Lancaster University

City of Lancaster, England
Public-University

Overview

Lancaster University (officially the University of Lancaster) is a public research university in the City of Lancaster, Lancashire, England. The university was established by Royal Charter in 1964, one of several new universities created in the 1960s.

The university was initially based in St Leonard’s Gate in the city centre, before starting a move in 1967 to a purpose-built campus located on 300 acres (120 ha) at  Bailrigg, 4 km (2.5 mi) to the south of the city. The campus buildings are arranged around a central walkway known as the Spine, which is connected to a central plaza, named Alexandra Square in honour of its first chancellor, Princess Alexandra.

Lancaster is a residential collegiate university; the colleges are weakly autonomous. The eight undergraduate colleges are named after places in the historic county of Lancashire, and each has its own campus residence blocks, common rooms, administrative staff and bars.

Lancaster has ranked in the top fifteen in all three UK national league tables for the past 10 years, and received a Gold rating in the Government’s 2017 and 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework.The annual income of the institution for 2022/23 was £381.0 million of which £46.4 million was from research grants and contracts, with an expenditure of £345.0 million.

Lancaster is a member of the N8 Group of research universities, which also includes the universities of Durham, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and York. Since 2015, Alan Milburn has been the university’s chancellor.The university was established by royal charter in 1964. The charter stipulated that Princess Alexandra of Kent be the first chancellor. She was inaugurated in 1964. The ceremony also saw the granting of various honorary degrees to dignitaries including the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson. Princess Alexandra retired as chancellor in 2004 and was the longest serving chancellor of any British university. On her departure, she gave approval for the Chancellor’s Medal to be awarded for academic merit to the highest-performing undergraduates and postgraduates. Each year presentations are made to up to five graduates of taught masters’ courses and up to six to the highest-performing undergraduates.

The university accepted its first students in October 1964 and there were initially 13 professors, 32 additional members of teaching and research staff, 8 library staff and 14 administrators on academic grades. The motto, “patet omnibus veritas”, (“Truth lies open to all”), was adopted. The first science students were admitted in 1965.

10 in League Table Ranking of The Complete University Guide
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold rating
Type University Public
Year Founded 1964
Size Medium
15,000 Students
Location
City of Lancaster
England

Learning

3,4 years
Course Durations Available

TEF Rating

TEF Gold is awarded to institutions that consistently deliver outstanding teaching, learning and outcomes for their students.

Courses Available

  • Accounting, Business, Management and Marketing
  • Biology and Biomedical Sciences
  • Computer Science and Information Technology
  • Engineering
  • Foreign Studies (Language, Literature and Linguistics)
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Law and Legal Studies
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Natural Sciences
  • Recreation, Sports and Fitness Studies
  • Theology
  • Visual and Performing Arts

Applying

How to Apply?

Accepts UCAS

For International Students

6.5 Minimum IELTS Score
IELTS Requirement: Required
Deadlines and Important Dates
Jan
31
Deadline of application via UCAS for majority of undergraduate courses

Cost and Scholarships

Types of Scholarships Available

Need-based
Merit-based
Departmental

Scholarships

Lancaster Scholarship Type 1
Total Worth £2,000 for first year of study only
Eligibility and Requirements Available to all full-time UK (Home fee paying) applicants and must must achieve AAA and above at A level (or the equivalent in an alternative qualification), with at least five GCSE’s grade A/7 or above.
Available for International Students No
Application Deadline --
Lancaster Scholarship Type 2
Total Worth £1,000 in each year of study, subject to progression
Eligibility and Requirements UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man students who place Lancaster as their firm UCAS choice with A*A*A at A level and have at least 5 GCSE’s grade A/7 or above
Available for International Students No
Application Deadline --
Lancaster Bursary
Total Worth £1,000 per year of study
Eligibility and Requirements applicant who meets eligibility for UK Government funding support, and your application to Student Finance/SAAS has been income-assessed.
Available for International Students No
Application Deadline --