SCHOLARSHIPS AT LSE
2026 Annual Report
THANK YOU
To our community of scholarship supporters, I would like to offer my sincere thanks for your generosity and commitment to supporting our exceptional students at LSE. It is a pleasure to reflect on the profound difference your support continues to make to the student experience across our global School community.
In this, our 130th anniversary year, we are celebrating LSE’s founding in 1895 on a bold and enduring idea: that knowledge, shared widely, can help build a better society. From a single legacy gift in 1895 to transformative investments shaping our future, philanthropy has been central to LSE’s story.
For more than a century, LSE has brought together people and ideas from around the world to understand the causes of things and to seek solutions to society’s most pressing challenges. Scholarships are central to that mission. They ensure that talented students, regardless of background, contribute fully to academic life and thrive during their time at LSE.
For our scholars, financial support does far more than ease economic pressures. It provides the confidence to engage fully in their studies, take part in enrichment opportunities, and build lasting connections across cultures and disciplines. Your support also extends well beyond graduation. Scholarship recipients remain deeply connected to LSE through our global alumni community, giving back through volunteering, leadership and philanthropy.
In this way, scholarships support not only individual students, but the long‑term vitality and global reach of the LSE community.
With deepest appreciation,
Professor Emma McCoy
Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education)
OUR 2025/26
SCHOLAR COMMUNITY
This year, you have supported a record
309 scholars
This cohort is comprised of:
164
undergraduates
and
145
postgraduates
We are proud of the diversity among our scholar cohort.
Our 309 scholars hail
from 56 countries,
illustrating the global reach of your generosity.
In 2025/26 you funded more scholars than ever before.
This is a testament to your enduring dedication to nurturing the next generation.
SCHOLAR COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS
Thanks to your generous support, more than 300 undergraduate and postgraduate students have been able to study at LSE this year. In turn, we are committed to ensuring our scholars feel welcomed, inspired and supported throughout their time at LSE. Below, we share some highlights from the scholar experiences and activities organised across the academic year.
Scholars’ welcome event
At the start of each academic year, we invite all new scholars to join us for our annual welcome event. Many UK and international scholars are living in London for the first time and are adjusting to an unfamiliar academic environment, so this gathering is designed to help them feel supported as they settle into life at LSE.
Donors and Scholars celebration
Every year, we host a special evening bringing together our donors and scholars to connect and celebrate. This year, we focused on Transforming Futures; our donors heard from a panel of three undergraduate scholars who offered a powerful reminder that scholarships do far more than cover costs. They create confidence, open doors, and enable students to imagine futures that once felt out of reach.
Exclusive film screening and panel discussion
We hosted an exclusive screening for our scholars of Purpose, a new film on wellbeing economics. It follows two individuals developing innovative political projects seeking to shift economic systems from a focus on GDP growth towards ones through which the economy better serves people and planet. Following the screening, scholars had the opportunity to ask questions of the panel members, Dr Fabio Battaglia, Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, and Dr Frédéric Basso, Associate Professor of Economic Psychology at LSE.
Scholar common room pop-ups
For the second year running, we hosted two common room pop‑ups during the spring exam season, exclusively for our scholars. Designed as a moment of calm during a demanding time of year, these pop‑ups created a relaxed and welcoming space in the Shaw Library. Scholars were able to step away from the bustle of the main campus to recharge, study or catch up with fellow scholars, reinforcing a sense of care, wellbeing and belonging at a crucial point in the academic year.
THE POWER OF ENDOWED
STUDENT SUPPORT
At the heart of LSE’s mission is a commitment to welcoming the most talented students, regardless of background. Building our endowment, with the partnership of supporters like you, is essential to making that vision a reality. Demand for scholarships continues to rise as living costs increase year on year. At a time when the world needs diversity of ideas and voices, access to an LSE education is becoming less certain for many exceptional students.
Scholarships are our most powerful tool to address the complex and urgent challenges facing our world. They are not simply a means of financial support for ambitious, hard-working students, but a catalyst for long-term change. They empower scholars to shape their futures and the world through the skills, knowledge and networks gained at LSE.
Endowed scholarships are central to ensuring this valuable impact endures. By creating a permanent source of funding, this provides support to generations of students year after year, in perpetuity. In an uncertain world, this long term security allows LSE to plan with confidence, protect opportunity for future generations, and continue attracting outstanding students and researchers who will tackle the pressing challenges of the decades ahead.
