LSE Acceptance Rates and Entry Requirements

*Ranked *7th by the best universities in the UK Rankings 2025 and 50th by the QS World University Rankings 2025 the London School of Economics and Politics (LSE) is one of the best institutions if you’re aiming to study law, economics or politics. Famous for its fierce competition and acceptance rates as low as 9%, this university fuels the ambition of the most competitive UK and international students from around the globe. Despite its tough competitiveness, Crimson students have proven track of success in acceptance with their determination, tailored strategy and an early start! This blog is a must-read for every student and their parents in the UK or Europe wanting to study at the London School of Economics. Read on to discover the latest acceptance rates, entry requirements, the most and least competitive courses and application tips!

Crimson Education’s UK Universities Admissions Success

Crimson Education's academic experts have been helping hundreds of students from the UK and Europe gain acceptance to top UK universities for over a decade. Up to this day, we have helped 296 students secure places at Oxbridge and 2,660+ students gain acceptance to other Top 10 universities such as the London School of Economics, UCL or Kings College London. We are proud to have one of the highest success rates globally and keep breaking new admission records every year. Are you or your child aiming to study at one of the top UK universities and need support on your academic journey?  Schedule a consultation with one of our academic advisors to explore our personalised, premium programmes. The earlier you start, the higher your chance of acceptance!

LSE's Undergraduate Acceptance Rates 2024

Before discussing the latest LSE’s acceptance rate, let’s delve into some key facts about why this university is so selective.

Founded in the 1800s with a mission to improve societal living through researching poverty and social inequalities, LSE has become one of the only leading universities in the world purely specialising in social and political sciences research. The university is proud to have 16 Nobel prize winners and 37 world leaders among its alumni. Nonetheless, it takes the 24th spot in the Global Employability rankings with its average median salary being 38,000 GBP. Hitting top spots in all educational rankings proves the university is worth the hustle of the most ambitious students, hence its low acceptance rates. Let’s examine how they have changed over the past 5 years.

LSE constantly demonstrates an acceptance rate lower than 10% over the last admission cycles. It is important to note that in the 2023-2024 cycle,  the university received 26,442 applications and sent out 4,324 offers. Even if the offer rate sits at 16%, the actual enrolment rate is much lower at only 6.7%. This is because not all students end up accepting their place at university, some tend to miss entry requirements or simply decide to pick other universities over LSE. It reflects the competitiveness of the university admissions landscape, where students have the opportunity to consider other 4 offers received through UCAS.

Are you going to apply to LSE soon? Follow us on our Instagram to keep up to date with the latest UK university admissions news and save-worthy tips!

From the tables above it is clear that LSE’s most desired and the most competitive programmes are Economics, Government, and International Relations. The Economics degree is not only the most competitive but also receives the largest amount of applications, over 3,000 each year. When it comes to the least competitive programmes, students have more shots when applying to Social Science courses, or even Social Policy and Criminology degrees which receive only around 55 applications.

For a complete breakdown of admissions statistics at LSE, check out their Admissions data report on their Freedom of Information page.

Admission Requirements for UK and International Students from Europe

To meet LSE's entry requirements, UK students must demonstrate exceptional academics and a strong interest in their chosen field of study. The university does not guarantee an offer when meeting the minimum requirements because of high competition. A lot of applicants usually exceed the standard admission requirements in their applications, therefore, it is very important to stand out in your personal statement, achieved and predicted grades, subject combinations and teacher references.

Below are the expected academic requirements:

A-Levels

• UK Students are expected to meet the standard entry requirements of straight AAAs for the most competitive courses. The university also considers AS grades if they are available in your curriculum.

  GCSEs

  • The university requires a strong pre-16 academic profile demonstrating several GCSE grades of A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9), as well as strong GCSE results or their equivalents across a wide range of other subjects, with a minimum grade of B (or 6) in English and Mathematics.

International Baccalaureate

• A total score of 38 points including 766 at a higher level.

Other International Qualifications

• The university recognises many other international qualifications and encourages aspiring students to check entry requirements from each country on LSE's website.

Course Specific Requirements

For certain courses, you must also present and pass specific entrance tests. For example, the TMUA (Mathematics Admissions Test) is mandatory for students applying to Economics or Econometrics.

The LNAT (Law National Admissions Test) is needed for admission to the law course, as it provides additional information about a student's aptitude for the study of law.

English Language Proficiency

If you are not a national of an English-speaking country and receive an offer from LSE, you will be required to prove your English language proficiency in LSE'S acceptable English language qualifications such as IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), International Baccalaureate English A + Literature and many others. The tests should ideally be completed no earlier than two years after the course start date to ensure results are current.

Are you worried about your grades or test scores? There is nothing that our expert tutors and mentors couldn’t help you tackle! Crimson Education offers comprehensive academic tutoring and development of your application to increase your chances of acceptance. You just need to book a consultation with our academic advisors to discuss the right support for you.

Unlock your path to the UK’s most prestigious universities with our free eBook below, "The Ultimate UK University Admissions Guide."

