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Ramesh Kugendran

October 5th, 2022, choosing the right a-levels can get you one step closer to lse.

10 comments | 2 shares

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

This blog seeks to provide you with some suggestions on how to pick the best A-Level subjects to get into LSE. So read on to find out the best tips.

“Traditional” vs “non-preferred” subjects

LSE, like many other Russell Group universities, favours conventional subjects regarding A-Levels. But, of course, this is not limited to Mathematics, English and Science, but also to Sociology, Psychology, History and other studies. * To make your life a little easier, you can see the complete list by clicking here * The Undergraduate Admissions Office recommends selecting at least two of your subjects from the traditional list as they will provide you with the best preparation for studying at LSE.

Similarity of subjects

When picking your A-Level studies, try to acquire a good balance of disciplines to demonstrate that you’re a well-rounded individual who can think critically in complex ways. For example, instead of Economics, Business Studies and Accounting, consider throwing an essay-based subject into the mix, like English or Sociology.

Degree programmes with prerequisites

Regarding A-Level choices, some degree programmes at the LSE have prerequisites. If you know the exact degree programme you want to do or have a rough idea of what you would like to study, I recommend you check the course’s admission requirements before selecting your A-Levels. For example, BSc Mathematics and Economics requires either “ A-level Maths, A-level Further Maths, and one other subject ‘ OR ‘ A-level Maths, two other courses, and AS-level Further Maths “.

Passion and pressure

The last and most important tip: choose what you are passionate about! I cannot stress how important this is. If you study something that you are not passionate about, you are less likely going to revise for that subject. And also, do not succumb to outside pressure, whether that comes from friends or even family members; please remember it is you who’s going to study the A-Levels, not them!

My personal A-Level experience

Granted, the advice above is all highly subjective and does not fully reflect LSE as I do not work for the Admissions team, but they are some of the prevalent tendencies found with the A-Level selections at LSE. For example, I studied Economics, Mathematics and Sociology for A-Levels, which helped me with my undergraduate degree in International Social and Public Policy. While Sociology and Economics are arguably the most directly connected in terms of theory and subject material, the Mathematics A-Level I took offered a solid foundation for studying statistical analysis in my degree.

Nonetheless, while many of you in Year 11 may have already chosen your A-Level subjects and are set to start on the following chapters of your academic pathways, whether that is college or sixth form, it is not too late to change your mind. You typically have two weeks after the commencement of the semester to swap your subjects, so if you are hesitant about some of your selections after reading the above, you are at liberty to alter them.

If you have any questions about anything I’ve written above, please comment below, where I can respond to any questions you may have. For further details on admissions, plase contact the LSE Undergraduate Admissions team by clicking here .

About the author

Welcome to my blog! I'm Ramesh Kugendran, a student of International Social and Public Policy at LSE. As someone who is passionate about Social and Public Policy, I am excited to share my thoughts, insights, and experiences on this blog. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy reading my blog!

10 Comments

Hi Wanted your advice if Business Studies, Maths, Sociology and AS in Further Maths are good subject choices if I wanted to do BSc Mathematics and Economics from LSE.

Also, does it lessen my chances of getting into LSE if I pick Business and Economics A level together with Maths.

Hi Shreya, many thanks for your interest in applying to LSE. Please get in touch with the team at lse.ac.uk/ask-LSE and they will help you with your queries.

I intend to study economics in LSE. Will I have a disadvantage by not taking Further maths.

My subjects are Maths, Economics and chemistry

Hi Nidhi, thank you for your interest in studying at LSE. Please get in touch with our team who will be happy to assist you with your query: lse.ac.uk/ask-LSE.

Studying Politics and Economics (LL12) in LSE is my dream, I just started AS level, I’m in year 12. I’ve already picked Mathematics,Economics and Geography, do you think they are suitable subjects for LL12? Or should I choose Sociology over Geography? Which combination do you think would be the best?

Hi Nikoloz, many thanks for your query. Please get in touch with our team at lse.ac.uk/ask-LSE who’ll be able to help you.

Hello, im currently doing 4 a level subjects which are Further maths, Maths, economics and Psychology. And i was wondering if its worth keeping further maths or dropping it and concentrating on my other three subjects (Maths, economics, psychology) in order to get the A*AA.

If i were to do 3 A levels , (Maths, Psychology, Economics) and got A* A A , or above, would this set me at a disadvantage if i didnt have my further maths? Or it doesnt matter ? (I hope on getting into the Bsc Economics faculty)

Hi Ali, many thanks for your interest in applying to LSE. Please get in touch with our team who’ll help you with your question – lse.ac.uk/ask-LSE

Hi I am taking Maths, Economics, English Literature and Phycology for my ALs. I am really interested in applying to LSE but I just found out I need to have Further Maths for AL to get into LSE. Now I am taking AS Further Maths and I have done Add Maths and Maths for my GCSE. Can you please advise not taking Further Maths for AL would disadvantage on getting a place at LSE. Thank you

Hi, Sudeshi, thank you for your interest in our degree programmes. Please get in touch with the student recruitment team at lse.ac.uk/ask-LSE and they’ll provide you answers to your questions.

