Around £2 million is available annually in the form of awards from the Graduate Support Scheme (GSS). The Scheme is designed to help students who do not have the necessary funds to meet all their costs of study. GSS awards range in value from £5,000 to a maximum of £15,000 and have an average value of £7,000.
Eligibility
This scheme is open to all applicants, with the exception of those undertaking specific modular or executive programmes such as the MSc in Finance (Part time), the MSc in Health Economics, Policy and Management and the MSc International Strategy and Diplomacy.
Applicants to the following double degree programmes are eligible to apply to the Graduate Support Scheme, but a different application procedure is in place.
- MSc in Affaires Internationales and International Relations or International Political Economy (LSE and Sciences Po)
- Double Degree European Studies (LSE and Science Po)
- MSc in International Affairs (LSE and PKU)
- MSc in Public Administration and Government (LSE and PKU)
- MSc International & World History (LSE and Columbia)
- MSc in Urban Policy (LSE and Sciences Po)
Application to the Graduate Support Scheme is via the LSE Graduate Financial Support Application form. Once you have applied for admission, you can access the LSE Graduate Financial Support Application via Graduate Admissions online application tracker.
How to complete the LSE Graduate Financial Support Application
LSE does not publicise the precise details of the criteria used to assess applications but we would like to emphasis the following points:
1. Graduate Support Scheme awards are intended to supplement funding already secured or expected, and not to provide a full funding package to applicants.
2. Attempts to secure financial support from other sources (e.g. help from household, non-LSE scholarships, government awards, loans etc) are therefore viewed very favourably.
3. Your chances of securing an award will increase if you provide as much information as possible about your individual financial situation.
4. Concealing information or being dishonest normally only disadvantages an applicant. This is because we can only assess if we are able to assist an applicant, and the appropriate level of an award, if we have a full picture of an applicant's financial situation.
6. Because of the large numbers of applicants applying, the means test threshold is set at a particularly low level.
You are encouraged to apply as early as possible after you have completed the application for admission because funds are limited. Unfortunately, applications for support will exceed the funds available and we are unable to assist as many candidates as we would wish.
You do not need to wait for an offer of admission to be made but you will have to had submitted your application for admission.
Your financial information will not be considered as part of your application for a place at the School.
We aim to notify you of the outcome of your application at the point of an offer of admission to the School being made. Please do not contact us before you receive a formal offer of admission. If you do not receive an offer of admission, the data you have submitted will be destroyed.
If you have submitted an application after receiving an offer of admission, then there is no need to wait for a response and you will be able to see the outcome on your web tracker record immediately.
The decision will be made available on Graduate Admissions' web tracker system and in your offer of admission letter.
If you are offered a Graduate Support Scheme award, you will not be considered for any other LSE award. If your financial circumstances, fee status, mode of study or programme of study changes, any award will be reviewed and may be amended or withdrawn.
