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Higher education

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Original poster

Lancaster for a party boy?

73 replies

manlyago · 23/07/2022 22:20

He liked the University at the recent open day but it was very quiet/lacking in atmosphere (obviously as it was the summer holidays!) so it was difficult to gauge its usual feel. He is worried it would be too full of quiet studious types.

He originally wanted a city university but we went for a look anyway as it’s got a good reputation for his course (Business) and he really liked that aspect of it. It’s just the social side he was concerned about.

Anyone got a son or daughter there? Thanks.

OP posts:
User952539 · 23/07/2022 22:24

Haha, every college at Lancaster has its own bar. Plus there’s the university owned nightclub in town. It’s a party university.

feellikemyselfagain · 23/07/2022 22:26

My sibling went to uni there a few years ago. Every time I went to stay with him it was really fun. Lots of bars and clubs and partying

MrsHamlet · 23/07/2022 22:27

I went to Lancaster and still live here. It's definitely not full of quiet studious types!

RampantIvy · 23/07/2022 22:30

I would have thought that there will be opportunities to party at every university.

dindot · 23/07/2022 22:32

I'm originally from a large city but went to Lancaster for uni and actually preferred the nightlife! I had an absolutely brilliant 3 years there. It's home to the 15 hour bar crawl after all Grin

extrapineappleonmypizza · 23/07/2022 22:32

Lancaster is a great party uni/town if you like going to familiar places and bumping into the same faces. It's a city with a town atmosphere. The restaurants and takeaways will know you and remember your favourite order.
Shopping is rubbish, so head to Manchester. The scenery is great, but the Lakes are also on your doorstep.
I can also vouch for the Business School - it's top class.
I grew up in Lancaster... I went to a different uni but often stayed with friends on Lancaster campus and partied in town.

Happy memories!

milkysmum · 23/07/2022 22:45

I went to the university of Cumbria in Lancaster ( studied nursing ). I ended up staying in Lancaster for 10 years after I qualified. I loved it. Great night life.
Lancaster university is slightly more out of town than I was so you would definitely need a taxi / bus if you were staying on campus to get to and from town.

Original poster
manlyago · 23/07/2022 22:48

Fantastic, thank you!!! That’s exactly what I thought but it’s good to hear. I think he’s had his head turned with tales of partying from Newcastle/Leeds. But I’ve heard bad things about the former (friends’ kids there) and Leeds is AAA which is not happening!

OP posts:
User952539 · 23/07/2022 23:11

Whilst I had an amazing time, it isn’t anything on the scale of Leeds or Newcastle. If that’s what he’s after he’d be better off looking at one of the Birmingham universities I’d have thought. Lancaster is fun but as a op said it’s small so you see the same people all the time.

User952539 · 23/07/2022 23:12

As a “pp” said

RampantIvy · 23/07/2022 23:45

DD is not a party animal and has just graduated from Newcastle. Partying is optional there as it is at any university. She had a great social life and made loads of friends, so please don't let Newcastle's party reputation put you off. It is a fabulous city.

Ohmydayssilleople · 24/07/2022 00:00

Just written a long reply.Lancaster is absolutely brilliant for nightlife on the campus.
Nightlife in the town has a good choice of bars and nightclubs.
Other son at Leeds and the nightlife is 24/7 !!

Fruitbatdancer · 24/07/2022 00:11

I went to Lancaster, 20 years ago. I’m potentially still drunk from the bar crawls 🤣🤣🤣

RainBow725 · 24/07/2022 00:20

My DS has just finished his first year at Lancaster. I assure you he has managed to party all year long!!

Original poster
manlyago · 24/07/2022 00:29

Great thanks! @RampantIvy can you say what your DD is studying? I’ve heard quite a lot of negative experiences of Newcastle Uni. And the recent student satisfaction is not good. I agree the city is awesome though, I’m a quarter Geordie myself!

OP posts:
User952539 · 24/07/2022 06:47

Fruitbatdancer · 24/07/2022 00:11

I went to Lancaster, 20 years ago. I’m potentially still drunk from the bar crawls 🤣🤣🤣

Likewise so am I from 30 years ago!

RampantIvy · 24/07/2022 07:07

She studied biomedical sciences, and has had no regrets if her choice of university. Obviously she has no point of comparison as she has never studied at any other university.

I have never heard any negative reports of the university TBH. What are the issues? They were pretty good about lockdown.

Original poster
manlyago · 24/07/2022 10:30

@RampantIvy that’s great she enjoyed her time. It’s a city very close to my heart.

Without going into specifics - it was a lack of pastoral support and really a lack of care/interest in the students. Lecturers more interested in publishing research and seeing students as annoyances. Probably three friends with similar unhappy children. Maybe just bad luck.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 24/07/2022 13:27

I thought the lack of connection between lecturers and students was just a general university thing. I didn't expect it to be like school where you could go and talk to the lecturer after a lecture. I don't think lockdown helped, but DD said that her dissertation tutor was very supportive. She had weekly Teams meetings with him.

He advised her to request a PEC when she got covid in the middle of her dissertation and was unable to do any work at all for a week. Her PEC was refused, but she got her dissertation over the line anyway and did well.

Original poster
manlyago · 24/07/2022 14:29

@RampantIvy that’s good she had good support. My eldest is at a different RG Uni and I’ve been shocked at the crappy tone of one of his lecturers in emails . So rude. I bet he wouldn’t write like he does if he knew a parent was reading them! I’m also pissed off at the amount of strikes. Can you tell I’m a cynic?!

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 24/07/2022 16:55

Luckily DD wasn't affected by strikes at all. It think it was subject dependent because her friends studying economics and geography were affected slightly. None of the staff in the medical school went on strike as far as I know.

dontyouwishyourgirlfriendwas · 24/07/2022 22:59

To be honest when I think ‘party uni’ I think of Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool. I know someone who picked Lancaster precisely because it wasn’t so party focused and had a nice community feel. However I totally agree with pps that there will be parties at every uni so he shouldn’t let that put him off if he really likes it.

Sluj · 25/07/2022 14:30

User952539 · 24/07/2022 06:47

Likewise so am I from 30 years ago!

Show quote history

Me too, from 40 years ago! In my day (😄), you could do the 11 bar crawl from one end of the campus to the other without ever needing a bus or taxi, and only ever a few steps from the safety of your room and the porters. 😄 I believe there are even more on campus bars now....

User952539 · 25/07/2022 14:34

Still only one per college I think but the colleges have moved and so Lonsdale (and cartmel I think) are right down the bottom of the south spine past Grizedale where there was once only fields! Grizedale now has a very popular cocktail bar. It was rammed when we visited. Old Lonsdale has been swallowed up by Bowland.

Sluj · 25/07/2022 14:39

Cocktail bar - how very Grizedale 😄

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