The London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE) is a university located in the heart of the Holborn district, close to the City of London. Founded in 1895, the LSE is recognized as one of the world’s leading universities in the field of social and political sciences.

In fact, it was ranked as the world’s 2nd leading university in the social sciences in the QS World University Ranking in 2018.

The London School of Economics (LSE) in a nutshell

The LSE is renowned for training many leaders in business and politics, as well as in law, history, economics, philosophy and the media. 19 of its alumni and professors have been awarded the Nobel Prize (including 13 in Economics, 3 Nobel Peace Prizes and 2 in Literature), and 52 have become heads of state.

The university also boasts the world’s largest library of economic and social sciences.

It is also part of the “Golden Triangle” of English universities, along with Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Imperial College et King’s College, la LSE.

Similar in many respects to Sciences Po Paris, it offers the opportunity to study a wide range of disciplines related to social and political sciences, law, economics, finance, management, international relations, history and philosophy.

What is the selection process at the London School of Economics (LSE)?

The LSE selection process is divided into several stages, which we describe below:

APPLICATION FORM ON UCAS

First of all, you’ll need to submit your application on the UCAS platform, the equivalent of Parcoursup in the UK. This includes a personal statement and a letter of recommendation from one of your teachers.

A STANDARDIZED ENGLISH EXAM

You’ll also be required to demonstrate an excellent command of the English language, so you’ll usually need to pass a standardized English exam such as IELTS.

CONDITIONAL OFFER OF ADMISSION

Finally, if your application is accepted at the end of the selection process, you will receive a “conditional” offer of admission. This means that you will only be definitively admitted if you achieve a minimum score on your Baccalauréat (usually a “Bien” on the French Baccalauréat) and a standardized English exam (usually between 6.5 and 7.5 on the IELTS).

When should you start preparing for the London School of Economics (LSE)?

The deadline for applying to the London School of Economics (LSE) is January 15 of your final year.

What is the profile of students at the London School of Economics (LSE)?

The LSE is a highly selective university. We recommend that you apply to this university if you can demonstrate excellent academic results and are confident of obtaining a “Bien” or “Très Bien” in your Baccalauréat.

Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) is unique in that it is the only campus-based Russell Group University in London. It has 23,120 undergraduate and postgraduate students studying across the humanities and social sciences, science and engineering, and medicine and dentistry. Located in the bustling areas of east and central London, Queen Mary is one of the UK’s leading research-focused universities and places in the top 50 in the UK University Ranking 2019. Queen Mary’s place amongst the UK university powerhouses is solidified through its outstanding international reputation for research.

According to the most recent Research Excellence Framework, carried out in 2014, Queen Mary places 5th in the UK for the percentage of research outputs ranked 4* and 3*. It also ranks 9th in the UK, amongst multi-faculty institutions, for the sheer quality and excellence of its research.

Calling all international students

The university is a great destination for international students looking to study in the UK. Queen Mary promotes diversity and therefore prides itself on having its doors open to people of all backgrounds: 44% of students are from overseas and its diverse community of staff and students represent over 160 different countries from around the world.

History and campus

The university was formed from the merger of 4 historic London institutions: Queen Mary College, Westfield College, St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College and The London Hospital Medical College, which means that its five campuses span such different and diverse areas of England’s capital as Whitechapel, Charterhouse Square, West Smithfield and Regent’s Canal. A university experience in the heart of London … what else could you want?

Well, there’s more to get excited about! Queen Mary’s main campus, called Mile End, is one of the largest independent university campuses in London. Situated right by the Regent’s Canal, the campus offers a vast array of features: a 24-hour library, four computer labs, an arts quarter, as well as providing access to a plethora of bars, cafes and sports pitches. One student notes, “It’s nice having everything all in one location at the Mile End campus. There’s a real sense of community. Campus is almost like its own little village- our own little space in London” (Zoe – QMUL website). The main library of the university is also located on the Mile End campus, with Whitechapel and West Smithfield being host to the medical libraries.

