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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

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Original poster

Anyone with experience of Lancaster University...any info welcome..

49 replies

Canadalife · 15/12/2017 13:26

My lovely daughter has an good offer to do natural sciences at Lancaster...we will be having a second visit of course....but if any one has any experiences of the University or City we would be very interested..it will all help...many thanks

OP posts:

BubblesBuddy · 15/12/2017 18:22

There was a lengthy discussion on here a while ago with lots of people saying they loved the city and the countryside that’s in easy reach.

It’s a small city and will not suit someone who wants brighter lights. It’s a campus university and going out options were a bit limited. The pubs were rated I seem to remember.

If your DD wants campus and everything available on one site, and a fairly quiet life, then it’s fine. It’s not RG but that probably doesn’t matter if the course is highly ranked. Is it?

BobbinThreadbare123 · 15/12/2017 18:32

I know lots. It's an excellent university and Russell Group is irrelevant. The night life is not club heavy but there are easily reachable places nearby (Preston, Manchester, Liverpool). Superb pubs and bars, lots of reasonable and decent eateries. Lake District on the doorstep. Good links (M6, railway). The collegiate system is really nice to have. Campus is clean, safe and has enough shops, bars and study spaces. The bus into town is very quick. Lots of students and staff cycle. Most students move to town after first year and the housing stock is abundant and good quality. It's an extremely safe city and an affordable place to live.

KendalMintCakey · 15/12/2017 18:34

Very nice place to study. Personally, I'd opt for Russell Group (but that's me). Lancaster Uni is a lot of fun. My lecturer cried when he had to leave Lancaster Uni.

KendalMintCakey · 15/12/2017 18:38

My Mum graduated from Bowland College, Lancaster University. She then taught. Bowland College is named after the forest of Bowland. She did further studies at Lancaster when I was a teenager and I loved being their. The lectures are interesting.

Unknown5432 · 15/12/2017 18:38

I live about 10 mins from Lancaster it's beautiful hear I moved from down south hear n I'd never go back! The town is great lots of shops and things to do, u can go just past Lancaster 15 min bus ride and u have beautiful beaches which certain times a year You can go with a guide and walk across the soft sand to the Lake District way to a small island sorry forgot it's name and I've heard the uni is amazing

Original poster

Canadalife · 16/12/2017 09:26

Thank you all so much...very useful. Lancaster is ‘Times’ university of the year and generally thought to be up and coming. We are delighted for her because the course is just want she wants. Positive feedback about the city and uni is very great. She still is waiting for other offers...but Lancaster sounds like a good option.
Thanks again

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TheDrsDocMartens · 16/12/2017 10:27

Positive feedback from any students I know who are/went there. I love the city. It’s not big but has a good balance of things for students unless you are a real partier.
Reasonable prices for beer and housing. Easy transport links on the west coast line.

NC4now · 16/12/2017 10:33

Lancaster is a lovely city with good pubs. It’s quite bookish and real ale-y rather than clubby but like PP said, Manchester, Liverpool and Preston are handy for that.
The campus is growing all the time and it has a good reputation.
It depends on the type of student your DD is but I’d be happy if one of mine chose it.
(I had an offer but chose Sheffield instead because Lancaster was too close to home and I wanted a big city.)

geekaMaxima · 16/12/2017 13:55

Academic speaking here. Lancaster is better than many RG universities in terms of the quality of its research and graduates. It has a reputation for being academically rigorous and not having a "stack 'em high" approach to student numbers (unlike some RG universities...).

I couldn't tell you a thing about the town, but if your DD is happy with the idea of a campus university then it's a good bet academically.

Original poster

Canadalife · 16/12/2017 15:16

Thank you all for your info....very helpful and positive

OP posts:

Shockers · 16/12/2017 15:26

I live 20 minutes from Lancaster. I work there and DS2 is at 6th form there.

It’s a city in the countryside, with some lovely buildings and great community spirit.

There is a rougher side to it, as I imagine there is in any city.

There are lots of pubs, many with live music; a wonderful park and independent theatre/cinema, plus the usual high Street chains.

DS is a member of the gym at the uni- it’s fabulous.

I love the landscape around Lancaster, plus there’s the beach at Morecambe, with the Lake District hills as a backdrop. Oh, fantastic cycling round here too!

Many of my friends who came to uni here have stayed.

BehindTheBlueDoor · 16/12/2017 15:40

DS just finished first term at Lancaster and is loving it. He chose it over offers from Warwick, Manchester, Exeter and London unis. The size and feel really suits him.
The campus is big enough so he's not on top of people and city is close by for evenings out, shopping etc. He is not a great clubber but has been in to Manchester and Preston for nights out and likes that option. The accommodation is excellent both on campus and in town for second year. He feels safe and very happy.
He's doing MPhys and says his course is very challenging. Academically he is stretched (got 3 As and a B at A level) and has to work hard so it's not an easy option. It's not RG which we did wonder about but their reputation is better than many RG unis so don't let that skew your DC totally.
Says the lecturers are very helpful and invest in them as students, even as first years. Research very impressive and lots of teaching through involvement and discussion as well as the usual lectures, tutorials etc. Has friends who preferred the uni to York, Durham, Manchester. One even chose it over an Oxford offer but that is all very personal preference. They also have a very strong focus on employment opportunities after graduation or further study/PhD etc if you are so inclined.
Go and visit again, nothing helps you decide like being there. He knew it was the place for him as soon as he was interviewed.
Good luck and have fun deciding where is right for your DC.

