About us
Welcome to LSE and to Grimshaw!
Founded in 1923, The Grimshaw Club for International Relations is LSE’s oldest student society and the beating heart of international affairs at the London School of Economics. For over 100 years, the Club has been engaging students in discussions and connecting like-minded individuals with an interest in international affairs. We empower you as a member to understand key issues that affect our world, with a mind to effect change in the future.
With over 600 members and 75+ events annually, we are sure the Grimshaw Club has something for you.
Our main activities allow students to engage with International Relations in a variety of ways. Our weekly speaker events allow you to learn from academics, diplomats and professionals and pose questions about the most pertinent global and regional issues affecting us today. We also host a range of career events, exciting socials, an Alumni Mentorship Programme, local trips, academic support and so much more! Our signature events include:
- London Diplomacy Ball: the social event of year! Working in collaboration with societies from LSE, UCL, KCL, Oxford and SOAS, we organise an annual ball that brings together diplomats and students passionate about international affairs for an evening of networking and celebration.
- Student Delegations: academic trips to many destinations abroad for you to gain a deep insight into the political, economic, media and human rights landscapes of the country and the region.
- Visits to Embassies, Think Tanks and News Agencies: past embassy visits have included the Mexican, Singaporean, Belgian, French, US and Bahraini Embassy. These, alongside our visits to think-tanks, NGOs and news agencies such as the BBC, Reuters and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), give our members a wonderful opportunity to gain insight into diplomatic careers, ask important policy questions and participate in cultural exchange.
- The Grimshaw Review for International Affairs: our International Relations Journal and the first LSE international affairs journal open to undergraduate, postgraduate and LSE Alumni.
- The Bluebird Blog: our international affairs blog that encourages students to gain their first writing experience, with pieces published on our blog website and our Instagram media account.
- The Grimshaw Podcast: Our flagship “Spotlight Series" invites IR practitioners to discuss the latest trends, research, and developments in the dynamic realm of world politics, while our “Weekly News Roundup” offers concise and accessible updates on major global developments.
Does China’s rise indicate a new world order? What will the future of diplomacy look like in a more digital, post-COVID era? How can we address issues like systemic racism, gender inequality and climate change in an international affairs setting? These are all the types of questions we endeavour to discuss in our events. Our socials will be a bit more chill, we promise!
Whether you are a student of International Relations or just have an interest in international affairs... come join us!
Membership
Purchasing a regular membership to the Grimshaw Club will:
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give you access to all our events including coffee mornings, speaker panels and a diverse set of fun socials.
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allow you to participate in our signature Student Delegations, academic trips abroad that enrich your time at LSE.
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provide you with our weekly newsletter with all the information you need regarding upcoming events and exclusive opportunities from our partner organisations.
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guarantee that all your International Relations needs are satisfied!
Your membership fee helps us run the society and continue to improve the quality of the events we organise. Being a member of the oldest student-led society at LSE is a wonderful opportunity to meet and make friends with incredibly driven students from around the world.
Associate membership:
If you are an LSE alum or a member of staff at LSE, this is the membership for you! You will have access to our newsletter and will be able to attend our speaker panels, social receptions, career events, local trips, as well as apply to our Student Delegations. Additionally, if you would like to take a more active role through hosting an Alumni Mentorship Programme, attending our alumni receptions or sharing your professional/research experience with the society, we'd love to hear from you!
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
We aim to give you the most value and variety possible for your membership with a range of academic, professional and social events for your enjoyment:
- Speaker Event Series including coffee mornings with professors, panel events with diplomats/professionals
- Student Delegations - academics trips to different parts of the world to learn about the political, economics, media, and human rights landscapes of the country and region.
- Careers events including speaker panels, networking opportunities and a bespoke Grimshaw Alumni Mentorship Programme which personally connects members with alumni that have gone on to lead successful careers in IR.
- Diverse socials.
- Local trips to museums, think tanks, embassies, NGOs and international organisations.
- Academic support events for first year students taking IR modules and postgraduate students working on a dissertation.
Contact Us
Join our General Whatsapp group for 2025-2026 by following the link here: linktr.ee/lsegrimshaw
For any questions about Grimshaw or professional enquiries, we recommend contacting us via email or speaking to our President, Lili Krasznai, or our Vice President, Jinyi Li.