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

Lancaster uni accommodation - top tips

38 replies

Wordlewobble · 06/06/2022 18:11

Hi, any top tips for picking accommodation at Lancaster Uni (in terms of which halls and what type) please for DS studying Physics?
Lancaster is his insurance choice. He says he wants to cook for himself (but will have to up his game or starve). Also how much kitchen/bedroom things do most students actually need please? I am on a facebook group W something something and it sounds like some students have two and three large car loads of belongs and are taking everything but the kitchen sink and surely that isn’t necessary? DH will have a fit as he remembers going off to uni with one small rucksack….with very little in.
Thanks

OP posts:
GoodThinkingMax · 06/06/2022 19:41

Lancaster is a collegiate university, so it might be a matter of which College. They used to be ranged along the spine (a central pedestrian walkway from one end of campus to the other) but now several colleges have moved from the centre of the campus, to relocate at the south of campus. There are still college residences at the north end of the spine, though. But I think most of Physics is south of Alexandra Square (central open place of the university) so something on the south Spine, or nearer to Galgate is probably more convenient.

Badbadbunny · 06/06/2022 19:54

The accommodation on campus is pretty standardised - a "superior en suite" in say Furness College is pretty much the same as other colleges. There's more variation in the "standard ensuite", town houses, standard shared bathrooms etc.

Furness and Fylde are mostly modern accommodation, mostly superior ensuite, and pretty central.

The downside re the superior ensuite is lack of "communal" space within each flat - they are mostly clusters of 8 rooms around a communal kitchen which is the only "shared" space, and is basically just a kitchen table with a few chairs round it - no sofas, no TV, etc. The idea is to use the common room in each college, but they're quite a walk away (different blocks) so not really convenient )(and mostly closed for the duration during the covid lockdowns!).

The town houses have much more communal space including a larger kitchen, large dining/seating area with sofa, and many have a patio door so students can sit outside their townhouse on the lawns, so a lot more social for within your flat and also with neighbouring flats.

The newest area is the south west campus which is quite a walk up the spine back to the central areas and a very long walk up to the sports centre and new medical block - there isn't much in the way of lecture theatres, classrooms etc down at that end, just mainly the business/management school and engineering block. Though the departments aren't necessarily where you'll have lectures as a lot of lectures are on lecture theatres within other departments - you don't have all lectures/teaching within your own dept.

PerpetualOptimist · 06/06/2022 20:17

@sammyjoanne has, if I remember rightly, a DC at Lancaster and may come onto the thread to share useful insights.

The Physics Dept is still in the northern third of the campus, so convenient for colleges at the northern end. However, despite progressive expansion to the south, the campus is not that vast. Cartmel College (most southerly) is no more than a 20 minute walk from Physics. A bit like 'cardiac hill' at Exeter, the reality is not quite as bad as Youtube makes out.

The great thing about Lancaster is that there is a plentiful supply of new or refurbished accommodation on campus. I do not have a DC at Lancaster but do have one interested in it as a option. The university has a commendably transparent and straightforward set of web pages about its on-campus accommodation.

choirmumoftwo · 06/06/2022 20:34

DD is at Lancaster though not physics. She stayed in a County townhouse in first year which worked really well for her. There are 12 people in a townhouse so great for making friends but without cliques. One bathroom between every 2 bedrooms and a downstairs toilet. Large shared kitchen/dining/ lounge area. It was a godsend during lockdown when you could only mix with your household - 12 is a big household!! Lancaster has been great for her.

Fozzleyplum · 06/06/2022 20:55

DS is at Lancaster and was in a Grizedale townhouse in 1st year. It suited him perfectly - he got a ready-made university "family". Bear in mind that the townhouse beds are LONG! Ideal for DS as he's v tall ( tall students can, if I remember correctly, mention this on their accommodation form), but anyone whose DC chooses/ is allocated one us welcome to pm me for a link to where I bought DS's mattress protector and fitted sheets!

choirmumoftwo · 06/06/2022 21:00

Agree about the long beds. Also, I would recommend buying a double duvet as although the bed in halls is likely to be single, beds are usually double or 3/4 in private rentals so it saves buying again for second year.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 06/06/2022 21:49

I used to fit everything in my Fiat500 to move in and out of Lancaster halls. County and Grizedale are both very nice with Bowland being a bit less nice but very central. Lonsdale is good for sporty people and Cartmel is in the back end of the uni and is a bit of a trek.

