London School of Economics

The London School of Economics and Political Science, commonly known as the London School of Economics (LSE), is a public research university in London, England. It is part of the University of London and focuses on studying social sciences, which are subjects like politics, economics, and sociology.

LSE was founded in 1895 by members of the Fabian Society, including famous people such as Sidney Webb, Beatrice Webb, Graham Wallas, and George Bernard Shaw. It became a full university in its own right in 2022. The school is located in Central London, specifically in the areas of Camden and Westminster, close to places like Covent Garden and Holborn.

LSE is well known for its strong academic programs and has many important people who have studied or taught there. Since 1990, 24 prime ministers or presidents have studied at LSE, and over its history, more than 40 world leaders, two presidents of the European Commission, and 21 Nobel Prize winners have been connected to the school. It is also part of important groups of universities, such as the Russell Group, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, and the European University Association.

History

Main article: History of the London School of Economics

The London School of Economics and Political Science, often called the London School of Economics (LSE), was started in 1895 by Beatrice and Sidney Webb, Graham Wallas, and George Bernard Shaw. They were members of the Fabian Society and wanted to study how societies work. The school was first located in rooms at 9 John Street in Adelphi, in the City of Westminster.

In 1900, the school became part of the University of London. By 1901, it began offering its first degree programs in social sciences. Over the years, the school moved to new buildings and grew quickly. In 1920, King George V laid the foundation stone for a new building on Houghton Street, which opened in 1922. The school adopted its motto, rerum cognoscere causas, meaning "to Know the Causes of Things," and chose a beaver as its mascot for its hard work and foresight.

During the 1930s, there was a famous debate between economists at LSE and the University of Cambridge about how economies should work. In World War II, the school moved to Cambridge for safety. In the 1960s, plans were made to create a new business school, but instead, the London Business School was established separately.

In the early 2000s, the LSE became very influential in British politics. It gained the power to award its own degrees in 2006, and by 2022, it became a university on its own while still being part of the University of London.

Campus and estate

Since 1902, the London School of Economics has been located at Clare Market and Houghton Street in Westminster. The school is close to many important places, such as the Royal Courts of Justice, the Inns of Courts, and the West End. It is also near Trafalgar Square and the Houses of Parliament.

The campus has around 30 buildings between Kingsway and Aldwych. It includes student housing, a theatre, a medical centre, sports facilities, and several public art pieces. In recent years, the school has been updating and expanding its buildings. In 2003, it bought a new building and turned it into a modern learning space. More buildings have been added over time, including the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre, which opened in 2014. It has rooms for students, a gym, and other services. The latest building, the Marshall Building, opened in 2022 and includes rooms for learning and sports.

The school plans to build more in the future, including a new global hub expected to be finished by 2027. The school also works on being more environmentally friendly and aims to balance out its emissions by 2050.

Organisation and administration

Although LSE is part of the University of London, it is also a university on its own and gives its own degrees.

LSE runs as a company and a charity. Its main leaders include the LSE Council, the Court of Governors, and the academic board. The LSE Council looks after important decisions like money and plans. The Court of Governors helps with certain rules and choosing leaders. The academic board makes big decisions about teaching and learning.

LSE has many departments for different subjects like Economics, Geography, and Psychology. Each department focuses on teaching and research in its area.

In 2024, LSE had around £525 million in money coming in and spent about £344 million. Much of its money comes from students paying to study, grants for research, and gifts from supporters.

LSE uses a school year with three terms: Michaelmas Term from October to December, Lent Term from January to March, and Summer Term from April to June.

The school's symbol is a beaver, chosen because it works hard and is friendly. The school's newspaper is called The Beaver, and its sports teams are known as the Beavers. The main color for the school's brand is red, used on signs and buildings.

Academic profile

The London School of Economics and Political Science, often called LSE, is a public research university in London, England. It is part of the University of London and focuses on social sciences.

LSE was founded in 1895 by members of the Fabian Society and joined the University of London in 1900. It began offering degree programs in 1901. The school is known for its high standards, with many students applying for each available place. It offers many different programs in social sciences, including economics, law, and sociology. Students can also take classes in other social science subjects to broaden their education. LSE works with universities around the world to offer joint degree programs and has libraries with extensive collections for students and researchers.

Student life

LSE has many students from around the world. In 2024, there were about 13,000 students, with more than half coming from outside the United Kingdom. The school has a very active student union that helps students and organizes fun events. It also has many clubs and societies, including sports teams and media groups.

LSE provides housing for students near its campus in central London. There are many places to live, with some specifically for students who are studying for the first time and others for those who have been studying longer. Most homes are close to the school, and they welcome students from all over the world.

Notable people

The London School of Economics (LSE) has educated many important leaders and thinkers. Some well-known people who studied or taught there include:

• B. R. Ambedkar, who helped create India's government rules.
• Jomo Kenyatta, who led Kenya as president.
• K. R. Narayanan, who served as president of India.
• Romano Prodi, who was Italy's prime minister and led important European groups.
• Pierre Trudeau, who was Canada's prime minister.
• Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the current president of Singapore.
• Mwai Kibaki, who was Kenya's president.
• Kim Campbell, who was Canada's prime minister.
• George Soros, a well-known investor and supporter of many causes.
• Rachel Reeves, who helps manage the money for the United Kingdom.
• David Rockefeller, a leader in big banking.
• Paul Volcker, who helped guide the money system of the United States.
• Robert Rubin, who managed the money for the United States.
• Yang Jiechi, who helped lead China's foreign affairs.
• Tarō Asō, who was Japan's prime minister.
• Yemi Osinbajo, who helped lead Nigeria.

Since 1990, LSE has educated 24 prime ministers or presidents. Over 40 world leaders have studied or taught there since it began in 1895. Many have gone on to important jobs around the world.

LSE in literature and other media

The London School of Economics has appeared in many books, TV shows, and movies. One of the first times it was mentioned was in a play by Bernard Shaw from 1912, where a character named Eliza Doolittle goes to the school.

In many novels, the school is used to show a character who is clever and creative. For example, in a book by Ian Fleming, the father of a famous spy named James Bond graduated from the LSE. Other books also feature characters who studied there.

On television, the school has been mentioned in popular shows like Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister, where the main character is teased for going to the LSE. It has also appeared in American series such as The West Wing and Mad Men.

In movies, the LSE is shown in Shadow Recruit, where a character graduates from the school, and in The Social Network, which talks about how quickly Facebook grew.