Top Tips for Applying for an Academic Director's Scholarship

When applying for LSE Summer School, I was not aware of the scholarships and funding available to visiting students. Attending summer school as an international student can be an expensive process. Especially coming from Sydney, Australia - the flights, accommodation and price of summer school itself was a big investment for me. Therefore, when I found out about the opportunity to apply for an academic scholarship, I was very interested!

In 2023,  I was honoured to receive an Academic Director’s Scholarship in Technology, Media and Society to attend the course LL204: The Foundations of AI Law and Regulation. This course was the perfect opportunity to explore my interests and complement my double degree in Law and Media and Communications in Australia. Below I will share some background on the scholarship, the application process and some top tips to stand out as an applicant.

The Academic Director’s Scholarships at LSE are awarded in three areas: Sustainability and Development, Responsible Leadership and Technology, Media and Society. Due to this, only specific courses are applicable for the scholarship. The scholarships are designed to enrich student’s university studies and relieve some of the financial burden of attending Summer School.

The scholarships are merit-based and open to students who have already been accepted to an eligible Summer School course. The scholarship is only offered for a single course, so if you intend on staying for more than one Summer School course, you will only receive funding for one applicable course. All additional costs for accommodation, food and social events are not covered by the scholarship. While scholarship applications will likely change year to year, the basic pillars of the application consist of a statement about your past achievements and future aspirations.

The biggest challenge I faced was writing concisely to convey the most important points within the confines of the word count. It is essential that applicants go beyond simply listing their accomplishments. You should be able to demonstrate the impact your experiences and accomplishments had on yourself or the wider community. For example, if you have served a leadership position, what did you do to get this role? What activities and initiatives did you lead? How did you make an impact? Be specific and avoid over-generalising.

When discussing past accomplishments, students should make sure to remember that less is often more. It is not a competition of how many accomplishments you can list, but rather how you can demonstrate how each accomplishment connects to your chosen field of study. For example, if you received a prize, don’t simply state the name of the prize. What did you do to achieve the prize?

Further, applicants should be able to demonstrate a clear vision of what they hope to gain from the scholarship and the experience of attending LSE Summer School. Think about why you applied and how you see yourself using this knowledge in your future education or career. Highlight your why! What makes you passionate about your chosen field?

Overall, do not put too much pressure on yourself to succeed in the scholarship applications. With hundreds of applicants each year, the scholarships are highly competitive - but this should not stop you from applying! You never know if you don’t try. LSE Summer School is a fantastic experience either way. It exposes you to some of the top professors in their field, allows you to meet a diverse cohort of people from around the world, and explore one of the most exciting cities in the world.

 

*Please note that Katie’s description includes details of the 2023 application process that may be subject to variation for Summer School 2024.

 

This blog was written by one of our 2023 Student Ambassadors, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the summer school experience at LSE.