The post Guy Fawkes Night in London: where to watch fireworks first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>London is a great place to experience Bonfire Night. There are huge fireworks displays, local events and cheaper ways to celebrate with friends. Here are a few options worth checking out.
If you want the full Bonfire Night experience, Alexandra Palace is a great place to start. It is known for its annual fireworks festival and amazing views of the London skyline.
The event usually offers much more than fireworks. There is often music, food and entertainment, so you can make a whole evening out of it. It is a great option for a group of friends, especially if it’s your first Bonfire Night.
Battersea Park is another popular spot for Bonfire Night celebrations.
Previous events have included fireworks, music, food stalls and entertainment. It’s a fun option if you want something more exciting than just watching a fireworks display.
I’d recommend going with friends and arriving early. These events can get quite crowded, especially around the main display.
Make sure to check the official website for this year’s dates and ticket prices.
You don’t need to attend a huge festival to enjoy Bonfire Night. Smaller community events can be just as fun and may be more affordable.
I’d recommend checking local council websites for fireworks displays near you. Wimbledon, for example, has hosted Bonfire Night events in previous years.
These events are worth considering if you’re on a student budget. Just remember that smaller displays aren’t always free, so compare ticket prices before making plans.
If you don’t want to spend money on tickets, you can still enjoy Bonfire Night.
Get some friends together, make hot chocolate, buy some snacks and have a cosy evening in. You could even watch a film or cook dinner together.
With university deadlines starting to pile up, sometimes a relaxed evening is exactly what you need.
Here are some quick tips:
Whether you attend a big fireworks festival or spend the evening with friends, Bonfire Night is a fun way to experience a British tradition and take a break from university life.
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]]>The post Your ultimate student guide to Halloween in London first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>Before spending money on an event elsewhere, I would always check what is happening closer to home. LSESU societies and student groups organise socials all year, and Halloween is a great opportunity to try something even if you have not attended that society’s events before.
This is also one of the things I like most about being a student in London. You have the whole city available to you, but you can still have fun doing something simple with your friend group. Keep an eye on LSESU and your societies’ social media pages as Halloween gets closer to see what is being organised.
Read Ben’s blog for advice on how to get started with LSESU societies.
A Halloween movie night is a great option if clubbing in costume is not really your thing. This year, the Rivoli Ballroom in Brockley is turning into a Halloween pop-up cinema, with films including The Lost Boys, Hocus Pocus and The Rocky Horror Picture Show around Halloween.
I think this is more fun than a regular cinema because Halloween décor makes the venue feel like a horror film. Moreover, tickets start at around £10, making it one of the more student-friendly options on this list. If you’re interested in cool cinemas in London, check out Maya’s blog on the Prince Charles Cinema in Leicester Square.
If you want something spooky without necessarily wanting to be terrified, Halloween at Kew is another option. From 16 October to 1 November, Kew Gardens has an after-dark Halloween trail filled with lights, eerie installations and other surprises.
It is definitely more of an autumn evening out than a full horror experience, which makes it a good option for a group of friends with very different tolerances for being scared. Just remember that tickets start from around £16.75 and popular dates can fill up, so this is one I would plan in advance.
If Halloween is not Halloween unless someone makes you scream, the London Dungeon is probably the obvious choice. It combines London’s darker history with live actors, immersive sets and rides, so it is also a very London-specific way to spend Halloween.
Alternatively, you could try one of London’s ghost walks or Jack the Ripper tours if you want something creepy while getting to explore a different part of the city.
You really do not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy Halloween in London. Get some friends together, dress up in costumes, carve pumpkins, have a horror movie marathon or explore some of London’s supposedly haunted locations.
London already has enough old buildings, strange alleyways and questionable weather to provide the Halloween atmosphere for free. If you are new to the city, you can use Halloween to explore somewhere you have not been before. The Students@LSE blog has plenty of ideas for hidden gems around London.