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BSc Economics and Economic History

Introduction, preliminary readings.

To tackle today’s current global economic problems, we need to understand how economies have developed and changed over time.

This programme explores some of the biggest questions we face – such as why some countries are rich and others poor, what forces shape inequality, and what historical evidence can tell us about economic crises through history.

Drawing on both quantitative and qualitative perspectives, you’ll learn how to apply economic theory and methods to understand the historical development of economies around the world – from medieval times through to the present day.

Likewise, you’ll use real-world historical evidence to deepen your understanding of economic concepts and learn about different research methodologies and analysing primary sources.

At LSE, we have one of the largest groups of economic historians in the world so we can offer an incredibly broad choice of courses. As you progress through the degree, you’ll develop a wide array of transferable skills that will open the doors to a range of fulfilling careers.

Economic history

R C Allen Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2011)
R C Allen The British Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective (Cambridge University Press, 2009)
G Clark A Farewell to Alms: a brief economic history of the world (Princeton University Press, 2007)
N F R Crafts and P Fearon The Great Depression of the 1930s: lessons for today (Oxford University Press, 2013)
S L Engerman and K L Sokoloff Economic Development in the Americas since 1500: endowments and institutions (Cambridge University Press, 2012)
C Goldin and L Katz The Race between Education and Technology (Harvard University Press, 2008)
J Humphries Childhood and Child Labour in the British Industrial Revolution (Cambridge University Press, 2010)
D C North, J J Wallis and B Weingast Violence and Social Orders: a conceptual framework for interpreting recorded human history (Cambridge University Press, 2009)
S Ogilvie Institutions and European Trade: merchant guilds, 1000–1800 (Cambridge University Press, 2011)
K H O’Rourke and J G Williamson Globalization and History: the evolution of a nineteenth century Atlantic economy (MIT Press, 1999)
K Pomeranz The Great Divergence: China, Europe and the making of the modern world economy (Princeton University Press, 2000)
C M Reinhart and K S Rogoff This Time Is Different: eight centuries of financial folly (Princeton University Press, 2009)
B Yun-Casalilla and P K O’Brien The Rise of Fiscal States: a global history, 1500–1914 (Cambridge University Press, 2011)
A V Banerjee and E Duflo Poor Economics: barefoot hedge-fund managers, DIY doctors and the surprising truth about life on less than $1 a day (Penguin, 2012)
T Harford The Undercover Economist (Abacus, 2007)
T Harford The Logic of Life (Little Brown, 2009)
P Krugman End This Depression Now! (W W Norton, 2012)
S D Levitt and S J Dubner Freakonomics (Penguin, 2007)
S D Levitt and S J Dubner Superfreakonomics (Penguin, 2010)

The UK launch of these books was held at LSE and a podcast of these authors speaking in the Old Theatre, along with many other talks, is available at lse.ac.uk/podcasts

It's also a very good idea to have a look at one or more economics textbooks, to have a clear idea of what the serious university study of the subject involves, which will differ from these popular presentations. Although the texts and editions listed below are currently recommended for the first year, other editions of these books and other university-level textbooks are also entirely valid for this first investigation.

N G Mankiw Macroeconomics (7th edition, Worth Publishers, 2010)
W Morgan, M L Katz and H Rosen Microeconomics (2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 2009)

Entry requirements

Here, you can check our entry requirements for GCSEs, A-levels (please read them alongside our information about subject combinations) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. We also consider applications from students with a range of other UK qualifications and from overseas. Please select the overseas button below and choose your country from the dropdown list to find the equivalency to A-levels of your qualification.

For GCSEs, you’ll need several GCSE grades at A (or 7) and A* (or 8-9).

As a minimum, we ask for GCSE English Language and Mathematics grades at B (6) or higher. We’ll also consider your overall GCSE subject profile.

AAA, including Economics or History, and an A in Mathematics

We also consider your AS grades, if available.

Contextual admissions A-level grades

AAB, including Economics or History, and an A in Mathematics

Read our undergraduate admissions information to learn more about contextual admissions.