Youll need bedding, a laundry rack, one of each kitchen item (saucepan, frying pn, wooden spoon, cutlery set etc) as well as towels. i had a coffee machine too as was 4 floors up from the kitchen.

I graduated in 2017.

Fozzleyplum · 06/06/2022 21:50

Agree about the duvet recommendation. The only single bed either of my DSs had in any student accommodation, was the townhouse. The privately rented accommodation all seems to have doubles.

I can't see that we will ever use DS's "townhouse sized", 210cm long fitted foam mattress protector (which is immaculate and which I washed anyway) and fitted sheets again. If anyone's DC gets a place in a townhouse, is not squeamish about 2nd hand bedding and is in the Midlands, PM me and you are welcome to come and pick them up.

beenrumbled · 07/06/2022 06:49

DD has just sorted her accommodation application for Lancaster - she ended up going for Grizedale or Lonsdale ensuite ( medical issues ) - I would have preferred Bowland or Fylde but she said the info on the college was better at both of them.

She isn't sporty at all and although is sociable is not a party animal. but we have been up for a few tours of the place and the students were reassuring that whatever your college you find your tribe.

Now just to get the results!

beenrumbled · 07/06/2022 07:08

Meant to say - she is not doing Physics!

She decided not to let what subject she was taking guide her accommodation choices - I think if it had been a factor she would have looked at County (I think). She likes the idea of having to get up and "go" to class, and the separation of having a walk to get there - her other choice is York and she has chosen East Campus for accommodation for the same reason.

Wordlewobble · 07/06/2022 13:09

Thanks all obviously now DS is in the middle of his A levels he doesn’t have the headspace to choose college/accommodation at his insurance choice uni.

He is also tall so a longer bed would be good for him. He is sociable but also studious and competitive academically but as his mum I also know he needs his sleep. He isn’t massively sporty at a competitive level but he might like to take part in some team sports or a gym as a sociable thing.

OP posts:
Sallyingon · 07/06/2022 21:23

Just done the choices with my son..he has gone for superior en suites in Grizedale and Furness. He's worried that the townhouses might be too noisy for him..I hope it doesn't turn him into a hermit!

sammyjoanne · 08/06/2022 00:10

@PerpetualOptimist Hey thanks for the @ :) @Wordlewobble Hi :) my daughter is a second year studying particle physics and cosmology at Lancaster. Everyone all starts with physics in first year, then come second year they branch off a bit more choosing their favorite modules. And they have been really good with internships too. She did a voluntary unpaid one in first year for the uni online in the summer, but she has a paid one this year :) Physics dept is on the north spine, north of Alex square, but really close by to it.

For first year she stayed in a Grizedale townhouse. She loved it. And her room was right above the living room area too and it was not that bad. The porters come around to shut things down if its too noisy after 11pm anyway. And she did not need 2 cars full of stuff, just the one.

As for car we just did the one. Kitchen stuff, 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 cups and some cheap cutlery. Small pan 1 larger pan and frying pan. Thats about it really. She bought a sandwich maker but hardly used it. For bedroom we bought a 3 drawer cabinet, a cheap plastic one for about a tenner from wilko. And that sat in the middle passenger seat. That stored lots of things, hair dryer, smellies, stationery, plugs.

As for upping the game and starve, lol I remember being in the same situation and she did in the end. I was so worried , but need not be. At first it was like plain pasta, potato waffles; but then she became adventurous with food and can cook really well. If your DS chooses physics at Lancaster hes made a great choice. She really enjoyed first year there even when it was covid year and first two terms online, they did a great job of keeping it fresh and engaging.

sammyjoanne · 08/06/2022 00:28

@beenrumbled DD1 other choice was York as well. She chose Lancaster because although the courses were similar, the accommodation was cheaper. @Sallyingon and definitely the ensuites wont turn him into a hermit. A doorstop is a good one to keep the bedroom door open, especially on freshers week as its a nice way for people to pop their heads round and say hi.