However you choose to spend it, my main recommendation would be to make plans early. Halloween falls on Saturday 31 October this year, so events are likely to be particularly popular. Decide how spooky you actually want your Halloween to be, and make the most of celebrating it in London.
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]]>The post The best study spots in the heart of London first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>The LSE Library is an excellent and convenient place to study, especially in between classes. As a student, you can actually reserve study space in the library for individual work, group sessions, or virtual interviews. A reservation is not required, but if it’s a busy period or you just want to guarantee a quiet place to get some work done, it’s a great system to use.
If you want to change things up a bit from the LSE Library, consider registering to get access to Senate House Library in Bloomsbury. It is open to students within the University of London system, which LSE is a member of, and you can register online. When you visit for the first time, you can then collect a physical library card if you would like one.
If you’d like a break from libraries, two of the most popular places to study on campus are the Centre Building (CBG) and the Marshall Building. Both have lots of available space, although they can get busy. I’m personally a fan of CBG, but both are great options. Check out Saoirse’s post about why the Marshall Building is a must visit!
I am personally a big fan of working in coffee shops because I like the general ambiance and having a steady supply of caffeine readily available. Some of my favourites near campus include: Roasting Plant Coffee (the location near Clement House); Redemption Roasters (near Holborn station); Cafe Botanical (also near Holborn station); and my absolute favourite place is Corner Shop, which is right across the street from Temple station and on the way to main campus. If you’re interested in coffee spot recommendations on campus, check out Emily’s post with some of her favourite places.
Sometimes you just need a break from campus and a change of scenery can help boost productivity, as well as give you a chance to explore different parts of the city. My favourite off-campus study location is the National Art Library at the Victoria & Albert Museum in South Kensington. It’s a beautiful, quiet space to get work done, and then you can take a study break to explore the museum and grab a coffee in the museum cafe. It’s conveniently located just a few minutes away from South Kensington station.
When I want to get some reading done and enjoy fresh air and good views at the same time, I head to Covent Garden and go to the rooftop terrace of the Royal Opera House. It’s not designed as a co-working space, and I wouldn’t recommend camping out for several hours with a laptop, but it’s perfect if you have some reading to get done.
London is a wonderful city for students with an almost never-ending list of unique study spots. It’s always a great idea to ask around for recommendations, but don’t be afraid to head out and start exploring as well to find your perfect spots.
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]]>The post The best ways to save money as a student living in London first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>Something that I have found really helpful is to keep track of my incoming and outgoing expenses on both a weekly and monthly basis. Everyone will have a different system that works best for them to do this — there are various apps you can use, some people create a spreadsheet, use the notes app on their phone, or even just use paper and pen.
I like to separate my bank account into two accounts and the ‘main’ account is set up to automatically transfer a specific amount every Monday morning, which is how I budget for groceries, buying coffee, and eating out at restaurants. It helps to have that specific amount for the week so that I can easily keep track of whether I’m spending too much relative to my budget. You can check out Saoirse’s blog post about how she uses a similar system but with two different bank accounts to keep everything organised.
Many places in London (and elsewhere) offer student discounts if you show your LSE card. These might not seem like huge savings, but five or ten percent off of things like food or coffee can really add up over time. Even if places don’t necessarily advertise student discounts, don’t be afraid to politely ask if they do offer them.
Always check UNiDAYS and Student Beans before making purchases, especially for well-known brands such as ASOS, Nike, and Sephora because they regularly have special deals for students. One of my personal favourites is the student deal for Deliveroo, which comes in really handy when you’re in the thick of studying and just need a night off from cooking.
One of the best things about London is that there is quite literally always something to do, and you can easily find things that are completely free. I was pleasantly surprised to realise that most museums in London offer free entry and you only need to pay an admission fee if you want to see a special exhibit. I wrote another blog post about my favourite free activities in London. I would also recommend checking out Maria-Antonia’s post about green spaces in London, because the city is full of beautiful outdoor spaces that are worth exploring.
