As one of the top-ranked universities in the world, LSE is home to countless opportunities. Undoubtedly, you will spend most of your time in the classroom or working on your coursework, but there is much more out there you have access to. Below are three amazing academic opportunities outside the classroom you should take advantage of to maximise your time at LSE.
1. LSE Public Events and Lectures
Each term, LSE publishes its public events and lectures schedule for the upcoming few months. The university is committed to hosting a wide selection of events and lectures, including talks from Nobel laureates, world-leading scholars, academics, economists, journalists, politicians, and activists. For example, I’ve listened to former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown reflect on his political career; Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz discuss income inequality and how to reduce it, and a panel of experts debate the last century of Anglo-American relations. It is rare to find such a consistent all-star lineup of speakers at other universities, which helps make LSE special. These public events greatly enhance the student experience, and I highly recommend you take advantage of them to complement your studies.
2. Public Events at Other London Universities
As part of the University of London system, LSE students have access to other world-leading universities right here in London. While this is a widely-known fact, it is surprising how little many LSE students utilise this connection. As such, LSE students are often entitled to attend public events, lectures, and seminars at other local universities, some of which are steps away from LSE’s campus. Other University of London institutions have different strengths to LSE, meaning they often have a different focus or themes for their events. If you are interested in Asian, African, or Middle Eastern studies, check out events at SOAS. I once attended a star-studded panel discussing the centenary of the Balfour Declaration there. If war studies and military history excite you, King’s College London has some of the best events around in those fields. For some wonderful STEM lectures, check out the schedule at Imperial College, London. Attending events at these universities is a fantastic way to round out your LSE experience.
3. LSE LIFE
LSE LIFE is one of the most wonderful teams on LSE’s campus. Based on the ground floor of the LSE Library, LSE LIFE is the place to help you develop new skills you can use both in the classroom and in your everyday life. They offer a numerous events, workshops, and one-on-one sessions to help you enhance your academic experience, such as sessions on effective reading and note-taking, academic writing, critical thinking, conducting research, and time management. For areas you want to improve, LSE LIFE should be your first port of call. Their staff use a hands-on and innovative approach to help students, so you feel like they are tailoring their expertise to your individual needs. Take advantage of LSE LIFE as often as you need, they are there to help and it will strengthen your time at LSE.
I hope these tips are of use. LSE is so much more than what happens in the classroom, and you only go to university once, so it is vital to take advantage of every opportunity available to you. You won’t regret it.