Well, there’s more to get excited about! Queen Mary’s main campus, called Mile End, is one of the largest independent university campuses in London. Situated right by the Regent’s Canal, the campus offers a vast array of features: a 24-hour library, four computer labs, an arts quarter, as well as providing access to a plethora of bars, cafes and sports pitches. One student notes, “It’s nice having everything all in one location at the Mile End campus. There’s a real sense of community. Campus is almost like its own little village- our own little space in London” (Zoe – QMUL website). The main library of the university is also located on the Mile End campus, with Whitechapel and West Smithfield being host to the medical libraries.

STUDENT LIFE

Queen Mary home to one of the most successful Student Unions in the country, whose motto is “Together we improve students’ lives”. What the union has on offer may range from Sports and Fitness opportunities, through to an Academic Advice Service, as well as providing a host of social spaces: a multifaith centre, restaurants and a variety of lively drink spots such as The Griffin Inn bar and kitchen and The Shield.

The Union offers groups and societies that range from volunteering to the participation in sports teams. The societies and events that take place here in the Student Union are a starting point for others: in 2019, Queen Mary was lucky enough to welcome none other than Microsoft founder Bill Gates to come to speak on his roles as “world-leading technologist, business leader and philanthropist”, as The Complete University Guide 2019 notes. With figures such as Bill Gates gracing the grounds of Queen Mary you know the university means business! If the prospect of living and working in London seems attractive, then it may well be the university for you.

How do I apply?

Queen Mary University of London requires strong academic results and rigorous preparation is needed.

What are the different stages of the application?

There are several steps:

1. Application
2. Conditional offer
3. Acceptance

The details of these steps are covered below.

How do I apply?

How to begin an application:

Conditional offer and acceptance:

If students succeed in all these stages, in January they will receive a ‘conditional offer’ of admission. This means that they will be accepted if they attain the required marks (most often a high grade in your end of high school studies, and in a standardized English exam: 7.5 in the IELTS for example).

What is the deadline for applying?

Deadlines:

The deadline for applications to Queen Mary University of London is 15th January of a students’ final year of secondary school or sixth-form college (Year 12).

When do you have to start preparing for Queen Mary University of London?

It is recommended that students try to find aspects of their chosen course that genuinely interest them and to think deeply about why they wish to study this subject – after all, students are applying to study this subject full time for at least 3 years.

Is it possible to visit the campus?

Open day at Queen Mary is 5th October 2019. Registration is not necessary, although students may need to register for the most popular sessions. For more information, see this page.

What is the profile of the students at QMUL?

Because of the high selectivity of the university, we recommend to apply to this university only if yo can show strong academic results and you are sure to obtain at least a Mention ‘Assez Bien’ grade in the Baccalaureate.

Moreover, you must also show an excellent command of the English language.

Fees

Fees 2019-2020*

	EU students	International Non-EU Students
Undergraduate Tuition Fees	£9,250 per year for all courses	Between £24,750 and £34,678 per year, depending on the subject (see individual course pages for details).Costs for Medicine will be considerably higher: £27,24 per year for the first three years (pre-clinical years), and £37,445 per year for years 5 and 6 (clinical years).
‘College fee’	£0	International students must also pay a ‘College fee’ of £7,570

*Tuition fees subject to increase with inflation in subsequent years

When taking into account the cost of any university, you should also consider the cost of living.

When taking into account the cost of any university, you should also consider the cost of living.

Oxford provides an estimate for the cost of living, which can be found on its website: they advise budgeting between £1,058 and £1,643 for each month that you are in Oxford. You should budget this amount for 6-9 months of the year, depending on whether you will be staying at Oxford during the holidays.

From this, you might predict an annual average budget of around £10,567 per year, including accommodation, transport, personal expenses etc.

Founded in 1829, King’s College London is one of the most prestigious universities in the United Kingdom, and part of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of research-intensive universities, along with Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, and LSE.

King’s was ranked 42nd worldwide for reputation in the Times World Reputation Rankings 2018, and 7th in the UK by the QS University Ranking 2019, and 4th in the UK for employability after graduation according to the >Times Graduate Employability Rankings 2018. It has many illustrious alumni, including Desmond Tutu, Virginia Woolf, the founder of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale, as well as twelve Nobel Laureates, including  Frederick Hopkins (the discoverer of vitamins), and numerous politicians.

King’s has five campuses: its historic campus on the Strand, which is situated on the banks of the river Thames, is located close to the iconic Trafalgar Square, many respected think tanks such as the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the Adam Smith Institute and the Royal United Services Institute, and is a short walk from the Houses of Parliament.