If you are moving to London from another country, you may need different clothes and shoes (i.e. a raincoat!) than you currently use. Unless it is urgent, I recommend waiting to see what you truly need before spending a lot of money buying new things for your wardrobe or your new accommodations. You might find that some of the things you thought would be necessary are actually not needed. The one exception, though, is an umbrella! I would buy one as soon as you get to London and throw it in your bag because you never know when you’ll need it!
One of the most important things about living in London as a student is to be realistic about your budget and to make sure you are living within your means. When you first arrive, it can be tempting to spend a lot of money on new experiences to explore London, but you can also spread those activities out over several months and intersperse them with free activities like walking around the city.
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]]>The post How to plan your finances at LSE: the basics first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>To ensure you’re not overspending or restricting yourself too much, having a balanced budget allocation can help immensely. I use an Excel template structured around the 50/30/20 rule:
You can also give yourself a weekly budget based off of your monthly spending allocation. This can prevent you from accidentally spending your entire month’s fun budget. There are free templates on Excel.
Take advantage of your student email. I use apps such as Too Good to Go for discounted meals in Central London. Student Beans and UNiDAYS are other great choices to find products or services at cheaper prices. There are a lot of resources on LSE’s webpage on making the most of student life and London on a budget.
Following your monthly budget routine, allocate funds accordingly using money pots for specific goals e.g. travel. Separating your money this way also helps prevent overspending. Monzo has a specific feature where you can allocate money into pots or you can obtain different cards for different purposes. However, I wouldn’t advise having too many cards as this could become quite confusing.
LSE Careers have amazing part time opportunities and you can sign up to their email list for daily opportunities. Supplementing your monthly income with a flexible part time job is a great way to enjoy more of your time at LSE without worrying too much about Student Finance.
It can also help with easing your budget as you’d have more income allocated to each bucket (and more for your fun activities!). Sarah’s blog goes into great detail on finding a part time job.
If you do need extra financial support LSE has a wide range of help available. For extracurricular opportunities, LSE Navigate has an opportunity fund which you can apply for and the hardship fund is another option whenever you need to fund for an unexpected event or situation.
There are many things to do in London without paying full price. Museum exhibitions, discounted theatre tickets, art galleries, food markets and sightseeing around famous attractions are all fun ways to enjoy what London has to offer on a budget. Read Ananya’s blog to get some great ideas for free activities around the city.
Enjoying London doesn’t need to be expensive and you absolutely can thrive mentally, socially and academically with a planned budget!
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]]>The post How to choose the right undergraduate programme first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>My biggest advice would be to actually look through the modules on the programmes you are considering rather than choosing based on the name of a degree. You are going to spend three years attending classes, doing readings, writing essays and sitting exams on these topics, so being genuinely interested in them matters.
I eventually chose Sociology, and while I obviously knew what the subject involved, studying it at university has introduced me to areas I had never really considered before. If you find yourself going through a programme page and several of the modules immediately make you curious, I think that is a pretty good sign.
This is probably something I wish I had understood more when applying. I have developed interests in consulting, business and strategy during university, none of which are necessarily the first careers you would associate with Sociology.
At the same time, Sociology has given me skills that have been useful across all of them, particularly research, critical thinking, analysing evidence and understanding people and organisations. Your degree matters, but it does not lock you into one particular career.
One thing I have really appreciated at LSE is being able to explore subjects outside my main degree. Alongside Sociology, I have taken courses in areas such as quantitative methods, accounting and operations management.
When comparing programmes, I would therefore look at the options available outside the core courses too. Your university experience does not have to fit neatly into one academic box, and taking different courses can help you work out what you enjoy and where your strengths lie.
Finally, try not to choose a programme entirely around the career you think you want at 17 or 18. Your interests will probably change once you get to university. Mine certainly did.
Societies, internships, conversations with other students and simply being exposed to new subjects can introduce you to paths you had never previously considered.
