We welcome applications from the United States of America
We've put together information and resources to guide your application journey as a student from the United States of America.
Overview
Top reasons to study with us
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9th for graduate prospects: Economics
The Guardian University Guide (2025)
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9th for Geography
The Complete University Guide (2026)
10
10th for Economics
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2025)
Given the pace at which our planet and society is changing, there has never been a more important time to study geography and economics. Geographers study the most pressing social and environmental challenges of our time, whilst economists seek to understand how to maximise our use of limited global resources. By studying both areas, you will learn to address the global challenges that underpin our efforts for a just and sustainable future.
Develop the skills and knowledge needed to help you advance professionally in a range of sectors, including but not limited to energy, food and agriculture, construction and housing, hazard mitigation, environmental consultancy, local and national government, urban planning and landscape architecture, geospatial analysis, and emergency planning. Explore the full range of human and environmental issues tackled by modern geographers, with an emphasis on human society and the impacts these systems have in the modern world.
What to expect
With our three-year BA Hons Geography and Economics degree you will begin by developing a fundamental understanding of both disciplines. You will undertake a range of modules that will introduce you to key themes in geography, bridging both the human and physical elements. Your modules in economics will introduce you to micro- and macro-economics and how to communicate data.
In Year 2, you will build upon the principles explored in Year 1 and undertake practical work to gain analytical and research project skills, including developing familiarity with geoinformatics. There will be the opportunity to tailor your interests through a range of optional modules, some of which cover topics such as cultural, developmental, and economic geography.
As you progress into Year 3, you will complete further optional modules in advanced topics such as global consumption, urban infrastructure, environmental economics, and geographies of health, alongside embarking on national and international residential field trips.
Getting out in the field
With our location near major urban centres, rivers, coasts, and the Lake District World Heritage Site, you will be able to explore beyond the campus and gain hands-on experience through field work. You will also have the option to expand your perspective, including trips overseas such as Switzerland, where you will see your learning brought to life.
Personal development
In addition to subject knowledge and field experience, you will gain essential communication and geographic information systems skills. You will become familiar with data generation through qualitative techniques, as well as data handling, environmental sampling, and analysis.
3 things our Geography students want you to know:
The Lancaster Environment Centre is one of the most popular spaces for Geography students on campus, where you will be surrounded by active researchers shaping current thinking, outstanding practical facilities, and even our own weather monitoring station. You will be assigned an academic tutor at the beginning of your degree, meaning there’s always someone nearby to give you support
The theme of sustainability is woven throughout the degree and life on campus. Many students are part of LUSU Green, a group run by the Students’ Union that is driving change across the campus and beyond to create a thriving natural environment, reduce carbon emissions, and train the sustainability leaders of the future
Our degree programme focuses on helping you prepare for your future career, with modules that prioritise the development of essential skills and opportunities to undertake enriching hands-on experience in real-world environments. You will graduate ready to enter a number of thriving industries in an increasingly environmentally conscious market
Lancaster’s graduates in Economics and Geography develop a unique and insightful perspective on global issues along with excellent analytical skills – this combination of knowledge and skills is highly valued by employers in many areas. Traditional Geography-based careers include planning, teaching and research as well as less-obvious career paths in sectors such as marketing and tourism. Meanwhile, Economics graduates may go on to work in banking, the civil service, management consultancies and major national and international companies. Graduates from our courses are also well-paid, with the median salary of graduates from Lancaster Environment Centre and Economics Department being £26,500 and £30,000 respectively (HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey 2024).
Here are just some of the roles that our Geography and Economics students have progressed into upon graduating:
Planning Officer – County Council
Campaign Marketing Manager – Pearson
Management Consultant – Mott MacDonald
Regulatory Consultant – Yordas Group
Climate Change Projects Officer - County Council
Graduate Planner- Department of Levelling Up, Housing, and Communities
Graduate Credit Risk Analyst – Motor Finance Ltd
Trainee Chartered Accountant – Accountancy Firm
Business Development Manager – Capital Economics
Skills for your future
A degree in geography will provide you with both a specialist and transferable skill set sought after by employers across a wide range of sectors.
LEC Skills Development Placements
These voluntary placements are a great way of learning more about the sector you want to work in after you graduate, whilst also strengthening your CV and enhancing your employment prospects. With opportunities available from an array of local and national environmental organisations and with researchers here at Lancaster, we aim to help you put your skills into practice out in the field.
