Are Welcome Week events mandatory?

Hi everyone! I’m starting an MSc at LSE this autumn and I’m really excited. However, I live about an hour commute away from campus, and my department has a 1-2 hour event listed for every single day, although they don’t specify if they’re mandatory or not. I was planning on attending only enrolment and watching the main LSE Welcome remotely, but I don’t know if I’ll be penalised for missing induction activities during Welcome week. Are these events mandatory, or just a helpful way to get settled in?

Thanks so much! :smile:

Reply 1

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Usually for new students starting yes as it covers not just administrative things you need to know, but also usually safety inductions and the like. Also often you need to register for certain things and complete your formal enrolment/matriculation in person, then get your IT stuff setup, get your student card and building access sorted etc. Many of those things you can only do in person.

There might be some things that can be dispensed with, but I'd check with your department firsthand to see what you really do need to be attending.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post by artful_lounger

Usually for new students starting yes as it covers not just administrative things you need to know, but also usually safety inductions and the like. Also often you need to register for certain things and complete your formal enrolment/matriculation in person, then get your IT stuff setup, get your student card and building access sorted etc. Many of those things you can only do in person.
There might be some things that can be dispensed with, but I'd check with your department firsthand to see what you really do need to be attending.

Thank you so much! My department’s handbook recommends contacting them if you won’t be available for welcome, so I think that you’re probably right, it’s the best step to take! I was a little worried about coming across as lazy to be honest, the department and masters cohort is extremely small and I don’t want to make a bad impression. I am incredibly excited to start and get integrated, but commuting every day for a week would put a bit of stress on my financial situation atm.