personal statement for lse masters

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Supporting documents

Use this guide to ensure you provide the right information as part of your application, most delays in the application process are caused by uploading incorrect, or unclear, versions of essential documentation. check, and double check, before you submit your application that each of your supporting documents is legible and meets the criteria below..

Once your application is submitted, it will be considered by the selectors as it stands , so you will not be able to add any further documents nor updated versions of existing documents unless we specifically request them.

Please make sure that you submit the final version of any document you have written yourself (eg CV, statement of academic purpose, research proposal). Make sure that the application includes the correct documents before you submit.

If you are submitting scanned documents, please use a proper flat-bed scanner wherever possible, rather than photographing them; photographed documents are not always easy to read.

A note on secure PDFs: Our application system works by bundling together the documents that you and your referees upload, together with the application form, into a merged PDF. Secure PDFs, such as sometimes provided by universities as transcripts, cannot always be decrypted by the system. This leads to problems in creating your application file and a delay in your application being considered by the selectors. At the application stage, please upload a non-secured version; we will ask you for the secure version of your final transcript later if you are made an offer.

NOTICE: Please be aware of an issue that has come to our attention regarding email junk/spam filters. Some email software is filtering LSE emails to the spam/junk or ‘Deleted Items/Bin’ folder so please make sure to check there for important information regarding your application. If you do find any of our emails in any of these folders, please make sure to add the domain @lse.ac.uk to your ‘Safe Senders’ or ‘Never Block’ list . Emails will be sent to you automatically from our database system once you have begun your online application and as your application progresses through each step in the process (application created; application submitted; application downloaded for processing). We will then send you a further email each time there is an update to the status of your application, including any requests for further information and the programme selectors’ decision on your application . It is essential that you ensure you can successfully receive our emails as soon as you begin your application.

Application form

You must apply online using our online application system. You will be asked to set up a user account using your email address, and you should use the same email address for all enquiries and any other applications to the School (for example if you are also applying for Summer School or Language Centre courses).

You should read and follow the guidance which is given throughout the online application, including in the Application Form Guide linked at the top of each page. This will ensure that you fulfil our requirements and that your application is processed as quickly and efficiently as possible. 

Application assessment fee

The application assessment fee is £95. You must pay using the website (credit or debit card) in order to submit your documents and application online.

Under no circumstances should payment card details be sent to LSE by email.

Please note that the application assessment fee is not refundable if you change your mind once your application has been acknowledged.

A proportion of the application fee income that we receive each year is used to give financial support to LSE students.

Two academic references

You must nominate two suitable referees by providing their contact details in your online application and you must ensure that each of your nominated referees submits a reference in support of your application. You should use each referee’s academic/official email address when nominating your referees. Once you have completed the References section of your online application, your referees will automatically receive a reference request email from us asking them to submit their reference via our online referee portal. This is a secure and confidential service for referees and helps speed up the decision-making process. 

You may submit your application without waiting until we have received your references: as long as you have successfully nominated two referees and completed all other mandatory sections of the application form, you are ready to submit your application. Please note, however, that your submitted application will not be processed and considered until we have received a reference from each of your nominated referees.

References are an important part of your application. Selectors are particularly interested in the referees’ assessment of your academic ability and potential, skills and qualities, and motivation and suitability, relevant to the programme(s) you are applying for. Therefore, it is in your best interest to nominate two suitable referees who are able to speak to these points to support your application. In most cases, this will be two academic referees.

Academic referees should have taught you during your university-level studies, preferably in relevant courses, at your current or most recent institution(s). They should know your academic work well and be able to comment in detail on your academic performance and ability, skills and qualities, and motivation and suitability, relevant to the programme(s) you are applying for.

You are expected to provide academic references in support of your application wherever possible. However, in some cases, professional references may be acceptable. This might be where you graduated a number of years ago and it is not possible to provide a suitable academic reference, or where a professional reference might be considered appropriate. However, selectors may ask for an additional reference if those submitted are not considered suitable. A professional referee should normally be your line manager/supervisor from your current or most recent employment. They should know your work well and be able to comment in detail on your ability, skills and qualities, and motivation and suitability, relevant to the programme(s) you are applying for.