Learning on Location
From Kenya and Spain, to islands off of the coast of Scotland, our ecology degrees allow you to get hands-on experience working in the field, allowing you to gain the laboratory skills necessary to excel within the environmental sector, and beyond.
Teaching Career Success
In your second year, as part of our teaching we invite alumni and partners from different employers to meet LEC students, providing you with insight into the graduate labour market, as well as providing you with the tools to successfully transition into the world of work.
Placement year
Choosing a Placement pathway degree involves spending the third year of your four-year degree working full-time in a business. Many students find that a placement year helps them to decide which career path they would like to take. The experience will give you a strong advantage when looking for employment after your degree.
A future for Ben
During my undergraduate degree at Lancaster, I developed an interest in how we create and shape urban environments and how issues such as the climate crisis and inequality can be solved through these processes. This inspired me to pursue a career within the field of urban planning!
After I graduated, I secured a job at a planning consultancy in North Wales. During my time there, I was able to develop an in-depth understanding of the Welsh planning system and worked on a variety of projects ranging from household developments to major schemes for the commercial industry. What I found particularly interesting about this job was how politics and planning interact at a local level and how different stakeholders interact intending to achieve sustainable development.
I left private consultancy in December 2021 and I’ve been working in the public sector as a Planning Officer for Cheshire West and Chester Council ever since.
During my time with the Council, I’ve had the opportunity to take part in outreach events at local primary schools, running activities on town planning as part of their geography syllabus. This has allowed me to put into practice some of the teaching skills I acquired through modules within my degree, as well as convey my interest in the urban environment to others! Looking back on my time in LEC, I was able to grow as a person in a welcoming and supportive environment and gained the confidence to be able to realise my potential.
Ben Teague, BA Geography - Planning Officer, Cheshire West and Chester Council
Entry requirements
These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.
Qualifications and typical requirements accordion
AAB. We recommend that this includes Geography, or alternatively you should have one of the following subjects: Classics, Economics, English Literature, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology.
Considered on a case-by-case basis. Our typical entry requirement would be 36 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 9 Level 3 credits at Merit, but you would need to have covered appropriate subject content.
We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.
DDD in a related subject but we may additionally require a supporting A level in Geography or alternative cognate subject at grade B
Our typical requirement would be A level grade B plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade AB plus BTEC at D, but you would also need to meet the subject requirements.
35 points overall with 16 points from the best 3 HL subjects including Geography or alternative cognate subject at HL grade 6
We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.
T level in Health is accepted at Distinction
Help from our Admissions team
If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.
Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.
Contextual admissions
Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.
Course structure
Lancaster University offers a range of programmes, some of which follow a structured study programme, and some which offer the chance for you to devise a more flexible programme to complement your main specialism.
Information contained on the website with respect to modules is correct at the time of publication, and the University will make every reasonable effort to offer modules as advertised. In some cases changes may be necessary and may result in some combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Not all optional modules are available every year.
Whether studying climate change, habitat loss, or sustainable development, these fields require the ability to identify relevant information, organise data, draw meaningful inferences and communicate findings effectively. This module introduces you to some of the essential skills that you will need to support your studies, including how to access and critique existing information, present findings to a variety of audiences and consider ethical issues related to research design. We introduce you to key software programs that can be used to store and process information, produce figures and summaries from datasets and map spatial data. Mastering these skills will help you to maximise your learning potential during your degree and provide a foundation for your future career.
This module provides you with the foundations in development geography, environmental geography and economic geography. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and practical workshops ensuring that alongside geographical knowledge, you are developing core qualitative field skills such as interviews and critical academic skills such as literature review and essay writing.
Roll up your sleeves and carry out your own geographical research with a residential trip to Cumbria! Together, we’ll look at how to design good research and explore different methods used in human and physical geography. You’ll investigate the controversial project of rewilding, thinking about the benefits and challenges of returning land to nature. You’ll use research methods from both human and physical geography to deepen your understanding. Back in Lancaster, you’ll learn different ways to analyse, visualise and communicate geographical data.
This module provides you with the foundations in social geography, cultural geography and political geography. You will be taught through a combination of lectures and practical workshops ensuring that alongside geographical knowledge, you are developing core qualitative research skills such as working with documents and visual data and developing critical academic skills such as presentations and exam skills.