If I were choosing again, I would ask myself three things: Would I actually enjoy studying this for three years? Do the modules genuinely interest me? Does the programme give me room to explore?
You do not need to have your entire future figured out when submitting your LSE application. Choose something you are excited to learn about, and give yourself some space to figure out the rest along the way.
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]]>The post How to figure out which degree programme is for you first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>The first thing I did was list out all of the degree programmes and subjects I was interested in. This included law, sociology, English, politics, history and psychology. Considering potential careers and looking back at your A-level/GCSE subjects you enjoyed are great places to start.
For example, you might find that you enjoyed maths and politics at A-level, which can lead you to consider either subject, or even a joint degree in politics and economics as it includes both maths and politics modules.
Browse the LSE programme pages to look at modules and course content on the subjects you’ve bookmarked.
Ask yourself if you would be interested in studying these modules for the next three to four years. University can be challenging, so it’s important to pick a subject that you know you’ll enjoy and that will help you achieve strong grades.
I eventually decided to study Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE because I found the focus on policymaking throughout the modules interesting. I would also attain a BPS accreditation (awarded by the British Psychological Society) if I wanted to further my studies as a psychologist.
Considering professional certifications and skills is also something to think about when choosing your degree programme.
During sixth form, I joined the Pathways to Law programme hosted by LSE and Queen Mary University of London. I was very undecided on my future path and since law interested me, I gave it a go. During the programme, I met various lawyers, attended multiple professional workshops, and landed a week’s worth experience at an engineering firm. While I ultimately decided not to study law, I left with invaluable experience and a clearer idea of the future career and degree programme that would suit my interests.
Joining taster programmes when you’re not certain on your future is definitely worth your time. You still might consider various careers as options in the future, and it could even inform you of a different path you want to pursue instead.
I also attended taster events for various subjects, which are mini lessons in a degree programme you would be interested in. LSE has a range of these through LSE Explore. Open days are also a great way to attend subject taster talks, and further information around events and programmes for Y11-Y13 students at LSE can be found on the Widening Participation team’s pages, so keep an eye out!
Read Irini’s blog on what you can expect from an LSE Open Day.
You might feel completely undecided about a future career, but it can help to at least point to some core interests. I used to have a range of careers I would be interested in such as: detective, lawyer, psychologist, UX designer, journalist etc. so you’re definitely not the only one if you feel yourself pulled in many different directions.
List out all of the future career options you might be interested in, and then next to the career titles, list out relevant degrees that could help you get there. I also recommend taking personality tests and the UCAS career quiz to get an idea of what you might enjoy. These are great ways to experiment with what you like.
I highly encourage reaching out to students who are currently studying the degree programmes you’re interested in. It’s also valuable to connect with professionals and ask them questions about their day-to-day activities, what they studied, what they find challenging and rewarding about their careers, and any advice they have for your current situation.
LinkedIn is an amazing platform for networking and it’s what I used to reach out to students studying psychology at various universities. Make sure to mention that you’re a prospective student seeking advice, list out 3-5 concise questions, or invite them for a quick coffee chat via Google Meet. Most people are willing to give advice and help out because they were in your shoes once too.
This can feel like a scary time, but it’s a lot less daunting than you might imagine. Seek out as much help as possible and be honest with yourself, because a degree programme should revolve around your genuine interests and potential career paths.
Find out more about why LSE should be your first choice.
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]]>The post Why you should study the Political Economy of Europe in the World at LSE first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>Have you ever wondered whether political power shapes the economy, or if economic power constitutes politics? These are the questions that made my degree so intriguing, and they are the questions running through current debates in economics, politics and the media. It has been exciting to link what I read in the Financial Times each morning, like the EU Industrial Accelerator Act or Chinese financial regulation, to the theories and concepts studied on the programme.
