LSE Laidlaw Scholars Leadership and Research Programme

In the first year, you will complete a fully-funded six-week immersive Leadership-in-Action project which will take place in summer between your first and second year of study (typically between late June and end of August, after your exams in spring term). This work-based learning placement (full-time) will allow you to gain valuable experience and develop relevant leadership skills beyond your programme of study. The project you will be working on will have to fulfil the following criteria:

• Your placement must be in the UK
• Have a focus on social impact
• Take you out of your comfort zone
• Align with the Laidlaw Foundation’s project requirements 
• Meet the LSE health and safety and ethical practices requirements

Scholars will be responsible for sourcing their own opportunities and will receive the following support:

• Signposting to organisations known to be interested in offering a placement
• Training on how to source your placement
• Drop-in sessions provided by LSE Laidlaw

As part of the programme during the first year, you will also attend three days of leadership training and receive support throughout your placement in the summer.

This is what some Laidlaw Scholars from the Class of 2025 said about their experience:

“This Leadership-In-Action Project allowed me to build on so many leadership and soft skills, from learning how to switch my writing from academic to profession when writing things such as briefs, to multitasking, time management, and problem-solving, which pushed me in many different ways. I was challenged to think critically, manage details, and coordinate with some incredible people.”
Hannah Begum, Childhood Trust

“I am proud to have been part of a team that is so committed to helping others and creating a better future. I learned more about myself than I could have ever predicted. I have started my second year of university with all the lessons I took from my leadership-in-action project and I can already see how it has changed how I think - for the better!”
Zain Syed, Dialogue Society

In the second year, you will conduct a fully-funded six-week, interdisciplinary group research project. This project will take place in summer between your second and third year of study. You will gain first-hand research experience while deepening your knowledge and reflection in the field of leadership. You will be working in a team with other Laidlaw Scholars towards a shared goal and develop your collaborative leadership skills.

The research project must fill the following criteria:

• Be a group research project
• Take place in Europe (outside the UK)
• Have an interdisciplinary focus
• Explore a specific aspect of leadership

For your research project you will receive the following support:

• Advanced and comprehensive research training that will equip your group to produce a publication-grade research paper
• A designated supervisor who will oversee your research project
• Drop-in sessions where you will receive tailor-made support

“My project experience fostered social and cultural intelligence and awareness. Travelling alone to unfamiliar cities in Denmark and Slovenia pushed me out of my comfort zone, requiring me to quickly adapt to new environments and social norms. Interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds in hostels allowed me to share my project goals and stimulate enriching discussions. This broadened my perspectives and appreciation of the different view-points and ideas that I could utilise when carrying out my research.”
Regan Newton, LSE Laidlaw Scholar, class of 2023

As part of your application, you will have to answer three questions (more details about the questions, please see step 2). To answer these questions, you will be able to choose one format from the following three options – you can either submit:

• A text-based application (maximum of 900 words overall and no more than 300 words for each question); or
• A poster that combines text and visual elements (maximum of 600 words); or
• A video (maximum length: 5 minutes)

Please note that all formats are valued equally, and we do not prefer any format over another. The reason we provide a choice of different formats is to give you an opportunity to pick the format that suits you best to share your thoughts and reflections.

If you choose to submit a poster or video, you will have to provide a link to the file. Please see here how to save your document and create a link. 

In your application, you will have to answer three questions which are centred around the topic of leadership. Please read the questions and the guidance carefully as it explains to you in detail what we are looking for.

Question 1: What does leadership mean to you?

Guidance: In this question, we would like to learn more about your own understanding of leadership, and why and how you have arrived at that understanding. We will value answers that show that you have critically reflected upon your understanding of leadership; you may draw, for example, on a personal observation, a personal experience, or another source of inspiration to explain your reflections if you find this useful. What we are not interested in is encyclopaedic knowledge or standard definitions of leadership without your own critical reflections.

Question 2: Please choose one dimension from the Leader Character Framework that you wish to develop through this programme. Please explain:

(a) Why did you choose this dimension; and

(b) How will developing this dimension help you in your own personal development?

Guidance:  The Leader Character Framework is part of the Laidlaw Foundation’s 3C Leadership Model. In this question, we would like you to consider the characteristics within the dimension you chose (the smaller print within the circle) and share with us an honest assessment of how developed these characteristics are within yourself at present, and how developing them can foster your personal development as a leader.

Question 3: In what ways will you contribute to this learning community?

Guidance: Our aim is to build a dedicated learning community where a diversity of ideas, experiences, views, and backgrounds are valued and where scholars are comfortable to share their views and can learn from each other. With this question we would like to invite you to share more about yourself and we will value answers that show that you have reflected on how – for example, by drawing on your own and personal ideas, experiences, views, and background – you would like to specifically contribute to the learning community of the LSE Laidlaw Scholars. 

Your application will be evaluated using the following three criteria:

• Reflectiveness: Share with us your own, original reflections regarding the questions we ask. We will value answers that show that you have taken the time and made the effort to critically think about them and to articulate your own thoughts to answer them.
• Clarity: Convey your thoughts in a clear, specific, and well-structured way. We will value answers that allow us to grasp clearly what you share with us to learn more about you and your motivation.
• Engagement: The three questions are linked with one another as they all centre around the topic of leadership (your understanding of leadership; ethical leadership; contributing to your leadership and learning community). We will value answers that connect with and build on each other to convey your thoughts about leadership. 

• Be yourself! No previous work, leadership, or research experience is required: we are not looking for an existing record of past achievements (although you may have one), rather we are most interested in candidates with great development potential.
• What we are most interested in is (a) your motivation for taking part in this programme and (b) your willingness and ability to reflect about leadership and yourself.
• Following on from the previous point, there is no right or wrong answer to any of the questions.
• As you prepare your application, we warmly recommend that you discuss your thoughts and application with fellow students, friends, or family. Typically, such conversations help applicants to develop and articulate their thoughts.
• Have someone else look at your application before you submit it – try to avoid grammar or spelling errors.
• A good application will take time and a few drafts – we suggest you start early and put aside enough time to produce a high-quality application. 

• We offer a series of Q&A sessions (four online, one in-person). The online sessions you can attend via this Zoom link: https://lse.zoom.us/j/81733297334:
  
  
  • Online: Thursday, 28 November, 1 - 1.45pm
  • Online: Tuesday 3 December, 10 - 10.45am
  • In-Person: Wednesday, 4 December, 11 - 11.45am (LSE LIFE, space 3C, ground floor of the library)
  • Online: Monday, 9 December, 2 - 2.45pm
  • Online: Thu, 12 December, 11 - 11.45am
    
    To get into the Zoom session, you will have to login to Zoom with your LSE account – please see here how to do this. The sessions will not be recorded, but in case additional relevant points will be discussed, we may update the information here on this website.

• LSE LIFE Study Advisers will be happy to support you with your application – for example, they can help you with planning your application or refining your answers. You can book a one-to-one session via this link. 

Once you have successfully submitted your application, we will contact you by email with the outcome of the shortlisting process. There is no need to contact us for further updates.

The dates of the selection process are as follows:

• Application deadline: Wednesday, 18 December 2024, 11.59am (noon)
• Announcement of shortlisting (by email): no later than Friday, 17 January 2023
• Second round of selection process (in person at LSE): Wednesday, 22 January 2025, 12 - 6pm 
• Announcement of final selection (by email): no later than Friday, 31 January 2025