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Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods at London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) - UCAS

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2024 - 2025
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Course summary

At LIS, we're rewriting the rules of education to align with the dynamic challenges of today's world. Traditional degrees no longer cut it; the future demands a blend of skills, knowledge, and experience. At LIS, we break down silos, addressing real-world problems like AI, climate change, inequality, and urban futures, using a range of subjects and methods from the arts, sciences and humanities, allowing you to explore all of your passions and interest. Our innovative curriculum spans disciplines from art to neuroscience, from anthropology to economics, data science to politics and law, underpinned by a range of methods that create well-rounded problem solvers. With a world-class faculty, three exceptional founding cohorts and close links with global organisations, such as McKinsey, KPMG and Innocent, LIS is building a new type of education for those who want to shape the world, not just fit in. During your time at LIS, you will:

  • Develop your interdisciplinary problem-solving skills by integrating knowledge from various disciplines to address real-world challenges effectively.
  • Gain practical experience in coding, videography, machine learning, project management, and public speaking and more valuable skills needed across fields in the modern working world.
  • Apply both qualitative and quantitative methods to put your knowledge into practice. These methods serve as tools and techniques, enhancing your learning through practical application and empowering you to take meaningful action.
  • Engage in hands-on experiences and continuous support to enhance your employability and make a difference in the world.
  • Create projects using interdisciplinary perspectives and methods on the problem areas that you are most passionate about, and use it as a calling card for future career opportunities.

Modules

Year One: During Year 1, you’ll develop a wide range of foundational methods and skills, learn to analyse and refine problem statements, explore concepts from diverse academic disciplines, and consider how to integrate your knowledge to answer the questions that matter.

Compulsory Foundational Modules:
  • Problems 1a: Social Issues
  • Problems 1b: Global Environmental Change
  • Problems 1c: Independent Project
Compulsory Qualitative and Quantitative Methods:
  • Qualitative Methods 1a: Language and Communication
  • Quantitative Methods 1a: Thinking like a Scientist
  • Qualitative Methods 1b: Images and Systems
  • Quantitative Methods 1b: Thinking Through Data
Year Two: In year 2, you’ll work on a new problem statement each term, build up your expertise in particular methods, and gain new conceptual frameworks to help you think across disciplines, in the form of ‘superconcepts’ and mental models. Please note that the optional methods modules listed for year 2 are indicative, to give you a sense of what you might study during your time at LIS.
Compulsory Problems and Superconcepts Modules:
  • Problems 2a: AI and Ethics
  • Problems 2b: Urban Futures
  • Problems 2c: Individual Project
  • Mental Models and Superconcepts: Interdisciplinary Ways to View the World
Plus a Choice of Three Qualitative and Quantitative Electives
  • Intermediate Quantitative Modelling
  • Data Science and Machine Learning in Practice
  • Materials and Making
  • Design Thinking
  • Visual and Creative Methods
  • Networks and Games
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Thinking Through Writing
  • Telling the Story of a Wicked Problem
Year Three: You’ll choose 5 options from a selection of modules, with at least 1x quantitative and 1x qualitative method included in your curriculum. You’ll also explore mixed methods in more depth. These final modules will help shape your Capstone Project. Capstone Project: The Capstone Project is an opportunity for you to work on a complex problem of your choice. You’ll apply a combination of methods to understand a problem of interest to you and develop a plan of action. Mixed Methods and Interdisciplinarity: Building on your work in Years 1 and 2, this module solidifies your skillset for combining different methods and disciplines critically and ethically. The topics prepare you for the level of many master’s or research degree programmes, as well as knowledge-rich roles in business and the public sector.
Quantitative Methods III
You’ll choose at least one and up to four quantitative methods modules:
  • Data Science and Machine Learning in Practice
  • Intermediate Quantitative Modelling
  • Advanced Case Studies in Data Science and Machine Learning
  • Advanced Quantitative Modelling
  • Simplifying Complexity
  • Network and Games
Qualitative Methods III
You’ll choose at least one and up to four quantitative methods modules:
  • Design thinking
  • Global thinking
  • Thinking Through Writing
  • Applied Ethnography, Practical Ethics
  • Communities & Campaigning
Mixed Methods
  • The Matter of Thought: Speculative Sense-making and Sensory Data
  • Encountering Ecosystems Through Mixed Methods Research and Practice

Assessment method

At LIS, our students don’t spend their summer terms writing lengthy examination essays. Instead, our interdisciplinary programme will make use of a variety of assessment methods throughout the year, like presenting group pitches to a real audience, conducting individual research projects, writing a group consultancy report, creating videos and podcasts, designing a publicity campaign or completing short, interactive quizzes. These assessments will be challenging but also fair, engaging, and varied — reflecting the kinds of outputs you’d be expected to produce throughout a professional career.

How to apply

31Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
BA5C
Institution code:
L58
Campus name:
The London Interdisciplinary School (LIS)
Campus code:
1

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

We hold a probationary sponsorship licence which allows us to accept international students as part of the undergraduate and master’s cohorts. To get a visa, you will need to meet all the relevant visa requirements set out by the government. For more information, please visit www.lis.ac.uk/undergraduate-degree/international-eu-guidance

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

There are no qualification requirements for this course.

At LIS we believe in a more holistic admissions process that goes beyond grades and personal statements. As a result, we don't require a personal statement for either UCAS or direct applications. We value getting to know each candidate individually through our interview process, called Selection Days. We accept A Levels, Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, Irish Leaving Certificate, Welsh Baccalaureate, French Baccalaureate, German Abitur, Italian Diploma di Esame di Stato, and International Baccalaureate, and many more. Please get in touch if you’re unsure whether your qualifications will be accepted. For more information, please visit: www.lis.ac.uk/undergraduate-degree/admissions

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

https://www.lis.ac.uk/undergraduate-degree/admissions

Additional entry requirements

Interview

All eligible applicants will be invited to interview during one of our Selection Days. This is a chance for you to meet the team, and explore a real-world problem with one of our faculty. For more information, please visit: www.lis.ac.uk/undergraduate-degree/admissions

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)7IELTS for UKVI (provider: IELTS SELT Consortium; minimum of 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.5 in each component). This test must have been passed within two years of application to the programme.
PTE Academic66PTE Academic (provider: Pearson; minimum of 66 overall, with a minimum of 60 in each component). This test must have been passed within two years of application to the programme.

All LIS programmes are taught in English. To derive full benefit from and succeed in passing our programmes, you must be able to understand and express yourself in English (reading and listening, speaking and writing). International students seeking LIS sponsorship to study in the UK will need to pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) as specified above and on our website. These tests must have been passed within two years of application to the programme. For more information, please visit: www.lis.ac.uk/undergraduate-degree/admissions

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9000 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9000 Year 1
Scotland £9000 Year 1
Wales £9000 Year 1
Channel Islands £9000 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9000 Year 1
EU £15000 Year 1
International £15000 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

A range of scholarships and bursaries are available for both UK Home Students and International Students. Please see our website for more information: https://www.lis.ac.uk/undergraduate-degree/fees
Interdisciplinary Problems and Methods at London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) - UCAS