Over the past decade, LSE has made significant progress in building its endowment, more than doubling its total value and placing it among the 10 largest university endowments in the UK. Yet it remains modest compared with many of our international peers. Building an endowment that matches LSE’s global influence is essential if the School is to remain a place where ideas thrive and the most talented individuals can access the opportunities they deserve.
By establishing an endowed scholarship at LSE, or converting an existing scholarship into an endowed one, donors invest in the brightest minds now and in the future.
A single gift, or a pledge given over several years, creates a lasting legacy, becomes part of LSE’s history, and ensures that philanthropic vision is matched by longevity.
The LSE Student Support Endowment Match
LSE has committed to matching the annual return on all endowed gifts of £250,000 or more made to student support. One investment delivers double the impact and generations of change. Together with our visionary donors, we will create an endowed fund to provide life-changing financial aid to LSE students in perpetuity.
WHAT OUR SCHOLARS SAY
Based on a survey completed by 1/3 of our cohort (108 scholars) - 50:50 undergraduate/postgraduate and 40:60 UK/international students.
94% of scholars strongly agree or agree that LSE's cosmopolitan environment has helped shape their worldview
91% of scholars said their scholarship expanded their ability to access opportunities at LSE and in London, "a large amount" or "quite a lot"
85% strongly agree or agree that since joining LSE, their career aspirations have become more ambitious
TOP USES OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
40% of scholars used their scholarship funds to buy learning equipment
34% used their scholarship funds to support their participation in social and cultural activities
64% used their scholarship funds for accommodation
HOW SCHOLARS MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME IN LONDON
58% of our scholars visited galleries
75% of our scholars visited museums
54% of our scholars attended theatre shows
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTERS
At LSE, inspiration leads to impact and it can be found here in abundance. We see it in our world-leading faculty producing groundbreaking research, in our diverse student body, and in our global network of alumni shaping change across the world. Yet, there is also a unique inspiration for all of us at the School that comes from those who have chosen to transform the lives of another through a scholarship. To support the education of a student you may not even have met is a profound act of trust in the School, our faculty and, above all, our students. We are privileged that you have chosen to place this trust in us, thank you.
This year, we are delighted to be able to share reflections from our scholarship supporters who kindly offer insight into their perspectives and experiences of supporting scholarship opportunities at LSE.
The Luksic Scholarship for Public Service
This scholarship is generously supported by the Luksic Foundation, which enables the creation of trained leaders and experts with a public vocation in Chile, based on specific competencies and experiences that allow individuals to generate change in their professional environment.
What inspires the Foundation to support Chileans to access further education?
“We believe that having Chileans in different classrooms around the world adds tremendous value. It brings a voice to the table that otherwise might not be there, especially coming from a small country in Latin America. Our objective behind sponsoring these scholarships is that these young leaders eventually come back and contribute to the civil service in Chile.”
Why do you believe investing in a student’s LSE education makes a difference to Chile’s public institutions in the long term?
“We think it’s very important that the civil servants of tomorrow have a global outlook, learn from international experiences, learn from their classmates, and learn about different systems. And so when they come and contribute to Chile, they have a much better understanding of how the world works, and so can add value to the Chilean system. The MPP and the MPA are very practical, and that’s something that we’ve always valued in working with LSE, giving the students very concrete tools to problem solve."
The Joint Japan/World Bank
Graduate Scholarship Program
LSE is proud to partner with the Joint Japan/ World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP), which provides scholarships to mid-career professionals working in development fields, contributing to its mission of strengthening human capital in developing countries. The scheme is generously funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the JJ/WBGSP Secretariat at the World Bank Group.
This partnership directly reflects LSE’s commitment to tackling global inequalities, which continue to shape the world’s greatest challenges, from climate change to public health and democratic resilience. By investing in talented individuals from across the world and supporting their development as future leaders, the programme advances LSE’s work with global partners to generate insight, build capacity and promote more equitable societies.
Applications are welcomed from citizens of over 90 eligible developing countries with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ ongoing development efforts. LSE has received applications from students in over 30 developing countries around the world.
Since 1990, LSE has been a valued partner in helping JJ/WBGSP scholars grow as leaders in development. Its academic rigour and global perspective give scholars the tools to make a real difference back home. It’s a partnership that shows how investing in education and empowering future leaders dedicated to positive change around the world can lead to lasting, practical impact.
Laurent Porter, Program Manager, Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, World Bank Group
A GLOBAL COMMUNITY ON A LONDON CAMPUS
Thanks to your generosity, LSE is home to a vibrant and truly international community of scholars, brought together in the heart of London by a shared ambition to learn, grow and make a difference.
