Lancaster Uni - honest views please

[BCBG]

Looking for feedback on Lancaster Uni from people who know it/have studied there please. My DC has an offer for law - having visited I was struck by the fact that almost every student in the subject talk (when the lecturer asked) came from less than an hour's drive away. DC would be more than five hours away from home. Not in its self a problem as siblings were at uni in the North of England, but is Lancaster Uni really as dynamic and outward looking as it claims - or is it more regional in vision and approach? Curious to hear other perspectives - thank you

That may be your opinion ducksback but by any objective measure (if the guides are to be believed), Lancaster is performing extremely well. It may not be to everyone's taste but that applies to anywhere.

Son was there and graduated 2 years ago. He absolutely loved his course ..ecology and conservation. Uni divided into colleges which creates lots of uni competitiveness in sport etc . Fantastic campus with lots going on a different bars etc and accommodations is excellent. Lancaster town is fairly limited re nightlife a couple of clubs but lots of bars but I think a lot goes on on campus and for big nights out the students ventured to Leeds \ Manchester. Lancaster is ranked number 7 and is a brilliant university.

Graduated in 2008, lovely lovely place

I went many years ago and had an amazing time. I had to travel approx 7 hours to get there. It was very international and it gave almost anyone who wanted one an opportunity to study in the US. I came from rural area and was a bit intimidated by some of the bigger city Universities. I had a much better time than my friends who went to Oxbridge and also my friends who went to Uni in London (much easier to make friends). I think you may want to think twice if you come from a big city as Lancaster itself may be a bit quiet.

DD looked seriously at Lancaster for a physics degree. On paper it looked fine, student feedback is almost always very good, but when we visited we both found it deeply underwhelming.

She wanted to like it she really did, but there seemed to be a huge emphasis on how much money each of the buildings/facilities had cost (it's become a running joke between us) and the wifi did not work for the entire day we were there.

I have an eduroam account, both my phone and DD's use it to access university wifi. I met a woman who had been delivering training at Lancaster on the way home and she said it had not worked for the 3 days she was there. I work in a university (hence the eduroam account) If our wifi had been down for 3 days it would be DEFCON 3. The students seemed unconcerned and treated it as nothing out of the ordinary. It sounds a little thing, but if an institution cannot get it together to provide a reliable basic service for teaching and learning, and yet waxes lyrical about how much money is being spent on buildings you've got to wonder about their priorities.

My daughter is starting in september and cannot wait to go. Lancaster is still busy, but not OTT when it comes to night life. Its an amazing place and collegiate and in the top ten of the complete uni guide.

What is your DD studying sammyjoanne? Mine is doing MORSE and is also very excited.

@choirmumoftwo

What is your DD studying sammyjoanne? Mine is doing MORSE and is also very excited.

oh wow what a good course :) shes studying physics particle physics and cosmology. shes applied to grizedale /county townhouse :)

So has mine!!!

@choirmumoftwo

So has mine!!!

That's great :) Is she part of the the County college and Grizedale college group chats? They seem to be quite popular. I hear that if you sign into the accommodation portal a week or two before going it shows the name of your flat apparently.

She doesn't really use social media but I've told her she should, at least until she gets there. Where are the group chats?

@choirmumoftwo

She doesn't really use social media but I've told her she should, at least until she gets there. Where are the group chats?

www.facebook.com/groups/711991075621372/?source_id=365775130500863 I believe its this one where most of the students go. My daughter just asked if there was a county college group chat for 2020 starters on the facebook page and they added her to whats app group. Re the grizedale one, on the main group someone started up a physics group chat on whatsapp, and she asked on the physics one and got added to the grizedale group chat on whatsapp. The best way is to get on facebook, add to as many groups as she can by typing in lancaster freshers 2020, or even the college name (county is called ''the county college'' on fb; and then ask around by posting on the wall.

Out of the physics group there's a big group of about 50 of them, and shes also in a smaller group of about 10 which does a quiz every Sunday evening and escape room via zoom chat and they are all chatting in person now via zoom call.

I graduated in 2000 and I went 5 hours from home to go there. It is a bit isolated from the town but I had a good time. I never got used to the cold wind after coming up from the West Country though!

Thank you, I'll encourage her to make a Facebook account.

I also graduated in 2000, so a while ago, but remember many international students and UK students were from everywhere. I am from a couple of hours' drive away, but DP who I met there was from much further south. I loved it there, and if my child wanted to go there I would strongly encourage it.

@choirmumoftwo

Thank you, I'll encourage her to make a Facebook account.

Thats great, I hope she makes lots of friends and wish her all the very best :)

@SunburstsOrMarbleHalls

Reading with interest as DS has just firmed Lancaster with an unconditional offer for Computer Science so is off here in September.

DS loved the campus and was specifically looking for a campus uni with a safe village feel. He was not bothered about nightclubs as he is more of pub person and we only live 15 mins from Liverpool so if he wants a "big night out" he can have that when home.

Hi my daughter is also starting in september at Lancaster. She took an unconditional offer in physics particle physics and cosmology in Janaury too. Same reasons, didnt want a clubby city and much rather prefer a good meal in a pub with friends. All the very best for September :)

@UpsyDaisysarmpit I met my DH there too! I wonder if we ever crossed paths in Grizedale Bar?

@IHeartKingThistle You never know

My son is there at the moment and loves it. He settled in really well. I felt really sorry for him as he had to come home in March due to COVID and misses it badly. Lots of international students - next year he moves into a listed building opposite the castle for the second year - god willing. He is sharing with someone from Portugal, someone a few miles away from us, someone from York and soneone from the south, so pretty varied!

He had a spacious room and the campus felt friendly and safe . He says its not that quiet at the weekends vecause it's full of students! There are at least 3 clubs exclusively for students.

It has an excellent reputation and I don't feel he's unsafe there.

This is good to hear! My DD has firmed her unconditional for Law having turned down RG u is including Exeter. She visited four unis and was happiest at Lancaster. She is coming from a very SE private school environment and wants to get as far away from it as she can

@IHeartKingThistle @UpsyDaisysarmpit Snap! It seems rather a small world on here, I was also a Grizedale grad in 2000

OP, Lancaster is not for everyone, but if your DS likes it I think it's the kind of place people tend to have a gut instinct for (or not, as the case may be) the first time you visit. The small collegiate system suits some people, myself included, really well. In my experience it was most certainly an international student body, the majority of my friends were international students (Canadian, American, Greek, Pakistani, Lebanese, Indian, Zimbabwean, and Singaporean) and actually they're the ones I've kept in touch with. Out of my British uni friends, at least 10 of us moved overseas in our adult lives.

Furness graduate 2000 (and graduate college 2001) here (although I certainly spent time in Grizedale bar too ).

Glad your DD has confirmed Lancaster OP - I really enjoyed my time there, hope she does too!

She cant wait :) she hopes to get Grizedale, but doesnt mind if she got County.

My son was in County - he had his own bathroom and shared kitchen.

He says if you dont really know anyone and live miles away a ' town house experience ' is best, where you get to know everyone pretty quickly and make friends . Grizedale is best for that and has the best bar according to him!

Cartmel is the prettiest and most expensive Hall, the bar is in a converted barn and they used to do regular Sunday lunches. ( Early bird best as the food runs out quickly) But 15 min walk to lectures so further away. But lovely views.

Great transport link from campus to town and back.

Note how my son mentions Bars a lot!