The College’s program at the London School of Economics and Political Science provides qualified students with an opportunity to study for an academic year at a British institution of international renown. This is an intense academic immersion program in which students take regular coursework in their program of study alongside local degree-seeking students at the university.
Through agreements made by the College with seven British universities and one Irish university, a select group of Chicago students can study for the autumn term or, in some cases, for an academic year in Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland.
The London School of Economics and Political Science, founded in 1895, has long enjoyed a wide reputation in the social sciences, in particular economics, political science and international relations. One measure of its international eminence is the high proportion of its student body hailing from outside the UK (two-thirds of its nearly 10,000 students). This makes LSE the most cosmopolitan institution within the University of London if also perhaps the least typically British institution on this list. The associated British Library of Political and Economic Science, while serving the instructional needs of LSE, is also a preeminent center of social science research. The London School of Economics is located, compactly, on Houghton Street just off the Strand at Aldwych Circle (near King’s College).
LSE provides housing in student residence halls within a mile or so from campus (assuming a timely submission of the housing application).
Students are required to study at LSE for an entire academic year, because their courses for visiting students are all one year in duration. There is no one-term option.
Study abroad students remain registered as full-time students in the College. They receive full credit for their work. Course titles, units of credit, and grades are placed on the College transcript. Since the use of these credits in a specific degree program is variable, students should consult with their academic adviser and program chair to determine exactly how credits may be distributed toward degree progress. All students are required to read and follow the Direct Enrollment Credit Guide ahead of committing to a direct enrollment program in order to fully understand the process.
Participants in the British and Irish programs pay regular College tuition and a nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee. The tuition is paid in conformity with the home campus payment schedule, and a deposit toward the nonrefundable study abroad administrative fee is submitted when accepting a place in a program. Students pay accommodation costs while in Great Britain or Ireland, either directly to the host university or, if the student is not living in university housing, to a landlord. Precise figures for the British and Irish programs for the 2024-2025 year are listed below:
Academic Year tuition: as set by the Bursar’s Office
Study abroad administrative fee: $675
Out-of-pocket expenses include:
- round-trip airfare to and from the program site
- passport/visa fees
- transportation on site
- accommodation
- meals
- course materials
- personal entertainment and travel
- communications (most students bring or buy a cell phone)
- health insurance and upfront payments for care
- other miscellaneous expenses
Study abroad students retain their financial aid eligibility. For more information about financial aid resources, please see our Tuition, Fees, and Funding section.
The British and Irish programs are open to University of Chicago undergraduate students only. Applications from outside the University are not accepted.
These programs are designed for undergraduates in good academic and disciplinary standing who are beyond their second year in the College upon arrival in the UK or Ireland. Because there is a limit on the number of students who can participate in the British and Irish programs, admission is highly competitive. Applicants should present a solid academic transcript as well as sound academic reasons for wishing to study in England, Scotland, or Ireland. Students are expected to have conscientiously pursued general education requirements, and to have begun coursework in their major subject by the end of their second year. It is especially desirable that their transcript, which will show coursework through autumn quarter of the application year, presents at least one course in their major. British/Irish university students are more specialized at the same point in their university careers, so prerequisites for our visiting students are often rigid.
On the application, students are asked to rank five of the universities according to their preferences. If this initial application is approved, students then complete forms specific to the university to which they are applying. The College forwards this second application to the host university, which reserves the right of final decision.
Students wishing to apply to British/Irish programs must meet with Chris Fuglestad as a requirement of the application process. Students who do not arrange such a meeting before the close of the application cycle will not be considered.
To discuss the London School of Economics and Political Science program and the possibility of participating, please contact Chris Fuglestad.
