MSc REGIONAL & URBAN

PLANNING STUDIES

PROGRAMME HANDBOOK
 Important People and Sources of Help

Postgraduate Webpages
www.lse.ac.uk/geographyAndEnvironment/Current students/Graduate Homepage/
Documents and information for Geography and Environment
postgraduates

LSE Help Services

www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/students
Find help in relation to health and welfare, finance and housing, studying
and more

Postgraduate Administrator
Laura Rozario
Room: STC 5.07, tel: 020 7955 6061, email: l.rozario@lse.ac.uk
Postgraduate information and submission of coursework

Chair of the Examinations Board

Dr Nancy Holman
Email: n.e.holman@lse.ac.uk
In charge of all examination matters

Dean of Graduate Studies

Dr Sunil Kumar
Email: pg.dean@lse.ac.uk

This handbook is correct as of September 2014. For the most up-to-date version, please
check the Geography & Environment Graduate Homepage:
www.lse.ac.uk/geographyAndEnvironment/Current students/Graduate Homepage/

http://lse.ac.uk/RUPS
Programme Director Student Services Centre

Dr Nancy Holman London School of Economics

Room STC 5.14 (Old Building)
Department of Geography Houghton Street
and Environment London WC2A 2AE
London School of Economics
and Political Science Counter service is available
Houghton Street 11:00 – 16:00 every weekday
London WC2A 2AE

Tel: 020 7955 7745

Email: n.e.holman@lse.ac.uk

LSE Term Dates 2014/2015

Michaelmas Term Thursday 2 October – Friday 12 December 2014

Lent Term Monday 12 January – Friday 20 March 2015

Summer Term Monday 27 April – Friday 3 July 2015

The School will be closed on English public holidays*. In 2014/2015 these will be:

Christmas Closure Wednesday 24 December 2014 –

Friday 2 January 2015

Easter Closure Thursday 2 – Wednesday 8 April 2015

May Bank Holiday Monday 4 May 2015

Spring Bank Holiday Monday 25 May 2015

Summer Bank Holiday Monday 31 August 2015

* Some facilities, such as the Library, may open on some of these dates. The School will issue
updates throughout the year
Welcome 5
About LSE 5
About the Department 5

New Students 6
Programme Registration 6
LSE for You 6
Moodle 6
Email 6
IT Support 7
The Library 8
International Student Immigration
Service (ISIS) 8
Fees 8
Certificate of Registration 8
Course choices, Seminars and
Timetables 9

Who’s Who 10

The Programme 11
Programme Timeline 11
Tutorial Support 12
Course Choice 12
Electronic Media & RUPS 13
Urban@LSE 13
Quick Guide: Urban Planning 14
Regional & Urban Planning Society 16

Assessment 17
Procedure for submitting assessed
assignments 17
Postgraduate Feedback 18
Word Counts 18 Services for disabled students 34
Fieldwork Safety 18 Equality and Diversity 35
Penalty Scheme 18 Code of Good Practice 35
Penalty for exceeding word limits 18 Quality Assurance 36
Late submission 19 General School and Programme
Plagiarism 19 Regulations 36
Adjustments for students with Classification Schemes 37
disabilities 20 Results and transcripts of results 37
Exams 20 Graduation Ceremonies 38
Degree Certificates 38
Research Ethics 21 Alumni Association 38
Research ethics for MSc
dissertations: guidance notes 21 Appendix i: Research Ethics Sample
Instructions for submitting your Participant Information Sheet 39
review questionnaire 25
Appendix ii: Research Ethics Sample
Facilities 27 Participant Consent Form 40
Guide to the Michael Wise Room 28
Appendix iii: Guide Marking Scheme,
Support & Development 29 Geography and Environment 41
Interruption/deferral/withdrawal 29
Student Services Centre (SSC) 30 How to find us / map 42
Financial Support
Deans of the School
30
30
Contents
LSE Students’ Union 31
Language Support 31
LSE Careers 31
Learning Development 32
Personal Development 33
LSE Day Nursery 33
LSE Student Counselling Service 33
St Philips Medical Centre 34
Student Study Advice 34
Welcome international reputations in their
fields of expertise. We are a medium-
These notes are intended to provide sized department, large enough to
you with essential information about offer a breadth of expertise but small
the MSc degree in Regional and Urban enough to allow for good relationships
Planning Studies at the LSE. If you have between students and staff.
any queries, please do not hesitate to
ask the Programme Director, Dr Nancy
Please note that the Department
Holman (room STC 5.14) or Laura
will be hosting a welcome party
Rozario, Graduate Administrator (room
for all Geography and Environment
STC 5.07).
MSc students. This will be held on
Thursday 16th October between
About LSE 18:00-20.00 in the Shaw Library
(6th floor, Old Building).
The London School of Economics and
Political Science is one of the foremost
social science universities in the world.
LSE is a specialist university with an
international intake and a global reach.
Its research and teaching span the
full breadth of the social sciences,
from economics, politics and law to
sociology, anthropology, accounting
and finance. Founded in 1895 by
Beatrice and Sidney Webb, the School
has an outstanding reputation for
academic excellence. Sixteen Nobel
Prize winners have been either LSE
staff or alumni.

About the Department

The Geography and Environment
Department is a centre of international
academic excellence in economic,
urban and development geography,
environmental social science and
climate change. The courses we
offer are designed to benefit from
and complement the very particular
strengths and aspirations of the LSE.
You will discover that there is great
concentration on, and expertise within,
the social science aspects of the
subjects. You will also find a healthy
balance of experienced and younger
academics within the Department, and
many of our staff have well-established
5
New students, please refer to the Moodle
Guide to Orientation 2014 for more
information on your first weeks. Moodle is LSE’s Virtual Learning
Environment (VLE). It is a password
Programme Registration protected web environment that may
contain a range of teaching resources,
At the start of the academic year all activities, assignments, information
new and continuing students need to and discussions for your course. The
formally register on their programme content of Moodle is the responsibility
of study. New students need to do of your teacher and so it will vary
this in person, whilst most continuing from course to course (not all teachers
students will be able to do so online. choose to use Moodle).
You can access Moodle from any
To ensure that new students are able computer connected to the internet,
to complete this process as quickly on and off campus. Go to http://
as possible, each programme / moodle.lse.ac.uk/ and use your LSE
department is allocated a time slot in user name and password to log in. This
which to register. At registration, you page also has links to help and advice
will be asked to provide proof of your on using Moodle.
eligibility to study in the UK in order to You will also find links to Moodle from
receive your School ID card. This card a number of web pages, including the
will, amongst other things, allow you to webpage for ‘Staff & Students’.
access your library account.
If you have any technical problems

New Students
For more information, including with Moodle you should contact the
registration schedules and further helpdesk at it.helpdesk@lse.ac.uk. For
details for continuing students, please information on submitting assignments
see lse.ac.uk/registration. visit the school’s Moodle FAQ page:
http://lti.lse.ac.uk/moodle/moodle-
LSE for You faqs-students.php#assignment.

LSE for You is a personalised web portal Email

which gives you access to a range of
services. For example, you can: The School will use your LSE email
• view or change your personal address to communicate with you
details so you should check it regularly. The
• reset your Library and network email programme Microsoft Outlook
passwords is available on all student PCs on the
• monitor and pay your tuition fees LSE network. You can also access email
online off-campus using webmail and remote
• check your exam results desktop or on the move, using email
You can also access online tutorials on clients for laptops and mobile phones.
how to navigate and personalise LSE For instructions on how to access your
for You via its login page. Use your LSE email off campus visit www.lse.ac.uk/
network username and password to IMT/remote/
login via lse.ac.uk/lseforyou.

6
 IT Support
IT Help Desk & Laptop Surgery – STC
1.98, St Clements Building
Contact the IT Help Desk (it.helpdesk@
lse.ac.uk) for support for School-owned
hardware and software on the LSE
network, network and email account
issues, and general IT queries.

Visit the Laptop Surgery for free advice

and hands-on help with problems
connecting to LSE resources from
personally-owned laptops and mobile
devices

VITA (Virtual IT Assistance)

Double click on the ‘Virtual IT
Assistance’ icon on the desktop of a
campus PC or visit www.lse.ac.uk/vita
to get real-time assistance from an
IT Help Desk Adviser during opening
hours.

