University of Lancaster

Summary

History

The university was one of the original plate glass universities to be built as the government tried to cope with the demands of an expanding population and the advent of a new technological era. It has gradually risen up the ranks and now often falls within the top ten in UK league tables.

The university has expanded rapidly in recent years. The new, state of the art, sports centre opened in the summer of 2011 including a 25 metre swimming pool with a 'floating floor' to vary the depth of the pool, climbing wall & bouldering cave, health & fitness suites, sauna & steam room, sports hall with 8 badminton courts, and 4 squash courts. The Lancaster Institute for Contemporary Arts (LICA) Building was completed in October 2010 to provide performance space. The Learning Zone opened in Autumn 2009 to provide a 24 hours a day 7 days a week relaxing space for study, with comprehensive WiFi coverage, booths for individual learning and a range of informal working spaces for small groups and facilities ;such as computers, printers, interactive white boards and data projectors.

Facilities for specific colleges recently built include the Grizedale College Social Complex, opened in Autumn 2009, giving the college a new identity and flexible social space including a bar, porter's lodge, meeting room, kitchen, launderette, and a Junior Common Room (JCR).

University Environment

The University is situated approximately 3 miles south of Lancaster city in a 200 acre hilltop site with landscaped gardens and parkland.

Further Information

Lancaster is one of the few universities in the UK which operates a collegiate system. As well as housing your first year accommodation, the collegiate system gives you a close knit community and support network. The college you choose will depend on what social and sporting activities you would like to focus on, as each has different strengths. Your college is responsible for domestic arrangements and the welfare of students, while the faculties deal with the academic side.

Academics

Faculties, Schools, Centres & Institutes

• Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences

- School of Law, Departments of Applied Social Science, Educational Research, English & Creative Writing, European Languages & Cultures, History, Linguistics & English Language, PPR (Politics, Philosophy & Religion) & Sociology, Cultural Research, Health Research, LICA (Lancaster Institute for Contemporary Arts) for Art, Design, Film, Music, Theatre Studies and the Ruskin Centre.

• Faculty of Science & Technology

- Biological Sciences, Engineering, Lancaster Environment Centre, Mathematics & Statistics, Natural Sciences, Physics, Psychology and the School of Health & Medicine, and School of Computing & Communications.

• Faculty of Management

- Accounting & Finance, Economics, Management Learning & Leadership, Marketing & Organisation, Work & Technology, the Institute for Entrepreneurship & Enterprise Development, and the centres for e-Science, Excellence in Leadership, Study of Technology & Organisation, International Centre for Research in Accounting, Lancaster Centre for Forecasting, Lancaster Centre for Strategic Management, Lancaster China Management Centre, Lancaster Leadership Centre, Health Leadership Centre and Centre for Performance-Led HR

Research

83% of Lancaster's research was ranked as intenationally excellent and world-leading in the recent 2014 REF with Politics, Philosophy and Religion ranked 3rd overall, Business and Management ranked 1st for research power, Sociology ranked 3rd for world-leading research, Maths and Statistics ranked 5th overall, and English Language and Literature ranked 3rd in terms of research power. 

In 2009, the university won the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education for their research into plant science applied to water shortage, crop yield and global food security.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Most Lancaster undergraduates have the opportunity to go abroad to study as part of their degree, usually for a year although short term options are available in the summer. Lancaster has exchange programmes with US universities, EU universities (through the Erasmus Programme), Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Taiwan and Mexico.

There are also work or volunteering opportunities instead, and if you have a work placement element to your degree, you may be able to work abroad.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

Approximately 400 students each year are entitled to bursaries or scholarships at Lancaster to help them with the cost of fees and/or living expenses. 

Lancaster's Academic Scholarship is designed to reward the hard work and ability of incoming students regardless of household income. Students achieving A*A*A at A-level or equivalent are entitled to £2,000 during their first year of study. 

