lse anthropology personal statement

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Ramesh Kugendran

November 25th, 2022, how to write the ideal personal statement.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

5Writing a personal statement can be extremely stressful, but it is absolutely crucial that you get this part of the application process right. While your grades, references and extracurricular activities may be outstanding, if your personal statement is not top notch, you may have to wave goodbye to your dream university. So read on to find out some of the best tips I used to write my personal statement.

1. Planning

You should always plan prior to writing anything important, and the same is said for your personal statement. List everything you’ve accomplished and then narrow it down to the most important things you want to include in your statement. This is because, when writing, you don’t want to list every accomplishment. You can only write 47 lines of text. Instead, you want to intertwine the accomplishment with the skills you’ve learned. For example, if you play football, you can talk about how it has helped you develop relationship management and teamwork skills.

2. Research

After you’ve developed a rough plan, you should research the themes you’d like to include in your personal statement. Each degree has a programme page in the LSE website. You can browse the modules here and try to incorporate some of the topics and the programme structure into your own statement. There is also a reading list that you will find useful when researching relevant areas.

3. Exemplar personal statements

As much as these may benefit you,  try to limit yourself to only reading a few. Personal statements are exactly what they sound like: they are PERSONAL ! While you can incorporate elements of the example statements into your own statement, the flow and content should be unique to you. The admissions committee does not want to read something similar to what they have already read.

4. Spelling and grammar

As simple as it may appear, correct spelling and grammar are a requisite for personal statements.

5. Do NOT copy

I cannot emphasise this enough: there are numerous plagiarism checkers within the UCAS software that will flag any plagiarised statements. If you need to include a quote, put the entire phrase in quotation marks and properly cite it. You can say something like, as stated by David Attenborough, ‘’…..’’.

6. Tell a story

You must persuade the reader of your motivation for pursuing this degree for the next three years. Do not simply state, “I want to study economics because I read the Financial Times “. Consider what you read in the Financial Times that piqued your interest in economics. What topic struck a chord with you?

7. Do not lie

Although it may be tempting, the admissions team can detect when people are lying or exaggerating their achievements.

8. Proof readers

While proofreading is beneficial, try to limit it to no more than five people. Preferably two academics, one family member/relative, and two people from your desired field of study. Of course, your friends are perfectly fine as well, but academics are probably the best people to go to for helpful tips on the content of your personal statement. I assert against having too many people proofread it, because there may be vying points of view.

9. Catchy opening line

“I’ve always wanted to study Economics since I was born”, is not going to get you into LSE. You’ll need a catchy opening line that will entice readers to read on. If you don’t nail this, the reader isn’t going to want to read on.

Final Remarks 

While writing your personal statement may seem daunting at first, once you get started, you’ll find yourself erasing words to try to stay under the word limit. Overall, the process is rewarding, especially once you start receiving offers through the UCAS Tracker! I wish you the best of luck with your application and hope to see many of you at the LSE in September 2023! See here for further details and information on how to write your perfect personal statement. Alternatively, feel free to contact our UG Admissions Team 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!

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Application process

Applying for a phd, introduction.

Known as a research degree, the PhD is usually a four year (full-time) or five to seven year (part-time) course of independent and original research which is supervised by an academic specialist in the subject area. 

You will contribute new research in the form of a thesis suitable for publication which is usually around 100,000 words. It is examined by two examiners, one internal and one external who read your work and then ask you to defend it in an oral exam, the viva voce. 

PhDs are traditionally research based, although the integrated PhDs, also known as New Route PhDs, combine research with more vocational training. Increasingly taught courses are compulsory in the first year. 

Professional doctorates are useful for students interested in careers outside academia and consist of a taught core and incorporate both professional practice and academic knowledge. They are available in education (EdD), engineering (EngD or DEng) and business (DBA). 

Why do a PhD?

People complete PhDs for a variety of reasons: 

love of a particular part of their subject

springboard into a new career

access to excellent resources/training useful for non-academic careers

as a pre-requisite for academic careers.

