London School of Economics and Political Science
The clue’s in the name really: the London School of Economics and Political Science is the place to be for financial and social sciences courses. Notoriously difficult to get into, the university doesn’t rely on the UCAS points system but judges applicants on their grades. You’ll know you’ll be rubbing shoulders with the cream of the crop if you’re accepted here - after all, more than 35 different world leaders and 18 Nobel laureates are alumni of LSE.
As the only university in the UK to specialise in the social sciences, the courses on offer at LSE are unique. Some of the courses available can only be studied here, such as economic history. The university actively encourages its students to be active thinkers, with the course LSE100: Understanding the cause of things, compulsory for all undergraduate students.
There’s a range of scholarships and financial support on offer. For the 2014 academic year tuition fees are £9,000 for undergraduate degrees, with most UK students able to cover the cost with a student loan.
Interspersed between the old City buildings are state-of-the art facilities including a £30m library, and a £71m eco-friendly academic building. Study is the focus here, with the British Library of Political and Economic Science the largest library in Britain after the British Library in London.
The Peacock Theatre is also another important building: it hosts many of the public lectures LSE is famed for, as well as being home to Sadler's Wells theatre group.
There are 11 halls of residence on offer accommodating just over 3,400 students, six of which are exclusively for postgraduate students. The halls are scattered across London, but only three miles away from the main campus, meaning that it will never take you more than about 20 minutes to get to class. All first year undergraduate students are guaranteed a place in the halls, so you won't have to worry about going homeless for your first year!
An open day is the perfect way to get to experience the university up close and personal. Not only can you tour the campus and look around halls of residences, you can also meet with members of staff and students, plus attend subject talks to see whether the course sounds like the right one for you.