Student Life

King’s College London’s prime location in the heart of London makes it a fantastic (albeit rather expensive) place to be. Although there are five campuses, each maintains an inviting environment. Indeed, King’s is reputed to be a friendly university with a thriving student union, the KCLSU, and student ambassadors to help students if they have questions or concerns. There are also 2 student bars that host regular social events.

Within the University, there are frequent public lectures, including the King’s Think Tank, Europe’s largest student policy institute. There is a large selection of clubs and societies to join: from 3 gyms and over 60 competitive sports clubs, to student media (including photography, film, journalism), to volunteering opportunities.

If that’s not enough, King’s hosts many events to help students make the most of their time in London through initiatives such as the ‘Unlocking London’ programme, which organises group tours and visits to cultural venues and historic sites.

How do I apply?

As with all British universities, applications are submitted online through the platform UCAS.

Undergraduate candidates apply via the British online platform UCAS, and upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement), predicted grades for the Baccalaureate in each subject, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. For help and advice on how to complete a successful UCAS application please see here.

Note that students send only 1 Personal Statement for all the universities they apply to (maximum of 5 choices).

The Personal Statement, maximum 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study a chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.

Different courses may request different grades. For those studying the International Baccalaureate (IB), the general required score is 34-35/45.

For French students: King’s webpage has a chart demonstrating the equivalent of A-Levels, which can be used to determine the grades needed on the French Baccalaureate (or other international equivalent) in order to meet the eligibility requirements. An A* is 16, A is 14, B is 13

For general advice and information on the application process for international students, please click here.

International students from non-English speaking backgrounds or countries will be required to provide proof of knowledge of the English language through a certificate of a recognised standardised English proficiency test. The score is dependent on the course but generally ranges between 6.0 and 7.0 on the IELTS.

King’s College London also runs pre-sessional English-language programmes lasting between 6 and 15 weeks to help candidates improve their proficiency in English.

Can I visit King’s College London ?

There are several specialised open days, depending on the campus and area of study.

King’s have been running a series of online events to allow everyone to visit from your computer. To watch the series click here.

Fees

Students from the European Union will no longer be eligible for home fee status and student loans in England from the 2021-22 academic year, the government has confirmed.

For more informations see this page.

Imperial College London was ranked #9 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. Founded in 1907, the university is located in one of central London’s most lively and beautiful areas, next to palaces, parks, concert halls, and museums. Imperial specialises in the fields of science, technology, and business: a new business school was opened in 2004. It boasts 14 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, including Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin, as well as three Fields Medallists. The University, therefore, has a strong reputation for pioneering research, and was placed #2 in Europe in the Reuters Top 100 Innovative Universities 2018. Undergraduate students have the opportunity to gain their own research experience through the invaluable Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP)

Imperial College London is a truly global community, indeed it is the UK’’s most international university, and one of the world’s top 10, with its student body representing 140 countries.

Studying at Imperial opens more doors than any other British university: the 2019 University Guide placed Imperial College London #2 in the UK for career prospects, with a score of 90.5/100

Academic matters

Imperial College London is one of the world’s top universities for science and technology and includes departments such as Chemistry, Physics, Computing, Engineering and Medicine. Many degree programmes contain a combination from these departments, such as Biological Sciences with Management or even Chemistry with German or Spanish for Science. Many courses also include a year in industry or research, an indispensable opportunity if students wish to continue with postgraduate study or boost career projects.

Imperial College Business School offers an MBA, Masters programmes in a variety of management, finance, and specialised topics, as well as a doctoral programme.

Teaching at Imperial is mostly in the form of lectures, and smaller, more interactive seminars (conducted by postgraduate students or other academic staff). There is a strong emphasis on practical experience, so a key aspect of courses are regular practical sessions in laboratories.

How do I apply?

As with all UK universities, candidates apply through UCAS. Students may make up to 5 choices of universities, EXCEPT for medical students, who can apply up to 4 medical courses, and a fifth, non-medical course.