As well as planning then conducting research and writing the thesis, PhD students will often teach undergraduate or master’s students, support more senior academics in their research work, publish articles, attend and present at conferences, work with business or other organisations to explore the value of their research in other fields outside academia (impact), collaborate with organisations or individuals (knowledge exchange) and contribute to their field in voluntary capacity (for example, as a reviewer, event organiser, network co-ordinator). 

When can I do a PhD?

You can do a PhD if you have at least an Upper Second relevant first degree or a relevant master’s. You must have in-depth knowledge of your subject area and be able to present a comprehensive research proposal. Some people start the PhD straight after completing a master’s, other people work outside academia for a few years and then apply for the PhD. 

Before starting a PhD you could apply for a job as a graduate research assistant where you would support the research of an academic in your department, teach, take part in laboratory work and complete your own research. You could also consider completing a PhD part-time whilst in a job. 

Researching into PhDs

Choosing the right programme takes time and research. It is important to apply to departments that specialise in your topic. Check the research quality assessed in the  Research Excellence Framework  (REF 2014) and also the quality of the teaching in the department via the  Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)  ratings. 

Talk to people who know the field about where they recommend is a good place to study. 

You can apply in one of two ways. You create the topic yourself, pitch it at your preferred institution in a Research Proposal and hope to gain funding via the institution. Alternatively, you can apply to work on a topic which has been agreed between a funding council and an institution and then advertised as a PhD position. If you are accepted funding will be assured. 

We recommend you take time to: 

ask for help from a current or recent academic tutor 

think about the people whose work you like, or who you read regularly, look at their department 

speak to the PhD administrator in departments that you think interest you 

use information on  Find a PhD

book on to a   LSE Careers further study event  

talk through your options with a careers consultant 

use the LSE Careers blog ,  So you’re thinking about a PhD? 5 tips for prospective PhDs .  

Making an application

Read the  LSE guidance on applying for a PhD .  

You will need to write a research proposal, personal statement and have a CV. 

The referees you choose are important as they will write about your academic achievements and potential. Get in touch with them early and ask for their advice too. 

Search  programmes with spaces at LSE . 

Useful publications in the LSE Careers physical library

Your PhD Companion, Stephen Marshall and Nick Green, 2004.

The PhD Application Handbook, Peter Bentley, 2006.

How To Get a PhD: third edition, Estelle Phillips and Derek Pugh, 2001.

Useful online information

Prospects.ac.uk:  postgraduate study and research . 

Find a PhD . 

The Fulbright Commission  for applications and funding in the USA.

Related pages

Watch our latest session on thinking about doing a PhD

Explore our further study events, book a one-to-one appointment to discuss your application.

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• Welcome to the Department of Anthropology!
• Old Anthropology Library

Anthropology is about thinking outside the box, it challenges individuals to understand how and why other human beings live life a certain way

How to Write Like an Anthropologist Click here for details

Anthropology is a highly rewarding – even life changing – subject to study at university. At the LSE you will be pushed to question many of your core assumptions and exposed to radically different ways of thinking. 

Our degrees

If you have any queries about our graduate programmes please make sure you have checked all the points on the LSE Graduate Admissions page, before contacting the Department's Graduate Selectors on [email protected].

Undergraduate programmes

BA/BSc Social Anthropology BA Anthropology and Law

Postgraduate taught programmes

MSc Social Anthropology

MSc Social Anthropology (Religion in the Contemporary World)

MSc Anthropology and Development

MSc China in Comparative Perspective

Postgraduate research programme

MRes/PhD Anthropology

Undergraduate year abroad programme

The Department of Anthropology runs a Year Abroad Programme with the University of Melbourne, Fudan University (Shanghai), the University of Tokyo and the University of Cape Town.

The programme is for one academic year taken between Year 2 and Year 3 of the BA/BSc in Social Anthropology and BA Anthropology and Law. All LSE Department of Anthropology students interested in studying at one of our exchange partner institutions are invited to apply. Students are required to have achieved at least an average grade of 60.0 in Year 1 exams, and have completed 2 full years of study at the LSE. Places are allocated based on academic merit, their proposed study plan and personal information given on the application form submitted in during the second year of their degree.

