How to get into LSE Masters?

LSE is a well sought after University. In the UK domestic ranking, LSE usually falls just behind Cambridge & Oxford being no. 3. Globally, LSE is consistently top 15 in the Social Sciences & Management as ranked by QS, THES & ARWU. In fact, QS ranks LSE as no. 2 in the world in this area!

LSE is also famous in Singapore given that our former late Minister Mentor Lew Kuan Yew studied there for a term (before moving to Cambridge), one of the founding fathers the late Dr. Goh Keng Swee, current Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and some other Members of Parliament are LSE graduates (have a look at the LSE Alumni Association Singapore's Hall of Fame). As part of the LSE Alumni, in Singapore, you will also be a member of the Distinguished Universities Alumni League where you get to have the opportunity to network with graduates from Harvard, Stanford and other elite US & UK Universities (who because of their background likely to be given more opportunities by employers which such network may be beneficial for you as well). No doubts, LSE gets the publicity and being well sought after among Singaporeans.


For myself, as mentioned in my first post, I went to take up my LSE Masters is because of overcoming the barrier in an elitist society. I needed an elite University's degree to open up opportunities not easily available for distance learning degree holders. This also will help to path way for far future plans. Because that I managed to get in, some people asked me how did I do it. So I thought of creating this post to answer the question that others may equally have as well (to lessen work for myself as well so I can just post the link of this blog if someone asks the same question again lol...).

I seriously do not know all the reasons. These reasons that I am about to mention are based on someone respectful I know who was from high up in the LSE who gave me some advices during my application (so not all credits go to me) and some based on personal assumptions (as well as based on HR experience of how we pick people).

Here are the reasons:


I. STRONG REFEREES

Not this type of referee though!

Try to get lecturers who have PhDs as I was told. They may carry more weight in their reference letter. However, be sure to pick one who knows you well (so that they have more to write about you) and one who taught you on a subject that you did well. If they hold important position or even is from LSE (who must have taught you), even better as what they say carry even more weight and the person from LSE knows LSE system and can evaluate if you can perform well in LSE itself!

And how to ensure your lecturers know you well? Participate actively in class while you are still a student! Ask intelligent questions and show eagerness to learn (please sit at the front). Have visibility and naturally the lecturers will all know you.

For working adults that have graduated for quite some time, you can get professional referees in replacement but please get permission and agreement from LSE before doing so.


II. RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

Perhaps your overall grades are not that fantastic. I got a low (or rather not so high) Second Class Upper Division Honours (2:1) and got rejected by Manchester Business School for that reason. It is very surprisingly why LSE still accepted me, not once but twice (I rejected initial offer and reinstated it). I believe relevant work experience did help. LSE did also mention they do look into work experience anyway.

This is a possibility because relevant work experience can bring insights of the real working world. This is valuable to LSE as well as yourself in your research that will help you to do better in your study. It may also give ideas to LSE academics on what to research about too. As my dissertation supervisor suggested, working adults may know more than academics about the real working world phenomenon and suggest research areas applicable for the real world and such is valuable to them. Having relevant work experience also enables you to relate to what you study better and hence able to perform better too.

Anyway, working first after your undergraduate study may help you to know whether to pursue further study in this area, helping you to make an informed decision. Postgraduate study is not cheap!


III. GOOD PERSONAL STATEMENT

In your personal statement, you must describe your academic interests as well as your purpose in undertaking the graduate study and specific programme. The personal statement is for LSE to evaluate your suitability. Hence, you got to convince that you have thought through proving to them you have a sense of direction, know what you want and that the programme is a means to your goal. You also need to state your qualities to convince them that you can excel in the programme.

As I highlighted in an earlier post that HR selects people based on both passion and abilities, I believe LSE does the same. You need to show your interest in the programme not only by stating relevant academic interest but with evidence that you have researched well (if not interested, you will not even do a thorough research before making a decision).

How I wrote my personal statement with advice from the respectful person who was from LSE was this. Like essay, I started with the 'answer' which is which are the two programmes I wish to apply for.

For second paragraph, I addressed why the two programmes. I went into the details of even selecting specific modules and explaining why them (which I picked based on relevance for my HR work and the current trends that require those knowledge I could gain from those modules) and supported with real life examples. When I described why I wanted "Cross-Cultural Management" module, I explained that Mergers & Acquisition across borders is getting common and companies merge or acquire one another to acquire technologies, to have synergy or even have economies of scope and scale. I gave the example of Sony Ericsson, a joint venture (in a way, it is like a merger of parts of two companies) where its an interaction of two cultures (as two companies of different home country) can make merger challenging where clash of culture if not managed well can make the whole initiative fail.

For the third paragraph, I explained why I wanted to take up graduate study in HR. It is mainly to enhance my HR knowledge cause my undergraduate is a general Business degree but I wanted a HR career (I did not suggest that I picked a wrong undergraduate course as I explained I took Business degree to explore the area to specialise on later on). I even explained why I came to like HR and want a career out of it. To convince the reader that HR indeed is the direction I want to go, I gave evidence for it which is a part-time Diploma in Employment Relations that I took. The Diploma may address the lack of competencies in HR but I also highlighted that I wanted to get into lecturing in the field of HR in far future which I will need a postgraduate degree. I had also highlighted why I picked LSE, mentioning that it is one of the best Social Sciences school in the world (evidence that I have done my research about LSE too and desire to enter).

On the fourth paragraph, I went to highlight my relevant characteristics (those that aid my learning performance as well as can contribute to the learning environment for others) being diligent, earnest to learn, helpful and always questioning the status quo and having a critical mind. I do not just claim so but gave evidences (or examples) to support my claims.

On the fifth paragraph, I highlighted what I would like to research on (as there is dissertation research for the programmes I chose). I gave real life examples of 'problems' faced in workplace where I am interested to find out why they exist and possible solutions to solve them. It has to be an area not well researched so that it has value to them. By giving country specific scenarios, that is also valuable to them.

I then ended with a thank you note.

The key is be convincing that you are the right person to pick.


That is briefly about it. On the other supporting documents required, you can refer to here. I wish you all the best for your applications!