A-level subject combinations

We consider your combination of subjects as well as your grades.
A broad mix of traditional academic subjects provides the best preparation for studying at LSE. We expect applicants to have at least two full A-levels (or equivalent) in these subjects.
We’re looking for academic students with a flair for social sciences, and many applicants typically study subjects such as History, Economics, Government and/or Geography.
There is no set subject combination but A-level Mathematics (or equivalent) is required plus one essay-based subject (Economics or History) . Economics and modern foreign languages are considered essay-writing subjects along with the preferred humanities and social science subjects.
We’ll consider applicants who have taken Mathematics, Further Mathematics and an essay-writing subject at A-level.
Most applicants will have studied Economics or History, in some form, as part of their sixth-form curriculum – and one of these subjects is required at A-level. Other typical choices are Further Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.

Find out more about A-level subject combinations .

38 points overall, with 766 in higher level subjects, including Economics or History, and Mathematics

Contextual admissions IB grades

37 points overall, with 666 in higher level subjects, including Economics or History, and Mathematics

We welcome students from all walks of life at LSE. We want to recruit students with the very best academic merit, potential and motivation. So, whatever your background, please do apply. Get all the details on our general entry requirements .

Competition for places at LSE is high. We cannot guarantee you an offer of a place even if you’re predicted or achieve our standard entry requirements.

Our standard offer requirements are intended only as a guide and, in some cases, you’ll be asked for different grades.

Programme content

On this programme, you’ll study 12 units over three years, plus LSE100 .

The first year includes introductory courses in economic history; quantitative methods in mathematics, statistics and economics; and LSE100.

The Internationalisation of Economic Growth, 1870 to the Present Day

Quantitative methods (mathematics), quantitative methods (statistics), microeconomics i, macroeconomics i, pre-industrial economic history, the lse course.

Your second year includes one compulsory economic history course and four half-unit economics courses. You’ll also choose one economic history option.

Microeconomics II

Macroeconomics ii, econometrics i, econometrics ii, theories and evidence in economic history, one economic history option.

In your final year, you’ll choose from a selection of advanced economics courses, take an advanced economic history option plus one option from outside the department. You’ll also complete a 10,000-word research project.

One advanced economics course to the value of one unit

One advanced economics option or an approved outside option to the value of one unit, one advanced economic history option to the value of one unit, dissertation in economic or social history, programme regulations at lse.

For the latest list of courses, please go to the relevant School Calendar page .

You may be able to take a language, literature or linguistics option as part of your degree. Find all the details on our Language Centre web pages .

A few important points you’ll need to know:

We may need to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees due to unforeseen circumstances. We’ll always notify you as early as possible and recommend alternatives where we can.

The School is not liable for changes to published information or for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside our control (including a lack of demand, industrial action, fire, flooding or other damage to premises).

Places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements so we cannot therefore guarantee you a place.

Changes to programmes and courses may be made after you’ve accepted your offer of a place – normally due to global developments in the discipline or student feedback. We may also make changes to course content, teaching formats or assessment methods but these are always made to improve the learning experience.

For full details about the availability or content of courses and programmes, please take a look at the School’s Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department.

Some major changes to programmes/courses are posted on our updated undergraduate course and programme information page .

Why study with us

Discover more about our students and department.

Meet the department

LSE is home to one of the largest specialist economic history departments in the world, with 25 permanent teaching staff, as well as visiting academics and researchers.

We use social science concepts and theories as a starting point to study the evolution of real economies in their social, political and cultural contexts.

Collectively, our academics have a huge breadth and depth of knowledge, ranging from the Medieval period to the current day, and covering every world economy, from the Americas to Asia, Africa and Europe.

The department’s research interests range from social well-being to technology and finance, and from the history of economic ideas to global trade patterns. Our research has informed decision-making in numerous government departments, NGOs, and international bodies such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Drawing on their research strengths, our academics hold editorial and board membership roles on many world-renowned journals (such as Cliometrica and the Economic History Review) and regularly share their insights in the national and international media.

Currently, the department offers three undergraduate degree programmes and a range of postgraduate degrees and research opportunities. Many of our graduates secure high-profile teaching and research roles in the UK and internationally.

Learn more about our programmes and research .

Department of Economic History

University of the Year 2025 and 1st in the UK

1st in london for the 13th year running, 6th in the world.

Carbon Neutral In 2021, LSE became the first Carbon Neutral verified university in the UK

Your application, who attends.

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

academic achievement , including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
subjects and subject combinations (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
your personal statement
your teacher’s reference
educational circumstances

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage. See our English language requirements page .

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

an interest in history and an awareness of the links between history, economics and social change
a flexible approach to problem solving
an ability to think independently
an ability to apply logic and reasoning to form balanced conclusions
strong statistical competence
an ability to follow complex lines of mathematical reasoning
great communication skills
intellectual curiosity
self-motivation and a willingness to work hard
an equal interest in economics and economic history.