LSE Mobile
Download the LSE Mobile app to
access your course timetable, library
information, LSE information, maps,
guides and more. Search ‘LSE Mobile’
on the App Store or Google Play to
download.
http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/
LSEServices/IMT/guides/lseMobile.
aspx

IT Support for students with

disabilities
IMT is committed to the provision
of facilities and support for disabled
students and staff, to assure equality
of services. Additional PCs and printing
facilities for disabled students are
provided in the public computer areas
in the Library. Other facilities are
available in dedicated PC rooms on
campus. We also provide one-to-one
support for disabled students who
wish to become familiar with adaptive

7
technologies and software. To book on the ISIS website) or at the drop-in
an appointment, please contact the IT service in the Student Services Centre
Help Desk (it.helpdesk@lse.ac.uk). reception. ISIS run workshops to advise
students applying to extend their stay
For contact details and further in the UK; and in complex cases, they
information visit www.lse.ac.uk/imt. will make individual appointments.
For more information including drop
The Library in times and dates of workshops go to:
lse.ac.uk/isis.
Your LSE student card is also your
Library card. No additional registration Fees
with the Library is required.
The School offers two options for
• You are welcome to ask Library payment of fees. You can either pay
staff at the beginning of term for them in full prior to Registration or by
general information, your Library Payment Plan one third of your fees
guide and other freebies. on the 28th October, 28th January and
• Use Library Search to find both 28th April. If you do not know the cost
the Library’s print and electronic of your fees, see the Table of Fees at
resources lse.ac.uk/feesoffice.
• You can sign up to a course on Full fee information, including
how to find items from your how to pay, can be found here:
reading list, and other training http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/
events from across the School, at LSEServices/financeDivision/
https://apps.lse.ac.uk/training- feesAndStudentFinance/Paying fees/
system/ How_to_Pay.aspx
• Staff at the Help Desk on the
first floor are available for Certificate of Registration
any enquiries you may have
about using our collections and A certificate of registration provides
electronic resources. proof to organisations, such as the
Home Office, council tax offices and
Visit www.lse.ac.uk/library for more banks, that you are registered as a
information on using the library. current student at the School.

You can contact the Library by emailing Once you are formally registered with
library.enquiries@lse.ac.uk. the School you will be able to print
out your certificate instantly via LSE
for You (LfY) under the ‘Certificate of
International Student
Registration’ option (Please note it can
Immigration Service (ISIS) take up to 4 hours for your change in
Registration Status to be picked up by
ISIS provide detailed immigration LfY).
advice for International Students
on their website which is updated If you require a certificate with
whenever the immigration rules information beyond what is on the
change. They can advise you by email Certificate of Registration, please email
(if you complete a web query form registry@lse.ac.uk. Your enhanced
8
certificate should then be available for The Timetables Office is responsible
collection from the Student Services for scheduling and allocating
Centre (SSC) within five working days. rooms to all of the School’s taught
Additionally, should you require an LfY- courses. The Timetables web page
produced certificate to be signed and includes information for students
stamped, staff at the SSC will be happy and staff. www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/
to do this for you. diaryAndEvents/timetables/

For more information please see Graduate Personal Timetables

lse.ac.uk/certificateOfRegistration. Once you have used LSE for You to
select your courses and seminar
Course Choices, Seminars and groups, your personal timetable can be
viewed on LSE for You.
Timetables
Seminar registration for postgraduate
Information about postgraduate course
students is co-ordinated by the
choice and seminar sign up can be
department teaching the course;
found on the Student Services Centre
therefore please contact them directly
web page: lse.ac.uk/coursechoice.
with any queries.
Many courses will have ‘controlled
access’ and you will need to apply to
For more information please see www.
the department teaching the course
lse.ac.uk/programmeRegistration.
for permission to take it, before you
can select it. If such an application is
required, it will be indicated on the LfY
course choice system.
All course choices are subject to the
approval of your department.

The deadline for course choices for

postgraduate students is 20th October
2014.

If you wish to change your course

choice after the online system has
been switched off, you can do so using
a ‘late course change’ form (available
from the Student Services Centre).

For more information please see

www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/students/
registrationTimetablesAssessment/
Registration

9
MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies academic staff

Dr Nancy Holman

Programme Director, MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies ;

Associate Professor of Urban Planning

n.e.holman@lse.ac.uk

Dr Gabriel Ahlfeldt

Associate Professor of Urban Economics & Land Development

g.ahlfeldt@lse.ac.uk

Dr Ryan Centner

Assistant Professor of Urban Geography

r.o.centner@lse.ac.uk

Dr Murray Low

Associate Professor of Human Geography

m.m.low@lse.ac.uk

Who’s Who
Dr Alan Mace

Assistant Professor of Urban Planning Studies

a.mace@lse.ac.uk

Dr Romola Sanyal

Assistant Professor of Urban Geography

r.sanyal@lse.ac.uk

Professor Christine Whitehead

Professor of Housing Economics

c.m.e.whitehead@lse.ac.uk

10
The MSc in Regional & Urban Planning Studies here at the London School of
Economics is one of the world’s leading social science institutions. As you may
know the MSc in Regional & Urban Planning Studies was established as an
interdisciplinary programme in 1966 and continues to run as a strongly focused and
internationally based planning programme.

Whilst here you will take core courses that challenge you to understand cities and
regions from an economic, social and environmental perspective. You will also
have the opportunity to undertake optional courses that allow you to specialise in
the environmental aspects of planning, urbanisation in the ‘global south’, housing,
or local economic development. These aspects of planning will be explored using
case study material from cities around the world, but being in London, we will also
use the city as a backdrop for our investigations. We will do this through project
work and fieldtrips in and around London.

The programme comprises of 4 whole units (3 compulsory half unit (i.e. two term)
taught courses (GY447, GY448 and GY454), 1.5 units of optional taught courses
and a dissertation course (GY499). Students are also expected to attend GY450, a
compulsory seminar series which runs in Michaelmas and Lent term. If at any time
you find information presented to you confusing or contradictory, please feel free
to raise questions with your supervisor and/or administrator.

Programme timeline
Michaelmas Term Lent Term Summer Term (+ Vacation)

GY447
The Economics of
Regional and Urban
Planning

GY448
Social and Political
Aspects of Regional
and Urban Planning

GY454 Exams
Urban Policy and
Planning

GY450
Planning Practice and Research

Optional Courses
to the value of 1.5 units

GY499 Dissertation

11
Tutorial Support Course Choice
http://lse.ac.uk/intranet/students/
The overall management of the registrationTimetablesAssessment/
MSc programme is dealt with by Dr Registration/Course
Nancy Holman. The specific details
of teaching, including coursework The deadline for course choices for
assessment, seminars, etc., are the postgraduate students is 20th October
responsibility of the Course Manager 2014. Many courses will have restricted
for each unit you are taking. Your access and you will need to apply to
Programme Administrator is Laura the department teaching the course
Rozario. She can be contacted via email for permission to take it, before it can
(l.rozario@lse.ac.uk) or telephone (020 be selected. If such an application is
7955 6061). Her office is STC 5.07. required, it will be indicated on the LSE
for You course choice system.
Supervisory arrangements can be
found here: http://www.lse.ac.uk/ For most Geography & Environment
resources/calendar/ courses, you will be allocated your
academicRegulations/codeOfGood seminars by the department, though
PracticeForTaughtMasters in some cases students can choose
ProgrammesTeachingLearning their own seminar group via the online

The Programme
AndAssessment.htm system, before 20th October 2014.

Full programme regulations

can be found at: http://www.
lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/
programmeRegulations/
taughtMasters/2014_
MScRegionalAndUrbanPlanning
Studies.htm

A complete list of course guides can

be found at: http://www.lse.ac.uk/
resources/calendar/courseGuides/
graduate.htm

12
Electronic Media & RUPS
As many of you will already know the MSc Regional & Urban Planning Studies
has a strong presence on the web. We would encourage you, if you are already
on Facebook, to visit the page. It is a great way to share news stories and
ideas with others. We also have a LinkedIn Group that is dedicated to current
students and alumni of the programme. It is the largest MSc programme group
in the Department and is THE place to go to network with other like-minded
professionals. It is also where we share job postings and studentships that might be
of interest to current students. So, it is really worth joining! To give you an idea of
the group, our current stats are as follows:

Urban@LSE the design and governance of cities,

urban infrastructure, environment
Urban@LSE is a network bringing and development, with a unique
together Masters and Doctoral concentration of urban specialists in
students, researchers and faculty different subject areas - Development
working on urban issues across the Studies, Economics, Geography and
LSE. As an international centre of Environment, Government, Social
excellence in the social sciences, LSE Policy, and Sociology - and in key
has a distinctive concentration of urban research centres and institutes.
specialists in a number of disciplinary Urban@LSE organises an annual
areas, and is an unrivalled centre for welcome reception and events during
postgraduate study in the area of city the academic year which give graduate
design urban and regional planning, students the opportunity to meet
urbanisation and development, and fellow students and faculty from a
the economic, social, political and range of programmes, departments
policy aspects of contemporary urban and research centres in the urban field.
life. More information is available at:
www.lse.ac.uk/researchAndExpertise/
LSE researchers bring together a units/urbanAtLSE
range of disciplinary expertise to
link the urban social sciences with
13
Quick Guide: Urban Planning European Planning Studies* (HT395.E9)
E, 2000-
Resources relating to urban planning European Urban and Regional Studies*
are located chiefly on the Second Floor (HT390) E, 1999-
International Journal of Urban and
of the Library. This brief guide aims
Regional Research* (HT101) E, 1997-
to highlight some of most important
International Planning Studies* (HT166)
materials and locations. For specific
E, 1996-
items it is always best to look for a Journal of Environmental Planning and
location on the library catalogue. Management* (HT390) E, 1998-
Journal of the American Planning
Urban sociology - (HT101-384)
Association* (HT390)
Cities & towns
Planning Practice and Research (HT101)
Including the social and
E, 1998-
economic aspects of city
Planning Week* (HT390)
planning and urban renewal
Progress in Human Geography* (GF1) E,
1997-
Regional planning (HT390-395)
Progress in Planning* (HT390) E, 1995-
UK county development (HT395.G72.
Regional Studies* (HT390) E, 1997-
plans A5 - .Y6)
Town Planning Review* (HT390)
Town and Country Planning* (HT390)
London (HT395.G73)
Urban Affairs Review (formerly
Quarterly)* (HT123) E, 1999-
Housing (HD7285-)
Urban Studies* (HT103) E, 1995-
By region/ country (HD7290-)
England (HD7333)
Official (government) publications
London (HD7334.L7)
The Library has extensive collections of
Global South (HD7391)
governmental and intergovernmental
publications from all over the world. It
Local government (JS)
has been an official depository library
Municipal government (JS141-231)
for European Community material
Other (JS241-285)
since 1964; other important collections
include a depository set of United States
Planning law
government documents since 1903, and
Great Britain (KD1125-)
the United Nations since its foundation.
Western Europe (KJC6135)
The collection of United Kingdom official
European Union (KJE6245)
publications is almost complete.
Journals The Library has a number of databases,
The following is a list of some of the which can be used to search for official
main journals relating to planning with documents. The following can be
their Library locations. The * signifies accessed on the LSE network via the
that the current issues are kept at the Electronic Library.
Periodicals Display Area. “E” signifies that UKOP - UK government publications
an electronic version is available via the (bibliographic data 1980 onwards).
Electronic Library (passwords may be BOPCAS - UK government publications
required) (1995 to present)
USGPO - US Government Publications
Built Environment (HT169.G7) (1976 onwards)
Environment and Planning A* (HT166) UNBISnet - UN documents and
E, 2001- publications (1979 onwards)

14
General Planning Resources on the Internet
Williams, D. C., (2000) Urban sprawl: a (University of California, Berkeley.
reference handbook (Ref Coll HT384.45 Environmental Design Library)
W72) http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/ENVI/
planning_links.html
Dictionaries
Venturi, Marco, (1990) Town planning American Planning Association
glossary: 10,000 multilingual terms in one http://www.planning.org
alphabet for European town planners (Ref
Coll. HT166 V46) Brookings Institution - Metropolitan
Policy Program
Smith, John William, (1990) The urban http://www.brookings.edu/about/
politics dictionary (Ref Coll. JS48 S65) programs/metro

Directories, etc Center for Urban Policy and the

European Municipal Directory (Ref. Coll Environment
JS3000 E81) http://www.policyinstitute.iu.edu/urban

Municipal year book [USA] (current International Economic Development

year Ref Coll JS301) - Contains useful Council
bibliography http://www.iedconline.org

General U.S. Housing and Urban Development

New Towns Record - History and Admin.
development of new towns in Britain http://www.hud.gov
(CD-Rom 24, available at Service Counter)
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Bibliographical http://www.lincolninst.edu
Geography (CD-Rom) via Electronic
Library Center for Urban Policy Research,
Urbadisc (CD-Rom) via Electronic Library Rutgers University
International Bibliography of the Social http://policy.rutgers.edu/cupr
Sciences (BIDS online via Electronic
Library. Password required) Livable Cities for the 21st Century: The
Journal of Planning Literature (ZHC59) Post Habitat II Agenda for the World
and Electronic Library Bank http://www.worldbank.org/html/
Public Affairs Information Service (PAIS) extdr/extme/habitat.htm
(CD-Rom) via Electronic Library
United Nations Economic and Social
University College London - Town Commission for Asia and the Pacific
Planning Collection (UNESCAP). Information on human
University of Westminster, Marylebone settlements issues in Asia and the Pacific
Road and on activities of the ESCAP Section on
Human Settlements.
Cyburbia (formerly PAIRC) - Internet http://www.unescap.org/huset
Resources for the Built Environment
(University at Buffalo - School of Asian Development Bank report “Asian
Architecture and Planning) Cities in the 21st Century”, three
http://www.cyburbia.org volumes
http://www.adb.org/documents/
conference/asian_cities_1/default.asp

15
Regional & Urban Planning
Society
The Regional & Urban Planning Society
is your society. You will arrange a
programme of lectures, visits and
social events with the benefit of a grant
from the Students Union. The Society
also organises a long weekend out of
London towards the end of Lent Term.
The purpose of this weekend is to visit
an area outside London and arrange
talks from local planners. In the past
the trip has been made to Amsterdam,
Glasgow, Brussels, Cardiff, Lille, Dublin
and Paris. However students in recent
years have been more ambitious and
extended this to a week and visited
Greece, Berlin, Moscow, Istanbul, the
Netherlands, Prague and Sarajevo!

All members of the course are

student members of the Regional
Studies Association as a result of the
Geography Department’s corporate
subscription, and can participate at
a special rate in the Association’s
conferences.

16
Each unit or course within the MSc
is individually assessed and you will
The Department has the following
eventually receive an overall mark for
procedure for submitting assessed
each course and an MSc classification
course assignments:
based on all of these marks. The
details for the assessment of each
1. One electronic copy must be
course are given in the course guides.
submitted via Moodle (if you require
The classification scheme that the
help in doing this, please visit the
Department adopts for marking essays,
school’s Moodle FAQ page: http://
exams and dissertations is set out in
lti.lse.ac.uk/moodle/moodle-faqs-
Appendix iii at the end of this booklet.
students.php#assignment)
The LSE MSc classification scheme is
2. One hard copy is to be submitted to
detailed in the LSE Calendar, see:
the Department
http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/
calendar/academicRegulations/
3. This hard copy is to have the Cover
TaughtMastersDegreesFourUnits.htm
Sheet for Assessed Work attached
Key due dates for assignments
4. You should NEVER include your
are posted on the fourth floor (St
name anywhere on assessed work
Clements Building) by the drop
(you will be assigned a candidate
box (outside room STC 4.06) and
number). Your candidate number is
on the Geography & Environment
a unique five digit number that you
graduate website (www.lse.ac.uk/
must use for any examination, assessed
geographyAndEnvironment/Current
coursework, essay or dissertation that
students/Graduate Homepage/).
contributes towards your final mark.
(This is different from your student
Please note: Assignment deadlines
ID number). Your candidate number
are strictly enforced. Late submissions
can be viewed on LSE for You usually
are penalised according to the penalty
from mid to late November onwards).
scheme listed below and by the drop
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR
box on the fourth floor.
CANDIDATE NUMBER.
 

17
Postgraduate Feedback intranet/LSEServices/healthAndSafety/
policy/FieldworkOffsiteVisits.aspx
The Department of Geography and
Environment provides comments and We recognise that you may want to
an indicative grade for every piece of carry out fieldwork in areas of the
assessed work. The markers will ensure world that are subject to social or
that all feedback on essays/assessed political unrest, high threat of kidnap
work is received at least 1 week prior and ransom or to areas with Foreign
to the exam. Please note this is a and Commonwealth Office Warnings.
departmental initiative and other If you do, we are there to help you
departments may operate differently. achieve your aims. We can help
This will not apply where a course is provide specialist county or area threat
assessed by examination only or a assessments to help you make an
single piece of project work/essay. informed decision about the viability of
traveling to your destination of choice.
Feedback on formative work, e.g. We can also provide specialist training
mock exams, short essays: For every and equipment to help keep you
Geography and Environment-managed safe. Please note that the Health and
postgraduate course, a student will Safety Team may not cover the costs of
be able to submit at least one piece additional specialist control measures
of formative work (e.g. mock exam, and you may have to secure your own
short essay etc.) for which they will funding.
receive feedback. Course managers will
provide submission details. Please read the Fieldwork Health and
Safety Guidance document for further
Word Counts information: http://www.lse.ac.uk/
intranet/LSEServices/healthAndSafety/
pdf/Fieldwork-H&S-Guidance-

Assessment
The word count includes:
• all essay text, including quotes May-2014.pdf
(indirect and direct), citations and
footnotes For any further information or advice,
• headings and sub-headings please contact the Health and Safety
• title of tables or figures Team -
• preface (dissertations) Telephone: 020 7852 3677
• abstract (dissertations) Email: Health.And.Safety@lse.ac.uk
• words/numbers in tables and
figures Penalty Scheme
The word count excludes:
• bibliography Penalty for exceeding word
• annexes (dissertations) limits

Fieldwork Safety Students must remain within the word

limit of the coursework assignment.
If you are planning fieldwork or any The examiner will not mark any text
other off site activity please complete that exceeds the word limit.
the relevant risk assessment on
our website: http://www.lse.ac.uk/
18
Late submission sources, if not clearly identified as
such, constitutes plagiarism just as
Late submission of assessed much as does a single unacknowledged
coursework (including dissertations) is long quotation from a single source.
severely punished accordance with the All paraphrased material must also be
LSE-wide penalty scheme: clearly and properly acknowledged.