Optional
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You will receive a thorough introduction to macroeconomics, which is the analysis of Economics at the aggregate level. The topics you will cover include national income analysis, monetary theory, business cycles, inflation, unemployment, and the great macroeconomic debates. The module lays the groundwork for further study in Economics. In addition to developing key theoretical concepts, we illustrate how these concepts can be applied to real-world examples.
The module is self-contained and can be taken by students without prior knowledge of the subject. This module provides a less mathematical treatment of Macroeconomics than Principles of Macroeconomics.
This module offers a comprehensive introduction to microeconomics, which is the analysis of Economics at the level of the individual or firm. You will study topics including the theory of demand and supply, costs and pricing under various forms of market structure, and welfare economics. The module provides the foundations for further study in Economics. In addition to developing key theoretical concepts, we will also show how these concepts apply to real-life situations.
The module is self-contained and can be taken by students with no prior knowledge of microeconomics. It takes a less mathematical approach to the subject than Principles of Microeconomics.
Core
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Explore international development through critical geographical perspectives. We start by understanding development both conceptually and historically, linking it to colonial histories and their ongoing impact today. We’ll also look at how development maps onto global inequalities. We explore the evolution of mainstream development discourses, including the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as alternative approaches like Postdevelopment and Decolonial theories. You’ll dive into specific issues like climate change adaptation in the global South, gender equality, rural development, food sovereignty, urban transformations and politics in the Majority World. We’ll examine how development ideas have evolved, from state-led initiatives to civil society actions and market-driven solutions. The module also looks at how development fits within global political and economic changes, focusing on inequalities and the different impacts development has across the Majority World. You will develop critical thinking and research skills through interactive workshop activities.
Explore how real-world phenomena can be understood using macroeconomic models. This module will help you understand macroeconomic data and examine the implications of economic policies in both closed and open economies.
By the end of the module, you will be able to interpret macroeconomic events and tackle macroeconomic questions using the concepts and methods presented in lectures and tutorials. We will focus on major issues related to economic growth, the causes of economic fluctuations, and the effectiveness of economic policy.
You will be introduced to key concepts from microeconomic theory and their application to consumer and firm decision-making. We begin with an overview of how firms make decisions under different market structures, different pricing structures, along with the welfare implications of these choices. Next, you will learn how consumers make decisions and how they respond to price changes.
Our focus then shifts to strategic behaviour, incorporating a game-theoretic approach. We will also cover the significance of hidden information and hidden action. Additionally, we will discuss issues related to the modern business organisation, such as various models of auctions.
Finally, you will cover topics such as externalities, public goods, rent-seeking behaviour, and related policies.
The contemporary world is full of fascinating political and economic changes. Both past and present crises in capitalism - from uneven wealth distribution to the challenges of the climate emergency - show that economy and politics cannot be understood separately. This module introduces key themes in both economic and political geography. For political geography, we’ll dive into themes like geopolitics, the nation state, borders, conflict and resistance. For economic geography, we’ll look at how the economy shapes and interacts with political issues. We’ll also explore the challenges and opportunities of bringing economic and political geographies together. By the end of the module, you’ll have the skills to make sense of the political and economic world around you and understand key global issues from a geographical perspective.
Optional
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You will study culture from a geographical perspective and explore space and the spatial from a cultural point of view. With social geography you will explore social inequalities, identities and relations in specific places and in their spatial dimensions. The module focuses on the key geographical concepts of landscape, place, space and mobilities, together with ideas of representation, belonging, aesthetics, the arts, (collective) memory, creativity, embodiment and justice. You will also develop an understanding of theories about culture, space, identity and power and their value in both conceptual and practical terms, developing your capacity to bring issues and perspectives of cultural and social geography to bear in insightful responses to key issues of the present and future.
This module aims to expand your knowledge on the topic of inequality and its relationship with the macroeconomy. It will introduce you to the measurement and analysis of inequality data, along with the underlying theory. The module also gives a brief overview of potential policy solutions to these issues.
The topics covered include:
skill accumulation
discrimination
luck
mobility
wealth accumulation
the role of bequests
The goal is to stimulate critical thinking by applying theoretical concepts to real-world examples and data.
