Written by Shreya Gupta
Photographed by Yuvi Chahar
When I received my offer to study International Relations (IR), I found myself torn between LSE and the University of Edinburgh. Having lived in London all my life, the idea of studying here seemed dull–too familiar, too close. But the more I thought about it, the more a question lingered: how does studying IR change when you’re based in the city where so much of it takes place? With its location in the heart of London, its global community, and the sheer breadth of resources available, LSE arguably offers a unique academic environment for studying how the world works.
To understand what makes this experience so unique, I spoke to fellow students and faculty members across the Department of International Relations. To explore the connection between theory and practice, I turned to Professor Toby Dodge, my Foreign Policy Analysis lecturer, whose extensive work on Iraq and Middle Eastern politics bridges the gap between academic studies and lived geopolitics.
A recurring theme quickly emerged – as Professor Dodge put it, “LSE’s position between government and the city allows for supplies and expertise.” From influential decision-makers delivering public lectures almost daily, to the proximity of internships, NGOs, embassies, and think tanks, the university’s location gives students a front-row seat to the practice of international affairs. It’s one thing to study foreign policy, but it’s another to walk past a foreign embassy on your way to class.
During my very first term, I was struck by the sheer range of opportunities LSE had to offer. One moment that stood out was attending Professor Peter Trubowitz’s Food for Thought event just before the U.S. presidential election. We discussed the possibility of a second Trump administration—the conversation felt timely and deeply relevant. It was one of the first times I realised that what we study in class isn’t just theory; it’s unfolding in real time, and it matters.
A Department Built on Its Own Legacy
Nowhere is this advantage clearer than within the IR Department itself. Much of the discipline’s foundational theory has deep roots at LSE. Rushil, a fellow IR student, reminded me that “a huge portion of seminal IR scholarship – Buzan, Lawson, and the English School – originated here.” That legacy is reflected not just in the readings, but in the people teaching them. One of the Foreign Policy Analysis classes this year is taught by Andi Sparringa, a senior Indonesian diplomat currently completing his PhD at LSE. His presence in the classroom reminds us that theory and practice aren’t separate worlds, but constantly in dialogue.
As Professor Dodge noted, there is a vital “interaction between what we study and what we try to impart; what’s been given to us and what we’re giving to students.” The department’s faculty are not only diverse in background but in their approaches – scholars, diplomats, and practitioners who bring lived experience to the academic space. And this isn’t just confined to International Relations alone. Such an ethos in connecting theory to global realities is also displayed in other disciplines, promoting a wider culture of international awareness and dialogue at LSE.
Thinking Critically, Speaking Freely
Professor Dodge also drew a distinction between the formal and informal sides of the course. “Teachers are merely there to facilitate thinking,” he said. “Students play the bigger role in channeling that thinking into a process that leads to your own thought.” It’s a philosophy I’ve seen in action every week. Seminars at LSE are more than spaces for discussion; they’re laboratories of ideas, where disagreement is encouraged, and non-mainstream perspectives are valued.
Because IR is a discipline defined by constant change, this openness feels essential. As Professor Dodge explained, “our lectures have to be restructured to keep up with the turbulence of the international system.” For professors, that means recognising that “we don’t always have the right approaches; our theories and case studies must evolve.” For students, it means learning to think critically, to question our assumptions, and to understand the limits of our own worldviews.
Expanding the Global Lens
Still, both students and staff acknowledge there’s room for growth . Andi reflected that while LSE’s diversity is a major strength, “there should be more courses studied in the greater Asian region.” Expanding the curriculum to engage more deeply with underrepresented areas could therefore strengthen the department’s global outlook. Professor Dodge agreed: “more people are teaching Indian politics than Southeast Asian politics,” he noted, “so the coverage is patchy.” His point was clear: a truly global education requires attention to the parts of the world often left out of the Western lens.
One area where LSE has made vital progress is in encouraging students to study languages alongside their degree. For me, studying Spanish has been an invaluable complement to my IR courses. Language learning does more than expand communication skills–it opens new ways of understanding culture, diplomacy, and identity. I have had the opportunity to study both Latin American and Spanish Politics, broadening my knowledge of historical and contemporary international relations. In a field where empathy and cross-cultural literacy are as important as theory, this feels indispensable.
LSE’s Language Centre plays a crucial role here, offering courses that fit alongside academic schedules and link directly to global careers. Language proficiency is certainly a skill that sets LSE’s IR students apart.
A Truly International Classroom
The diversity of LSE’s student body is often mentioned, but it’s only when you sit in a seminar that you realise how much it transforms learning. Rushil described this perfectly: “This is what IR is about at the end of the day.” Conversations about world politics come alive when they’re grounded in lived experiences – from students who’ve grown up in conflict zones, worked in NGOs, or moved between countries.
Professor Dodge summarised this: “You learn so much more in your seminars and amongst your fellow students than you do from us.” This points to some of the most formative lessons being learned at LSE not coming from textbooks, but from hearing classmates challenge, expand, and reframe perspectives about the world. My engagement with the Grimshaw Club, LSE’s oldest society, has allowed me to do just this in both informal spaces, such as socials, and formal spaces, such as embassy visits or panel discussions.
Studying IR at LSE has taught me that understanding international politics isn’t just about theory or institutions; it’s about people, perspectives, and the willingness to listen. Whether it is through seminars, language learning, or conversations, the ‘LSE experience’ pushes you to think globally and empathetically.
And that, perhaps, is what makes studying International Relations here so special–it’s not just about observing the world but learning how to engage with it.