5 marks out of 100 will be taken off Any written work you produce (for
the assessed mark for each day (or classes, seminars, examination scripts,
part of any day) that the coursework dissertations, essays, computer
is submitted late (Monday to Friday programmes and MPhil/PhD theses)
only). must be solely your own. You must not
employ a “ghost writer” to write parts
Requests for late submission of or all of the work, whether in draft or
graduate coursework can only be as a final version, on your behalf. For
approved by the Programme Director. further information and the School’s
Late submission without prior approval Statement on Editorial Help, see link
attracts a 5% (i.e. 5 marks out of the below. Any breach of the Statement
possible 100) per day penalty (Monday will be treated in the same way as
to Friday only). plagiarism.

Plagiarism You should also be aware that a piece

of work may only be submitted for
The School’s rules on plagiarism can be assessment once. Submitting the same
found at: piece of work twice will be regarded
as an offence of “self-plagiarism” and
• www.lse.ac.uk/resources/ will also be treated in the same way as
calendar/academicRegulations/ plagiarism.
RegulationsOnAssessment
Offences-Plagiarism.htm Examiners are vigilant for cases
• www.lse.ac.uk/resources/ of plagiarism and the School uses
calendar/academicRegulations/ plagiarism detection software to
statementOnEditorialHelp.htm identify plagiarised text. Work
containing plagiarism may be referred
The work you submit for assessment to an Assessment Misconduct Panel
must be your own. If you try to pass which may result in severe penalties.
off the work of others as your own,
whether deliberately or not, you will The Department employs sophisticated
be committing plagiarism. software for detecting plagiarism in
coursework assessments. Instances
Any quotation from the published or of proven plagiarism are treated very
unpublished works of other persons, seriously by the School and can lead
including other candidates, must to severe penalties against guilty
be clearly identified as such, being students. If you are uncertain about
placed inside quotation marks and a the nature, scope or ramifications
full reference to their sources must be of plagiarism, please consult your
provided in proper form. A series of academic advisor.
short quotations from several different
19
If you are unsure about the academic
referencing conventions used by the
School you should seek guidance from
your academic advisor or the Library:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/library/
usingTheLibrary/training/citing_
referencing.aspx
www.lse.ac.uk/library/services/
training/citing_referencing.aspx

Adjustments for Students with

Disabilities
Full guidance on adjustments to
assessment arrangements for students
with disabilities is found in the Taught
Masters Code of Practice: www.lse.
ac.uk/resources/calendar/
academicRegulations/
codeOfGoodPracticeForTaught
MastersProgrammesTeaching
LearningAndAssessment.htm

Exams
Most courses, but not all, have an
examination component. See the
‘assessment’ section of each course
for details. The graduate examination
period is mainly in June, although
sometimes exams occur in May. The
school provides full details of ‘Examina-
tion procedures for Candidates’ at the
appropriate time.

http://lse.ac.uk/intranet/students/
registrationTimetablesAssessment/
examinationsAndResults

20
Research ethics for •
sound scholarly research;
Researchers are morally obliged to
MSc dissertations: respect people and avoid causing
unnecessary harm. Harm implies
guidance notes generating negative consequences
for human participants,
The aim of this section is to provide organisations or social groups;
you with guidance in regards to • Acting ethically is important in
ethical issues and standard protocols order to build and safeguard
involved in undertaking your MSc public trust for academic
dissertation (GY499). Ethics are research;
a central consideration for any • Students in the Department of
academic researcher. It is therefore Geography and Environment
crucially important for you to read are now required to fill out a
the following carefully and, where Departmental ‘Research Ethics
applicable, adhere to the guidance. Review Questionnaire’. They
may also be compelled to
What are research ethics? obtain ethical clearance for their
Research ethics concern ‘the moral dissertations from the School’s
principles guiding research, from its Research Ethics Committee (see
inception through to completion and next section).
publication of results and beyond.’
(ESRC, n.d.)*. How do I get started?
An obligatory starting point for
When are ethics relevant to my addressing ethical issues in your
dissertation? dissertation is to complete the
All research involves ethical questions Department’s online ‘Research
and protocols. Yet research ethics are Ethics Review Questionnaire for MSc
likely to be a particularly important Students’. A copy of the Questionnaire
practical consideration when your can be found on the GY499 Moodle –
research involves human participants, Dissertation section, entitled ‘Research
such as is the case with interviews, ethics review questionnaire’.
questionnaires, focus groups and
participant observation. They are The questionnaire is intended to
also particularly relevant where your encourage you to think about the
research involves personal, medical ethical aspects of your research and
or other sensitive data, including pre- how you plan to address any potential
existing data. ethical issues. You should complete the
Research Ethics Review Questionnaire,
Why are ethics important? and discuss any relevant issues with
There are a number of reasons your supervisor, before you undertake
why research ethics are important, any fieldwork involving human
including: participants. By research involving
• Good research is ethical research human participants, we mean research
in that ethical norms (such as which requires the actual participation
honesty, integrity and impartiality) of humans as research participants or
support the aims and conduct of subjects (e.g. interviews, focus groups,
* ESRC (2010). Research Ethics Framework (REF). Economic surveys, participant observation, etc).
and Social Research Council (ESRC), Swindon.
21
At the very latest, you must submit and topics where dissemination of
a completed copy of your Research your findings might involve harm
Ethics Review Questionnaire via the (e.g. reputational, emotional, etc.) to
GY499 Moodle by 3rd July 2015. If you research participants, the LSE, yourself,
fail to meet this deadline, you will be etc.
ineligible to upload your dissertation
to Moodle, and therefore will be If your supervisor has non-trivial
marked as absent for the assessment. ethical concerns about your
Instructions for submitting your Review dissertation and wishes further advice,
Questionnaire are provided below. or does not feel that she/he is in a
position to make a judgement as to
If your research does NOT involve the safeguards you have in place for
human participants or the use of data addressing ethical issues, then you
from identifiable individuals, all that supervisor has the right to ask you
you need to do is to complete section to complete a copy of the School’s
1 (Project details), answer NO to full Research Ethics Review Checklist
question 2.1 and submit a copy of the and Ethics Review Questionnaire
Questionnaire via the GY499 Moodle – for approval by the School’s central
Dissertation section. If you are unsure Research Ethics Committee (REC).
as to how to answer the Questionnaire, These forms can be found at:
you should consult your dissertation http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/

Research Ethics
supervisor. researchAndDevelopment/
researchDivision/policyAndEthics/
In completing the questionnaire, it ethicsGuidanceAndForms.aspx
is your responsibility to answer the
questions honestly, truthfully and, Amongst the situations where approval
where prompted, to provide detailed by the School’s REC is likely to be
clarification to any YES/NO responses. necessary are: (a) research involving
Where your research topic, research deception of participants, or which
design or empirical focus changes, is conducted without their full and
and where these changes affect your informed consent at the time the
answers to the Questionnaire, you study is carried out or when the data
must complete a new Questionnaire, is gathered; (b) research involving
re-submit it via Moodle and discuss any vulnerable groups; (c) research
relevant issues with your supervisor. involving personally intrusive or
ethically sensitive topics; and (d)
If your answers to the Questionnaire research undertaken by a student or
raise any significant ethical issues, it member of staff who has not received
is your responsibility to discuss these appropriate training or has insufficient
with your supervisor. Significant ethical experience in research ethics.
issues include working with vulnerable Please note: ANY research involving
groups or individuals (those below children or other vulnerable groups
18 years of age, and individuals with (e.g. individuals with learning
learning disabilities and other forms of disabilities, dementia, etc.) as
diminished cognitive capacity such as participants needs to be approved
dementia sufferers), taking a decision by the LSE’s central Research Ethics
not to undertake informed consent, Committee.
using deception in your research Where it is necessary for you

22
to complete the School’s more What are the common practical issues
detailed Research Ethics Checklist in research ethics?
and Questionnaire†, you should Carrying out research ethically
only proceed with your empirical potentially involves many different
research (e.g. data collection) if and things. Two important considerations
when you receive clearance from the which should concern you most if
LSE’s Research Ethics Committee. you are collecting data from human
Moreover, you must follow any of subjects are: informed consent and
its recommendations, directions or anonymity. A third consideration,
conditional requirements. integrity, applies to all research.

(1) Informed consent

A fundamental feature of a great
deal of sound social science research
involving humans is informed consent.
This requires potential participants
to have sufficient knowledge and
understanding of your research, and
the conditions of their involvement,
to make an informed decision as to
whether or not they wish to take part
(Farrimond 2013)‡. Informed consent
also implies that participants do not
feel any (undue) pressure to participate
in the study. It additionally means that
potential participants are not misled
in any way (i.e. you should avoid
deception).