And yes they will definitely find their tribe :) Because DD started September 2020 it was so unique because they could only mingle with their flat, so they made an effort to host their own themed parties, indoor bar crawl turning each bedroom into a themed 'bar' area. They were very inventive at times because of the lockdown. By the time the summer term came of 2021 they started to mingle more and they found their own friends. She lived with 7 others from her Townhouse in second year in the city, and she still loves them, but next September they are all moving on. She for this year shes going private halls with another group of 12 '2nd-4th' years in Penny Street. Her group of friends consist of flatmates, physics friends, and a group she came across by chance whilst queueing up for a greggs and got chatting. They are a pub quiz group that go to the Pendle witch pub and they go once a week, and they also see each other out of quiz time. That group consists of first, second third and fourth years, and most are from the LGBTQ+ community which is a pretty supportive group at Lancaster.

beenrumbled · 08/06/2022 06:55

@sammyjoanne Thank you that's really helpful - I'll pass on the tip about keeping her door open at first!

DD is hoping to do English Language and Linguistics - she loved how the course was set up at Lancaster (York is definitely a close 2nd).

I'll add a plastic storage unit to my list for buying for her - this coming year is an expensive one - DS1 has been studying Maths at a local university and has been and has been at home for the first year - he is moving into a student house with mates this summer!

KangarooKenny · 08/06/2022 06:57

There is a gym and pool. The facilities are great, it’s like a little town.

sammyjoanne · 08/06/2022 08:39

These two were taken of the car when we moved in first year. The second pic shows the 3 drawer cabinet in the middle seat, and the first one had boxes with some pillows on top. Having the boxes really helped when it came to moving in. This year its going to be staggered move out. DD1 has an internship for the month of July at the uni, so shes staying there for a while. DD2 has a summer residential at Edgehill uni which is near Liverpool on August 1st. So, when I go and drop DD2 off, i'm continuing up north to pick up DD1 and bring back some of her things like clothes, laptop. Then August 20th when her contract runs out, we will be back to move the rest of her stuff into a storage facility, as she has a gap between then and Sept 17th when she moves into her new place.

Lancaster uni accommodation - top tips
Lancaster uni accommodation - top tips
RagingWisteria · 08/06/2022 09:21

Does anyone know when the deadline is to submit the accommodation choices? For some reason we can't see where it says? Thank you!

Wordlewobble · 08/06/2022 13:13

Thats really helpful and informative thanks @sammyjoanne.

OP posts:
sammyjoanne · 08/06/2022 14:49

RagingWisteria · 08/06/2022 09:21

Does anyone know when the deadline is to submit the accommodation choices? For some reason we can't see where it says? Thank you!

Not 100% sure, but the portal should be open right up until clearing students join. Are you planning a visit? :)

Badbadbunny · 08/06/2022 15:13

www.lancaster.ac.uk/accommodation/undergraduate/#am-i-guaranteed-a-room-403345-1

A campus room is guaranteed if it's your first choice and apply by 10 August.

For those coming through clearing and insurance, they don't "guarantee" a room, but they usually have enough rooms, though probably not your first choice of college/room type - they allocate the closest they have available. It may not be on campus though - they have some Uni owned accommodation in the city centre (Chancellor's wharf) which seems to be for the "overflow".

RagingWisteria · 08/06/2022 15:44

Thank you @Badbadbunny and @sammyjoanne My son has chosen Lancaster as his insurance so hoping he manages to get something on campus 🙏🏻

Wordlewobble · 09/06/2022 15:35

Yes, it sounds tricky if you are picking a Uni as an insurance choice as if you pick two popular Colleges/accommodation types you are maybe more unlikely to be allocated one of your choices.

Not so bad for those that firm a Uni. But for those that have it as an insurance choice I imagine they would go to the bottom of the pile so maybe unlikely to get either first or second choice of College or Accommodation type and those that firm it having first dibs.

OP posts:
RagingWisteria · 09/06/2022 15:47

@Wordlewobble Yes I think they try and allocate the closest that is left. To be honest it was a risk my son was willing to take, as long as he is on campus I think he is not worried.

RampantIvy · 09/06/2022 15:52

DH will have a fit as he remembers going off to uni with one small rucksack….with very little in.

Back in the day most university accommodation was catered and bedding was provided. Nowadays most accommodation is self catered and nothing is provided other than cooking facilities, a toaster and kettle.

DD looked at Lancaster, and if she had chosen it she would have gone for one of the town houses.