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Lancaster University International Office

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Why choose Lancaster University International Office?

Students have been coming to Lancaster on short term study for credit since 1968, four years after the University was founded. Each year approximately 400 students from North America, Australia, Hong Kong, Europe (through the Erasmus Programme), and elsewhere in the world study at Lancaster for one term (10 weeks), two terms (6 months) or a full academic year.

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www.lancaster.ac.uk

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Anissa
40
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Direct Enrollment at Lancaster University

Great Place to Study Abroad

Dec 18, 2015

I studied abroad at Lancaster University for a year - 2005 to 2006. I was excited to experience a new setting and a new school, but I was nervous about leaving my friends and family for so long. I lived in dorm housing with a bunch of Lancaster students, so I felt like a bit of an outsider at first, but they were extremely welcoming and I made some great friends.

The curriculum was pretty challenging, but nothing unlike my classes back in the U.S. It was not difficult to manage my studies while leaving enough time to travel around England as well as to several other European countries. I saw a lot of places and met a lot of great people. I definitely recommend the program.

Default avatar
Jennifer
31
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Direct Enrollment at Lancaster University

Life at Lancaster

Oct 14, 2014

I live with 7 other students in a flat consisting of a communal kitchen and single ensuite rooms. Even though we all have our own rooms, everyone in the flat is very close. We cook meals together, watch television and films together, tease each other and generally get on very well. We are a little family.

My classes are all a mix of lectures and workshops/seminars, which is wonderful because I get a chance to learn and retain the information, and then a session to put my knowledge to use. The lecturers and tutors are quite friendly and always open to questions.

The campus is full of shops so it is not hard to find everything you need for classes without going out of your way. There are two supermarkets, a charity shop, a book store, an office supply store, Greggs, Subway, several food joints, a free service travel agency, two libraries, and other such places that make student life so much easier.

There are more clubs, teams, and societies on campus than I have ever known a university to have! There is everything from sky diving club to tea appreciation club, from equestrian team to living history club, from two different dance societies to fandom based clubs, from football appreciation club to English literature club to animal welfare society. There is so much to do on campus and Fresher's Week is a blast! I would strongly recommend Lancaster University to anyone who is looking to study abroad. The town is safe, welcoming, and nearby (15 min by bicycle, 45 walking, or there are constantly running buses from the uni), the people are friendly, and the campus is wonderful.

What would you improve about this program?
The only complaints I have are that my flat is in the furthest corner of campus from everything else, but that is all luck of the draw and where you apply to live. I get a lovely walk anytime I need to go into the center of the uni, but it does take a good 15 min to walk to many of my classes. Also, because I am so far out, sometimes cell phone service is dicey. Other than my flat location, everything about Lancaster has been splendid.
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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Jennifer Torrance

Program
Direct Enrollment at Lancaster University
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What is one piece of advice you'd give future students traveling with your program?

Drop your American pride and go in with an open mind, no matter where you go. You will learn so much more if you try to live and behave along with the culture of where you are studying.

Make friends with a variety of people; try new foods; stay in hostels; learn local phrases; listen to others’ ideas, visit small towns, not just tourist attractions; take a train and get off somewhere at random at least once; even if you don’t drink (I don’t) go to a club or two; enjoy a relaxed night in a pub chatting with locals or listening to live music; take any opportunities that come your way.

Really, just immerse yourself in the culture – that is how you will make the most of your experience.

Did you run into a language barrier? Did you ever think you knew more/less of the language?

When I first arrived, I could hardly understand anything anyone was saying, and they were all speaking English! It took a couple of weeks for me to be able to understand Northern accents. I tried to order a smoothie in a little café one time, and when the lady at the counter asked me if I wanted a whole, semi-skimmed, or skim milk, I just replied, “yes” because I didn’t understand a word she said.

I could not understand the bus drivers and just hoped for the best when I got on a bus. I was constantly asking the other American students if they understood what people said, and I remember being very confused when someone asked me, “Are you alright” as a greeting. Once I made some British friends; however, I quickly learned the accent and could even mimic the inflections within a couple of months.

Tell us about any interesting cultural tidbits you noticed about your country.

If the Brits ask “Are you alright?”, they are asking how you are, not worrying that something is wrong. When I first had someone ask me this, I replied, “Yeah? Do I look upset or something?” They just looked confused and walked away.

Similarly, if they ask, “Where are you from?”, it isn’t because they don’t know from your accent. It is because Brits don’t want to risk asking a Canadian if they are American by mistake. They really want to know what state you are from so they can try to place it.

Lastly, sarcasm. The Brits say everything so deadpan that it is hard to tell what is sarcasm and what is not. I still have no idea how they pick up on each other’s sarcasm. It always threw me off and led to awkward situations when I tried to explain myself after someone’s sarcastic remark.

Do you think your program changed you as a person?

Studying abroad taught me many things from how to maneuver through airports and new cities to how to cook, but most of all it taught me two very important lessons. The first is that listening to other people’s ideas about anything, from global issues to dinner recipes, is extremely rewarding. Listening is a key factor in learning and becoming more cultured. It also makes friends.

The second thing I learned is that I have not really seen much of the world. I have now been to eight different countries, but I have really only seen snippets. There is so much more out there to experience. The world is an endless source of knowledge, culture, and social and physical experiences. Studying abroad gave me a hunger for new ideas and experiences that will motivate me to strive for more in my life than I would have ever thought to do before.