The LSE has produced a checklist

of items which you should consider
when obtaining informed consent:
http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/
researchAndDevelopment/
ethicsGuidanceAndForms/research_
ethics_informed_consent.pdf

Informed consent is typically achieved

through the use of two documents: (a)
a participant information sheet and
(b) a written consent form. You should
always use some form of participant
information sheet (or similar) in your
research with human participants.
While obtaining written consent
is the norm in particular contexts,
there are quite a few circumstances
† See: http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/researchAndDevelopment/ ‡ Farrimond, H. (2013). Doing Ethical Research. Palgrave
researchPolicy/ethicsGuidanceAndForms.aspx Macmillan, Basingstoke.
23
where you may wish to rely on verbal (2) Anonymity
consent (e.g. when asking for a written Anonymity means keeping the identity
signature may generate suspicion or of individual research participants
mistrust) or where written consent is (and organisations) from becoming
not feasible (e.g. telephone or Skype publicly known. This can be achieved
interviews). If you have doubts, please in two main ways. The first is to avoid
consult with your supervisor, who collecting personal data in the first
may direct you elsewhere for further place. This may be appropriate in
guidance. cases such as questionnaire research
where the identity of respondents is
Sample templates for (a) participant unimportant and therefore there is
information and (b) written consent no need to collect names or similar
are available at the end of this booklet information.
[see Appendix i and ii]. You should
bring two copies of relevant forms to The second way is by removing
any interview, etc., so that participants information which pertains to the
have a copy for their own records. identity of particular people or
You can also consider sending the organisations. This is particularly
participant information sheet to important when writing-up your
respondents in advance, e.g. by email, dissertation and can be achieved by
which may be useful when you are not using some kind of coded pseudonym.
meeting them in person. Any hard- For example, you might want to
copies of consent forms should be kept provide a quote from a recorded
in a safe place in case they are needed interview with a representative from
at a later date. a well-known environmental non-
governmental organisation (ENGO)
Note, one situation where deception such as Greenpeace. Rather than
may be justified is in the area of referring to the name of the individual
experiments in behavioural and and the organisation, you can simply
psychological research. The rationale reference the quote as: ‘(pers. comm.,
is that participants’ behaviour may ENGO 1)’ (Note, pers. comm. refers to
change if they were fully informed. personal communication). Anonymised
If you do intend to use deception, details of the respective codes can be
please take note of the following provided in an appendix, e.g. ENGO 1
points: (a) you need to justify why = Interview with major environmental
this is necessary on your Research non-governmental organisation, June
Ethics Review Questionnaire; (b) you 2014, London.
should inform your participants that
they might not be given correct/ Note, even when respondents have
full information about the purpose indicated their willingness for their
and nature of the experiment; (c) identities to be revealed, you should
you should give individuals the right nevertheless err on the side of
to withdraw; and (d) fully debrief caution by anonymising responses. As
participants afterwards (i.e. explain the highlighted earlier, researchers should
nature of the experiment such as what avoid causing harm, and ensuring
information they were or were not anonymity is an important part of
given, the rationale for doing so, etc). harm avoidance. You should also note
that it is not necessary to provide full

24
copies of any interview transcripts in Moodle page)
your dissertation annexes. 3. Have you submitted the Review
Questionnaire via GY499 Moodle –
Finally, it is important for you to store Dissertation page?
personally identifiable data safely and 4. If your research involves human
securely. For more information on subjects (i.e. you answered YES
handling personal data, see: http:// to question 2.1 on the Review
www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/ Questionnaire), have you sent a copy of
legalAndCompliance/dataProtection/ the Questionnaire to your supervisor,
researchData.aspx and discussed any significant ethical
issues with her or him?
(3) Integrity 5. If your research involves vulnerable
It is also crucial for researchers to individuals or groups, and therefore
maintain integrity when analysing requires the consideration of the
their data and writing-up their results School’s central Research Ethics
(Farrimond 2013). In practice, this Committee, have you completed
means that your reported findings the relevant forms and submitted
and conclusions should not mis- for approval? Likewise, if there are
represent the underlying data, that other reasons as to why the research
you provide an impartial discussion might require consideration by the
of differing views, and that your own School’s central Research Ethics
normative assumptions, positions, and Committee (e.g. because it deals with
commitments do not bias the analysis. a highly sensitive topic area), have
you completed the relevant forms and
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING submitted for approval?
YOUR REVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE
Importantly, beyond the form-filling
• Sign into the GY499 Moodle and discussion with your supervisor,
• Label your completed Review please ensure that you adhere to
Questionnaire as follows: ETHICS_ ethical best practice in undertaking
SURNAME_PROGRAMME INITIALS your research. Hence, if your research
• Upload the file as per the involves human participants, you
procedure for summative should follow the principle of informed
coursework (follow link, Research consent (except in the case of well-
ethics review questionnaire designed behavioural experiments),
SUBMISSION) hide the identity of respondents/
Note, you do not need to submit a organisations (i.e. by anonymising),
hard copy, but you should send an take relevant precautions when storing
electronic copy of the completed and processing personal data, and
questionnaire to your supervisor maintain integrity in designing, carrying
out and writing-up your research.
Finally, a short list of questions to ask Note, you should include a copy of
yourself: the Review Questionnaire and other
relevant forms (e.g. participant
1. Have you fully read the ‘Research information sheet) within the appendix
ethics guidance notes’ (above)? of your final dissertation.
2. Have you completed the
Department’s Research Ethics Review
Questionnaire? (available on the GY499
25
26
You should familiarise yourself with the soon as you arrive to increase your
various facilities at the LSE as soon as understanding of different career areas
possible. and to maximise the opportunities
open to you. We are a very active
Within the School there is: service offering a wide range of
seminars, employer presentations,
• The BLPES, the main school library fairs and face-to-face appointments
- General tours are available at the to help you at every stage of the
beginning of the academic year. You career planning process; from deciding
should also familiarise yourself with what you want to do to preparing for
the various on-line search services. interviews and settling into your first
Training courses are available during job.
term. For more details, see LSE attracts top recruiters from
www.lse.ac.uk/library many sectors, including property and
finance, who use our vacancy board
• IT support - Information to advertise hundreds of internships,
Management and Technology is found voluntary, part-time and graduate
on the first floor of the St Clements positions. You can access the vacancy
Building directly opposite the main board, book appointments and attend
lifts. There you can get free walk-in events through LSE CareerHub at
help and advice for both LSE and http://careers.lse.ac.uk.
personal computers. The LSE Careers website (www.lse.
www.lse.ac.uk/imt ac.uk/careers) and blog are also full
of tips, advice and information about
• The Language Centre - The School every stage of the career process,
has an award-winning Language from CV writing to interviews, and
Centre. The Centre offers various information about a wide range
sessions on English language and of employment sectors (including
study skills (e.g. academic writing, finance and the built environment)
presentation). You are strongly and international careers. You
recommended to take advantage of can also browse our Graduate
the Centre during the course of your Destinations website (www.lse.ac.uk/
MSc studies – especially if English is GraduateDestinations) to find out what
not your first language or you struggle LSE graduates from Geography and
with writing essays. Note, English Environment have gone on to do.
language and writing skills can make
the difference between passing and The LSE Volunteer Centre is also
failing the MSc, so attending Language based within LSE Careers and is here
Centre courses may be time well-spent. to help you develop new skills and
For more details, see: new friendships while making an
www.lse.ac.uk/language impact through volunteering. We
advertise volunteering opportunities at
• LSE Careers - LSE Careers works very different charities across London and
closely with postgraduate students internationally, with positions ranging
from the Department of Geography from one-off opportunities to part
and Environment. As your course only time internships with charities. You
lasts a year, it’s best to get started can find out more, as well as tips and
on your career planning almost as advice about volunteering, on the LSE

27
Volunteer Centre website: How to use STC 5.02
www.lse.ac.uk/volunteercentre
We look forward to working with you STC 5.02 is a study room. For this
over the coming academic year. reason, it is essential that silence is
maintained. Food and uncovered drink
Within the department of Geography are not permitted in STC 5.02.
there is:
Most of the readings in STC 5.02 are
• Your MSc Study Room STC 4.00 (code stored in course-coded boxes and are
C1268X) - this is a dedicated area for for reference only and are not to be
your programme to use as a base and taken away. Hence you can work with
a meeting place. You are responsible material in STC 5.02 or photocopy it
for keeping the room tidy. Always leave to take away. The photocopier accepts
the door closed and do not leave any the main library photocopy cards.
valuables in the room Copies cost 5p each. Books, however,
• The Michael Wise Room, STC 5.02 - can be borrowed overnight. If you do
This room is the departmental resource this, it is essential that you get the
room where offprints and a small book signed out by the Supervisor.
collection of books are held. Much of
this material is not readily available Please use this valuable resource
elsewhere. There is also a photocopier considerately. Used items must always
and three networked PCs. The room be replaced correctly and in good
may also be used as a place for quiet condition. Items incorrectly replaced
work. Please respect this. are effectively “lost” and become
unavailable to other users. Do not
Guide to Room STC 5.02 - the remove items from STC 5.02 (except
overnight books). Please tidy up after
Michael Wise Room
yourself. The present arrangements
that allow students to access materials
The Michael Wise Room (also
through the Michael Wise Room are
sometimes known as the Map Room or
constantly under review. People who
simply STC 5.02) offers a large offprint
use STC 5.02 inconsiderately in any
collection and a small collection of
way will lose their borrowing rights
books directly relating to Department
permanently and will be reported to Facilities
of Geography and Environment
the Head of Department. Please do not
courses. The room is equipped with a
undermine this important provision.
study area, four networked PCs and a
photocopier, and is supervised at most
times.
Opening Hours

