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Higher education

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

Original poster

Lancaster University Colleges

163 replies

DeadOrchid · 04/02/2023 09:13

DS has accepted an offer for Lancaster and from my understanding he has to put a preferred college when accommodation opens up.

if any of you have got any info about the different colleges from a student experience (rather than the website) I’d be very grateful. And do students tend to get their preferred college or is it more random than that.

He’s not really a party person, if that makes a difference.

Thank you.

OP posts:
IDontWantToBeAPie · 06/02/2023 10:01

I see he's not a party person - Fylde is more low key and has a pub with quizzes and stuff. Froze fake and County may be too night out heavy for him but they still have the best houses imo.

IDontWantToBeAPie · 06/02/2023 10:02

Oh I forgot Pendle and Bowland 😂 They were also more low key.

pistachioicecream · 06/02/2023 23:03

My DS is in his second year at Lancaster. He’s in Fylde College and was on campus in halls last year. He was in the newer superior ensuite blocks and had a great time. The standard of the superior en-suites seems to be pretty similar in all colleges I think.

There were 8 of them in his flat; they all got on really well and are all living together this year too in a house in town. He’s not hugely into drinking or clubbing and picked Flyde as their bar is the sports bar and he figured there would always be sport he could go and watch.

Fylde was his first choice. I don’t remember him having to answer any questions about things he liked etc.

It’s a really great university and has been a brilliant fit for DS. Good luck to your DS.

BettyBoo123456 · 06/02/2023 23:06

Do they select colleges and accommodation types when they choose firm and insurance or is this later on please?

Thanks

pistachioicecream · 06/02/2023 23:29

From memory I don’t think they have to choose until after results day and their place is confirmed.

SmartHome · 06/02/2023 23:30

following with interest

beenrumbled · 07/02/2023 05:47

Accommodation selection opened after results day last year - no likes or dislikes listed, just college and accommodation type options.

CherryMaple · 11/02/2023 07:22

DD is in Cartmel. She is a non-party person and really happy with it. Edge of campus means there’s parking literally right outside, and drop offs, supermarket deliveries, etc, are dead easy.

It was one of her three choices, but not top choice.

The superior en suite rooms are very small. She said with hindsight, she would not have gone en suite so that she could’ve had a bigger room.

I would avoid the types of Lancaster accommodation which have no cleaning at all (eg, townhouses). A friend’s DD was in a townhouse and found the mess and dirt unbearable with no cleaners. She was the one who cleaned, and everything was immediately disgusting again. At Cartmel, the cleaners seem super strict about tidiness in the kitchen, and that seems to be a really good thing.

BettyBoo123456 · 11/02/2023 09:47

I thought the bigger townhouses might give her more opportunities to meet and find new friends. As a couple of friends kids a few years above DD went to Lancaster and didn’t really gel with people in their College/accommodation type and also didn’t really get to know anyone on their course either so resorted to coming home from Uni more weekends than they didn’t (as they found weekends quiet and hard going as a lot living less than a couple of hours away often went home on a weekend).

WednesdaysPlaits · 16/02/2023 09:52

Lonsdale forever

Rummikub · 16/02/2023 10:37

I think you mean Fylde!

WednesdaysPlaits · 16/02/2023 10:54

As they say, whatever college you're put in is the best college!

Rummikub · 16/02/2023 10:58

😀very true! I loved my time at fylde

Chittering · 16/02/2023 13:20

Mines in Lonsdale. It wasn't one of his three picks. I have no idea why he got given it. It's ok though. A bit far out and the pub is always shut. But he has nice flat mates and their kitchen is impressively clean and tidy

SmartHome · 15/03/2023 23:47

is there any rush to grab accomodation? Is there any chnace if you put it as second choice?

beenrumbled · 16/03/2023 06:02

@SmartHome last year we had to wait till results day and the accommodation portal opening - then list 3 choices she would be happy with - we got the top one, but they did say to be happy with any of the accommodation types we put down.

DD hasn't met anyone who didn't get one of their choices this time round, but I suppose it is possible. so I would say get the application in as soon as it opens, but be sure your DC is ok with all the choices the select.

Mumoftwoboysaged4and5 · 16/03/2023 06:26

Wow so many parents helping to choose accommodation. My mum just left me to it and I chose Pendle because I liked the witch on the building 😆

Still I met my husband at Pendle and we’ll be married 10 years next year, so everything worked out. ☺️

I wouldn’t overthink it, students have a great time 99% of the time wherever they are. Lancaster is also a very friendly uni.

Original poster
DeadOrchid · 16/03/2023 09:35

Mumoftwoboysaged4and5 · 16/03/2023 06:26

Wow so many parents helping to choose accommodation. My mum just left me to it and I chose Pendle because I liked the witch on the building 😆

Still I met my husband at Pendle and we’ll be married 10 years next year, so everything worked out. ☺️

I wouldn’t overthink it, students have a great time 99% of the time wherever they are. Lancaster is also a very friendly uni.

We help because we are asked to help.

There has been some great advice on here regarding the different types of accommodation. DS will make the final decision and will no doubt be fine where ever he ends up, but having the extra info from people who know Lancaster is very useful.

OP posts:
WednesdaysPlaits · 16/03/2023 09:38

Wow so many parents helping to choose accommodation. My mum just left me to it and I chose Pendle because I liked the witch on the building 😆

Yeah and look what happened! You ended up in Pendle rather than Lonsdale (the best) Grin Wink

Nw22 · 16/03/2023 09:53

I was in furness about 10 years ago for me and it was amazing. The location was great for my course and the bar(trev) is great. I had an ensuite room which was fine but had friends who lived in the older standard rooms and they were much bigger. The older style really doesn’t matter when you are a student.

SmartHome · 16/03/2023 11:25

Im helping my son because my experience of university was that nobody helped me and I ended up dumped at 17 in a city and country I had never been to before, with no halls, no money and, incredible as it may seem, no accomodation. I spent the first few nights in a hotel until the uni accomodation service found me a shit flat share. I missed out on the whole thing of first year halls and it adversely affected my experience of uni so I always swore I would do a better job of helping my kids than my parents did. You're not a fully fledged adult at 17/18/19.

pistachioicecream · 16/03/2023 14:54

SmartHome · 15/03/2023 23:47

is there any rush to grab accomodation? Is there any chnace if you put it as second choice?

@SmartHome From memory I think Lancaster guarantee all first years on campus accommodation whether you put it as your firm or insurance choice. They seem to have plenty of accommodation.

CrepuscularCritter · 17/03/2023 13:09

Mumoftwoboysaged4and5 · 16/03/2023 06:26

Wow so many parents helping to choose accommodation. My mum just left me to it and I chose Pendle because I liked the witch on the building 😆

Still I met my husband at Pendle and we’ll be married 10 years next year, so everything worked out. ☺️

I wouldn’t overthink it, students have a great time 99% of the time wherever they are. Lancaster is also a very friendly uni.

I still have a Pendle witch swinging from my lamp in the study. Grin Glad it all worked out for you.

DeathWinsAGolfish · 20/03/2023 17:06

Are any of you heading to the offer holder day this weekend?

Making the (hopeful) 5 hour trip with DD and staying there for a couple of nights to get a feel for the area.

Mumoftwoboysaged4and5 · 20/03/2023 20:10

DeathWinsAGolfish · 20/03/2023 17:06

Are any of you heading to the offer holder day this weekend?

Making the (hopeful) 5 hour trip with DD and staying there for a couple of nights to get a feel for the area.

I would fully recommend The Borough in town for food. You’ll need to book but it’s worth it.