LSE has announced that exams in January will be held in-person, on campus. In an email, Mark Thomson, the Academic Registrar said that exams will be under “invigilated conditions.”
The announcement follows more than a year of take-home exams implemented due to Covid-19. The 2022 January assessment period, taking place between 10-14 January is set to be the first time LSE students will take in-person exams since the beginning of 2020.
The move comes as Covid-19 cases rise in England, with the winter ahead being described as “difficult” by the government. Addressing safety concerns, Thomson said “Careful consideration has been given about how timed in-person examinations can take place safely … More information about the measures that will be in place for the January 2022 exam period will be available in due course as LSE continues its review of Covid measures every three weeks.” The next review of LSE’s Covid measures will take place on 1 November.
Thomson added LSE plans on holding sessions to ease the transition from online to in-person exams for students: “… we are working on a range of support which will be available from your class teachers, academic faculty and LSE LIFE to help you prepare for these exams.“
Now that exams are in-person, LSE’s exam policy is also back to normal. For instance, the policy of accepting deferral requests without evidence has been revoked. The arrangements for students taking deferred exams are still unclear. LSE is set to make an announcement by 5 November. The only circumstances registered students would be allowed to take exams abroad is in exceptional circumstances such as serious injury, the death of a close relative, or unexpected financial hardship that prevents travel.