The
London School of Economics and Political Science (
LSE) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the University of London. The school specialises exclusively in the social sciences, including economics, politics, sociology, law and anthropology. Founded in 1895 by Fabian Society members Sidney Webb, Beatrice Webb, Graham Wallas and George Bernard Shaw, LSE joined the University of London in 1900 and established its first degree courses under the auspices of the university in 1901. LSE began awarding its degrees in its own name in 2008, prior to which it awarded degrees of the University of London. It became a university in its own right within the University of London in 2022.