The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) – is a brand new university located in Whitechapel, East London. LIS opened its doors to its founding cohort in September 2021.

At LIS there is a single course: a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in Interdisciplinary Problems & Methods. Instead of specialising in a single subject area, students learn through a problem-based interdisciplinary approach, graduating with a BASc in Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods.

At LIS, you instead focus on complex problems, for example, climate change, ethics and artificial intelligence, or inequality – and take classes in disciplines that will help you tackle that question, from neuroscience and art to anthropology and linguistics. This means that if you’re passionate about a range of subjects and don’t want to just settle on one thing for three years, LIS gives you space to explore. The world’s biggest problems naturally require an interdisciplinary approach. So, students learn quantitative and qualitative methods like survey design or graphic research, statistical analysis or coding.

Further to this, LIS has strong relationships with the working world, and students are able to undergo paid internships in each year of their undergraduate study. Every year, there’s an option to undertake at least five weeks of paid internships at a range of organisations, from fast-growth start-ups, like Innocent, to large corporations, like KPMG, and government bodies.

So, if you’re a student who:

• Enjoys studying subjects from across the arts, sciences, social sciences, and humanities
• Wants to make a difference and tackle complex real-world problems
• Wants a course that prepares you with the skills for an ever-changing world of work?

Then you might just be the unique and curious kind of student who’d be interested in this interdisciplinary degree at LIS,

Founded: 2017
Location: London
Length: 3 years for our BASc degree
Courses: Offers a single undergraduate course, a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences
Students: 64
Great for
Students looking for: Innovative, interdisciplinary study

Our admissions process: 

We’re not on UCAS

Applicants apply to us directly – this means that LIS can be an additional option alongside your five UCAS choices. The application takes 15-20 minutes, there is no personal statement and every eligible applicant is invited to an interview.

Our admissions process is separate from UCAS. This means that, if you choose to apply to LIS and then accept your LIS offer, this will have no bearing on any firm or insurance choices that you make through UCAS. In effect, you’ll be able to accept and hold their LIS offer in addition to any choices that they make through UCAS.

Selection Days

We want to understand what our applicants have achieved academically given their starting point. It’s also why we invite all eligible applicants to an online Selection Day interview. The Selection Day consists of two virtual interviews, which access your problem-solving capabilities and your mindsets and passions.

Entry requirements

LIS is committed to delivering a fair admissions system that admits students of outstanding achievement and potential, irrespective of their background.

That’s why we don’t set a minimum bar in terms of grades, but instead look at every applicant’s academic attainment in the context of their educational, familial, and personal background. We look at every applicant on a case by case basis and we welcome applicants from all subject backgrounds.