Please note that personal or character references, such as those from family or friends, or references from someone who taught you below degree level, are not acceptable.

Please check the programme-specific information below as well as the relevant programme page(s) via our  available programmes page  for any programme-specific guidance on references before nominating your referees to ensure you have chosen two suitable referees.

We strongly recommend that you contact your prospective referees before nominating them to confirm that they are happy to provide a reference for you and that they are able to do this in a timely manner, and to let them know to expect a reference request email. It is also helpful to discuss your decision to pursue your chosen programme(s) of study with your referees beforehand, and to provide them with further information about the programme(s) including the entry requirements, to support them in writing a suitable reference for you.

Your referees will be asked to complete a short questionnaire, which includes general questions about their relationship to you as well as specific questions regarding their assessment of you. They will then be asked to upload your written letter of reference, in which they have been encouraged to comment on your academic ability and potential, skills and qualities, and motivation and suitability, relevant to the programme(s) you are applying for. All references must be submitted in English. Both the questionnaire and reference will be added to your application. More details regarding the information and guidance provided for referees can be found here .

Please note: if we have cause to suspect that your references are not genuine, we will take reasonable steps to determine their validity, and your application may be cancelled.

Applicants for Executive programmes  should note that all Executive programmes are willing to consider one academic and one professional reference. Additionally, the following programmes are willing to consider two professional references:

• Executive MSc Cities (K4U1)
• Executive MSc International Strategy and Diplomacy (L2UJ)
• Executive Global MSc Management (N2U9)
• Executive MSc Social Business and Entrepreneurship (N2UC)
• Executive MSc Health Economics, Outcomes and Management in Cardiovascular Sciences (L4CS)
• Executive MSc Health Economics, Policy and Management (L4HM)
• Double Executive MSc Health Policy (with Chicago) (L4HP)

Applicants for the Executive Master of Laws (M3U5) are required to provide at least one academic reference. Two professional references will be acceptable if you have been out of school for five years or more and are unable to obtain an academic reference. Applicants for the Executive MSc in Evaluation of Health Care Interventions and Outcomes in collaboration with NICE (L4HN) may provide two professional references if they are unable to provide an academic reference.

Please be aware that when you submit your online application, we will consider it as complete only once we have received two references. You don't need to (and should not) arrange for more than two references to be sent. We will not accept additional references unless the selectors request them during the decision-making process.

More information about supplying references can be found  here .

Transcripts/mark sheets and proof of existing qualifications

The online application will prompt you to upload a copy of your transcript for each qualification you mention in the Education tab. If your documents are not in English, you must upload a translation carried out by an accredited translator (e.g. the British Council). Please ensure that scanned documents are clear and legible: failure to do so will result in delays to the processing of your application. You should also scan the reverse of your transcript if the mark scheme is explained there.

If your application is successful, we will request an original or certified copy of your documents prior to registration. Those you have supplied within the application are not considered original or certified because you have uploaded them, rather than them coming directly from your previous institution.

Qualifications still in-progress:  The transcript or mark sheet must include an up-to-date list of the subjects you have studied and the grades you have obtained in your studies so far. If you are at a university that does not supply transcripts or mark sheets, please ask your academic referees to comment in detail on your progress, including your marks obtained in  all years of study . You may submit an application even if you are still awaiting some examination results , however you must have fully graduated by the time you register at LSE . Please list the title and credit value of each in-progress course that you are currently studying on the application.

Qualifications already awarded:  The transcript should include the information above, plus your final overall grade/classification and the date on which your qualification was awarded. You should supply this information for  all university level study  and  any transfer programmes or exchanges that you have undertaken . If your transcript does not include your final grade/classification and date of award, we will request either a certified copy of your degree certificate or a completed proof of degree form if we make you an offer of admission. Do not send your original degree certificate, as we cannot return documents to you.

