The School offers courses not only in economics and political science, but also in a wide range of social science subjects, taught within eighteen departments and a number of interdisciplinary institutes. It is the only British university specialising in the study of the social sciences, and has a worldwide reputation in the field. The Higher Education Funding Council has rated the great majority of the School's research in its top two categories of excellence, and a range of independent and authoritative assessments have judged the School to be among the world's leading institutions for study of the social sciences. There is more information about the range of subjects studied at LSE in the section Choosing a course . While aiming for the highest standards of independent judgement, we seek to make our work practical and relevant to the real world.
Teaching draws on the insights derived from the staff's current research.
These are just some of the questions different members of staff are currently investigating. Past and present members of staff act as expert advisers to political parties, the Civil Service and policy pressure groups. Professor Lord Desai is a regular speaker in House of Lords debates and Lord Wallace is a front-bench spokesman on international affairs. The School's international reputation and London location ensures that in times of crisis it is to LSE that the media turn first for a response.