The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a world class centre for its concentration of teaching and research across the full range of the social, political and economic sciences. Founded in 1895 by Beatrice and Sidney Webb, LSE has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence.

LSE is an unusual university. Few university institutions in the world are as international. The study of social, economic and political problems covers not only the UK and European Union, but also countries of every continent. From its foundation LSE has aimed to be a laboratory of the social sciences, a place where ideas are developed, analysed, evaluated and disseminated around the globe.

LSE has a cosmopolitan staff and student body, located within an urban, city centre campus. There are nearly 7,500 full-time students and around 800 part-time students at LSE. Of these about 36 per cent come from the UK, 15 per cent from other European Union countries and 49 per cent from more than 120 countries around the world. 48 per cent are women and 52 per cent are postgraduates.

The School has more than 70,000 registered alumni. Around 30 past or present heads of state have studied at LSE, and 30 members of the House of Commons and 34 members of the House of Lords have either studied or taught at LSE.

The School maintains close links with government, industry and the professions (many of which are situated close by in the city of London), through public meetings and seminar programmes concerned with the dissemination of research findings in the context of public policy. Many staff are also actively engaged in policy development through membership of advisory bodies such as the Urban Task Force, Monetary Policy Committee, Low Pay Commission and the Press Complaints Commission.