You will be introduced to the key concepts, tools, and methods in environmental economics, along with several key policy applications of these topics. This module will equip you with the skills to analyse pressing environmental issues and explore potential solutions in terms of choices, trade-offs, and scarcity.
The topics covered include:
property rights and externalities
benefit-cost analysis
pollution control
climate change
dynamic efficiency and sustainability
resource depletion
ecosystem services
management of natural resources such a fisheries
Explores environmental geographies through empirical examples of our evolving relationship with the Earth and the sea. We build upon previously studied key concepts such as The Anthropocene and the role of non-western and indigenous knowledges, encouraging a more critical approach to the governance structures and justice frameworks that shape how human societies interact with the natural world. You’ll engage with global and local examples of environmental governance, the ethical dimensions of environmental justice and the socio-political dynamics that influence issues of equity, access and environmental rights. You will also explore the connections between human and physical geography, considering how themes and concepts from Earth and marine sciences can offer new perspectives on our social worlds.
This module introduces the core concepts and methods of econometric analysis and their applications in economics. It examines different types of economic data and how to handle them, the specification of econometric models, and their estimation and testing, with a focus on the classical linear regression model.
We will take an intuitive and practical approach, emphasising the application of econometric techniques to real-world data as well as the interpretation and evaluation of the results, and the ways in which they can be used to inform business and policy decisions.
An important part of the module is training in the use of specialised econometrics software. There will also be a segment dedicated to experiential learning, allowing you to gain practical experience while working with an employer.
The world can appear infinitely complex, but when details are represented digitally it becomes easier to draw back, take new perspectives, simplify patterns and learn more about their underlying causes. Organisations of all kinds are interested in how spatial information can drive decisions, operations and policy; and the volume and variety of information captured about people, their surroundings and the planet is increasing rapidly. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) provide us with the environment and tools to explore and interact with socioeconomic, environmental, topographic and remotely sensed data in order to generate understanding. At the end of this module, you will be able to query and interpret spatial data from multiple sources, create and critically interpret new outputs and appreciate how to visualise data for different audiences.
Travel to the Scottish Hebrides to broaden your understanding of sustainability as a social, economic and environmental concern. We will challenge you to think about sustainability as an interdisciplinary issue and consider the future of the planet. You will deepen your understanding of what sustainability means in an island context, learning about the culture, landscape and economy of the Scottish Hebrides. There is the opportunity to travel by ferry between Hebridean islands, considering the ways in which islanders, alongside the local authority and Scottish Government, have sought to promote sustainable practice. You will see examples of progressive and alternative approaches to issues such as energy production, manufacturing, education, healthcare and social support.
Core
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This module is designed to promote independent learning and allow you to apply the knowledge and skills from your degree to understand and analyse contemporary policy issues. You will be able to independently produce both written and verbal reports on current policy topics that are accessible to policymakers and senior managers in both the private and public sectors. The content of this module will focus on contemporary issues. In the past, topics have included:
Is government debt a burden for future generations? What is the value of a degree?
How are interest rates set? Business support during the pandemic: Essential support or fraud?
How should we pay for social care? How can we help the long-term unemployed?
What has been the impact of Brexit and Covid-19 on international trade?
This module helps you develop your critical writing skills. You’ll be guided through the process of researching and structuring a literature review, which is a key part of writing an academic essay. You’ll also learn how to engage with non-academic reports and other types of data to create a unique piece of writing. Working one-on-one with an academic supervisor on a topic of your choice, you’ll produce an extended piece of independent writing. You’ll have the option to submit your work as either an academic paper or a professional report, depending on your interests and career goals.
Optional
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Humanity now lives predominantly in urban areas, with an incredible diversity of cities shaping daily life across the globe. In the 21st century, these cities are rapidly evolving and facing a host of complex challenges, from technological change and digital infrastructures to pressing issues of social justice, sustainability and resilience. This module introduces you to cutting-edge thinking about cities and urban life, questioning long-held assumptions and encouraging you to critically explore what cities are, how they function and who shapes them. You’ll engage with big questions such as: What is a city today? What forces are shaping urban transformation? And how can we address the challenges cities face in more equitable and sustainable ways?