Michaelmas and Lent Terms:

Monday – Friday 11.00am - 5.00pm

Vacations* and Summer Term:

To be arranged by collection of key
from STC 4.06
* The Michael Wise Room is closed during any period
when the School is officially shut, e.g. Christmas and
Easter closure (approximately one week each)
28
The Department has a Staff-Student Interruption / deferral /
Liaison Committee (SSLC), which withdrawal
deals with academic concerns and
issues affecting students in the If you experience any difficulties
department. This is a key consultative during your time at LSE you should
forum and includes elected student make sure that you keep in regular
representatives from all degree contact with your Academic Adviser.
pathways in all years: it usually meets He/she will be able to help signpost
once a term. While the SSLC often you to appropriate services within the
deals with problems encountered School so that you receive the support
by students, it also allows them to to enable you to continue studying
make a constructive contribution successfully.
to the life of the department, airing However, if this isn’t the case, you may
positive suggestions for change. Please wish to consider the following options:
make sure you get to know who the
programme rep is for your degree Interruption: with approval from your
pathway and use her/him! department you can interrupt your
programme by taking a break in your
Inevitably, students sometimes studies, normally from the end of one
run into difficulties with health, term and for one calendar year.
accommodation, finance and personal
matters. It is important that your Deferral: if you complete the
academic adviser knows about these teaching year but have difficulties
difficulties as early as possible so as during the exams then in exceptional
to be able to offer advice. Although circumstances you can apply to defer
the problem may appear “unusual” an examination(s) to the following year.
and “new” to you it has probably
been encountered before so help Withdrawal: withdrawing means
will be forthcoming. If the problem that you are leaving the programme
is likely to affect exam performance, permanently. Before withdrawing you
attendance at classes or lectures, or may want to consider interruption so
the submission of written work, then a that you have some time to consider
formal record is necessary. Academic your options.
Advisers should be informed promptly
so that they can ensure that such a For more information, please see
record is made. Permission for late lse.ac.uk/registrationChanges
submission of assessed work must be
obtained in advance in writing from
the Chair of the Examinations Board,
Dr Nancy Holman, (n.e.holman@
lse.ac.uk). This may or may not be
granted depending on the evaluation
of your mitigating circumstances.

29
Student Services Centre (SSC) the Access to Learning Fund and the
Postgraduate Travel fund.
The Student Services Centre is located
on the ground floor of the Old Building. Full details and application forms
It provides advice and information on are available from www.lse.ac.uk/

Support & Development

the following services intranet/students/moneyMatters/
• Admissions (drop-in service) financialSupport/.
• Certificates of Registration
• Course choice and class changes Deans of the School
• Examinations and results
• Fees – process fee payments The Deans have a wide range of
and distribute cheques (drop-in duties relating to the School’s student
service) community. They are available to
• Financial Support – Advice on any student who wishes to discuss
scholarships, awards, prizes, academic or personal issues.
emergency funding and The Deans will see students by
studentships (drop-in service) appointment or during their office
• Information for new arrivals hours. Appointments can be booked
• Programme Registration through their Executive Assistants.
• Graduation Ceremonies Although the Deans are available to
• Transcripts and Degree certificates meet any student to discuss personal
• Visa and immigration advice or academic matters, students should
(drop-in service) seek the advice and support of their
Academic Adviser and Departmental
The SSC provides a counter service Tutor/ Programme Director before
for students between 11am and 4pm coming to the Deans.
every weekday.
Dean of Graduate Studies:
You can also contact us by telephone. Dr Sunil Kumar, room OLD 1.07;
Details of who to contact and more pg.dean@lse.ac.uk
information can be found on our Executive Assistant to the Dean:
website: lse.ac.uk/ssc. Giovanni Graglia, room OLD G.14;
g.graglia@lse.ac.uk
Financial Support
The Financial Support Office is
responsible for the administration and
awarding of scholarships, bursaries,
studentships and School prizes. It is
located within LSE’s Student Services
Centre with a daily drop in session
during term time between 1pm
and 2pm (Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays during vacations). No
appointment is necessary.

FSO provide information about funds

such as the Student Support Fund,
30
LSE Students’ Union Language Support
We believe that LSE has one of the As well as degree options the
most active student communities LSE Language Centre provides a
at any university, and is being led comprehensive programme of support
by students. The Student’s Union is if English is not your first language
independent from the School. We’ll and a range of extra-curricular courses
help you out if you get into trouble, designed for students of the social
tell you how you can meet students sciences.
with similar interests and views, and www.lse.ac.uk/language
provide opportunities to have the sort
of student experience you want. LSE Careers
Here are some of the ways in which we LSE Careers offers a wide range of
do it: seminars, employer presentations, fairs
and face-to-face career discussions to
• Student activities – the Union help you at every stage of your career
funds and supports over 200 planning process - from deciding
societies, sports clubs, Media what you want to do to preparing for
Group societies and Raising and interviews and settling into your first
Giving charitable fundraising job. LSE Careers also works with your
• Campaigns and democracy – department to deliver events and
getting students together to take services tailored to you.
action on and influence the issues
they care about within the School LSE attracts top recruiters in many
and wider society sectors who use our vacancy board
• Representation – led by a to advertise hundreds of internships,
Student Executive, working with voluntary, part-time and graduate
representatives across the School, positions. You can access the vacancy
you influence and shape the board and book career discussions
decisions and direction of the and events through LSE CareerHub at
School careers.lse.ac.uk.
• Welfare and student support
– our independent, legally- The LSE Careers website (lse.ac.uk/
trained advice workers offer free, careers) and blog are also full of tips,
confidential advice when things advice and information about every
go wrong or you need help stage of the careers process from CV
• The Union runs a bar, some shops writing to interviews, and information
and the only gym on campus all about a wide range of employment
designed for LSE students. sectors.

You will be part of one of the most You can also browse our Graduate
important chapters in our history, Destinations website (lse.ac.uk/
where we go now and what happens GraduateDestinations) to find out what
next for your union is up to you. LSE graduates have gone on to do,
www.lsesu.com organised by department or subject.

31
For up-to-date information about There are many benefits to working
events, booking, resources, news with young people and volunteering
and vacancies follow us on Facebook your time. These include getting
facebook.com/lsecareers and Twitter involved and giving back to your local
@LSECareers. community, strengthening your CV and
personal satisfaction.
The LSE Volunteer Centre is based
within LSE Careers and is here to Come and find our stand at Freshers’
help you develop new skills and new Fair. Look out for posters around
friendships while making an impact campus and attend one of our
through volunteering. We advertise information presentations the week
volunteering opportunities at after Freshers’.
different charities across London and
internationally, with positions ranging Visit our website lse.ac.uk/
from one-off opportunities to part-time wideningparticipation or email
internships with charities. The annual widening.participation@lse.ac.uk.
Volunteering Fair takes place at the
beginning of Michaelmas term and is a Learning Development
great opportunity to meet a wide range
of charities and get a feel for the work LSE’s Teaching and Learning Centre
they do. You can find out more, as well provides a range of events, resources
as tips and advice about volunteering, and services that will complement your
on the LSE Volunteer Centre website academic study and help you to make
lse.ac.uk/volunteercentre or the most of your time here.
@LSEVolunteering
LSE Study Toolkit
Volunteering with LSE’s Widening LSE Study Toolkit – http://www.lse.
Participation (WP) team ac.uk/studytoolkit - is designed to
WP aims to raise aspiration and help you tackle LSE-style study with
attainment in young people from confidence. Four areas identified
London state schools. We deliver a by current students as vital to
number of projects that encourage success at LSE – justifying your
young people from under-represented arguments, studying independently,
backgrounds to aim for a university communicating your ideas and honing
education. We need enthusiastic LSE your quantitative skills – are addressed
students to be inspiring role models with short films and expert guidance
and to contribute to the success of our that provide the tools necessary for
programmes. effective and rewarding study.