The content is focused on Europe, which has been ideal for me as I hope to work with EU institutions, and it has helped me understand European integration and the challenges Europe faces. But as the title says “in the World”, you cannot talk about the European financial system without talking about the United States, and you cannot talk about Europe’s green transition without talking about China.
My cohort made the same point in a different way. We came from four continents, and several of my colleagues arrived wanting to understand Europe because they had worked in trade relations with European countries. I also took a course on the EU and the Global South, which engaged critically with Europe’s colonial past and pushed me to think from a different perspective.
Studying political economy at the European Institute (EI) has particular advantages. The most practical is EU450 course; Engaging with Europe: Professional Skills. In this course we worked directly with practitioners. I took part in a session on EU legislative procedure in action with a legal expert from Brussels, and an investment project with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which also advertised internship positions. It helped me clarify my career direction, not only on a technical level but also by putting me in touch with professionals.
The Institute also runs an excellent events programme. I heard President of Finland Alexander Stubb speak on the shifting world order, and the EU in Practice talk series brings in experts from the field, including former Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas.
Looking back, the academic work is front and centre, but the EI staff team’s reliability and support were essential to getting the most out of the year. This included organising social events like hikes, a pub quiz at Cumberland Lodge and alumni panels, which brought us all closer together.
What surprised me at first is that even the economics-heavy courses, on the political economy of finance or trade, had little in common with calculating optima in neoclassical economics. There are no problem sets. There is a great deal of reading. Having done political theory and neoclassical economics as an undergraduate, I felt well prepared, but if you come from pure economics, politics, international relations or business, the degree is still a valuable way to think beyond your own discipline.
Here are my two pieces of practical advice: start thinking about your dissertation topic before you arrive, because one year is short, and if you want to try a particular method, plan ahead. The methods training is condensed.
I would definitely recommend this degree, but not to everyone. If you want rigorous econometric training or a purely technical policy qualification, this is not that degree. If you want to read widely, argue precisely and understand how Europe acts in a world it no longer sets the terms of, this is what you are looking for.
What I valued most was not just the content, it was learning how to approach European policy critically and constructively. That was a step outside my comfort zone, and it is the part I will hold on to. Find out more about studying at the European Institute in Iana’s blog.
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]]>The post Your insider guide to the best campus spots around LSE first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>At the beginning, I always went to the Library. As a master’s student, my favourite spots were the postgrad silent rooms on the 1st and 4th floors. Seeing everyone locked in, with no loud noise to distract, helped me focus. It also has a reputation as a social hub on campus, but people forget about the quiet spaces. Both versions of the Library exist at once, just pick the one you need that day.
If you want your own space for group work or a call, you can book a room via this link. Do this in advance during busy periods, especially around deadlines.
Later I switched to the Central Building (CBG). The 6th floor was my department’s (the European Institute), but we also often ended up on the 5th floor – my apologies to the SPP students – because it had computers. Just go there when it’s a bit emptier, otherwise you’ll get kicked out, since SPP students have priority. On the other floors there are so many spaces (just not computers), so CBG is still great for studying.
One warning though: CBG in summer can turn into a greenhouse. When it’s hot, don’t suffer through it and go to the Marshall Building instead; it has working air conditioning as it’s a newer building. There are no silent spaces unfortunately, so make sure to bring a pair of noise cancelling earplugs.
When you’re on a coffee or lunch break, there are a couple of places I always came back to. A spot it took me far too long to find is the terrace on the 8th floor of the Cheng Kin Ku Building (CKK) – tucked away enough that it’s usually very calm. Great views and great for a break. The 6th and 12th floors of CBG are just as good for this – the city views up there are impressive, and stepping away to somewhere that high up can help you reset your brain after an exhausting study session. Find out more about LSE’s terraces and hidden gems around campus in Cara’s blog.
The second the sun finally comes out in Lincoln’s Inn Fields behind the Marshall Building is amazing. Take your lunch and sit down on the lawn by yourself or with friends! It’s a two-minute walk, and almost the entire student body seems to migrate there at the first sign of blue sky. The park also has tennis courts you can book, and a lot of my friends loved squeezing in a quick game as a study break.