LSE Anthropology students participating on an exchange with the University of Melbourne are required to take at least 50% of their full load study in Anthropology programs and 50% of other approved options available in their year of study. For more information on exchanges with the University Melbourne go to  http://www.mobility.unimelb.edu.au/inbound/ .

Students going to Fudan University in Shanghai study within the School of Social Development and Public Policy. Courses are offered in English, and therefore there is no requirement to speak Mandarin to participate in this exchange. Click here to find out more information on  Fudan University’s School of Social Development and Public Policy .

Students going to the University of Tokyo will be enrolled in their Department of Anthropology and may also take courses outside this department if approved and available in their year of exchange. The programme is offered to English native speakers so there is no requirement to speak Japanese. For general information on exchanges with the University of Tokyo go to  https://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/academics/ustep.html .

Students going to the University of Cape Town are required to take at least 50% of their full load study in Anthropology courses and 50% of other approved options available in their year of study. For general information on exchanges with University of Cape Town go to http://www.studyabroad.uct.ac.za/ .

For further information about the Department of Anthropology Year Abroad Programme contact Chloe Davies at  [email protected] Click  here  to read about past exchange students' experiences. 

What do LSE graduates do?

You might be considering LSE as a prospective student, part-way through your degree here, or perhaps you've already graduated. Whatever stage you're at, LSE Careers has a wealth of information available to inspire, inform and help you to make those all important decisions and choices around careers.  Please click here for data which you can search by department and level of study to find out what previous students went on to do after they graduated from LSE.

For more information about Anthropology PhD destinations, please click here .

Further information for MRes/PhD applicants

Mres/phd anthropology entry requirements.

Please note that in order to be considered for direct admission to the MRes/PhD programme you must have completed a degree in Social Anthropology, normally from a British university. You must have either a BA/BSc degree with a mark of 2:1 or higher (or the equivalent) or an MA or MSc with a mark of Merit or Distinction (or equivalent).  

Students who do not hold a degree in Anthropology from a British university do not normally qualify for direct admission to the MRes/PhD and they will be advised to take one of the one-year MSc programmes taught in our department (MSc Social Anthropology; MSc Social Anthropology (Learning and Cognition); MSc Social Anthropology (Religion in the Contemporary World); MSc Anthropology and Development; MSc Anthropology and Development Management; or MSc China in Comparative Perspective) before applying to the MRes/PhD.

The following additional eligibility conditions apply to students who take one of the interdisciplinary MSc programmes (these additional conditions do not apply to students who take these programmes having already met our standard entry requirements).

MSc Anthropology and Development and MSc Anthropology and Development Management To qualify to apply for the MRes/PhD, students must take one full unit from the list below in addition to the core courses (AN436 The Anthropology of Development and either AN456 Anthropology of Economy (1): Production and Exchange (H) or AN457 Anthropology of Economy (2): Transformation and Globalisation (H)). A further requirement is that their proposed research is in the field of the anthropology of development.

AN402 The Anthropology of Religion AN404 Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography AN405 The Anthropology of Kinship, Sex and Gender AN451 Anthropology of Politics (H)   AN479 Anthropology of Law (H)

Students who already have a substantial background in Anthropology and wish to take a different selection of optional courses should discuss their choice of options with the Anthropology Doctoral Programme Director.

MSc China in Comparative Perspective To qualify to apply for the MRes/PhD, in addition to the China core course (AN447 China in Comparative Perspective) students must take AN404 Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography and one full unit from the list below. A further requirement is that their proposed research is in the field of the anthropology of China.

AN402 The Anthropology of Religion AN405 The Anthropology of Kinship, Sex and Gender AN451 Anthropology of Politics (H) AN456 Anthropology of Economy (1): Production and Exchange (H) AN457 Anthropology of Economy (2):Transformation and Globalisation (H)  AN479 Anthropology of Law (H) Students who already have a substantial background in Anthropology and wish to take a different selection of optional courses should discuss their choice of options with the Anthropology Doctoral Programme Director.