This module takes a critical and yet hands-on approach to exploring the role of eco-innovation as a pathway towards sustainable development. Through action-learning, you will identify and address real-world sustainability challenges by developing your own eco-innovation proposals – viable ideas with the potential to reduce human impact on the environment whilst simultaneously delivering to the economic and social ambitions of global sustainable development. You will work in small teams, while being introduced to key sustainability concepts and business planning approaches that can be combined to develop effective eco-innovations. Gain valuable transferable skills including team working, problem analysis and framing, and effective oral and written communication to professional and non-academic audiences. By the end of the module, you will have developed a deep understanding of the intersection between sustainability and innovation, along with practical skills and increased confidence to help them drive change in the real world.
Explore the social, political and environmental challenges facing food systems in the world today. You’ll examine the history, culture and development of contemporary food production, focusing on how we interact with plants, animals and the land. Key debates will centre around food security and food sovereignty, using global case studies to reveal the connections between changing diets, landscapes and agrarian reform. You’ll be challenged to think critically and creatively about the future of food, developing innovative alternatives. Practical sessions will give you the chance to explore different ways of thinking about food and agriculture, and how these perspectives are rooted in broader political, environmental and social philosophies.
This module invites you to explore the economic, historical and political geography of the Global South in all its diversity. You’ll examine the region’s rich socio-economic and cultural assets, while also unpacking the complex opportunities and challenges its people face in the 21st century. Using examples from places such as Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean and Asia, you’ll track the transformations from colonial histories to contemporary realities. You’ll learn about the different development strategies adopted by postcolonial states and investigate current issues around governance, climate change adaptation, natural resources and rural-urban connections. By considering these topics in their wider spatial, economic and historical contexts, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how globalisation is shaping everyday life in specific localities across the Global South.
This field module focuses on the governance of dynamic and rapidly changing socio-ecological systems in tropical South East Asia – places often conceived as utopias. You will explore the concept of ‘utopia’ and how it relates to environment and development challenges, considering why they succeed or fail. Visit a range of sites that reflect a continuum of different management trajectories. Through these cases, you will explore related trade-offs and approaches to natural resource management. Engage with different stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, tourists, local farmers) to explore their differing views of utopia and preferred development and conservation trajectories and their implications for society and the biophysical landscape. This multidisciplinary trip is designed for you, whether you're a natural or social science student, and will challenge you to engage with literature, concepts, methods, and assignments from areas outside your immediate degree focus.
This module tackles issues in economic growth and development, with reference to key concepts, theory and empirics. In the first half of the module, we will take a macroeconomic perspective on the key growth challenges facing developing countries. This will include competing theories of growth, industrialisation, institutions and trade policy.
In the second half, the module shifts to several microeconomic topics that examine the behaviours of households and individuals. Key issues covered will include poverty, inequality and anti-poverty policies, education, health, microfinance and credit markets, and risk and insurance.
Gain an in-depth understanding of the concepts, methods and applications of health geography. Health is central to living a good life, yet huge inequalities can be seen whether in the North West of England or in the Global South. Geography and related disciplines make vital contributions in defining these inequalities as ethically unacceptable (i.e. inequitable) and examining their causes (political, social, economic and environmental). Discover useful theoretical and empirical tools for developing appropriate policy responses to tackling these inequities. Learn about the merits and weaknesses of qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches to health research, applied to well-known, emerging and neglected diseases. Develop a critical, reflective understanding of health geography as a fast-moving, plural and contested sub-field. This module opens the door for you to further training and careers in public health, including in local government, national health institutions and the charitable sector.
Conservation is as much about human behaviours and values as it is about species and biological diversity. As a field, conservation science has come to recognise the complex nature of environmental challenges, requiring a blend of knowledge from various disciplines. While the foundations of conservation are still in traditional biology, the incorporation of social sciences, economics and law are increasing. This module introduces you to the increasingly holistic approach to conservation, emphasising the interplay between ecological and social systems, that recognises human behaviours, economic pressures and cultural values alongside biological factors. The need for collaboration across diverse stakeholders will be explored. Through case studies, you will learn to apply interdisciplinary frameworks to real-world scenarios, to recognise and engage with the often conflicting values and priorities. The module will prepare you for careers in conservation organisations, government agencies and research institutions, empowering you to become effective agents of environmental change.
This module provides a comprehensive exploration of international trade and global business dynamics, connecting theoretical models with practical policy implications. You will examine core trade theories including the Ricardian model, Heckscher-Ohlin model, and heterogeneous firm models. The module also offers in-depth analyses of international factor mobility, trade policies, and globalisation trends.