4 Tips To Help Your Application Stand Out

1. Show enthusiasm for the subject

It is important to start thinking of the subject you want to apply for while still in school, so you can begin preparing your application as early as possible. To develop your interest and enthusiasm for a chosen subject, you may want to consider taking part in relevant super-curricular activities. For example, if you are interested in humanities courses (e.g. English, History, Politics), it would be highly beneficial to join clubs such as Debating or Model United Nations to hone your argumentative skills and collect knowledge of the relevant subject matter. This will also help when writing your UCAS personal statement as you will have an opportunity to explain how these activities strengthened your passion for the desired subject.

2. Wider Reading

Given that LSE programmes are known to be very academic, admission officers tend to look out for potential students who have genuine academic interest through the books or research papers that they read. They would want to see students who have read widely and have caught some intriguing insights from their reading. Wider reading also demonstrates the student's potential to handle the heavy independent reading required for surviving the tough LSE academic setting.

3. Showcase your academic achievements

LSE is highly competitive, and admissions officers want to see evidence that you are capable of handling the rigorous coursework. Highlight any academic achievements such as high grades, awards, or competitions. You may also want to include letters of recommendation from teachers or professors who can speak for your academic abilities and potential for success.

4. Sign up for Relevant Work Experience or Volunteering

One of the strongest ways to showcase your passion for the subject and stand out in your application is to engage in relevant work experience or volunteering work in your community or beyond. It can not only demonstrate that you are ready to contribute to the industry but also gather valuable knowledge about the subject before the course. Crimson offers a wide range of virtual work-experience programmes with leading companies such as Legalist, Ferrari or Amazon at Delta Institute that can significantly boost your university candidacy.

Crimson Education Premium University Admission Support

Crimson Education offers premium personalised admissions support programmes led by former admissions officers from top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, the University of Edinburgh and more. Our network includes 2,400+ expert tutors, mentors, and strategists from the top 25 UK universities. We provide premium comprehensive guidance tailored to each student and designed to maximise success in the competitive admissions landscape. Here’s a closer look at the services we offer:

Strategy & Application Support for UCAS Applications

We begin with an Initial Consultation to set your goals and assess your needs. In the second week, we develop a personalised Roadmap outlining each step of your journey, with regular strategy meetings to keep you focused and on track.

Our support includes:

• Customised Roadmap: Our in-platform roadmap keeps every step of the UK application process organised and focused, with real-time updates to track your progress.
• Candidacy Positioning: We assess your profile and develop an application strategy to emphasise your strengths and distinguish you from other international applicants.
• University Selection: Our advisors recommend the best universities based on acceptance rates, personal preferences, location, and overall fit.

Personalised Essay Support & Strategy

Our Essay Mentors offer dedicated support in crafting your UCAS Personal Statement, with access to a database of over 1000+ sample essays and personalised one-on-one brainstorming sessions to shape your narrative.

Tailored Interview Preparation

For students applying to courses with interview requirements, our Interview Mentors provide targeted interview preparation. This includes taired mock interviews with subject-specific questions, developed by mentors who have passed Oxbridge or medical interviews, as well as personalised feedback to help you present your ideas confidently.

VIP Personal Statement Review

Our VIP Personal Statement Review service brings an extra level of insight from a senior Crimson Strategy team member, such as a former Oxbridge admissions officer, senior tutor, or current Oxbridge supervisor, to refine and polish your statement.

Academic Tutoring and Supercurriculars Development

In addition, our academic resources offer personalised tutoring for essential entrance exams, such as the UCAT, MAT, PAT, and ESAT, tailored to your target universities and subjects. We also help students engage in relevant supercurricular activities that deepen their knowledge in their intended field of study.

Research Opportunities through a Summer Programme

Through Crimson’s Summer Research Programme, students engage in a six-week intensive research course to produce publication-ready papers, supported by over 30 hours of instruction from PhD fellows in small online classes. Students can select from fields like International Politics, Artificial Intelligence, Economics, and more, working with university professors from Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.

Comprehensive UCAS Application Guidance

We offer end-to-end UCAS application support, from test prep to personal statements, and extracurriculars to interview prep. We also provide strategic advice for reference letters and support with post-application communication, supplementary information requests, and additional university choice consulting for those admitted to multiple universities.

To get more information on how we can help you, please visit our UK admissions support page or Book a consultation with one of our Academic Advisors to see how we can elevate your journey to Cambridge.

FAQs

Can you visit LSE?

LSE organises undergraduate open days and virtual tours. Find out more here.

Where is LSE located?

LSE is located in the heart of London, in Holborn.

Can you apply to LSE twice?

You can apply to LSE twice, but you should carefully check the admission requirements and deadlines for each application cycle, and make sure to submit a strong and competitive application.

Can you transfer to LSE?

Transferring to LSE may be possible, but extremely rare. If applications are to be considered, students must present a successful completion of the first year of a related degree programme at another university. The related degree programme is only accepted if its coursework closely aligns with LSE’s programme to ensure successful accreditation. LSE does not accept any transfer applications into the final year of any programme.

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Join Our Free Webinars on UK University Applications
• The Ultimate UK University Admissions Guide
• How to Choose the Right UK University
• Extracurricular Activities in UK University Applications
• Follow us on Instagram for more UK university admission news and tips!