Your support enables students from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences to study at LSE, enriching the School community and one another through their diverse perspectives. Below, current scholars reflect on how your support is impacting their lives at LSE and express their gratitude to you for making this possible.
MEET OUR SCHOLARS
Jade Larsen
MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies 2026
Oram-Stott-Schlusche Scholarship
USA
As a recipient of this scholarship, I no longer face the pressure of working the maximum hours permitted under my student visa at my part-time job, nor do I have to choose between attending work and academic or professional events. After completing this programme, I hope to return home to the greater Boston area and work as a planner, helping the region become more climate resilient, just, and vibrant. Your support has lifted a financial burden for my family, and I am deeply grateful for this relief.
Magaly Zumaeta-Gonzales
Master of Public Administration 2026
Peruvian Scholarship for Public Service
Peru
I am an economist from the San Martín region in the Peruvian Amazon. For more than seven years, I have worked with public institutions and international development projects across Peru, collaborating with diverse stakeholders to strengthen governance, transparency, and public policy effectiveness for vulnerable populations. Receiving this scholarship represents a valuable opportunity and a source of motivation for me to continue working toward more inclusive public policies in my country.
Murray Horton
BSc in Mathematics and Economics 2026
Marathon Scholarship
United Kingdom
This scholarship lifted a real weight off my family’s shoulders, and just as meaningfully, it gave me the belief in myself that I needed to truly make the most of LSE. I have thrown myself into courses that have challenged and inspired me in equal measure, with behavioural economics and derivatives standing out as particular highlights. I have also had the privilege of being surrounded by some of the most ambitious and thoughtful people I have ever met.
After graduating, I have been fortunate enough to secure a Summer Analyst role at Rothschild & Co, with the hope of squeezing in a little travelling first before the working world properly catches up with me. I am profoundly grateful for the difference this scholarship, and my donor personally, have made to my life.
Jimmy Ruva
MSc Health and International Development 2026
Firoz and Najma Lalji Foundation Scholarship
Uganda
Before joining LSE, my journey began in rural Uganda under challenging circumstances. Accessing education required resilience. As a nurse I witnessed first-hand how social, political, and economic inequalities shape health outcomes, which instilled in me a commitment to improving health systems.
The scholarship has relieved the immense financial pressure that would have forced me into demanding part-time work or unsustainable loans. I can fully dedicate myself to my coursework, attend academic events, participate in programmes such as the Programme for African Leadership, and make the most of every learning opportunity.
Chenchen Meng
MSc in International Health Policy (Health Economics) 2026
Tianyang Scholarship
China
LSE is unparalleled in health policy, its industry connections, and the diverse perspectives within its student body. It nurtures leaders for international organisations and government agencies and has an extensive alumni network. Access to these resources are invaluable for analysing China’s challenges alongside other emerging economies.
My long-term vision is to become a health economist and policy adviser in China to improve healthcare financing and system efficiency. The scholarship has had a profound impact on my life at LSE, allowing me to fully immerse myself in this academic experience from day one.
ALUMNI SCHOLARS ARE
SHAPING THE WORLD
Looking back at my years as a graduate student at LSE, I realise how profoundly my path was shaped by the support I received.
When donors support scholarships at LSE, they do far more than ease a financial burden. They open doors to a world of possibility, allowing future scholars to contribute in ways that can transform society.
Professor Sir Christopher Pissarides
Nobel Laureate in Economics (2010)
LSE Regius Professor of Economics PhD Economics (1973)
We invited former scholars who graduated more than a decade ago to reflect on where their LSE education has taken them. These messages come from alumni whose scholarships opened doors at a formative moment in their lives and whose careers since illustrate the lasting power of philanthropic support.
Alena Cierna
BSc International Relations 2015
Kadas Scholarship
Senior Programme Officer at UN Environment Programme
I currently work at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, where I lead research on nature-related reporting and accountability mechanisms for the private sector.
My scholarship enabled me to study at one of the best universities in the world and learn from professors and researchers at the forefront of their fields. I was able to study without worrying excessively about how I was going to pay for food and accommodation costs. And I was able to take on internships in my field, many of which, unfortunately, offer limited compensation, which puts lower-income students at a disadvantage.
I would like to thank my donors for their generosity in supporting dozens of scholars over the years. I hope that one day, I will be able to pass the gift of opportunity on.