Fees and funding

The table of fees shows the latest tuition fees for all programmes.

You're charged a fee for each year of your programme. Your tuition fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It doesn't cover living costs or travel or fieldwork.

Home student fee per each year of your programme

This is the 2025/26 tuition fee. The home student undergraduate fee may rise in line with inflation in subsequent years.

Overseas student fee per each year of your programme

This is the 2025/26 fee for each year of your programme. The overseas tuition fee will remain at the same amount for each subsequent year of your full-time study regardless of the length of your programme. This information applies to new overseas undergraduate entrants starting their studies from 2025/26 onwards.

Your tuition fees, and eligibility for any financial support, depend on whether you’re classified as a home or an overseas student – known as your fee status. We assess your fee status based on guidelines from the UK Government’s Department for Education.

Learn more about fee status classification .

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We recognise that the cost of living in London may be higher than in your home town or country. LSE provides generous financial support, in the form of bursaries and scholarships, to UK, EU and overseas students.

Additionally, the UK Government provides loans to UK and some EU students. Some overseas governments also offer funding.

Further information on tuition fees, living costs, loans and scholarships .

Learning and assessment

How you learn, how you're assessed.

Format and contact hours: there are eight to 10 hours of timetabled classes per week. Hours vary according to the course. Get a broad idea of the study time involved in the Calendar within the Teaching section of each course guide .

Alongside lectures, there are weekly classes, in small groups, led by a graduate teaching assistant. Learn more about the teacher responsible for each course in the relevant course guide .

Independent study: you’ll be expected to complete independent study outside your classes. This varies depending on the programme and you’ll need to manage your study time effectively. Independent study generally involves reading, note-taking, research and other tasks.

Academic support

Academic mentor: you’ll meet with your academic mentor regularly to discuss your work. Your mentor can provide advice and guidance on academic issues and, where appropriate, personal concerns.

Other academic support: at LSE, we offer lots of opportunities to extend your learning outside the classroom.

LSE LIFE is a great place to get advice and practise the skills you’ll need during your studies and beyond.

Through LSE LIFE, you can:

attend workshops on developing leadership skills, finding the right study/work/life balance and preparing for the world of work
develop your reading, academic writing and critical-thinking skills
gain experience of working in study groups and develop your cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills.

Disability and Mental Health Service: we want all LSE students to achieve their full potential. Students can access free, confidential advice through our Disability and Mental Health Service . This is the first point of contact for students.

Your timetable

The standard teaching day runs from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Undergraduate teaching is not normally scheduled for Wednesdays after 12 noon to allow for sports, volunteering and other extra-curricular activities.
The lecture and seminar timetable is published in mid-August and the full academic timetable (with information on classes) is published by mid-September via the LSE timetables web pages .
All personal undergraduate timetables are published in LSE for You (LFY) . For personal timetables to appear, you must be registered at LSE, be signed up for courses in LFY and ensured that there are no unauthorised clashes in your course selections. We try our best to minimise changes once personal timetables have been published. However, you’ll be notified about any changes by email.

Formative coursework

All taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps prepare you for summative assessment.

Feedback on coursework is an essential part of the learning experience. Class teachers mark formative coursework and generally provide feedback within two weeks of submission – provided the work is submitted on time.

Summative assessment

This assessment counts towards your final course mark and degree award.

You’ll usually present up to four essays for each economic history course, alongside class presentations.
The 10,000-word research project counts as one of your four courses in the third year.
The compulsory second-year course also includes a 3,000-word project as part of the final assessment, worth 30 per cent of the final mark.
Most other economic history courses are assessed through three-hour examinations. Some also include summative essays and presentations.

You’ll receive feedback on any summative coursework as part of the assessment for individual courses (except on final submitted dissertations). Feedback is normally provided before the examination period.

Please note that assessment on individual courses can change from year to year. Take a look at the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide .

Find out more about LSE’s teaching and assessment methods .

Graduate destinations

Career support.

Economic history combines the skills of the economist, the statistician and the sociologist, as well as those of the historian, therefore graduates leave with a portfolio of highly transferable skills that can be applied across a wide variety of employment sectors. Our graduates can be found in senior positions throughout many professions, in the City, financial and market consultancy, NGOs and the charity sector, the civil service, sales and marketing, teaching, government and academia.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Median salary of our undergraduate students 15 months after graduating:

Top 5 sectors our students work in:.

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.

Discover Uni

Every undergraduate programme of more than one year duration will have Discover Uni data. The data allows you to compare information about individual programmes at different higher education institutions.

Programmes offered by different institutions with similar names can vary quite significantly. We recommend researching the programmes you're interested in and taking into account the programme structure, teaching and assessment methods, and support services available.