MSc Social Anthropology (Religion in the Contemporary World) To qualify to apply for the MRes/PhD, in addition to the Religion core course ( AN402 The Anthropology of Religion) students must take   one full unit from the list below. 

AN404 Anthropology: Theory and Ethnography   AN405 Anthropology of Kinship, Sex and Gender AN451 Anthropology of Politics (H) AN456 Anthropology of Economics (1) Production and Exchange (H) AN457 Anthropology of Economics (2) Transformation and Globalisation (H) AN479 Anthropology of Law (H)

Guide for Anthropology PhD applicants on how to complete question 29 of the application form: “the research proposal” Please follow this guide rather than the instructions on the application form Question 29 of the application is meant to give the Selectors enough information to decide: 1) whether the Department has enough expertise to provide you with adequate supervision 2) whether your project addresses an intellectually interesting question 3) whether your project is feasible In view of this, we recommend that you structure your statement in the following way: a) Research questions: state the specific research questions you wish to address in your PhD project, explaining (with reference to existing literatures) why you (and others) think these are interesting and important questions that deserve to be studied. b) Regional setting: describe the regional setting in which you propose to undertake your research, being as specific as you can; if you have yet to identify a specific area, explain the general characteristics of an ideal setting for your research c) Research contexts and interlocutors: indicate the specific kinds of context in which you envisage to carry out your research (e.g., a school, a factory, a village, a neighbourhood) and who you expect to be your main interlocutors d) Evidence and methodological strategies: explain what evidence you will need to gather in order to address your research questions, and which methodologies you expect to adopt to gather such evidence. e) Relevant expertise: list any relevant expertise (e.g., language proficiency, established local contacts, prior experience in the region) The statement should be between 2000 and 2500 words.

Visiting Research Students

We welcome research students from other universities to spend from one term up to one academic year at LSE as a Visiting Research Student (VRS).

The VRS scheme allows students who are registered as doctoral researcher at other institutions to participate in research activities in the Department and the School, to interact with other research students, and to benefit from the expertise of LSE faculty, the training offered by the  PhD Academy , and LSE Library facilities. Note that Visiting Research Students do not have access to any LSE taught courses. Further details can be found here .

More student testimonies

"My time at the LSE has been ‘eye opening’. I put this down to studying Anthropology and learning from some of the world’s best experts in their fields, along with other curious students. Anthropology is about thinking outside the box, it challenges individuals to understand how and why other human beings live life a certain way. But it doesn’t stop there. As an Anthropology student I was faced with innovative theories that are open to debate, which the department actively encouraged me to take a central role in. The department held weekly public lectures, where you were invited to openly ask questions. However, the most fulfilling learning experience for me was the small classes, because I was being taught by the very people who had already spent several years studying and writing about the people I was studying. Throughout the years I developed multiple transferable skills, which are invaluable for a diverse range of careers. When thinking about life after the LSE the career possibilities were endless: I looked into journalism, development work and the legal profession. This is one of the key advantages of studying a course that equips students with creative thinking skills and develops them as an individual."

Rosalie Allain "Before starting the course I kept reading/hearing anthropologists say that when you finish a degree in Anthropology, you will never see the world in the same way again. And it’s actually true. It is very hard to stress how invaluable this discipline is. Applying to study Anthropology was undoubtedly the best decision of my life. I felt the warmth of the department from day one – it was quite obvious that the teachers were excited to have us there. The department really values its undergraduate students. Then followed the tutorial system: meeting our tutors in groups of three, every three weeks during the whole degree, offered a very calming, informal and enriching intellectual stepping stone between topics. Writing two to three tutorial essays a term for our tutors was invaluable: it helped me perfect my essay writing (analytic, thinking skills), which was a great practice for our assessed essays, but also meant we had at least three weeks/topics per term which we had mastered by being forced to think in depth about it. From year one we were encouraged to seek out our teachers via email or office hours, something I did with enthusiasm, and found unlimited advice (personal and academic) and a humbling level of intellectual sharing/generosity on behalf of the teachers. Anthropology engages the mind, more than any other social science. Its study requires and engenders a huge level of critical inquiry, in line with its own tradition of self-criticism, which promotes a rigorous kind of 'disciplinary self-awareness' which in turn means anthropologists rarely hide from all the crucial epistemological power/knowledge implications of being an academic discipline. And yet it remains a very imaginative, experimental, playful and (for me, magical) space which can only aid intellectual inquiry. This hybridity enables Anthropology’s holism. And again, although Anthropology is often relegated (by other social scientists) to the periphery of the social sciences, I see it as the centre, drawing on and looking at (and combining) the psychological, the historical, the economic, the political, and the philosophical of the human condition."