Original poster

Canadalife · 16/12/2017 17:21

Big thank you...lovely to hear from you all..especially about a happy student settled student. Will pass all this on to DD when she is home from PT job.

All input welcome...thanks

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BobbinThreadbare123 · 16/12/2017 23:25

BehindTheBlueDoor I did MPhys! A long time ago though....

Balloondog · 17/12/2017 00:21

I had 4 wonderful years at Lancaster Uni and would wholeheartedly recommend it. It's not the 'big city' vibe, but that's the beauty of it; you have the best of both worlds including a safe campus environment as well as easy access to Preston and Manchester whilst being just a few minutes from a manageable, cultured city. The teaching was fantastic, even back in my day, the research is frequently cutting edge and reflected in the courses too, not just in publications.

AtiaoftheJulii · 18/12/2017 07:21

A friend of dd's is there, doing a course for which they have a great reputation. She is planning to do a master's and wants to stay at Lancaster for it, so must be happy!

My dc didn't want a campus university, so neither considered it.

BubblesBuddy · 18/12/2017 09:25

Bobbin: with some courses, RG is not irrelevant. With some courses, going to the highest rated RG universities is not irrelevant. It depends on what you are studying and what you want to do afterwards.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 18/12/2017 16:27

How tiresome. In this day and age, there are far more useful measures of the efficacy of one's university than whether it pays to be part of a certain group. We're moving on! Old boys networks need smashing!

user187656748 · 18/12/2017 16:29

I had an amazing time there (although it was 20 years ago now). The campus location means its a real community and you do get to know lots of people.

crazycatgal · 18/12/2017 16:38

Don't be so concerned that it's not Russell Group, Lancaster is higher ranked than a lot of RG universities.

The city is nice but there isn't much to do, although as PPs have said there are lots of places within reach like Preston and Manchester.

The campus is lovely, lots of nice bars and shops and nice walks.

I found the university quite unsupportive with regards to mental health issues and bereavements. The teaching staff were great but departmental office staff and registry staff were very unsympathetic.

Roomba · 18/12/2017 16:42

I came to Lancaster Uni 22 years ago and am still here so the place must be alright .

It's a great uni and campus is a fantastic place to live if that's the sort of uni you are after. I know some courses are very highly rated. If you're more of a big city and nightlife person it may be a bit claustrophobic up there but I loved it. Because of the collegiate system you make friends quickly and it soon feels like you know almost everyone you see each day. It's a safe environment with everything you could ever need within ten mins walk, including lectures which definitely helps at 9am.

The town itself is lovely IMO. Lots of new student accommodation which looks amazing (we had to live in cold damp terraces with decor from 1950 in my day!), some nice pubs and plenty supermarkets. If you love shopping, Manchester and Liverpool are only an hour away (town doesn't have much beyond a few charity shops and some nice independent shops tbh). If you're an outdoorsy sort, the Lake District is less than an hour away, in summer there are nice beaches and coastal places nearby too. So it has the best of all worlds really, which I probably why I stayed.

sluj · 20/12/2017 13:42

I wouldn't say Lancaster is "up and coming", I would say it's been a good university for several years already, top 10 in every ranking and Times University of the Year. Its a well kept secret and not prone to joining self-aggrandising "clubs, it doesn't need to join.

Original poster

Canadalife · 20/12/2017 16:15

Wow..thank you so much for all your comments. I will let DD read them all. Thank you for taking the time to comment....very useful.

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raspberryrippleicecream · 21/12/2017 14:15

I know several people currently studying at Lancaster, including natural sciences.

With regard to the comment regarding being unhelpful with bereavement, this is not always the case as I know people who have them very supportive - two different courses.

The people I know love living there. Some for access to the Lake District and walking. One plays in several of the music ensembles, (there is a very active music society despite not offering music degrees). Its cheap.

Also rented accommodation for 2nd year and beyond can be done through LUSU. There are no fees to pay up front, rent is inclusive of bills and tv licence and it is all really straight forward.

NotSupposedtobeHere · 21/12/2017 15:32

I taught there for a long time and still consider it Home. It is an excellent university. It’s very clearly research-led - certainly in terms of driving the academic staff! The College system for residents is lovely and there’s stuff happening on campus all the time. The new sports centre is fab. And the bus trip from town to campus gives you wonderful views of the southern fella of the Lake District.

Student life is vibrant and staff are dedicated teachers.

Oh I’m getting homesick.

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