Supporting documents
Use this guide to ensure you provide the
right information as part of your
application
Most delays in the application process are caused by uploading
incorrect, or unclear, versions of essential documentation. Check, and
double check, before you submit your application that each of your
supporting documents is legible and meets the criteria below.
Once your application is submitted, it will be considered by
Share
the selectors as it stands, so you will not be able to add
any further documents nor updated versions of existing
documents unless we speci;cally request them.
Please make sure that you submit the ;nal version of any Rules and exceptions
document you have written yourself (eg CV, statement of
academic purpose, research proposal). Make sure that the
application includes the correct documents before you
submit.
If you are submitting scanned documents, please use a
proper Fat-bed scanner wherever possible, rather than
photographing them; photographed documents are not Statement of
academic purpose
always easy to read.
Programme speci;c
guidance
A note on secure PDFs: Our application system works by
bundling together the documents that you and your
referees upload, together with the application form, into a
merged PDF. Secure PDFs, such as sometimes provided by
universities as transcripts, cannot always be decrypted by
the system. This leads to problems in creating your Information for forced
application ;le and a delay in your application being migrants
considered by the selectors. At the application stage,
please upload a non-secured version; we will ask you for
the secure version of your ;nal transcript later if you are
made an offer.
NOTICE: Please be aware of an issue that has come to our
Information for
attention regarding email junk/spam ;lters. Some email transgender
software is ;ltering LSE emails to the spam/junk or applicants
‘Deleted Items/Bin’ folder so please make sure to check
there for important information regarding your application.
If you do ;nd any of our emails in any of these folders,
please make sure to add the domain @[Link] to your
‘Safe Senders’ or ‘Never Block’ list. Emails will be sent to
you automatically from our database system once you Information for
have begun your online application and as your application applicants with
previous criminal
progresses through each step in the process (application convictions
created; application submitted; application downloaded for
processing). We will then send you a further email each
time there is an update to the status of your application,
including any requests for further information and the
programme selectors’ decision on your application. It is
essential that you ensure you can successfully receive
our emails as soon as you begin your application.
Application form
Application assessment fee
Two academic references
Transcripts/mark sheets and proof of existing
quali;cations
Statement of academic purpose
You must upload a statement that explains your
academic interest in, understanding of and academic
preparedness for the programme(s) you are applying
for. You should also explain the academic rationale for
applying to the programme(s) you have chosen. If
applying for two programmes, you are strongly
encouraged to write a separate statement for each
programme. The statement of academic purpose is an
important part of your application, and selectors are
looking for evidence of your academic suitability and
motivation, and of what you can contribute
academically to the programme. We expect
statement(s) to be between 1,000 - 1,500 words.
Please address the following questions/prompts in
your statement(s)
Academic Motivations
What prompted your interest in this particular ;eld
of study? Perhaps you have unanswered
questions from your undergraduate studies or
professional work, or you would like to further
explore issues and ideas raised in your curricular
or extra-curricular reading?
Why would you like to study your chosen
programme? Perhaps it offers a particular
approach, or there are speci;c modules that will
help you develop necessary skills or knowledge.
Perhaps the research interests of the academics
teaching on your programme, and/or the wider
research culture of the department align with your
own interests and academic/professional
aspirations?
Suitability
What makes you suitable for this LSE
programme? Perhaps you have taken relevant
undergraduate modules, or have relevant
professional, voluntary, or other experience that
has prepared for postgraduate study in this area?
Purpose and Objectives
What do you hope to get out of this particular LSE
programme? How would this particular
programme help you to achieve your personal,
academic, and professional goals? Take the time
to explain your academic or professional
aspirations and goals, and how your chosen
programme will impart the necessary skills and
knowledge. Please avoid general statements
about LSE’s performance in global rankings, and
generic statements about London being a
global/cosmopolitan centre of excellence.
If there are circumstances that have disrupted your
education/signi;cantly interfered with your learning
(for example, health problems, displacement, long-
term caring responsibilities), please feel free to let us
know about them in a separate document added to
your application (you can upload this document via
the ‘Additional Item’ upload option). If appropriate,
please also consult the advice we give to applicants
from a forced migration background here, and from a
care-experienced background here.
Please ensure that your statement(s):
Are all your own work. If we discover this is not
the case, your application may be cancelled
Are well-written, well-structured and speci;c to the
programme(s) applied for
Are proofread before being uploaded, and the ;nal
correct versions are uploaded
Only include that which is relevant to your
programme choice(s). Additional information
regarding unrelated extra-curricular activities,
personal achievements or work experience should
be included in your CV
Have your name and the title of your chosen
programme in the header or footer of every page
Above are the general requirements for statements of
academic purpose, however some programmes have
speciKc requirements which differ from the above –
please check for any speciKc requirements for your
chosen programme(s) on this page.
CV
Upload your CV/resume, including your employment
history or other professional experience, including
internships.
Please submit the ;nal version of your CV. If you send
an updated version later on, we cannot guarantee to
include it with your application before it is seen by the
selectors unless it is something that we have
requested from you. Make sure that the application
includes the correct documents before you submit.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test
and Graduate Management Admissions Test
(GMAT)
Research proposal
Sample of written work
English test scores
Miscellaneous supporting documents
Submitting your application form
Fraud prevention
Available programmes Check if your chosen programme is
currently recruiting
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