Applicants who have graduated from, or who are currently studying towards, degrees from the University of London International Programme (UoLIP): You should supply your transcript from the University of London (which can be ordered here: london.ac.uk/ways-study/study-campus-london/student-services-and-support/requesting-a-transcript-or-replacement#how-to-request-transcripts ). These are strongly preferred to transcripts which may be available from your local institution which may not accurately reflect course titles and marks.

Applicants currently or formerly registered at LSE  do not need to supply transcripts of their LSE qualifications as these are generated internally.

• PDF is the best format for scanned documents
• Make sure that you scan documents at a sensible resolution, ensuring that the documents remain legible while remaining under 2MB in file size. 300dpi is fine.
• Scan documents so that each page is the same way up
• Each document you upload must be no larger than 2MB. If your document is larger than this, use a service such as  smallpdf.com or pdfpro.co (others are available) to reduce the file size.
• Check that your scanned document is legible before you upload it

Statement of academic purpose

You must upload a statement that explains your academic interest in, understanding of and academic preparedness for the programme(s) you are applying for. You should also explain the academic rationale for applying to the programme(s) you have chosen. If applying for two programmes, you are strongly encouraged to write a separate statement for each programme. The statement of academic purpose is an important part of your application, and selectors are looking for evidence of your academic suitability and motivation, and of what you can contribute academically to the programme. We expect statement(s) to be between 1,000 - 1,500 words. 

Please address the following questions/prompts in your statement(s) 

Academic Motivations 

• What prompted your interest in this particular field of study? Perhaps you have unanswered questions from your undergraduate studies or professional work, or you would like to further explore issues and ideas raised in your curricular or extra-curricular reading? 
• Why would you like to study your chosen programme? Perhaps it offers a particular approach, or there are specific modules that will help you develop necessary skills or knowledge. Perhaps the research interests of the academics teaching on your programme, and/or the wider research culture of the department align with your own interests and academic/professional aspirations? 

Suitability 

• What makes you suitable for this LSE programme? Perhaps you have taken relevant undergraduate modules, or have relevant professional, voluntary, or other experience that has prepared for postgraduate study in this area? 

Purpose and Objectives  

• What do you hope to get out of this particular LSE programme? How would this particular programme help you to achieve your personal, academic, and professional goals? Take the time to explain your academic or professional  aspirations and goals, and how your chosen programme will impart the necessary skills and knowledge. Please avoid general statements about LSE’s performance in global rankings, and  generic statements about London being a global/cosmopolitan centre of excellence. 

If there are circumstances that have disrupted your education/significantly interfered with your learning (for example, health problems, displacement, long-term caring responsibilities), please feel free to let us know about them in a separate document added to your application (you can upload this document via the ‘Additional Item’ upload option). If appropriate, please also consult the advice we give to applicants from a forced migration background here , and from a care-experienced background here . 

Please ensure that your statement(s): 

Are all your own work. If we discover this is not the case, your application may be cancelled

Are well-written, well-structured and specific to the programme(s) applied for

Are proofread before being uploaded, and the final correct versions are uploaded

Only include that which is relevant to your programme choice(s). Additional information regarding unrelated extra-curricular activities, personal achievements or work experience should be included in your CV

Have your name and the title of your chosen programme in the header or footer of every page 

Above are the general requirements for statements of academic purpose, however some programmes have specific requirements which differ from the above – please check for any specific requirements for your chosen programme(s) on this page .

Upload your CV/resume, including your employment history or other professional experience, including internships.

Please submit the final version of your CV. If you send an updated version later on, we cannot guarantee to include it with your application before it is seen by the selectors unless it is something that we have requested from you. Make sure that the application includes the correct documents before you submit.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test and Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)

Check whether your chosen programme(s) require(s) GRE or GMAT/GMAT Focus scores – any requirement will be listed in the ‘key facts’ box at the start of each programme page .

