One of the great advantages of many degrees at LSE is that they allow you to choose at least one module outside your academic department. Some degrees will include more interdisciplinary choices from the start. On the LLM which I have just completed, it is less common to choose a non-law option. With over 60 law modules to choose from, many of my peers did not opt for any outside options. I personally wanted one of the eight half-modules I completed to be in a different department to expand my knowledge in management and economics. Thus, I chose to study MG4A8 Strategy for the Information Economy.

Administration

Choosing modules outside of your department is relatively straightforward but there are a couple of things to note. First, read your programme regulations to check if you are allowed to choose a course outside of your department, and if so which ones and how many units are allowed to be chosen. On the LLM, for instance, I was permitted to choose up to one unit of outside options.

Second, you should check whether you meet the entry requirements for the module of your choice. I didn’t meet any of the conditions for courses in the economics department since I do not have a quantitative background. The module I ended up choosing entailed a mix of quantitative and qualitative elements and with an interest and basic understanding of economics, I met the criteria.

Lastly, some departments require you to write a short statement upon selecting the course on LSE for you. I did not have to do this, but you should know in advance and can thus prepare this statement to avoid stress on the day of course selection. When in doubt, you can always contact the relevant department about what is required.

Teaching

My experience with classes and lectures was generally good. I felt like I chose the right option and was not too far behind others who had a background in management or economics. I felt a bit out of my depth sometimes, but I knew what I was signing up for. Besides, I received feedback through formative assessments, which was helpful for revision. The only thing to note is that I found it harder to make friends on this course since I was the only LLM student taking it and there wasn’t much opportunity to socialise.

Assessment

Revising for the exam was a refreshing change to my law modules, which all consisted exclusively of essay writing, whereas this exam contained some mathematical problems. The lack of a social group in this course made it slightly trickier to prepare for the summer exam and I felt a bit lost sometimes. However, by making an effort to revise and attending the revision seminar, I managed to do reasonably well in the exam despite not having studied economics before at university.

It was interesting to do something completely different that still complemented my studies in competition law. Especially the change in the style of learning really broadened my horizon. All in all, I recommend browsing outside options, especially during your master’s, where you can theoretically take any department’s course.

Find out more about course selection at LSE in our website.