After a long day, head to the local pubs on campus. They’re noticeably cheaper than the normal London ones and, obviously, filled with other students. My favourites are The Three Tuns and The George IV. There are more worth knowing – check out Marie’s recommendations of the best pubs around LSE campus.
There are many more good spots to discover on campus. If you want to know more about the food, cafés and deals on campus, I recommend reading Anwesha’s blog on where to eat on campus or Thu Nga’s on the best coffee spots.
That’s the shortcut version of my first month and a half. None of this is set in stone. Half the fun is wandering into a building you’ve never been in and finding a quiet corner or a view that becomes yours. Explore a bit and you’ll build your own list. But hopefully these spots get you feeling “at home” a lot faster than I did, and save you from turning up to the wrong room quite as often as I managed to!
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]]>The post What it’s like joining an LSESU club: LSE’s German Society first appeared on Students@LSE.
]]>I’d been following the German Society’s Symposium posts the year before I arrived, and I was honestly impressed by how professional it all looked. So in induction week I went to the LSESU Freshers’ Fair to see what else was around. I ended up at a couple of French Society events too, and friends of mine joined everything from Art Business to Pilates and loved it. Whatever you’re into, there’s a society for it – you can find them all on the LSESU website.
When applications for the German Society opened, I was quick. The process itself was simple: an online application, then an interview. I did a bit of homework first. Before the interviews, I messaged a friend who’d been in the society to ask whether she still knew people involved this year. And in the interview I played a few of my cards too: it turned out one of the interviewers and I had worked at the same company before, so we quickly clicked.
That being said, don’t worry if you’re going in without any connections. You’ll for sure find your place regardless. Some of the people you’ll click with fastest are the ones you just meet on campus in your first few weeks.
Once I was in, what struck me was how the society was set up – basically like a little company. There were proper teams: Finance, Logistics, the Scholars of the Symposium, Career, Social, and Speaker Events, Sponsorships and Communications. They each consisted of one or two Head(s) of department and several “officers”.
I was one of the Communications Officers, responsible for running our sponsorship posts, i.e. promoting our partner firms and the events they ran. This meant staying on top of everything our sponsors put out, so a lot of opportunities reached me first. That’s for example how I found BCG’s Femtoring programme: I was drafting the post announcing it, applied, got in, and it’s moved me a step further in their hiring process. And it wasn’t just me – other members landed career events through the society, some interviewing with those firms weeks later. So yes, a society really does help you connect!
Every Wednesday evening we’d meet for about an hour – going through updates, and sorting things out within our team and across the others. Plenty of those nights ended at the pub, with a beer pong tournament, or other fun activities.
Because a society pulls in people from all over the school, I also met loads of people well beyond my own programme, even beyond LSE – and it was not only Germans as many members would bring +1s (or even more) to the events we organised.
All of it built up to the 25th German Symposium in February, under the theme “Marking Milestones.” It was one week and easily one of the highlights of my year. The line-up was impressive, covering everything from politics to finance, AI, sports and female leadership – with speakers like Olaf Scholz, Dr. Wolfgang Ischinger, Philipp Freise and Dr. Wiebke Winter, and many others. As part of the comms team, we even got to film a few short interviews with the speakers afterwards and ask them questions in a private setting.
And it wasn’t only the Symposium. We ran a successful Career Dinner and plenty of other events across the year, grew our sponsorship, picked up more followers across our social channels, and had an outstanding number of applications for the Scholars of the Symposium. Looking back, we achieved a lot this year – and having been a part of that feels great.
So would I recommend joining an LSESU society? 100%. Go to the LSESU fair, apply to whatever excites you, and throw yourself into it. You’ll get so much out of it! If you want to read more about personal experiences with an LSESU, check out Ananya’s experience.
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