On UCAS, candidates upload a letter of motivation (Personal Statement), their predicted exam marks, and a letter of recommendation from one of their teachers. Students may only submit 1 Personal Statement for all the universities they apply for (maximum of 5 choices). The Personal Statement, no more than 4,000 characters, should explain why students want to study their chosen course, what aspects particularly interest them, what steps they have already taken to engage with the subject (reading, conferences, internships etc), and, if possible, what aspects they are looking forward to studying.

Many courses also require an admissions test, for which you must register for no later than October 15th. Courses require the following tests:

• Medicine requires the BMAT
• All BSc and MSci Mathematics courses require the MAT

The majority of courses also interview candidates who demonstrate potential after the tests. These interviews take place between December and February, and may include group work.

The interview is a chance to see whether you are right for the course and whether the course is right for you. International students may arrange interviews via Skype. The University website offers information and tips to help prepare for the interviews.

Can I visit the university on open days ?

To receive useful updates on open days and other events at Imperial, click here and sign up to their mailing list.

For more information, please click here.

What is the profile of the students at Imperial College London?

Given the extreme selectivity of Imperial, we advise you to apply to this university only if you can show a real interest in sciences, excellent academic results and that you are sure to obtain a ‘Bien’ or ‘Très Bien’ in the Baccalaureate with more than 16/20 in sciences.

Moreover, you must also show a very good command of the English language.

Certain programs at Imperial like mathematics, mechanical engineering or physics receive a particularly high number of applications and generally require you to get a minimum of 15 or 16/20 in the Baccalaureate with grades more than 16/20 in scientific subjects.

University College London (UCL) is ‘London’s Global University.’ Located in the heart of London, but with over 18,000 students from outside of the UK (out of around 39,000 in total), the University is one of the most international in the UK. Founded in 1826, UCL  was the first university in the United Kingdom to be secular, accepting candidates regardless of religion, and awarded the first 4 bachelor’s degrees to British women in 1880.

Famous alumni include Mahatma Gandhi, Kwame Nkrumah (the founder of modern Ghana), and members of the band Coldplay. Today, it is one of the top universities in the UK, and hovers near the top 10 # worldwide (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019, QS World University Rankings 2019). It is the third-largest university in the UK, part of the ‘Russell Group’ of elite British universities, and part of the Golden Triangle (including Oxford and Cambridge) of research-intensive universities.

Life at UCL

On campus, students can enjoy a brand new student center, the or find a quiet corner in the beautiful law library. There are several green areas in this bustling part of London including the charming Gordon Square and the larger Russell Square, both popular for picnicking. The much larger Regent’s Park is about 10 minutes away. To help create a community feel each department has its own common room, where students from the same course, or different ones, can meet, relax, or study together.

Academic Matters

Increasingly well known and consistently highly ranked internationally as noted above, UCL offers a constantly evolving range of courses. Recently added, the BASc Arts & Sciences course allows students to discover a broader range of subjects, while Law, Biomedical Science, Economics and Computer Science continue to be the most popular (and most selective!) courses. See the full of list of bachelor’s and master’s courses on UCL’s website.

Considered highly selective, UCL is one of a few universities in the UK not to offer courses in Clearing as reported by THE.

Master’s degrees can be either taught or research programs and include a wide range of programs including architecture, economics, education and philosophy. Find out more about all courses on offer here.

When should students start preparing?

It is strongly recommended that students begin preparing in from the end of Year 11 or beginning of Year 12. If possible, start any reading and thinking about what to write about in a Personal Statement as early as possible.

It is recommended that you try to find aspects of your chosen course that genuinely interest you and to think deeply about why you wish to study this subject – after all, you are applying to study this subject full time for at least 3 years.

The deadline for application to UCL is 15th January of Year 13.

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, all UCL open days will now take place online.  

UCL’s Undergraduate June Virtual Open Days are live. For more informations, please see this page.

When do you have to start preparing for IE Madrid?

The deadline to apply for a Bachelor’s at IE University is at the end of your final year.

Always bear in mind the preparation work needed for admission to IE University, it is therefore strongly recommended that you start preparing your application at the start of your final year to maximize your chances of success.

A year of tuition at IE University ranges from just over €20,000 to €24,000 depending on the course. The University offers some Financial aid opportunities, which may cover up to 100% of enrollment fees. Students may apply for IE Loans, IE Scholarships or outside funding and should do so by completing their Financial Aid application.