The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) was founded in 1895 with a bold vision: to advance the study and understanding of society for the betterment of humanity. At the time, Britain’s political and business elite were seen as lacking adequate training in the social sciences, especially compared to their European counterparts. LSE’s founders—members of the Fabian Society Sidney Webb, Beatrice Webb, Graham Wallas, and playwright George Bernard Shaw—set out to change that. Drawing inspiration from the curriculum of the Paris institution Sciences Po, they designed a comprehensive programme that would cover economics, politics, sociology, and public administration. Notably, from its inception, LSE welcomed both men and women, making it one of the early British institutions to promote gender equality in higher education.
LSE quickly established itself as a pioneering center of learning. In 1900, it joined the University of London and was recognized as its Faculty of Economics. The following year, the BSc (Econ) and DSc (Econ) degrees were introduced—the first university qualifications in the world devoted exclusively to the social sciences. This marked a turning point in academic history, positioning LSE as a leader in shaping modern economics, politics, and sociology.
The two World Wars deeply affected the School. During World War I, many male students and faculty joined the military, leading to a temporary closure and, for the first time, a female-majority student body. In World War II, LSE was evacuated to Peterhouse College, Cambridge, to escape the Blitz, and 88 former students lost their lives in the conflict.
Postwar expansion brought new academic strengths. The Department of Social Policy was established in the 1950s, followed by the Department of Social Psychology in 1964. By the 1980s, LSE had become globally recognized for the excellence of its research, which was officially rated “outstanding” in 1986.
Over the decades, LSE’s campus expanded from its original Adelphi Terrace site to its current base around Clare Market and Houghton Street. In 2008, it began awarding degrees in its own name, and in 2022, LSE achieved full university status within the University of London—cementing its position as one of the world’s foremost institutions for the study of social sciences.A Brief History of the London School of Economics and Political Science
