The London School of Economics (officially the London School of Economics and Political Science, often referred to as LSE) is a public research university located in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1895 by Fabian Society members Sidney Webb, Beatrice Webb, Graham Wallas, and George Bernard Shaw for the betterment of society, LSE joined the University of London in 1900 and established its first degree courses under the auspices of the University in 1901.[6] LSE started awarding its own degrees in its own name in 2008,[7] prior to which it awarded degrees of the University of London.