Lancaster University - In Depth

Founded: 1964.

Site: Single campus at Bailrigg, south of Lancaster.

How to get there: Lancaster on main London-Glasgow line; A6 and M6 main roads.

Structural features: Collegiate system: 8 undergraduate colleges, 1 graduate.

Academic features: Flexible course structure makes it easy to change course and allows specialisation. Undergraduate Masters' degrees in engineering, maths, statistics and physics. Flexible BSc combined science. Mature students welcomed.

Special features: Medici String Quartet (artists-in-residence).

Awarding body: Lancaster University.

Main undergraduate awards: BA, BBA. BMus, BSc, LLB, BEng, MEng, MPhys, MSci.

Length of courses: 3 years; 4 years (language and sandwich courses, undergraduate Masters'); 5 years (sandwich MEng).

Library & information services: About 1 million items, 2600 print journals, 10,000 electronic journals. 960 reader places, 140 work stations; short loan system for books in heavy demand. Annual expenditure on information provision, £128 per (FTE) student. Separate IT service.

Other learning facilities: Language resource centre, TV studio.

Specialist collections: Redlich collection (music); Ruskin Library (John Ruskin's collection of watercolours, manuscripts, books, and photos); Quaker collection; library of Burnley Grammar School.

Study abroad: Most students can spend 2nd year abroad. Many departments have exchange programmes in Europe and US. Careers: Information, placement and advice service.

Student advice & services: Collegiate advisers, doctors, dentists, psychiatrist, chaplains, professional student counsellors. Residential facilities for disabled and some married students; nursery (112 places).

Amenities: Bookshop; varied and numerous eating places; various shops and banks on campus; Peter Scott art gallery; Ruskin library; Jack Hylton music rooms; Nuffield theatre.

Sporting facilities: Swimming pool, sauna, solarium, rock-climbing wall, 6 football pitches, 1 floodlit synthetic pitch, 8 tennis courts, 3 hockey pitches, golf driving area and jogging routes on campus; outdoor centre in the Yorkshire Dales.

Accommodation: Almost all first years who want accommodation are housed on campus (though clearing and late applications not guaranteed), approx half of all undergraduates. 5500 self-catering places, rents £46-£55 per week (£73 ensuite). Headlease scheme for houses off campus, £45-£50 plus bills.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £4500-£5500 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by university. More information and budget planning on www.lancs.ac.uk/ users/studentsupportfinance.

Term-time work: Students advised to balance academic demands with need to supplement funding. Some work available in SU bars etc. Help finding jobs, placements and vacation work through SU job-shop, university volunteering unit or careers service.

Financial help: £333,500 government access to learning fund: 600 students helped (awards of £100-£3500); special help for eg mature students, final year students, those with family commitments, with high travel/course costs, with special needs or those facing unforeseen financial difficulties; contact Student Support Services. Some travel bursaries (approx £500) for students living at home. For 2006, additional new bursaries (based on income), scholarships (based on academic performance) and subject awards (see www.lancs.ac.uk/funding).

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8000 pa (classroom), £10,000 (lab/studio).