On the international business side, you will study key topics such as global value chains, multinational firm strategies, international competitive advantage, and the economic impacts of outsourcing and offshoring. The module focuses on real-world applications, exploring how theoretical frameworks inform understanding of contemporary economic phenomena, including labour productivity, attitudes towards trade, the effects of immigration, and the evolving landscape of global economic interactions.
This module offers a comprehensive exploration of labour and health economics, examining critical microeconomic dimensions of human capital and market dynamics. You will analyse labour market fundamentals including supply, demand, market policies, and workforce challenges such as unemployment, migration, and discrimination. The curriculum extends to education economics and personnel economics, investigating principal-agent problems and incentive structures within organisations. In addition, the module provides economic tools to critically examine healthcare systems, with a focus on the UK National Health Service and international healthcare models, emphasising empirical evidence and microeconomic analysis.
How are we transforming the way we supply and use energy to achieve our climate targets? In this cross-disciplinary module you will look at the major changes underway within our energy system. You will examine decarbonisation pathways in electricity, transport and heat, whilst considering supply and demand dynamics and carbon removal. Investigate real-world challenges including how to govern the energy system, economics, societal engagement and energy security. Through a combination of lecture, workshop and field-based activities, you will gain a ‘whole system view’ cutting across disciplines, enabling you to refine your critical thinking skills and ability to weigh up the opportunities and challenges associated with energy decarbonisation. You will benefit from real-world insight through understanding the university energy system and contributions to the course from energy professionals. The knowledge and skills develop will position you for further study or employment focused on a major societal challenge.
The modern world is defined by unprecedented social and ecological crises: global heating, biodiversity decline, mounting economic inequality and the wicked problem of decarbonising society justly and equitably. You will approach these challenges head-on, asking how they were produced, by who, why and with what effects. You will be introduced to the field of political ecology and to some of its most influential conceptual approaches (degrowth, feminism, anti-colonialism and more). Together, we will ask and answer questions such as: What is climate justice? Why is it so difficult to decarbonise the global economy? How do items we use every day — from mobile phones, to clothing, coffee and water — impact peoples, animals and environments near and far? You will learn to think critically about the world they live in, to reflect on the implications of social and economic policy and consider how climate justice might be attained.
Our planet is shaped by ongoing geological, climatic and ecological processes that are increasingly dominated by mankind. Everywhere you look you will find change, but not all changes are important. To make informed decisions, we need to know how to test ideas and identify reliable trends. This module will teach you how to overlay spatial layers to answer increasingly complex questions about when and where changes are happening, whether they are connected, what is occurring in locations with incomplete data and to predict the magnitude and distribution of impacts? As more and more data is collected and shared by networked devices, corporations and remote sensing technologies, understanding spatial relationships is crucial. The operations of most industries already depend on geospatial analysts and this module will teach you skills needed to take advantage of the digital age.
Enhancing our curriculum
We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, staff changes and new research.
Fees and funding
We set our fees on an annual basis and the 2026/27
entry fees have not yet been set.
The course offers optional residential field trip modules and students choosing to take these will have to pay towards their travel and accommodation costs.
There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.
Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.
College fees
Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.
For students starting in 2025, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses.
Computer equipment and internet access
To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.
The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.
Study abroad courses
In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. VISA or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.
Placement and industry year courses
In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.
The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.
Home fees are subject to annual review, and may be liable to rise each year in line with UK government policy. International fees (including EU) are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.
We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:
Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard tuition fee
Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard tuition fee
International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will also be charged in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:
Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard international tuition fee during the Study Abroad year
Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard international tuition fee during the Placement year
Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.
Scholarships and bursaries
Details of our scholarships and bursaries for students starting in 2026 are not yet available.
The information on this site relates primarily to 2026/2027 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.
The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.
More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.
Our Students’ Charter
We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.
Undergraduate open days 2025
Our summer and autumn open days will give you Lancaster University in a day. Visit campus and put yourself in the picture.
Take five minutes and we'll show you what our Top 10 UK university has to offer, from beautiful green campus to colleges, teaching and sports facilities.
Most first-year undergraduate students choose to live on campus, where you’ll find award-winning accommodation to suit different preferences and budgets.
Our historic city is student-friendly and home to a diverse and welcoming community. Beyond the city you'll find a stunning coastline and the world-famous English Lake District.