If GRE or GMAT/GMAT Focus scores are required by your chosen programme(s) it is essential that you supply them at the time you apply – your application will not be considered without them. You must include your test scores in the relevant section of the application form, stating the percentile and marks obtained for  all sections  of the test. Your test scores should be less than five years old on 1 October 2024. GRE/GMAT scores are often a vital deciding factor, so you will not be able to submit your application without them if they are required by your programme(s).

You should also arrange for ETS to send official scores to us. Our institution code is 0972 for the GRE and HMT 86-56 for the GMAT.

Some programmes exempt certain applicants from taking a test: please check here for exemptions. If you wish to be considered without providing test scores, you should indicate which category of exempted applicant you fall into on the application form. Please note that if you do not fall into one of the listed categories, the department will not consider your application without the required test scores. 

Please note: for GMAT we will accept the GMAT Focus once it launches in November 2023, and we will also accept the previous GMAT test until it is phased out in early 2024.

Research proposal

Please submit the final version of your research proposal. If you send an updated version later on, we cannot guarantee to include it with your application before it is seen by the selectors unless it is something that we have requested from you. Make sure that the application includes the correct documents before you submit.

You should state your research topic as accurately as possible.Your research proposal should address the following questions:

• What is your general topic?
• What questions do you want to answer?
• What is the key literature and its limitations?
• What are the main hypotheses of the work?
• What methodology do you intend to use?
• What are your case studies, if any, and what are your case selection criteria?

MPhil/PhD applications that are received without a research proposal that addresses these questions will not be considered. Your proposal should be approximately 1,500 words in length (outline proposals for MRes programmes can be shorter). T his word count is indicative, please refer to individual departmental webpages for a definitive limit.   In particular, the Department of Media and Communications, the Department of Economics, and several others have differing requirements for the word count. All applicants must check whether they need to address specific topics or provide a specific length of proposal by checking the relevant prospectus pages.

You should ensure before applying that your area of research can be supervised in your chosen department. The research interests of staff members can be found at  lse.ac.uk/experts

You should also indicate if you have discussed your proposed research with any member of the LSE academic staff and the name of that person. Please make sure that each page of your research proposal bears your name in a header or footer.

Individual programmes may have specific requirements regarding the research proposal; please check before you apply.

• Your research proposal must be your own work
• Make sure that each page has your name in the header or footer
• Make sure that you proof read your proposal before you upload it, and make sure that you upload the final corrected version
• Stick to our recommended word limit - the selectors don't have time to read huge documents running too many pages.

MSc (Research) intending to apply for 1+3 funding and MRes/PhD programmes

You must include an outline research proposal with your application – see above and refer to your programme page.

Sample of written work

Mres/mphil programmes.

You should provide a scanned copy of a marked assignment that fulfils the following criteria. These are ideal requirements. If you are unable to fulfil them exactly, please submit a writing sample that fits as closely to them as possible.

• Maximum 3,000 words – you may send an extract of a longer work, but you should not send large publications in their entirety.
• Typed in English. If not originally written in English, you should translate the essay yourself.
• From your most recent programme of study. Ideally related to your proposed topic of research or more broadly to the discipline/area for which you are applying.
• If possible, the copy should show comments from the marker/s and/ or the mark given for the assignment.
• PDF is the best format for scanned attachments
• Make sure that you scan documents at a sensible resolution. 300dpi is fine. Much lower and printed versions may be blurred, much higher and the file size will be too large.
• If your file size is very large (>2MB), use a service such as  smallpdf.com
• Stick to our recommended word limit - the selectors don't have time to read long documents running to many pages. They just want to get an idea of your writing style/ability in an academic context.

English test scores

If you have already taken an English language test at the time you apply, you should include your most recent test scores and score report form number in the relevant section of the application form.

You may submit your application and be considered for a place even if you do not provide evidence on your application form that you have satisfied the School’s English language requirements, however you will be required to satisfy these requirements prior to registration if you are made an offer of admission.