The Access Scholarship is to support UK students with household incomes of less than £42,600 who achieve A*AA in their A-levels or equivalent. Students achieving this scholarship are awarded £1,000 in each year of their studies. Students with a household income of less than £42,600 who achieve the grades for the Academic Scholarship are entitled to the £2,000 as well. 

All students with a household income of less than £42,600 will be awarded a Lancaster Bursary of £1,000 for each year of study and eligible students can also be awarded the Academic Scholarship and/or Access Scholarship alongside the bursary. 

Facilities

Learning Facilities

There are over 1000 PCs throughout the university as well as wireless hotspots and a wide range of academic and business software which can be installed on your PC.

There is one library with nearly a million books and access to more than 16,000 journals as well as a wide range of other electronic resources. There are more than 1,000 wi-fi enabled reader places, 230 PC workstations, and a Special Collections suite.

The University's Virtual Learning Environment (LUVLE), makes it easy for students to manage their modules, view personal timetables, locate lecture notes and share documents.

Sports Facilities

As previously stated, the university boasts a new £20 million Sports and Wellbeing Centre.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

The Lancaster University Students' Union (LUSU) run a number of media opportunities including a newspaper, radio station, a TV studio and cinema managed by students. LUSU's main venue is 'The Sugarhouse", the biggest club in the city centre, which offers a broad range of music and entertainment three nights a week.

Students can volunteer through LUSU Involve where opportunities range from environmental field projects, local primary school placements to campaigning, fund raising or shop work.

There are also a number of arts and entertainment venues such as the Peter Scott Gallery, a contemporary art space with Japanese and Chinese art, works by 20th century British artists and prints by significant European artists and the Nuffield Theatre which presents public performances in theatre, contemporary dance and live art. The >Lancaster International Concert Series brings classical music including concerts by the BBC Philharmonic, chamber music, jazz, world music, opera, musical theatre and new music, and the Ruskin Library houses the foremost collection of the 19th century's most famous English critic of art, architecture and society.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

There are two chapels on campus, one Catholic and one for other Christian denominations. There are also a number of chaplains available for a number of Christian denominations. Within the Chaplaincy Centre there is also a Jewish lounge and synagogue, and members of Islam are supported by Islamic society

Health & Wellbeing

The university runs a counselling and mental health service, where students have access to counselling sessions and Workshops on Wednesdays which deals with common issues, such as culture shock, confidence boosting, assertiveness, depression, exam survival and self-esteem.

There is also a pharmacy, GP practice and dentist on campus.

Within the Chaplaincy Centre is the Natural Health Centre which offers a range of complementary therapies such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, massages, reflexology and shiatsu.

The university also has a disability service which helps prospective and current students with dyslexia tuition and study support, disabled student allowances, adapted exams, and study aids.

Career Facilities

The Centre for Employability, Enterprise and Careers helps students to find work experience though part-time work, vacation placements and volunteering opportunities in the UK and overseas, identifying and developing skills and interests to make the most of your time at university, and meet employers and organisations who want to talk to you and help you acquire the competencies they demand.

Their services include the largest independent careers fair in the UK, award winning work experience and placement programmes, sector-specific career insight programmes, career planning workshops and courses within degree schemes in employability, enterprise skills and career management.

The Lancaster Award recognises your extra-curricular achievements and can be taken alongside your degree. The Award requires you to undertake activities in employability/career development, campus community and social development, work experience and additional skills.

MyPlace is a private and social online blog where students can reflect upon their learning and development. Students can enhance their awareness of the skills and qualities they are developing, gain feedback from others on their progress, and develop an employability record.

Accommodation

Accommodation is guaranteed to all first years and many second and third years stay in university accommodation as well (although this is not guaranteed). Around 65% of the accommodation is en-suite, and most has opened since 2004.

International

English Language Requirements

International Facilities

The university has an International Student Advisory Service which provides information and advice on pre-arrival need, cultural adjustments, visa information, financial issues and working in the UK.

The university also arrange coach transfers from Manchester Airport which is available the first weekend of the academic year.

Media