The School is over a hundred years old. (Little if compared to Oxford or Bologna) But nonetheless, it has a well established tradition among European higher education institutions.

What distinguishes the LSE from other top UK universities is its location and its orientation. In fact, the LSE is based in central London (the City of Westminster), thus combining notoriety and reputation with an undeniably central location. In addition, the LSE was meant to be, in the vision of its founders, a working class institution. This is largely reflected in the progressive orientation of the university today.

These two elements constitute a premise for the unique constitution of the LSE students body. This is one of the most international and diverse in the world. It is not possible to compare the multitude of cultures and national backgrounds that are represented in the LSE student body as well as its diversity under every aspect, even in terms of religious and sexual orientation.

The different organisation of university studies between Italy and the UK is best exemplified by the fact that the LSE Students Union has an Italian Society when Italian universities do not have students unions at all. In this our Society represent a unique case that requires a good deal of extra communication when approaching Italian institutions.

The mascotte of the School is the beaver (“castoro”), the motto is the simple latin “Rerum Cognoscere Causas”. Alumni include J.F. Kennedy and R. Prodi.