which have lower entry requirements.

Thank you so much! That would be perfect! I was thinking I had to hit that AAA entry requirement and then the I would be able to get an AAB offer.

Well, to be fair, Durham have a slightly confusing two-tiered approach to contextual applications. This is explained (poorly) in the Contextual Admissions section of this page on their web site.

Essentially, then are a series of contextual flags which can be associated with your application (e.g. "the school’s or college’s performance is below the national average" or "a student is known to have been eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) in the previous six years"). Any of these gain you "additional consideration". They may use that information to:

"- to make an applicant a standard offer where the applicant’s academic record (eg, GCSEs/AS levels or equivalent) or personal statement may be marginally less competitive than the cohort overall
- to make an applicant a standard offer where the applicant is predicted marginally below the usual entry requirements
- when making confirmation decisions for offer holders that have marginally failed to meet the entry criteria (usually this means one grade below the standard entry requirements)."

The above is perhaps where you got your "had to hit that AAA entry requirement" from, as the above does not include a grade reduction at the offer stage.

Then, separately, they have contextual offers - which come with a reduced grade requirement. This is available to "students flagged with a home postcode that is classified as POLAR4 Quintile 1 or IMD Quintile 1, as a care leaver, or a participant in a specified LSE WP programme or a Sutton Trust Pathways programme". (Even then, that say such students may be considered for a contextual offer - so they've left themselves some wiggle room.)

So contextual offers are available to a subset of students who have contextual flags.

You've said "I should be eligible for a contextual offer", which presumably means you feel you fit into the second category. Such candidates will have a lower target to hit, in terms of the entry requirement.

Thank you so much! That has made so much more sense than the website. I hope many more students can see this explanation!

Hi,
My son wants to study economics at LSE. He got predicated Maths A*, Economics A, Physics A,Further Maths B. GCSE 7 grade 9 including maths, further maths, economics. 2 grade 8 & 1 grade 7
He is also sitting for TMUA to make his application stinger and has also done senior maths challenge.
Please advise me if he stands a chance for LSE economics as he has predicted grade B in further maths? Thanks

Thank you so much for your reply. My son’ school did AS level so they want students to take 4 subjects but you can drop 1 subject in year13. He wanted to drop physics and wants to carry on with maths, FM and economics but he got B in FM that’s why he hasn’t got any choice but to carry on with 4 subjects. He knows that he has to work really hard.
His other uni choices are UCL, bath, Nottingham, Kings,(Warwick he can’t apply now as they want 2 A* predictions).
Do you know anything g about Kings Economics course? Is kings economics is as good as bath?
Just looking 5th place to apply

Hello, I am looking for admission for admission to LSE A&F programme. I am a cbse student with predicted score maths- 98, english 94, business studies, 98, accounts- 99, economics- 98 which equals to A*,A,A*,A*,A*. I have also interned at a Top tier CA firm, and two other business. I have also volunteered at a covid hospital for two years and also started a programme that educated over 100 students in financing their education. I also have a diploma from London Institute of B&F but I am having some troubling with my PS I don't think its good enough. If my PS is mid standards what will be my chance of admission to lse

PS are very important at LSE, but just one piece of the puzzle. It is clear that academically you will be fine and your super-curriculars are good. Try to embed this in your PS and link it to your course and WHY that makes you want to learn about A&F more. In addition, LSE is a very international university, so maybe show your uniqueness by presenting A&F from your perspective (wherever you come from) and how it differs to others. Hope that helps - fellow LSE applicant

thanks for the advice, btw which course are you applying offers from