Edward Cubitt "In a world obsessed with money, power, oil and numbers, to have at my fingertips a community of people who are motivated out of a genuine desire to learn and understand for the sake of knowledge and tolerance, and to make the world a better and more just place..... That is a pleasure no amount of words can express. When I came to the Anthropology department at LSE, I truly felt like I was coming home after a long walk out in the cold."

The Anthropology of Melanesia students learn about Solomon Islands artefacts in the British Museum from Oceania Curator, Dr Ben Burt (1/12/17)

Why study at LSE Join one of the most famous anthropology departments in the world

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LSE University Personal Statements

These UCAS personal statements have been kindly provided by students applying to London School of Economics. You can click on one of the links below to view the entire statement and find out if the applicant was offered a place.

You can also view our entire collection of personal statements or view personal statements for application at other universities .

History Personal Statement Example 3 Recently, I found out that my grandma was gambled into slavery for seven years. She escaped her prison and made her way back to Hong Kong, 300 miles south. I was amazed at how courageous she was. This personal discovery led me to read Jung Chang's 'Wild Swans' which made me both proud and ashamed of my heritage...

Mathematics and Economics Personal Statement Example 1 As Pythagoras may have said, (Ambitious)2 + (Bold)2 = (Critical thinker)2 makes a perfect student and is what I strive to be. From the simple Pythagorean to the complex Fermat's Last Theorem, mathematics is a never ending branch of study which I enthusiastically enjoy studying and why I wish to pursue it even further at university...

Economics and Politics Personal Statement Example 1 "I killed the bank": the last words of Andrew Jackson, former president of the US, after he had vetoed to renew the charter and withdraw all federal deposits from banks causing them to bust. Real money was backed with gold shortly after, causing the greatest economic boom in history for the US where no income tax was implemented...

Maths and Actuarial Science Personal Statement Example Maths is a subject like no other; its complexity makes it a challenging and often frustrating area of study, however the logic behind every problem leaves a feeling of certainty about it. My devotion to the subject has grown exponentially, especially in recent years...

Geography Personal Statement Example 1 At first glance, my A Level choices appear scientifically biased, but they underpin key topics studied in Geography. I enjoy investigating the theories of global economies, population and poverty. The mathematics I have studied enables me to manipulate raw data meaningfully...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 1 Completing my sixth form education at a multicultural boarding school has allowed me to experience a wide social and cultural diversity that I never would have expected in a school environment, in great contrast to the subtle ethnocentrism of my previous schooling...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 2 My fascination with human behaviour and the motivations behind human actions has existed for most of my adult life, to determine a cause however I would accredit this to the voluntary work I participated in with Crisis Single Persons Homeless charity...

Mathematics and Economics Personal Statement Example 2 Every day we make decisions and interact with others; the laws of economics help us make rational choices and consider the irrationality of others, as well as understand the world better. Maths and statistics are the necessary tools for me to understand the modern economics...

Politics Personal Statement Example 5 My background, living in three major metropolises, Lagos, London and Aberdeen bestowed me a very diverse, open, multicultural way of thinking. The cultural shock of Lagos widened my eyes to vastness of the world and prepped my involvement in the Community Development Committee, allowing me to get in touch with all sectors of Nigerian society; here my interest in sociology, politics and government took flight...

