Student life at Lancaster University

Becoming a student at Lancaster means joining a welcoming, international community. Lancaster student life offers everything you could want from your UK university experience, from clubs and societies run by the Lancaster Students’ Union, to a £20 million sports centre on campus, to easy access to an historic English city.

Lancaster Students’ Union (LSUS)

Lancaster Students’ Union offers almost 200 different clubs and societies. These are groups of like-minded students who share a love of a particular hobby, activity or cause.

Societies offer a great way to feel at home when you arrive at university. They are an opportunity for you to meet people with shared interests, to discover a new culture, to widen your academic network, or to try something completely new. You can even start your own society.

This means that no matter whether your passion is for canoes or comedy, hiking or Harry Potter, volleyball or volunteering, you are sure to meet others who share your interests.

The Lancaster Students’ Union also organises university-wide events including a Christmas Market, Campus festival and the Graduation ball.

Their education and support service offers independent advice and information about studying, housing, wellbeing and finances.

Sports on campus

Our £20 million Sports Centre provides a gym, swimming pool, climbing wall, multiple football pitches, rugby pitches and tennis courts. It ranked sixth in the UK in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey 2015.

With over 100 sports clubs to join at Lancaster, both experienced athletes looking to compete and beginners looking to try out something new will be sure to find a club that suits them.

Different sporting events take place throughout the year, including competitions between different colleges as well as against other universities. The biggest of these is the annual Roses Tournament, the largest inter-university sports tournament in Europe, which takes place between Lancaster and York Universities.

This sporting tradition has taken place for more than 50 years and is a nod to the historical War of the Roses between the cities of Lancaster and York. There are more than 50 different sporting events to participate in, ranging from skiing to darts.

Visit the city on your doorstep

Lancaster student life continues off campus, too. The city of Lancaster is a historic city with a great student community. Just a short ride away from campus you can discover café-lined cobbled streets, visit an ancient castle and hear live music from the pubs and bars along the canal.

In addition to numerous live music venues, the city also benefits from the annual Lancaster Music Festival, when live music in every genre is hosted in venues throughout the city.

As well as live music, Lancaster’s well-established arts scene offers a wide range of cultural activities, with several theatres, cinemas, museums and galleries around the city.

You are also perfectly situated to explore the local area, with the striking natural beauty of the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales easily accessible from Lancaster. Regular trains to London, Edinburgh or Manchester Airport make it easy to venture farther afield.

The Base

Not sure where to go for help? The enquiry desk staff at The Base can advise you on any student matter. Staff can also refer you to other teams for specialist help, including Counselling, Disability and the Visa and Immigration team.

Chaplaincy Centre

This independent centre provides access to chapels, meditation spaces, and worship areas for different religions, groups and services. There is even a kosher kitchen and natural healthcare practitioners to help you.

Health and wellbeing

Lancaster University campus has a medical practice, dental surgery and pharmacy. Experienced counsellors are also available to provide confidential, professional support on personal and academic matters.