In addition to the School’s Student Services Centre (SSC) and LSESU Advice Centre, we can offer advice and support on a range of issues which may arise in relation to a student’s contract with the School. In particular, we administer the School’s complaints and disciplinary procedures, as well as cases of bullying and harassment that involve a student (our Human Resources Division deals with staff-only cases).
While you may find it easier to approach your academic department or the SSC to answer queries about your academic programme in the first instance, you can engage the complaints process HERE for general or specific advice on our rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Discussions will be confidential in the first instance.
Temporary amendment to the Scheme of Delegation – student complaints
On 24 February 2026 Council approved a temporary amendment to the School’s Scheme of Delegation relating to student complaints and related disciplinary matters.
Council agreed that responsibility for these matters will temporarily transfer from the Interim School Secretary to the Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Faculty Development).
This delegation revision takes effect from 16 March 2026 and will remain in place until arrangements for the appointment of a permanent School Secretary are finalised.
Vice President and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Faculty Development) will replace School Secretary in the wording of existing policies and procedures relating to student complaints and discipline.
It is usually best to approach your academic department or the relevant administrative department to resolve a concern about your programme of study or a service we have delivered to you. Your feedback is valuable to us and you will not be penalised or singled-out in any way for providing for it. However, if you feel uncomfortable taking this approach, perhaps because the matter is a potentially serious or sensitive one, you can send an email to our complaints inbox at secdiv.complaints@lse.ac.uk for advice on your situation, including submitting a formal complaint. If you wish to submit a formal complaint under our Student Complaints Procedure (PDF) please do so HERE. Please note that the School has separate Appeals Regulations (PDF) to deal with appeals against the decision of an examination board. More information can be found on the School’s ‘Challenging Results’ webpage, or from the Assessment Regulations Team on ssc.appeals@lse.ac.uk.
The School makes clear in its Ethics Code (PDF) and The Discrimination, Harrassment and Bullying Policy (PDF), as well as your Conditions of Registration, that members of our community, regardless of their status, must treat one another fairly and with dignity and respect, and avoid causing harm or distress to another group or person. Failure to do so is likely to be a breach of one of or more of these policies. Our main concern in the first instance is that you raise with another person any concerns that you might have with regard to the way you have been treated by another member of the School. You can contact the complaints inbox at secdiv.complaints@lse.ac.uk for confidential advice in this area, or any other appropriate person whom you feel comfortable approaching.
There are a number of people and places listed in Appendix 2 of The Discrimination, Harrassment and Bullying Policy (PDF). Alternatively, you can report incidents of bullying or harassment to the School via our Report & Support webpage. All students can make formal complaints of bullying or harassment through:
(i) the secdiv.complaints@lse.ac.uk inbox or THIS FORM, if the matter concerns the behaviour of another student, or
(ii) the Director of Human Resources, Indi Seehra, if the matter concerns the behaviour of a member of staff.
You should contact a member of our Security Services, or visit one of its members of any one of our reception desks, or approach the Police if you believe your personal safety is at risk.
The Student Protection Plan sets out the measures the School will take to deliver the expected student experience in the event that a material change occurs which potentially puts this at risk. This is updated on annual basis.
Please find the Student Protection Plan here.
The Student Compensation and Refund Policy is reviewed annually, forms part of the School's Student Protection Plan and does not replace the Tuition Fee Policy.
The Policy sets out the circumstances in which the School will refund tuition fees and other relevant costs incurred by students.
This Policy enables students to apply for a refund or compensation from the School where their complaint is upheld or, more rarely, where there has been a material breach of contract. The Student Complaints Procedure must be completed in full prior to any claim being submitted under this Policy.
Please find the Student Compensation and Refund Policy here.
Section 18 of Your Conditions of Registration (PDF), the latest version of which can be found in our LSE Calendar, sets out most of the standards of behaviour with which the School expects all of its students to comply. Our team administers cases and tries to resolve instances whereby one or more students is alleged to have failed to abide by these standards. We normally carry-out investigations of misconduct, including allegations of bullying and harassment by one or more students, under our Disciplinary Procedure for Students (PDF). The School Secretary will oversee formal investigations. We encourage all members of our community to report instances of possible or actual misconduct.
Under the Higher Education 2004, universities in England and Wales are required to subscribe to an independent complaints scheme run by the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). You can approach the OIA to complain about your university, though usually only after you have exhausted or been through any relevant procedure within your university, such as an appeals, complaints or disciplinary procedure. You must normally approach the OIA with a Completion of Procedures Letter that confirms the final decision on your appeal, complaint, or other matter (which in some cases may be a decision not to look into the matter). You can contact the complaints inbox at secdiv.complaints@lse.ac.uk for more information on the OIA, or visit the organisation’s website.