If you have not yet taken a test at the time of submitting your application, you may indicate in the relevant section of the application form that will take a test at a future date. This is to give us a general indication of when you are likely to take a test; we will not insist that you take a test on that exact date.

Please note, if you are made an offer of admission you will need to meet our English language requirements before you can register as a student, and many scholarship and visa applications cannot be confirmed until you have satisfied these requirements, so please arrange to submit your English test score as soon as you achieve the required grade.

English tests must be less than two years old on 1 October 2024.

Further information about satisfying the School’s English language requirements, including the categories of applicants who will not be required to take a test; the types of test we accept; and the scores we require from each test, can be found on our English language requirements  page.

Miscellaneous supporting documents

If you are applying for a programme in a different field from that of your principal/major degree subject, you may wish to supply additional material supporting your application; for example if you hold a degree in engineering and are applying for MSc Human Rights on the basis of your current employment, a supplementary professional reference would be helpful.

• Make sure that the documents you send are relevant to your application
• Do not send lots of additional certificates as we will not consider them. Relevant personal achievements should be mentioned in your personal statement or CV instead
• Do not send non-documentary materials such as DVDs, CDs or large publications, as we do not have the facilities to include these with your application file and they will be discarded
• Don't overload your application with lots of extra documents. The selectors don't have time to read them. If we need anything more from you we will ask for it.

Submitting your application form

You must submit your application and supporting documents using our online application system.

Please make sure that all of your supporting documents are legible and uploaded in one of the following formats: pdf, doc, docx, jpg, png, or gif. Each document must no larger than 2MB in size.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to ensure that your application is complete, including both references, your statement of academic purpose and CV, your transcript(s), the application assessment fee, and, where applicable, GRE/GMAT scores, your research proposal and/or your sample of written work. Programme selectors will not consider incomplete applications.

You may submit your application and pay the application fee without waiting until we have received your references . As long as you have successfully nominated two referees and completed all mandatory sections of the application form, including uploading all of the required supporting documents, you are ready to submit your application. Please note, however, that your submitted application will not be fully received and processed by the admissions team until we have received both of your references.

If we request additional documents from you once we have received and processed your application, you may submit them through the Graduate Applicant Portal . Please do not send an update to your CV every few weeks or replace your statement of academic purpose for the sake of a changed phrase or comma - it really isn't necessary. Please note that we will acknowledge additional documents when they are processed rather than when they are received. Please check the  current processing times  before contacting us regarding any additional documents you have sent us.

We will not accept any updated/additional documents you send us after submitting your online application, unless it is something that we have requested from you. Please do not send supporting documents directly to the academic department as this will delay your application.

Fraud prevention

We take active steps to scrutinise and verify documents received during the application process. If we are unable to verify independently the accuracy of information supplied, your application may be cancelled and any offer or subsequent registration withdrawn. This also applies if we discover that your personal statement and any writing sample you submit is not your own work.

If you enter the UK on a student visa and we later withdraw your offer/registration due to the discovery of fraudulent documents, you should be aware that the UK Home Office may deport you, and also may ban you from the UK for up to ten years.

Rules and exceptions

Statement of academic purpose programme specific guidance, information for forced migrants, information for transgender applicants, information for applicants with previous criminal convictions.

Available programmes Check if your chosen programme is currently recruiting

How to apply Information on the application process, and our video guide

Meet, visit and discover LSE Webinars, videos, on campus events and visits around the world

News and events Current processing dates, holiday closures, events on campus and around the world

Contact Graduate Admissions Our Knowledge base and getting in touch with our team by Zoom, email, and Live chat

READ THIS BEFORE YOU START WRITING YOUR LSE PERSONAL STATEMENT

The few opportunities in LSE’s programmes get thousands of applications. They are logistically unable to properly review every application and read every person’s personal statement. As a result, an initial selection factor is utilised to decide whether to continue evaluating a candidate or to reject them outright.

The grades you received in your ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades together make up this initial selection factor (if 12th grade scores are available, then those are considered as well). An email is sent to the applicant rejecting admission if they don’t make the cut based on this preliminary assessment.

