The Student Advice and Engagement Team provides advice to students on academic matters, UK student immigration, UKVI compliance and manage the front-facing Student Services Centre counter.

Our specific responsibilities include: 

• Providing one-to-one advice on School Regulations and Codes of Practice              
• Processing Repeat Teaching applications and monitoring attendance
• Processing Exceptional Progression applications
• Providing advice on Interruptions and faciliating school approval
• Providing advice on Permanent Withdrawals and facilitating school approval
• Advising students about the Deferral procedure
• Advising students about the Exceptional Circumstances procedure
• Providing one-to-one advice for students experiencing difficulties during their studies
• Providing immigration advice on the UKVI Student route and some work options from the point of application to LSE up to the point a person's LSE visa expires.
• Manage engagement processes for the Student Services Centre including compliance with UKVI and School regulations.
• Manage the operations for the front-facing Student Services Centre counter.

Bethan Ovens - Head of Student Advice and Engagement Management

Tasho Rachev - Deputy Head of Student Advice and Engagement Management

Shanuaz Shah - Senior Student Adviser (Student Advice and Engagement) - starting 12 May 2025

Emerald Southern-Darbar - Senior Student Adviser (Student Advice and Engagement)

Jacqueline Dudmish - Senior Administrator (Student Advice and Engagement)

Rachel Jowitt - Senior Administrator (Student Advice and Engagement)

Ashini Fernando - Senior Administrator (Student Advice and Engagement)

If you have any queries about immigration and visas, you should use the form below. This form captures key information for the team to advise you accurately and you will get a more individual response to your specific immigration situation.

Visa Advice Query Form

The team is also available for a dedicated Visa Advice Quick Consultations and Live Chat at the following times:

In-person visa advice  quick consultations: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00pm to 2:00 pm in the Student Services Centre. Book on the link on this web page. 

Visa Advice Live Chat: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

Changes and cancellations to this service can be found here. 

For all other queries please use the Student Services Centre contact form:

Student Services Centre

Immigration advice and compliance is regulated in the UK by the Immigration Advice Authority and the Home Office. 

The Student Advice and Engagement Team have specific policies in place which meet the requirements of these regulatory bodies:

• Immigration Advice at LSE
• Immigration Advice Confidentiality Policy
• CAS Issuing Policy
  
• Engagement Monitoring Policy for All Students

You can find external immigration advisers through the Immigration Advice Authority, which has its own complaints policy in place.

For information relevant to LSE Staff including details about  key dates and advice for Departmental Tutors visit our staff facing pages.