🐘London South Bank University

London, UK

A London university offering applied professional degrees and internship access at below elite-university fees.

About LSBU

London South Bank University is based at Elephant & Castle in south London, with fast transport links across the capital. It has real strength in engineering, business and management, nursing and allied health, architecture and the built environment, computing, and sport and exercise science — all taught with a clear focus on professional accreditation and employability. Tuition typically sits in the mid-£15,000-£18,000 range, meaningfully below UCL, King's, LSE or Imperial, while still giving students genuine access to London's internship and graduate job market. London living costs remain the main trade-off families need to budget for.

Why students choose it

  • Professionally accredited degrees in engineering, nursing, architecture and business
  • Genuine central London location and job-market access at fees below UCL, King's or Imperial
  • A compact, walkable campus at Elephant & Castle with strong transport links across the city

🎓 Free application support for LSBU

Submit a free enquiry and Tutopiya's admissions team will guide you through your application to LSBU — personal statement, interview prep and deadlines — at no cost, no obligation. Application fees are typically waived through our university partnerships.

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Typical entry grades

BBB (A Level)  ·  IB 28

Solid tier · indicative for the flagship courses below — always verify per-course requirements directly with the university.

Tuition (international, per year)

£20,000–£28,000/yr

mid tier for UK — figures are typical ranges, not this specific university's published fee.

Language of instruction

English

Campus

city campus, London

🏆 Scholarships to look into

Informational only — scholarship amounts, deadlines and even which schemes are running change often (sometimes per intake), so treat this as a starting point, not a guarantee. Always confirm current details directly with the scholarship provider or LSBU's financial aid office.

Beyond government-level awards, most UK universities offer their own merit-based international scholarships — commonly a partial tuition reduction for strong A-Level/IB/IGCSE results, sometimes auto-considered from your application and sometimes requiring a short separate form.

  • Chevening Scholarships: UK government-funded, fully-funded, for one-year Master's study — highly competitive, open to students from eligible countries with leadership potential.
  • Commonwealth Scholarships: For citizens of Commonwealth countries, mainly postgraduate, funded by the UK government.
  • University international merit scholarships: Widely offered across Russell Group and other universities — typically a tuition-fee reduction for high entry grades, often renewable each year of study.

Chevening and Commonwealth are postgraduate-only. For undergraduate applicants, the university-specific merit scholarships are usually the more relevant route.

Want help figuring out which of these you'd actually qualify for? Talk to a free Tutopiya counsellor.

Popular courses

Engineering

⏱️ Typical duration: Often 4 years rather than the country's standard Bachelor's length, especially where the programme includes an integrated Master's (e.g. UK MEng) or an industry placement year

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics + Physics

Business and Management

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Mathematics helps but usually isn't required recommended

Nursing

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Biology recommended

Architecture

⏱️ Typical duration: Often longer than a standard Bachelor's — commonly a 3-year Bachelor's plus a further 2-year Master's for full professional accreditation

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Typical entry: Portfolio

Computing

⏱️ Typical duration: 3 years (4 years in Scotland)

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Typical entry: Requires Mathematics · TMUA / ESAT (top universities)

Durations are typical for UK — always confirm the exact length (including any placement or integrated Master's year) on the course's own page before applying.

Not sure which course fits your grades and interests? Run the full shortlist builder →

How to apply

Main intake(s)
September
Typical deadline
Late January (equal consideration deadline)
Note
Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0)

Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

Read the full Tutopiya guide

A deeper walkthrough of applying to LSBU for international IGCSE / A Level / IB students.

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See where LSBU ranks on your personal shortlist

Enter your grades and budget in the free UK University Shortlist Builder to see whether LSBU is a reach, target or safety for you — alongside every other UK university that matches.

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LSBU FAQ

Quick answers about grades, tuition, deadlines and applying to LSBU as an international IGCSE / A Level / IB student.

What grades do I need to get into LSBU?

As a typical benchmark for international entry, LSBU expects around BBB at A Level or 28 points on the IB Diploma. This is indicative for LSBU's flagship courses — competitive subjects like Medicine and Law usually sit above this baseline, and the exact requirement varies by course, so always confirm the specific figure on LSBU's own admissions page before applying.

How much does LSBU cost for international students?

International tuition at LSBU typically falls in the £20,000–£28,000/yr range (mid tier for UK). This is a typical range for the university's tuition tier, not LSBU's specific published fee for every course — confirm the exact figure for your intended programme directly with the university.

When is the application deadline for LSBU?

LSBU follows UK's typical intake calendar: September, with applications generally due late january (equal consideration deadline). Oxford, Cambridge and most Medicine / Dentistry / Veterinary Science courses close earlier — 15 October the year before entry. Always verify the exact date on LSBU's own admissions page, since deadlines can shift year to year.

What IELTS score do I need for LSBU?

UK universities, including LSBU, typically ask international applicants for 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0). Most universities waive this requirement if you've completed 2+ years of English-medium schooling (e.g. IGCSE / A Level / IB) — always confirm the specific university's waiver policy before booking a test.

What is LSBU known for?

A London university offering applied professional degrees and internship access at below elite-university fees. London South Bank University is based at Elephant & Castle in south London, with fast transport links across the capital. It has real strength in engineering, business and management, nursing and allied health, architecture and the built environment, computing, and sport and exercise science — all taught with a clear focus on professional accreditation and employability. Tuition typically sits in the mid-£15,000-£18,000 range, meaningfully below UCL, King's, LSE or Imperial, while still giving students genuine access to London's internship and graduate job market. London living costs remain the main trade-off families need to budget for.

Can I apply to LSBU with IGCSE, A Level or IB qualifications?

Yes — LSBU accepts applicants from IGCSE-to-A-Level, IGCSE-to-IB-Diploma, and directly from the IB Diploma. Tutopiya's free UK University Shortlist Builder matches your predicted or actual grades against LSBU and every other UK university we track, tagging each as reach, target or safety.

Need help applying to LSBU? Get free application support.

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