Now, LSE cannot claim that the applicant’s grades are insufficient because many applications do fulfil their fundamental entrance requirements. Consequently, the school informs the applicants that their “personal statement is not convincing enough.” Although it may not seem fair, LSE is forced to do this because of the overwhelming number of applications they get. You should be aware that your statement of purpose considerably influences your chances of decision. On that note, let’s take a look at how to write a proper personal LSE statement in this blog.

About LSE Before we get into the specifics of drafting your individual LSE application, it’s critical that you brush up on your knowledge regarding the institution to which you are applying so that you can adjust your SOP to meet its requirements.

An English public research university in London, the London School of Economics and Political Science is a constituent institution of the Federal Institute of London. It is ranked second in the world for social sciences and management and is acknowledged as a hub of academic excellence and innovation in the social sciences. Unlike any other university in the UK, 50% of all LSE research was placed in the top 4 in the most recent Research Excellence Framework.

We are all aware of the low admission rate for international students at LSE; therefore, your ability to craft a compelling SOP will set you apart from the competition. Students should take into account the \ UCAS’ guidelines as they get ready to complete this portion of their application.

Please be aware that completing the personal statement writing guidelines does not ensure approval. There is stiff competition for admission to the LSE, and personal statements are assessed in comparison. The institution does not accept additional personal statements. Only the personal statement provided via UCAS is taken into consideration.

Writing your LSE personal statement When assessing your application, the selection committee will take into account how well your academic interests align with the LSE program. Here’s where research can be useful. Since the LSE doesn’t offer any sections on ancient history, a personal LSE statement that emphasises a strong interest in contemporary international history (with an emphasis on the LSE International History course) is more likely to offer you a competitive advantage.

In order for your personal statement to reflect on each of your UCAS choices, if you are applying for several different courses, it is good to draw attention to the areas where they overlap. Note that the LSE does not accept substitute or supplemental personal statements. Make sure your personal statement is well-organised, concise, and that you utilise all of the UCAS-provided space. Make a rough draft of your personal statement, then go back and double-check the grammar, punctuation, and spelling to make sure it makes sense. You should always give new English terms a try, but be careful not to let them overshadow the important points of your LSE personal statement.

Elements to include in your personal statement

The focus of your personal statement should be on your intellectual enthusiasm for the field you plan to study. Looking at what the LSE expects from undergraduate students can be one method to approach the personal statement:

• LSE students are expected to read up on subjects relating to their class or engage in other experiences, and then write essays in which they explain the ideas they learned.
• The university looks for this skill in personal statements, so it is advised that you spend at least 80% of your statement on this kind of intellectual discussion.

How you demonstrate a broader interest in your subject is entirely up to you. The institution is not searching for students who have had the most opportunities, but rather those who can best reflect on the experiences and intellectual ideas they have encountered as a result of the opportunities made available to them. If you’re unsure of where to begin, you might check out the newsletter for suggested reading selections or listen to the recordings of LSE public events. Keep in mind that the institution wants to see proof that you have thought deeply about academic ideas, not merely a list of what you have read or done.

You can address these questions in your SOP When writing your LSE personal statement, think about the following questions:

• Why did you pick this particular course?
• What aspects of the subject have you found compelling enough to pursue a degree in it?
• What are your top priorities and areas of interest?
• Do you have a passion for a subject unrelated to your studies?
• What are the readings or lectures that piqued your interest, and what are your thoughts on the aspects covered?
• Did you have the chance to have any work experience that might be useful for your application? Have you taken part in any LSE projects or activities, such as Saturday Schools, Summer Schools, LSE Choice, etc.?

How can Rostrum help? We acknowledge and understand that writing a personal statement is a challenging task. Don’t worry. Rostrum Education has your back. Our counsellors can help you write the ideal personal statement because they are acquainted with the application process. We can connect you to current students studying at LSE so that you get an idea regarding what it takes to get into LSE. Contact us right away to schedule a free counselling session!

