Are you interested in understanding more about the ways in which different nations interact with each other? Do you see yourself studying in the UK’s capital city amongst students from across the world?
If so, then studying abroad in London the International Relations at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) could be the perfect choice for you.
Ambre’s Journey in International Relations and Chinese
We recently spoke to Ambre who decided to follow this exact path but with a little twist. As a French national who grew up in Hong Kong, she developed an interest in international relations and chose to study International Relations and Chinese at the prestigious London institution, which is consistently ranked as not only one of the top universities in the UK but across the globe. We caught up with Ambre when she was in her second year to find out how her first year went and to get her advice for prospective students.
Why studying abroad in London International Relations and Chinese?
The International Relations course has an overall cohort of approximately 200 students but Ambre knew that she wanted to specialise within this so she opted to take the International Relations and Chinese route which has a much smaller cohort of 15 students who study alongside the main cohort but also take specific modules. Other popular routes include studying international relations alongside history or politics.
Ambre explained :
“The community for my specific degree is really great because it’s small and we all get on very well but it’s also good to see other people and get different perspectives so mixing with all the other students is also helpful”.
For Ambre, the focus on Chinese was a natural choice, due to her having spent her childhood in Hong Kong, but she explained that this isn’t the case for the majority of her classmates who do not have an existing link to China but wish to explore how the country operates on the world stage and potentially pursue this as a career path.
Typical Week for a Student in International Relations and Chinese
“I have 8 hours developing my Chinese language skills and then 4 hours of Chinese in the context of international relations so we learn all of the relevant vocabulary for the course and for politics in general. The rest of the time we are focusing on international relations across the world in countries like the UK, India and the US”
In Ambre’s third year she will head off to Shanghai where she will spend the year studying at Fudan University before returning to LSE to complete her final year.
Life at LSE and Beyond
Ambre is in her second year now but she vividly remembers her first year and how it feels when you first start at a new university in a different country,
“The first year is stressful because you can feel a little alone and far from home but I recommend drawing on the societies early on to meet people! This is especially useful if you are on one of the degrees with a bigger cohort as this can make it a little daunting.”
Ambre is a member of the Chinese Development Society, the Grimshaw Society (which focuses on diplomacy) and her and her friends have just joined the wine society; there really are plenty of different options for students to help them find friends and spend time with like-minded people.
Alongside this, Ambre likes to make the most of living in London by choosing to study in little, local cafes and her and her friends often go to the British Film Institute to use the free library facilities, ‘Living in London is amazing and we really try to take advantage of what it has to offer!’
For many students, embarking on a full time university course can come as a shock. Not only are they away from home for the first time, often in a different country, but it’s the first time when they are truly responsible for themselves and this is particularly true for staying on top of their academic workload. Ambre told us how she has managed this :
“The end of the terms are the most stressful as there can be lots of exams and deadlines for assessments. My day can start at 9am and finish at 7pm but there are often lots of breaks in between, meaning I have to balance my own workload by going to the library and doing self-study in the gaps.”
Now in her second year, Ambre explained that she feels very settled and recognises that whilst there is a strong academic focus at LSE, there is still a social life and time to relax, ‘You have to manage your own time and balance your self-study with lectures and your social life but you already have your friends that you established in the 1st year so there’s much less social pressure.’ She also reflected on the fact that her course is linked to the language centre and how her and her peers have close relationships with their professors, ‘I’m not worried if I have any questions or need help.’
Accommodation in one of Europe’s biggest city
One of the main concerns about moving away to university for students and their parents can be surrounding where they will live whilst they study. For the majority of UK universities, the provision of on campus accommodation is guaranteed for the first year of the degree for international students, provided certain requirements are met.
Deciding to study in such a large city like London can mean that securing accommodation after the first year requires a proactive approach, and involves higher rental costs, but there are plenty of options available. We asked Ambre about her experience over the 2 years:
“In my first year I stayed at Bankside which is just for LSE students and about 20 minutes from campus. I had such a great experience and made lots of new friends who were studying all kinds of different courses but I did have to share a bathroom which took a bit of getting used to. This year, I’m staying at CRM which has students from LSE, King’s and UCL so it’s a great mix. It’s more expensive but it’s really close to Trafalgar Square so it’s actually closer to uni and getting around in London is so easy.”
Life after university
Opting to study a bachelor’s in International Relations allows students to cover a broad range of fields such as politics, economics, history and security, meaning either the career opportunities or postgraduate options available cover a number of areas. Ambre was unsure about which path she would take but explained how LSE has career advice for all students.
UCAS applications
As is the case for many UK universities, the entry requirements for LSE are high so it is important that you are aware of this very early on and that you do everything you can to meet the expectations. However, for UK applications, achieving the entry requirements for your grades alone will not gain you entry into your chosen university and onto your selected course; this also relies on the content of your personal statement. At Expat Student, we provide expert guidance on not only the personal statement but your whole application. This may involve recommendations for relevant work experience or attending a summer school which will help to ensure your personal statement stands out from the rest. We talk through different options with you and help you to identify the right course and the right university for you and your future. Ambre told us about her experience with Expat Student, ‘Louise was amazing throughout the process. I felt supported and guided to make the right decisions for me and what I wanted to study!’
If you need any guidance or advice to register at LSE, you can contact Expat Student !
