Lancaster University
Lancaster University is a highly rated, research-intensive university, ranked within the top 15 in three major UK league tables:
- 10th in the Complete University Guide 2026
- 14th in The Guardian University Guide 2026
- 15th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026, which also rated us ‘University of the Year in the Northwest’ of England
Our excellent reputation is recognised globally, reflected by our 5 Star rating for overall performance in the prestigious QS World University Ratings.
Exceptional teaching and research
Make the most of a Gold standard education (Teaching Excellence Framework 2023) at Lancaster University, where you’ll learn from distinguished academics at the forefront of their fields and benefit from excellent career prospects.
We’re a research-intensive university, meaning you’ll learn amongst a community that consistently makes real change in the world. In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021), 91% of our research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.
A place to belong
We’re a campus-based university in the north-west of England, and we’re proud to be one of only a handful of collegiate universities in the UK. Our campus and colleges contribute to our supportive, close-knit community where it’s easy to settle in and make friends.
Outside of your studies, you’ll find that we offer a fantastic student experience. We have a range of free, professional support services focused on mental health, wellbeing, disability, faith, finance, settling in, and more to help you thrive throughout your studies. Lancaster University Students’ Union is there to represent you and the causes you care about, as well as providing an exciting calendar of social events and over 200 clubs and societies to choose from. Whether it’s craft clubs or faith-based societies, radio presenting or living history, there’s something for everyone.
Roses is a big highlight of the university year – this intervarsity sports tournament sees Lancaster compete against the University of York in more than 100 different sporting fixtures over one weekend.
The campus
Lancaster University is located on 578 acres of beautiful parkland surrounded by 150-year-old woodland. As a campus university, everything you need for a fulfilling student life is in one place – high-quality accommodation, study spaces to suit different learning styles, competition-standard sports facilities, cafes, bars, restaurants, shops, and plenty of green space. We even have a cinema, theatre, doctors’ surgery, and pre-school centre on campus. With 24-hour security, we’re dedicated to making sure our campus is a safe place to live and learn.
The city and beyond
The historic city centre of Lancaster is located just three miles north of our campus and is easily accessible via cycling, walking, or regular bus services. The student-friendly city is compact and easy to navigate, but you’ll still find everything you’d expect – independent and high-street shops, cosy cafes, restaurants serving cuisine from around the world, and a lively nightlife with a variety of bars, pubs and clubs. There’s also a vibrant arts and culture scene, with late night exhibition spaces, galleries, and so many festivals and events throughout the year.
There’s always something happening in Lancaster, but if you fancy a change of scenery, our location offers a variety of options. We’re close to expansive coastline, stunning countryside, and urban cities. We’re located between two National Parks – the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales. And with excellent transport links via our trainline, you can visit Manchester in just an hour, Liverpool in two hours, and London or Edinburgh in 2.5 hours.
With en-suite rooms, accommodation with shared bathroom facilities, and self-contained studios, Lancaster offers a range of living spaces to suit different needs, preferences and budgets.
Whether you live in a flat or house-style accommodation, you’ll have a modern and comfortable space that you can call ‘home’. We also have adapted accommodation for disabled students and family flats for students with small children.
Many students choose to live on campus in their first year due to the convenience of being close to their classes, and the ease of making friends. On-campus accommodation is located within the colleges, meaning you’ll live within a supportive community that will help you settle in.
Even if you choose not to live on campus, you’ll still be part of a college and have access to all the support and social events.[HW1] Each college provides facilities for commuter students, like lockers to store your belongings and kitchens where you can heat up your lunch.
And if you’re looking to rent privately in the city centre, Lancaster University Homes accreditation service can help you find a property that’s been checked for safety, quality and management practice.
Switchboard: +44 (0)1524 65201
At Lancaster, you’ll learn in a stimulating, inspiring environment, as part of a community of the brightest minds from around the world.
Lancaster University offers over 300 undergraduate degree courses across four faculties: The Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; The Faculty of Health and Medicine; Lancaster University Management School; and The Faculty of Science and Technology.
Future-focused learning
You’ll have everything you need to excel in your course, including state-of-the-art facilities and specialist equipment. You might discover our ultra-low temperature lab in physics or use CGI technology in our biomechanics lab. Maybe you’ll showcase your art in an exhibition space or practise your mooting skills in our mock courtroom.
You’ll find a multitude of study spaces across campus, including our library that’s open 24 hours a day during term time. The library is home to extensive print and digital collections, as well as support staff to help you with your learning.
Our courses are designed with your employability in mind – you’ll become an expert in your subject and develop valuable transferable skills that employers look for. Lancaster is one of the top 30 most targeted universities by the UK’s leading graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2025 report by High Fliers in association with The Times). What’s more, our exceptional global reputation means a degree from Lancaster will be recognised by employers around the world. You can also access a range of careers events throughout the year, get involved in extra-curricular activities to boost your employability skills, and benefit from lifelong specialist careers support, even after you graduate.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements can vary based on your chosen course and level of study – check our website to find out more. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for your course, you could be eligible for one of our pathway programmes to help you build upon your current academic knowledge and/or English language skills.
Financial support
We believe that funding concerns shouldn’t hold back any student with the talent to thrive at Lancaster from applying. That’s why we offer a range of generous scholarships and bursaries to support with tuition fees and the cost of living.
Studying here is all about broadening your horizons, discovering new perspectives and embracing new experiences.