JOIN THE ROSTRUM COMMUNITY

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Example LSE Personal Statement in Economics

by Talha Omer, MBA, M.Eng., Harvard & Cornell Grad

In personal statements samples by university.

The following personal statement is written by an applicant who got accepted to Masters’s program in Local Economic Development at London School of Economics. Read this essay to understand what a top Personal Statement in economics should look like.

Sample Personal Statement for LSE

“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher.

As a child, my daily routine composed of attending school, helping with household chores, and learning embroidery. For all I knew, this was how girls lived in rural Balochistan. However, when I was 15, my family shifted to urban Karachi, where I saw a new world. The new moon of this unique place brought a lot of challenges with itself. I did not know how to converse with my privileged peers, and I had to study extra hours to compete with them. But the most shocking realization was that there was no trace of my previous lifestyle in this city, and girls had very different aspirations here compared to those in my village.

Harsh realities of chronic poverty, income inequality, and persistent unemployment are widespread in Pakistan, but the situation is even worse in my native Balochistan. Despite being rich in natural resources, nearly all Balochis live below the poverty line. As one of the few educated Balochis who has experienced hunger, I have always considered it a personal responsibility to play an active role in resolving the economic challenges of this province.

With this ardent desire, I joined Chief Minister’s Policy Reform Unit (CMPRU) as an economist research officer in Balochistan. My experience at the CMPRU, which provides policy support to Balochistan Chief Minister’s office, has been invaluable. Working directly with the Government’s economic advisors has enlightened me about the practical implications of economic theories. I have played a lead role in preparing a concept note called “Proposed Balochistan Development Vision and Strategy” for the development of primary sectors using the ‘Big Push’ and ‘Unbalanced’ growth theories. I used demographics and economic variables for identifying Rural and Urban Growth Nodes, i.e., selected areas where the development effort will be concentrated. District-wise data was used to build the primary economy of the province, which in turn would trigger growth in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy.

At CMPRU, I also conducted in-depth research on the ‘State of School Education in Balochistan’ and proposed actionable recommendations to improve school education. The output variables (student performance of grades five to ten) were correlated with input variables (school facilities) to analyze the data on education. The findings convinced the education department to opt for multi-room, multi-teacher schools instead of one-room, one-teacher schools, which were strengthened using distance learning techniques. The results of my work were also published in “The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press”.

I particularly enjoyed this research work because it was an extension of a cause I previously worked passionately for – the ‘Strengthening Poverty Reduction Strategy Monitoring Project’ (SPRSM). At SPRSM, I was engaged in a pro-poor and gender analysis of the provincial budget of the Government of Balochistan. My work revealed how the provincial budget is being used as a powerful tool to favour the males over the females and how the poor choices of government spending enhanced gender inequity. For example, constructing more boys’ schools was creating education inequality. The Planning & Development Department and key Ministries brought my work to light as a landmark study, and its findings were incorporated into the forthcoming budget.

Balochistan remains stagnant in the pre-industrial era and the grip of a robust military insurgency. Unfortunately, the people of Balochistan have never been taken on board while deciding their province’s fate; consequently, an armed struggle in the region continues to date. Currently, the Federal Government has agreed to give control of the Gwadar Port to a Chinese company on 43 years lease, and similar sentiments are surfacing in local stakeholders as they feel distanced from important decisions. When bottom-up economic policies are used to initiate the decision-making process, we will be able to see better results.

My experiences have convinced me of the importance of Economics in the socioeconomic development of a society. Consequently, I have decided to pursue an MSc in Local Economic Development at LSE, where I wish to seek and explore the contextualized definition of development from the point of view of indigenous people in Balochistan. Balochistan, being in the nascent stage of economic development, requires a unique development model to reap the benefits. The particular focus of LSE’s program on policy frameworks for local economies will enable me to devise the right policy interventions to spur economic growth in the province.