Maths & Actuarial Science Personal Statement Example 1 "It has become a very strange and perhaps frightening subject from the ordinary point of view,but anyone who penetrates into it will find a veritable fairyland"( Kasner E and Newman J).This saying is perhaps the most fitted to describe my enthusiasm for Maths...

Business & Management Personal Statement Example There is no limit to what you can learn and how much you can earn from it. Instilled with this belief by my father, I have since the beginning learnt to approach the world differently. I view that knowledge can be applied practically not only to earn a living, but also to earn wisdom...

Mathematics and Engineering Personal Statement Example Questions regarding the reason for my liking of mathematics have only one answer: mathematical logic and concepts contribute to a practical approach in every aspect of life. It is the diversity and universal applicability of this subject that encourages me to delve further and study it in depth...

Economics and Economic History Personal Statement Example Over the past few years I have developed a strong interest in the Economic history of the UK. I have become interested in how the UK's economic policy over centuries has built the UK into one of the world's most economically developed countries today...

Economics Personal Statement Example 23 It would not be foolish to contemplate the possibility of a far greater progress still. John Maynard Keynes From childhood I was bred to learn and the passion to understand has become a trait of my character...

Accountancy & Management Personal Statement Example I have chosen to study combined degrees in Accounting and Finance or Economics because I intend to further my studies towards developing a career in financial consultancy. Accountancy and Finance remain central elements of the dynamics of commerce, that define the way a firm, shareholders and society at large interact on multiple platforms...

European Social & Political Studies Personal Statement Example In my opinion, the problems societies face today deserve an in-depth analysis which draws on different disciplines of thought for its relevance; furthermore the implementations of strategies to combat problems must take into account more than one academic approach if they are going to be positively effective...

Economics Personal Statement Example 28 While working in the stock broker I became 100% sure that I wanted to study Economics at university. I gained employment at a Stock Broker office as a Monitor Operator in Bangladesh and my duty was to monitor the daily price list of trading of shares at the beginning of the day and then preparing trading reports at the end...

Sociology Personal Statement Example 12 A Gospel choir tour around South Africa was the catalyst for my fascination with human culture. As I travelled I was able to directly experience a multiplicity of cultures even within this one country...

Anthropology Personal Statement Example 7 Coming from a mixed religious background, the comparison between cultural practices has touched me deeply, personally and profoundly. I have been able to observe the influence of culture on people's perspectives and world views...

Politics & Social Policy Personal Statement Example The ever-changing nature and diversity of politics is fascinating. The rapid social and political development in Russia in the early 2000s, still surrounded by the left-overs, if not quite the toppled statues of the previous socialist regime, kindled my interest in politics...

PPE/Economics Personal Statement Example Humanity today stands at the intersection of the most significant questions facing the world today: if democracy leads to political infighting, should it be sacrificed in the interest of economic well-being? Does religious fundamentalism provide a way for countries in the developing world to assert their identity in the face of Western hegemony? Does the entry of Western consumer goods threaten a country’s economic self-sufficiency? The answers of these questions will determine what the nature of our world is in the twenty-first century...

Sociology Personal Statement Example 14 The need for the study of Sociology in society is, arguably, universally fundamental. The study of society is of paramount importance in solving social problems of great magnitude such as poverty and family disorganisation...

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Should I apply for anthropology and law or just law at LSE

Both courses seem very interesting, but I am somewhat inclined towards anthropology and law, as not only are the entry requirements lower but I would also not need to sit the LNAT. However, this course is more competitive than LLB, and my personal statement is suited towards LLB by itself. It does incorporate aspects of anthropology and law’s relationship with society, but I don’t think this will be good enough especially as LSE really values the personal statement. I have the predicted grades for both (41/45,766) but anthropology and law only requires 37 with 666 at HL while LLB requires 38 with 766. Any advice?

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Category Archives: Personal Statements

Land economy personal statement (anonymous 1).