We need help with three particular Learning development events

projects: Student Ambassadors, There is a year round series of
Student Tutoring and Student workshops and lectures on topics such
Mentoring. Mentoring and Tutoring as effective reading strategies, exam
require a weekly commitment, while preparation and participating in classes
being a Student Ambassadors is flexible and seminars. You can just turn up, but
and you can volunteer when you’re booking guarantees you a place. More
available. information at http://www.lse.ac.uk/
tlc/development

32
One to one advice LSE Day Nursery
Study advisers are available to
offer free advice on aspects of both The LSE Day Nursery is registered
quantitative and qualitative subjects. under the Early Years sector; and our
LSE also hosts two Royal Literary Fund Ofsted registration allows us to provide
Fellows who can advise on writing care and learning for 63 children in
style and structure. For details on all total, aged between 3 months and 5
of these, see http://www.lse.ac.uk/tlc/ years. We are located in the basement
taughtstudents of an LSE Hall of Residence on Wild
Street. We primarily serve students
MSc Dissertation Week and staff of the LSE. We offer full-time
For MSc students, there are five days and part-times spaces.
of events at the end of the Summer We base our curriculum on the
Term designed to help you plan, Revised Early Years Foundation Stage
write and make the most of your Framework (EYFS). The nursery
dissertation. See http://www.lse.ac.uk/ was rated Good in the last Ofsted
tlc/dissertation Inspection in January 2012.
The nursery has four main rooms.
Personal Development There are two baby rooms, which can
take up to 23 babies aged 3 months
There are many ways in which LSE to 2 years. We can accommodate up
supports the personal development to 26 toddlers aged between 2 to 3
and well-being of students, both on years, and 16 pre-school children aged
and off campus. between 3 to 5 years.
The nursery is open from 8:45am-
Personal development events 6:15pm for 50 weeks of the year,
There are lectures and group based except for bank holidays and a week at
workshops across the year on both Christmas and Easter.
topics such as stress management, There are always places available and
overcoming perfectionism and coping we welcome enquiries from interested
with personal difficulties. See www. parents, both students and staff.
lse.ac.uk/tlc/development and http:// The Nursery welcomes viewings any
www.lse.ac.uk/counselling week day at 10.30am or 3.00pm by
appointment, please email nursery@
One to one support lse.ac.uk or call 0207 107 5966.
LSE’s Student Counselling Service
(www.lse.ac.uk/counselling) offers LSE Student Counselling Service
one to one appointments and daily
drop in sessions; its Peer Support This free and confidential service
scheme (www.lse.ac.uk/peersupport) aims to enable you to cope with any
enables students to talk with fellow personal or study difficulties that may
students if they have any personal be affecting you while at LSE. As well
worries; its Disability and Well-being as one-to-one appointments, there
Service (http://www.lse.ac.uk/ are group sessions and workshops
disability) provides advice to disabled throughout the year on issues such as
students and puts Individual Student exam anxiety and stress management.
Support Agreements and Individual For full details, please see lse.ac.uk/
Examination Adjustments in place. counselling
33
All counselling sessions need to be St Philips Medical Centre
booked in advance, but there are also http://lse.ac.uk/medicalcentre
a number of drop-in sessions available
each day at 3.00 pm (please see the The Medical Centre is a general NHS
website). You can make appointments practice which LSE students can use if
by email (student.counselling@lse. they live close to the school, within the
ac.uk), phone (020 7852 3627) or by practice’s catchment area. The Centre
coming in to the Teaching and Learning also provides dental facilities, an
Centre Reception (KSW 5.07, on the osteopath, an acupuncturist, and more
5th floor of 20 Kingsway. general first aid, vaccination, travel
and contraceptive advice. Register
Peer Support online at: www.spmc.info for NHS
The Student Counselling Service runs registration.
a Peer Support Scheme. A group of 16
undergraduate students are trained Student Study Advice
at the end of their first year to offer
emotional support to all other LSE The LSE Teaching and Learning Centre
students (especially new first year offers study advice, with specialist
students). The scheme is mainly based provision for undergraduate and taught
within the halls of residences, but Masters students. There is a series of
there are also a number of campus lectures and workshops throughout
based Peer Supporters. the academic year covering essay
writing, time management, preparing
Peer Support provides students with for exams, dealing with stress, etc.
an informal space to talk to a specially A limited number of one-to-one
selected non-judgemental peer. It can appointments can also be booked with
sometimes be hard to talk to friends a study adviser to discuss strategies
and family about certain issues, and for quantitative/qualitative subjects or
some students prefer to see a Peer with the Royal Literary Fund Fellow to
Supporter to talk about anything that is improve writing style.
troubling them. Email studentsupport@lse.ac.uk for
further details.
Peer Supporters are not counsellors,
but have been specifically selected
and formally trained in listening, Services for disabled students
questioning and responding skills to (including students who have
ensure they are able to help other dyslexia)
students to reach their own solutions.
They are also able to provide students Disability equality is an important
with information and point them in the facet of the equality and diversity
direction of further help. agenda. LSE acknowledges that
disabled students have often overcome
For further information, or to contact a additional barriers in order to gain
Peer Supporter, see: a university place, and is committed
www.lse.ac.uk/collections/ to eliminating further unnecessary
studentCounsellingService/ obstacles and to facilitating equal
peersupport access to study and university life.
www.facebook.com/LSEPeerSupport

34
The Disability and Well-being Service of inappropriate language and
(DWS) runs three specialist services, all behaviour;
of which are free and confidential: • Strive to create an environment
• The Disability Service, for in which student goals may
students with physical/sensory be pursued without fear or
impairments and those with intimidation;
long-term or chronic medical • Not victimise any fellow student
conditions who has complained, or who has
• The Neurodiversity Service, for given information in connection
students with dyslexia, dyspraxia, with such a complaint;
Asperger’s syndrome and other • Challenge and/or report
neurodiverse conditions unacceptable behaviour which
• The Mental Health and Well-being is contrary to equality legislation
Service, for students with mental and principles;
health concerns • Treat all peers fairly and with
respect
The DWS can also set up Individual
Student Support Agreements (ISSAs), For further advice or information on
outlining reasonable adjustments such Equality and Diversity, please visit the
as extended library loans, negotiated School’s Equality and Diversity website
deadlines and rest breaks in exams. (lse.ac.uk/equalityanddiversity).
It runs several interest and support
groups, for example the Neurodiversity We have also set up the Equality and
Interest Group and the Circles Diversity at LSE blog (blogs.lse.ac.uk/
Network. diversity). To stay up to date, you can
follow us on Twitter - @lsediversity.
For further information please visit
lse.ac.uk/disability or email disability- Code of Good Practice
dyslexia@lse.ac.uk.
The Code of Practice for Taught
Equality and Diversity Masters Programmes explains the basic
obligations and responsibilities of staff
The School seeks to ensure that people and students. It sets out what you can
are treated equitably, regardless expect from your Department – and
of age, disability, race, colour, what the Department is expected to
nationality, ethnic or national origin, provide – in relation to the teaching
gender reassignment, pregnancy and learning experience. The Code
and maternity, marriage and civil covers areas like the roles and
partnership, religion and belief, responsibilities of Academic Advisers
sex, sexual orientation or personal and Departmental Tutors; the structure
circumstances. of teaching at the School; and
examinations and assessment. It also
In practice, this means we expect you sets out your responsibilities, i.e. what
to: the School expects of you.
• Actively oppose all forms of www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/
discrimination and harassment; academicRegulations/codeOfGood-
• Reflect on prejudices, PracticeForTaughtMastersProgramme-
including examining the use sTeachingLearningAndAssessment.htm

35
We recommend that you also read the Results of the ‘course’ section of the
School’s Student Charter and Ethics surveys are made available to students
Code. through the online course guides.
• The Student Charter sets out
the vision and ethos of the General School and Programme
School - www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/
Regulations
LSEServices/policies/pdfs/school/
stuCha.pdf
The School has Regulations, policies
• The Ethics Code highlights the and procedures covering many
core principles of LSE life - www.
aspects of student life and you should
lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/
familiarise yourself with them.
policies/pdfs/school/ethCod.pdf
Some of the regulations explain
Quality Assurance the organisation and conduct of
your academic study. These include
The School’s approach to quality information about the structure of
assurance is set out in the document programmes, assessment, graduation
“Strategy for Managing Academic and what to do if illness affects your
Standards and Quality”: www.lse. studies.
ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/TQARO/
InternalQualityAssurance/StrategyFor- The following link provides an A-Z
ManagingAcademicStandards.aspx. It list of relevant regulatory documents
sets out broad principles and processes where you can find further details of all
for assuring academic standards and School Regulations, including:
for enhancing the quality of education-
al provision. • Regulations for the consideration
of appeals against decisions of
Student Teaching Surveys boards of examiners for taught
The Teaching Quality Assurance and courses
Review Office (TQARO) conducts two • Regulations for Taught Masters
School-wide surveys each year to degrees
assess students’ opinions of teaching, • Regulations on assessment
one in each of the Michaelmas and offences: other than plagiarism
Lent Terms.
Teaching scores are made available www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/
to individual teachers, heads of policies/
departments, and the Director of the
Teaching and Learning Centre and
Pro-Director (Teaching and Learning).
In addition to producing reports for
individual teachers, TQARO produces
aggregated quantitative data for
departments and the School, which
provide important performance
indicators. These can be found
on the TQARO website: www.lse.
ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/TQARO/
TeachingSurveys/Results/

36
Classification Schemes
Degrees are awarded according to
the classification scheme applicable
to the year in which you started your
programme of study. These schemes
are applied by the Boards of Examiners
at their meetings in July and November
each year.

The following link gives details of

the School’s schemes of award:
www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/
taughtMasters.htm

Results and transcripts of

results
The School releases confirmed marks
once the relevant School Board of
Examiners has ratified them. For
further information, please see lse.
ac.uk/results.