Working directly with the Chief Minister Balochistan Office and having the mandate to advise the Government on its policymaking, I have identified specific areas where I wish to make a significant impact after completing my LSE degree. For example, NGOs in Balochistan conduct pre-budget consultations every year to force provincial governments to make citizen-friendly budgets and increase the size of the Annual Development Plan. However, such efforts are not bringing any change. I regard this failure as a lack of technical expertise of the NGOs and the absence of their initial formal economic analysis of past government spending behaviours.

Following this rigorous and insightful MSc program, I feel I would be better equipped to trace the gaps and inefficiencies in budget-making and suggest ways to eliminate their inefficiencies. Furthermore, connections made with alumni, students and teachers at LSE will help me learn more about solutions others have implemented in other countries and then adapt them to Balochistan. I will also be able to use this platform to pique people working in Balochistan and forge partnerships with local NGOs and government institutions in other countries.

LSE will allow me to live in a multicultural setting and learn from other cultures. Moreover, it will let me tell people about life in Balochistan. Through this degree, I aim to complement my experience with a broad-based economic education and analytical tools that not only provide me with an academic foundation but also enable me to tackle real-world economic problems. I firmly believe that our economic policies should protect our wealth and resources and promote open markets and economic growth. 

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Msc economics personal statement example.

Economics is a social science that uses mathematical models and empirical evidence to understand how people use resources, produce goods and services, and interact with each other to create economic systems. The study of economics plays a vital role in helping us understand how the decisions we make as individuals and as a society affect the financial well-being of our community. The overarching goal of my MSc program in Economics is to provide me with the knowledge and skills required to become a successful economist by equipping me with the necessary theoretical knowledge and analytical tools to understand and analyze the economic behavior of individuals and societies. This program would help me to develop strong quantitative skills which are critical to the field of economics and would allow me to pursue a successful career in academics or private sector banks.

My background in the field of economics has provided me with a solid foundation in the basic concepts of economic theory and helped me develop a strong proficiency in the use of statistical and econometric methods. I have significant experience in conducting empirical research projects and developing a sound understanding of complex empirical phenomena. I have also gained considerable experience supervising research projects and student projects and have worked on several different research projects involving various methodologies and statistical models including factor analysis, regression analysis, difference-in-differences, and multiple regression. In addition, I have developed a thorough understanding of the theories and methods of microeconomics and macroeconomics and have gained a solid experience of the different concepts in economics and their application to the real world.

I believe that I am well prepared to embark on a career as a successful economist and that this program would be an excellent way for me to advance my career goals and achieve my dreams of becoming a successful economist. I have a strong desire to succeed and a passion for the field of economics which will allow me to excel in this program and become a valuable asset to my future employer. I have a background in economics from one of the leading universities in Pakistan and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from a university in the US. I have been awarded the Dean’s Honor List every year during my undergraduate studies and my academic record has been consistently good throughout my academic career. I have been an active member of the Economics Association and have been organizing and leading seminars for undergraduate students. I also have a passion for research and have been a research assistant for several professors and Ph.D. students.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding my application or my current educational goals. I look forward to your response and am grateful for your time. My name is XXXXX XXXXX and I currently live in the United States. I am a first-year graduate student at Vanderbilt University and I am enrolled in the Master of Professional Studies in Applied Economics and Management program. This program will give me the skills and experience I need to successfully enter the workforce as an economist once I graduate. My previous education has helped me develop a strong analytical skill set and the ability to analyze complex data to solve economic problems. I also have a strong understanding of economic theory which I believe will help me excel in my career as a financial analyst in the future. I come from a highly academic and family-oriented background where I was taught the importance of hard work and dedication from a young age. I have always had a passion for economics and my parents have always been supportive of my educational aspirations. For these reasons, I decided to pursue a degree in economics and pursue a career in this field. I am extremely passionate about my career and would like to work with the government one day to help improve the economic conditions of the people of Pakistan. Therefore, I am applying for this graduate program to gain the knowledge and skills I will need to succeed in my career.

As a graduate student in this program, I will gain the necessary skills and knowledge needed to become a successful financial analyst.

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