The student is currently studying Land Economy at the University of Cambridge and will be graduating in 2022.  This personal statement was part of her successful application to the University of Cambridge, UCL, LSE, Durham and Warwick. My attempt to comprehend the complexity of the 2008 financial crisis kindled my fascination with Economics. It led Continue reading “Land Economy Personal Statement (Anonymous 1)”

Economics Personal Statement (Azfar Azmi)

Azfar Azmi is currently studying Economics at University of Warwick. Azfar completed his A-levels at KTJ and is graduating in 2022. The inception of my interest in Economics was a result of its unpredictable nature. I really like how everything within economics seems to be interconnected; whenever I learn a microeconomic theory it invariably touches Continue reading “Economics Personal Statement (Azfar Azmi)”

Philosophy, Politics and Economics Personal Statement (Anonymous 1)

This student is currently a student at the University of Oxford. This personal statement was part of this student’s successful application to University of Oxford, University of Warwick, University of Manchester, UCL, and LSE for Politics and Economics.  My childhood self would watch the evening news with my parents, unable to comprehend the gravity conveyed by Continue reading “Philosophy, Politics and Economics Personal Statement (Anonymous 1)”

Accounting and Finance Personal Statement (Anonymous 3)

This personal statement was part of the student’s successful application to LSE, University of Bath, University of Warwick, City University and Loughborough University for Accounting and Finance. Sometimes life reserves the right to give us nasty surprises – it throws inherently unpredictable, incalculable occurrences straight in our paths. “Black swan” events are what the academics call it. Continue reading “Accounting and Finance Personal Statement (Anonymous 3)”

Law Personal Statement

Ariana Ng  is currently studying LLB Law at the University of Nottingham. She completed her A-Levels at Epsom College in Malaysia and is graduating in 2021. This personal statement was part of her successful application to University of Nottingham and Queen Mary University of London for Law. A conversation with a law student sparked my interest Continue reading “Law Personal Statement”

Actuarial Science Personal Statement

Fok Sing Tian is currently studying BSc Actuarial Science at London School of Economics and Political Science, and is graduating in 2021. This personal statement was part of his successful application to LSE, Heriot-Watt University, University of Manchester, Cass Business School and University of Kent for Actuarial Science. Mathematics, to me, is a discipline that requires one to possess an analytical mind and sufficient critical Continue reading “Actuarial Science Personal Statement”

History Personal Statement

Terence Khoo Rong Her  is studying BA History at King’s College London. This personal statement was part of his successful application to King’s College London, LSE, University of Exeter, University of York and University of Bristol for History. History has a special place in my life due to visits made to my grandfather. His wartime stories brought me closer to him. One particular account Continue reading “History Personal Statement”

Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement

Arijey Sura  is currently studying MEng Mechanical Engineering at University College London. This personal statement was part of his successful application to UCL, University of Manchester and University of Bristol for Mechanical Engineering. Speed. My love affair with engineering began with speed; the cutting edge technology of Formula 1 racing. The Kinetic Energy Recovering System, hitched my heart immediately. Kinetic Continue reading “Mechanical Engineering Personal Statement”

Civil Engineering Personal Statement

Tan Wei Hoe is currently studying MEng Civil Engineering at Imperial College London. This personal statement was part of his successful application to Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, University of Manchester and University of Bath for Civil Engineering. Many a times I’ve asked myself, “What is my passion?” and many a times I could not muster an answer. Though, I’ve always loved Continue reading “Civil Engineering Personal Statement”

Jansen Law Zhen Hao is currently studying LLB Law at University College London, and is graduating in 2021. This personal statement was part of his successful application to UCL, LSE,  King’s College London, University of Bristol and University of Warwick for Law. The judicial state of Malaysia is worrying. The catalyst of change for the prejudiced has been freedom of speech. Continue reading “Law Personal Statement”

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Department of Anthropology

  Anthropology is the comparative study of culture and society. We ask big questions about what we have in common, and what makes us different. Introduction Read more

LSE Anthropology ranked top in recently-published Times league tables

About us We have a strong international reputation and a long and distinguished history of leadership

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Studying Anthropology at LSE: Careers with an Anthropology degree

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2024 LSE anthropology and law

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