LIS: What it's really like
Learn all about the London Interdisciplinary School
If you want a unique degree focused on big questions rather than narrow disciplines, LIS might be the place for you.
| Founded | 2017 |
| Location | East London, UK |
| Undergraduate course length | Three years |
| Faculties | Just one – we run one degree, a BASc in interdisciplinary problems and methods. |
| Students | Just under 200 |
| Great for | Students who are looking for a radical, innovative approach to education, who are passionate about problem solving, and want to make a real impact on the world. |
| Not for | Students who aren’t prepared to be intellectually stretched and challenged, or to get out of their comfort zone. |
Zhahla, a first-year student and student ambassador at The London Interdisciplinary School (also known as LIS), tells us what it's like to study there.
What’s LIS like?
LIS’s Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods (BASc) is the first programme of its kind in the UK. LIS is the first institution in over 50 years with its own degree-awarding powers from the moment it opened its doors.
I’d describe LIS as exciting, stimulating, and fun. The undergraduate degree here tackles real-world problems by applying knowledge and skills from a range of subjects, and puts a strong emphasis on collaboration. The problems we tackle are complex in nature - things like climate change, ethical AI, the future of cities, and social inequality - and they need interdisciplinary solutions. 
What's it like for students to live in the local area?
We’re based in Whitechapel in London, an area that I love to explore for its variety of foods. Our lectures take place in our lovely building on Whitechapel Road, but I’ve found myself going to art galleries, the local Tower Hamlets town hall, and Altab Ali park for some of my lectures.
Shoreditch is right on your doorstep, with all the art, fashion, bars, and restaurants that it has to offer. And, of course, there’s the City of London itself. It’s one of the world’s most famous business districts, housing businesses from billion-pound organisations to purpose-driven start-ups. The university isn’t far from two tube stations, so we have strong transport links as well.
What accommodation options are available to students?
There are a few different accommodation options that LIS students can choose from. For example, some students live at Claredale House, where you live in flats of four to six people. This might suit you if you’re familiar with living independently. Others live at Well Street Hall, where you’ll share a kitchen with about 12 people. But you don’t have to worry about cleaning the kitchen or the bathrooms at Well Street as that’s done for you.
LIS has partnered with some of London’s leading accommodation providers, which means you can socialise and live alongside students from other London unis. I’ve enjoyed living in accommodation where there’s already a small community of LIS students nearby, but you might enjoy the privacy of living away from LIS students.
Most halls offer room options at different price points, so take the time to have a detailed look through each of the hall’s websites before you decide.
What facilities does LIS have that make it stand out?
Our campus is home to a range of teaching, learning, and communal spaces, and has been designed to facilitate collaboration and learning.
My favourite part of the campus is our student-designed common room! It’s a very comfortable space to work, relax, and socialise in as it's full of bean bags, a couple of sofas, a pool table, and a piano. It creates a homely environment on our campus, which I love.
On top of that, there are lots of clubs and societies you can join, like meditation, Buddhism, climbing, football, boxing, film, and music. They’re set up by students, for students, with LIS’s support. So if you come to LIS and want to start a new society, or share a passion of yours with your fellow classmates, you can!
What is the top reason you should study here?
With a curriculum designed to draw knowledge from multiple disciplines, offering a truly interdisciplinary experience found nowhere else in the UK, students here gain invaluable skills for today's complex world. Working on real-life problems in our problems modules and in your end-of-year capstone project allow you to build on your problem solving skills, while your lectures in quantitative methods harness your analytical thinking skills.
Who shouldn’t apply?
Although LIS has a wonderful small community, you may be seeking a more traditional university experience.
On top of that, our degree pushes you to dabble in both qualitative and quantitative subjects. So if your passion lies in English literature alone, for example, or you’re interested in pure maths or science, LIS might not be for you. We study some maths and biology in the degree, as well as some scientific concepts and principles, but it’s not for someone intending to delve deeply into these sciences for the whole of their degree.
But if you thrive on being intellectually stimulated, have a multitude of passions, and seek a diverse and dynamic career, then LIS could be the perfect match for you.
How does LIS meet the needs of students with different accessibility requirements?
At LIS, we prioritise meeting the diverse accessibility needs of our students. Upon enrollment, students are assigned dedicated support pillars who offer one-to-one guidance throughout their degree, both academically and personally.
Personalised mental health support and advice on topics like nutrition and finance are readily available via one-to-one with our head of student support, Alisha. LIS also offers counselling services, without the long waiting time. And there are free wellbeing activities, like smoothie mornings, wellbeing walks, art tours, and even extra wellbeing activities for those staying in London over the holidays, like seeing the Christmas lights in local parks. Just last week, we had lots of these kinds of activities going on on-campus for our Mental Health Day.
Financial aid, including bursaries and grants, is available, so every student has the opportunity to thrive without repayment obligations. LIS has set up a charity – The LIS Foundation – where LIS trustees offer bursaries to relatively low-income houses. LIS offers bursaries ranging from £1,000 to a maximum of £7,000 per year, based on household income, care experience, estrangement, and/or other severely adverse circumstances.
As a student who is care-experienced, I’ve found the support at LIS really helpful. Both financial aid and student support has made it easier for me to focus on enjoying this degree and overcoming difficulties. And our small community means that you don’t feel like a number lost in a swarm of students at an institution. There are many students at LIS who are neurodivergent so if that’s you, you’re not alone at LIS.
Do you offer any work placements and study abroad experiences?
LIS provides lots of opportunities for work placements and study abroad experiences, so we graduate ready to shape our careers. Some of the employers students have worked with include big names like John Lewis, KPMG, and Goldman Sachs, as well as innovative startups like Greenworkx or Sisterhood.
LIS facilitates summer internships for all eligible students, making sure employers offer a minimum duration of five weeks and pay the London Living Wage. Additionally, its network of over 200 employers provides lots of opportunities for professional growth and networking, including internships, site visits, guest talks, and lectures, and you might get the chance to work on policies to help them tackle problems in their organisations.
Finally, at LIS, all students have access to one-to-one career coaching from our careers manager. Their job is to help you showcase your existing and new skills in a powerful way, develop your professional identity, and gain insight into an area of work that interests you.
Want to explore more UK universities? Unifrog’s Shortlisting tool can help you put together a list of great potential courses.