Balázs Berze
BSc Management 2015
Kadas Scholarship
Senior Communications Officer at ACPV ARCHITECTS
Since graduating from LSE and completing my MSc in Economics and Management in Arts, Culture, Media and Entertainment at Università Bocconi, I have been able to pursue a career in the creative industries, specifically within the field of architecture.
My long-term goal is to found an architecture studio. My best memories of LSE centre around the openness of the campus in every sense: a diverse and international student community studying in the heart of London. As for classes, I fondly recall the precision, rigour, and professionalism of inspiring professors, as well as group assignments that provided some of my first and most valuable experiences in teamwork and collaboration. My scholarship enabled me to focus on my studies during my time at LSE and to pursue my long-term career goals with confidence. It. This generous support has had a lasting impact in enabling me to pursue a professional path I am passionate about.
Priya Thakrar
BSc International Relations 2014
Cato Stonex Undergraduate Scholarship
English Teacher and Head of Year at a girls’ state school in Westminster
I was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to support my studies at LSE, and I remain incredibly grateful for the opportunity this gave me. I studied International Relations, and could not have enjoyed my degree more.
I was fascinated by the exploration of political theory combined with real foreign policy, and above all vividly remember Professor Mierhenrich’s course on Genocide, much of which stayed with me for a long time.
A year after graduating, I embarked on the Teach First programme. I believe in 'paying forward' the opportunities I've been given. My role as a teacher allows me to support young people academically and pastorally.
I passionately resist my family’s attempts to convince me to work in a private school, due to my strong belief that all students, no matter their background, deserve a chance to learn unencumbered by financial worry.
Ross Mitchell
BSc Economics with Economic History 2007
Stonex UK Undergraduate Scholarship
Senior Campaign Manager at Climate Group
I project manage RE100, a corporate renewable electricity campaign, at Climate Group and love it. We use corporate demand for renewables to influence government policy to make corporate renewables more available, accessible and affordable.
I find it incredibly interesting and have travelled to South Korea, Indonesia, South Africa, the Netherlands and the USA, promoting corporate renewable electricity.
My education at LSE was fantastic in broadening my perspective. It’s such an international environment, and there’s an incredible mix of interesting people. It was initially intimidating being in the heart of London, coming from a farm in Cornwall, but I soon learned to love it. The quality of the teaching was brilliant, which developed my intellectual curiosity.
My scholarship gave me access to a solid education to explore and understand the world in an international context. It’s made me forever curious, and I still thrive on learning. I cannot thank my donor enough for their generosity.
LOOKING AHEAD
We are deeply grateful for the vital role you - our donors, alumni and friends - play in helping LSE to shape the world. We hope this report brings to life the remarkable difference your support makes to the lives of scholars and to the School more broadly.
Your generosity and belief in our mission enable us to invest in people, research and education at a time when the world needs the social sciences more than ever.
For the second consecutive year LSE was named the top university in the UK by The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, a distinction underpinned by the generosity of supporters like you. Philanthropy plays a vital role in strengthening the University as a whole, enabling us to attract exceptional faculty, support a more diverse student body and invest in the facilities that underpin excellence in teaching and research.
As we approach the end of our 130th anniversary year, we reflect on a School shaped by bold thinking, intellectual curiosity and a deeply international outlook. Since 1895, our purpose has been 'to understand the causes of things for the betterment of society'. Scholarships sit at the heart of this endeavour. Through your generosity, we are removing financial barriers, widening access and ensuring that outstanding students from all backgrounds can benefit from a world-class LSE education.
Demand for scholarships continues to rise, driven by economic uncertainty and global instability, just as the need for diverse perspectives and future leaders becomes more pressing. Continued philanthropic support is essential if we are to meet this need and attract the brightest minds from across the globe.
Together, through scholarships, we are shaping the world. Your investment empowers students not only to succeed academically but to grow personally and professionally within a rich and challenging environment.
The true impact of scholarship support often unfolds over time. Years from now, today’s scholars will be driving progress in government, business, civil society and academia, shaping fairer societies, stronger institutions and more sustainable futures. This evolving impact is the true power of educational philanthropy.
THANK YOU FOR
SUPPORTING SCHOLARSHIPS
AT LSE
Scholarships that change lives
This year we celebrated our stories of success and connected our donor and scholar community together.
A precious opportunity
Our Chinese PhD scholars discuss their research and the benefits of their studies at LSE.
130 years of transformative philanthropy
Find out how giving has shaped our campus and intellectual life.
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