£5,000 to £20,000, set according to demonstrated financial need
Duration
One year (length of a standard LSE taught master's program)
Deadline
23 April 2026, 17:00 GMT (for 2026 entry)
Level
Taught Master's and Diploma programs
Acceptance
—
Difficulty
—
Quick Summary
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) offers LSE Graduate Support Scheme (GSS), a funding opportunity designed for international students heading to United Kingdom. The award covers £5,000 to £20,000, set according to demonstrated financial need and is open to taught master's and diploma programs students studying all taught master's and diploma programs at lse. The scholarship runs for one year (length of a standard lse taught master's program). Eligibility is generally based on applicants must already have an offer for an eligible LSE taught program before they can submit the Graduate Financial Support application that the GSS decision is based on. Students admitted to fully funded programs, some executive and part-time programs, and research (MPhil/PhD) programs are not eligible for this particular scheme. The application deadline is 23 April 2026, 17:00 GMT (for 2026 entry). Competition for this scholarship varies year to year, so early preparation of required documents is recommended.
✨ Should I Apply for LSE Graduate Support Scheme (GSS)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
50%
Win Probability
6/10
Difficulty
7/10
Reward Score
20-35 hrs
Time Required
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
£5,000 to £20,000, set according to demonstrated financial need
⏳
Duration
One year (length of a standard LSE taught master's program)
📅
Deadline
23 April 2026, 17:00 GMT (for 2026 entry)
🌎
Fields
All taught master's and diploma programs at LSE
🏆
Awards/Year
—
🌏
Study Country
United Kingdom
🏛️
Provider
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
📊
Acceptance
—
The Graduate Support Scheme is LSE's central need-based funding scheme for taught master's and diploma students, distributing around £3 million a year to Home and Overseas applicants who have secured admission but cannot fully cover the cost of their program. Awards are means-tested through a dedicated Graduate Financial Support application rather than judged on academic merit, and the online system typically returns a decision within 24 hours of submission. Some executive and part-time programs, such as the part-time MSc Finance and MSc Health Economics, Policy and Management, are excluded from the scheme.
👥 Who Should Apply
Applicants must already have an offer for an eligible LSE taught program before they can submit the Graduate Financial Support application that the GSS decision is based on. Students admitted to fully funded programs, some executive and part-time programs, and research (MPhil/PhD) programs are not eligible for this particular scheme.
🏛️ Host University
London School of Economics and Political Science
🤝 Sponsor
London School of Economics and Political Science
🌎 Fields of Study
All taught master's and diploma programs at LSE
✨ Key Benefits
Awards range from £5,000 up to £20,000 depending on the financial gap an applicant demonstrates, and are paid toward LSE tuition fees rather than as cash to the student. Because the scheme draws on roughly £3 million in funding each year, award size depends on both the strength of an individual's demonstrated need and the total pool of applicants in a given cycle.
🎯 Target Students
Admitted taught master's applicants with a demonstrated gap between their funding and the cost of their program
🏷 Tags
UKLSEMaster'sFinancial AidNeed-BasedGraduate
📊 Statistics & Competitiveness
—
Applicants Last Year
—
Winners
—
Acceptance Rate
Competitive
Competition Level
Win Probability
50%
Match Score
75%
Competition
50%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
Partial, applied toward tuition fees
Living Stipend
No
Total Award
£5,000 to £20,000, set according to demonstrated financial need
✈️ Travel: No🏠 Accommodation: No💊 Health Insurance: No🔄 Renewable: No💳 App Fee: £95 (LSE graduate program application assessment fee)
🎓 Tuition Coverage
Partial, applied toward tuition fees
🏠 Living Stipend
No
🏡 Accommodation
No
✈️ Travel Allowance
No
💊 Health Insurance
No
🎁 Other Benefits
Submitting the Graduate Financial Support application automatically puts applicants forward for consideration for other LSE-administered scholarships and trust funds
🔄 Renewable
No
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Must hold a conditional or unconditional offer for an eligible LSE taught master's or diploma program and demonstrate a funding gap for tuition costs; open to both Home and Overseas fee status students
🎓 Academic Level
Taught Master's and Diploma programs
💼 Work Experience
Not required for the GSS itself, though it may be required by the specific master's program applied to
🏆 Leadership
No
💰 Financial Need
Required; awards are means-tested and this is the sole basis for the award
🎯 Target Students
Admitted taught master's applicants with a demonstrated gap between their funding and the cost of their program
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
No separate essay; applicants complete a…
Rec Letters
No
Interview
No
Application Fee
£95 (LSE graduate program application assessment fee)
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
CV / Resume
📋 Application Process
Submit your LSE program application well before the funding deadline, since you must hold an offer before the Graduate Financial Support application can be assessed, and the GSS decision itself is typically returned within 24 hours once submitted. Apply only after you already have a firm sense of your remaining funding gap, since the GSS is designed to top up other funding rather than serve as a primary source of support.
💡 Insider Tip: List every other funding source you have already secured or applied for on the financial support form, since the award is designed to close a specific funding gap rather than to replace funds you can access elsewhere. Keep the £95 application fee in mind when deciding whether to apply, since it is charged regardless of the outcome and is separate from any LSE programme application fee.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
October, alongside the opening of graduate admissions
⏰ Deadline
23 April 2026, 17:00 GMT (for 2026 entry)
🎤 Interview
No
🎓 Study Starts
September
October, alongside the opening of graduate admissions
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
23 April 2026, 17:00 GMT (for 2026 entry)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
No
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
September
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Demonstrated financial need relative to program cost, verified through the Graduate Financial Support application
Applicants must already have an offer for an eligible LSE taught program before they can submit the Graduate Financial Support application that the GSS decision is based on. Students admitted to fully funded programs, some executive and part-time programs, and research (MPhil/PhD) programs are not eligible for this particular scheme.
Awards range from £5,000 up to £20,000 depending on the financial gap an applicant demonstrates, and are paid toward LSE tuition fees rather than as cash to the student. Because the scheme draws on roughly £3 million in funding each year, award size depends on both the strength of an individual's demonstrated need and the total pool of applicants in a given cycle. Coverage may vary — check the official website for exact details.
The deadline is 23 April 2026, 17:00 GMT (for 2026 entry). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Competitive. Acceptance rate: Varies. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
No
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Check website, No recommendation letters, CV. Check official website for the complete list.