To ensure that your results are

released as scheduled, please check
your balance on LSE for You to see if
you have any outstanding tuition, halls
or library fees. You should contact the
Fees Office on fees@lse.ac.uk if you
have any queries, as the School will
not release your results if you have an
outstanding debt.

Transcripts for finalists are issued

digitally within five working days of
final results being officially published.
Continuing students will be able to
request an ‘intermediate transcript’
of results as soon as they are officially
published.

For more information, please see

lse.ac.uk/transcripts.

37
Graduation Ceremonies alumni programme co-ordinated by
the LSE Alumni Relations team by
Graduation ceremonies are held twice a) developing and supporting the
a year: in July for students who have network of international and special
followed undergraduate or nine- or interest alumni groups and contact
ten-month taught postgraduate degree networks, and b) representing the
programmes, and in December for voice of the alumni community within
students who have followed twelve- the School.
month taught postgraduate degree
programmes. MPhil/PhD research You automatically become a member
students are presented at both the upon graduation. Membership is free.
July and December ceremonies, in July By registering with the Houghton
for those awarded by 30 April and in Street Online community, you will be
December for those awarded by 30 able to stay connected with former
September. classmates and the School after your
graduation. You will receive a monthly
For more information, including the e-newsletter, LSE Alumni Echo, and
dates of future ceremonies and details the biannual alumni magazine, LSE
of the School’s overseas ceremonies, Connect.
please see lse.ac.uk/ceremonies.
LSE alumni also have access to:
Degree Certificates • Alumni Professional Mentoring
Network
The degree certificate gives your full • LSE Careers for up to two years
name, level of award, programme of after graduation
study, and class of degree or other • An email forwarding address
award obtained. to continue using an LSE email
address
It will be available for collection on • The Library’s printed collections
the ceremony days of the relevant on a reference basis, and can
graduation period in July or December. borrow free of charge
If you don’t collect it at the ceremony,
it will be posted to your home address For more information about the
within four to six weeks. It is therefore benefits and services available to
essential that you keep your details up- alumni, please contact the Alumni
to-date on LSE for You. Relations team on alumni@lse.ac.uk.
For more information, please see
lse.ac.uk/degreeCertificates.

Alumni Association
Finally: Please keep your contact
LSE’s Alumni Association is the
numbers and address up to date
official voice of LSE’s global alumni
on LSE for You.
community, comprising more than
108,000 people in over 190 countries,
We hope that you enjoy your
53 country groups, nine special interest
time at the LSE.
groups and 24 contact networks.
Its primary role is to support the
38
 Appendix i: Research Ethics SAMPLE PARTICIPANT INFORMATION SHEET
You are invited to take part in a research study which forms part of the assessment for my MSc
degree. Before you decide whether you wish to take part, please read the information below, so that
you have a better understanding of the research, how it will be conducted and the likely outputs.
Please feel free to ask if you require any further information.

• [Dissertation title]
Provide a title which can readily be understood by your research targets (i.e. those who you are going
to interview).
• What is the purpose of the study?
Briefly outline the aims of your dissertation project (i.e. what you are trying to achieve).
• Who is undertaking this research?
Provide details of your name, your status (i.e. MSc dissertation student), your affiliation (i.e.
Department of Geography and Environment, LSE) and your LSE email address. You do not need to
provide a personal telephone number. If your research is funded by an external body, please state the
name of the funding body.
• Why am I being invited to participate in this study?
Tell the participant why they have been selected to participate in your research, e.g. ‘You have been
selected to participate in my research because you are a well-known expert in the field of renewable
energy technology, with particular knowledge of feed-in tariffs.’
• Do I have to take part?
You should tell the participant that participation in the study is voluntary, ‘It is your choice whether or
not to participate in this study. If you do decide to take part, you are free to withdraw within 14 days
of the interview without giving a reason.’
• What will happen if I take part?
You should provide a clear explanation of what is required of participants, e.g. ‘If you decide to take
part, I will ask you a series of semi-structured questions. The interview will last approximately 30
minutes.’ If there are any risks of harm involved for the participant, you should outline these.
• Will my responses be anonymised?
Clearly state how participant anonymity and privacy will be safeguarded, e.g. ‘All information you
provide will be kept anonymous and will be securely stored. Your name, or that of your organisation,
will never be associated with any of your answers.’ Note, it is important to ensure that you carry
through on your pledge, anonymising respondents in your dissertation. It is also important that any
data collected during your research is stored safely, i.e. in your LSE H: space, rather than third-party
cloud storage.
• What will happen to the findings of the study?
Provide the participant with details of the research output, e.g. ‘Selected quotes from your interview
may be used in my MSc dissertation.’ If you plan to publish your dissertation at a later date, you
should convey this information clearly and unambiguously, with details of likely outlets/formats.
• Will I be notified of the findings of the study?
It is good practice to offer participants a short summary of the research findings (e.g. a 1 or 2 page
“research highlights” document) – again remembering to anonymise personally- or organisationally-
identifiable information – should they request it at the time of the research.

Thank you for reading the participant information sheet.

Date - Insert the date here.

YOU WILL BE GIVEN A COPY OF THIS FORM TO KEEP

39
 Appendix ii: Research Ethics SAMPLE PARTICIPANT CONSENT FORM

Title of Project:

Researcher:

Email:

• I have read and understood the Participant Information Sheet. I understand what my
role will be in this research and had the opportunity to ask questions. I agree to take
part in the above research.

• I have been informed about how the confidentiality of the information I provide will be
safeguarded.

• I understand that I am free to withdraw from the research for any reason and without
prejudice by informing the above named researcher within two weeks of my interview.

• I have been given a copy of this form and the Participant Information Sheet.

NAME OF PARTICIPANT:

SIGNED:

DATE:

YOU WILL BE GIVEN A COPY OF THIS FORM TO KEEP

40
 Appendix iii: Guide Marking Scheme, Dept. of Geography and Environment

Mark Descriptive Descriptive Descriptive Equivalent for

Equivalent for Exams Equivalent for Essays the Dissertation
Very Good Perceptive, focused Breadth or intensity A professional approach
to Excellent use of a good depth of accessed data or revealing a degree of
(Distinction) of material with a literature plus an maturity and fluency
critical edge. Original original or critical of expression. Project
(70-100) ideas or structure of contribution or completed to high
argument. finding. standard or a good review
of the shortcomings.
Publishable in existing or
modified form.
Good Perceptive Thorough, clear Less original and
(Merit) understanding of treatment shows painstaking but sign of
the issues plus a understanding setting a good effort
(60-69) coherent well-read of arguments, in an appropriate
and stylish treatment contribution and context. Well presented
though lacking context. Efficient but discrepancies not
originality use of data and explored.
literature.
Satisfactory A “correct” answer Pedestrian treatment Good effort but poor
(Pass) based largely on of wide literature outcome: incomplete,
lecture material. or database OR pedestrian or lacking in
(50-59) Little detail or adequate treatment imagination or criticism.
originality but of incomplete data Generally a failure to
presented in or literature “without develop a coherent
adequate framework. spark”. argument or viewpoint.
Small factual errors
allowed.
Unsatisfactory Based entirely on Very basic approach Deficient in effort
(Fail) lecture material to a narrow or therefore arguments
but unstructured misguided selection and discussion poorly
(40-49) and with increasing of material. Lacking researched and conveyed.
error component. in background or Little sign of analytical
(39 and under - Concepts are flawed in arguments. technique or depth, relying
bad fail) disordered or flawed. Little effort. heavily on secondary
Poor presentation. Shallow and poorly sources. Evident omissions
Errors of concept presented. Lacking and/or misunderstandings.
and scope or poor in in conclusions A poorly structured, weak
knowledge, structure or conclusions or partial piece of work.
and expression. incorrect.

You should also consult the ‘Advice and code of practice for essays, exams and the MSc
dissertation’ document, available online at www.lse.ac.uk/geographyAndEnvironment/Current
students/Graduate Homepage/.
41
 New Academic
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Department of Geography and Environment administrative offices -

St Clement’s
bridge
Building (STC), 4th and 5th floor
disabled lift

Student Services Centre - Ground floor, Old Building (OLD)

Cycle Hire Station
(www.tfl.gov.uk/BarclaysCycleHire)

Lecture theatres / public lecture venues

Graham Wallas Room - Fifth floor, Old Building
Hong Kong Theatre - Ground floor, Clement House
New Theatre - First floor, East Building
Old Theatre - Ground floor, Old Building
Sheikh Zayed Theatre ; Thai Theatre ; The Wolfson Theatre - New Academic Building
Shaw Library - Sixth floor, Old Building
Vera Anstey Room - Between ground and first floor, Old Building

Disabled access - After 6.30pm please call Security Control on 020 7955 6200 to
ensure that any disabled access doors are open. For access to 20 Kingsway, please
call security staff on 020 7955 6200 to set up the portable ramp in the entrance
foyer.

42
LSE Department of Geography & Environment
Houghton Street, London WC2A 2AE
www.lse.ac.uk/GeographyAndEnvironment