Study Abroad at Lancaster University

Experience world-class teaching, a supportive campus community, and life in the UK at a highly ranked university.

Students working in front of the green wall in the Library

A welcoming campus, outstanding teaching, and a truly international student community.

Lancaster University offers a high-quality study abroad experience at a leading UK university, combining excellent teaching with a supportive and welcoming campus environment.

As a visiting study abroad or exchange student, you will study alongside Lancaster degree students and be taught by the same academic staff. You’ll choose from a range of undergraduate modules, while gaining first-hand experience of UK higher education.

Lancaster is a campus-based university, with teaching spaces, accommodation, colleges, and student support services all in one place. This creates a strong sense of community and makes it easy for visiting students to settle in, access support, and get involved in university life.

Beyond your studies, you can take part in student societies and sports, explore the historic city of Lancaster, and use the campus’s location to travel around the UK and beyond. With a diverse international student community and a strong focus on student support, Lancaster provides an inclusive and engaging environment for study abroad.

Tab Content: Study details

How many credits can I enrol on?

  • Full Year: 120 LU credits / 30 US credits / 60 ECTS
  • Michaelmas only: 40-60 LU credits / 10-15 US credits / 20-30 ECTS
  • Lent/Summer only: 60-80 LU credits / 15-20 US credits / 30-40 ECTS

Module Levels

Undergraduate degrees in England take three years to complete, and modules are numbered to correspond with a Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) level:

  • Level 4 - year one undergraduate
  • Level 5 - year two undergraduate
  • Level 6 - year three/final year undergraduate
  • Level 7 - Postgraduate Taught (standalone master's or four year integrated master's)

You must have completed a year of undergraduate study at your home university before coming to Lancaster.

What can I study?

Please find the modules available for study abroad students starting in October 2026 and January 2027 below.

Study abroad modules

Tab Content: Term dates

You can study at Lancaster for:

  • Michaelmas (October - January)
  • Lent and Summer (January - June)
  • Full academic year (September - June)
  • You can also study for a calendar year (January - December) if that fits best at your home university.

We also offer Lancaster Global Summer Schools in the early summer.

NB: Postgraduate Erasmus+ students may have different terms. Please check the Erasmus+ postgraduate module handbook.

Key dates for 2026/27

October starters:

  • Students are expected to arrive on Saturday 26 September, or Sunday 27 September 2026 depending on their College allocation.
  • Welcome Week: 28 September 2026 - 2 October 2026
  • Michaelmas Term: 5 October 2026 - 12 December 2026
    • If you are here for Michaelmas term only, you will likely have assignments to complete after the term has ended. You will be able to complete these remotely.

January Starters:

  • Students are expected to arrive on Tuesday, 5 January 2027.
  • Welcome Week: 4 January 2027 - 8 January 2027
  • Lent Term: 11 January 2027 - 22 March 2027
  • Summer term: 20 April 2026 – 26 June 2026

*Please note these term dates may be subject to change. For confirmation please consult the link below.

Term Dates

Tab Content: Tuition fees and other costs

Tuition fees for visiting undergraduate students

2026/27

  • Full Academic Year (October - June): £28,132
  • Michaelmas term (October - December): £11,253
  • Lent and Summer terms (January to June): £16,879

If you are an exchange or Erasmus+ student, you pay tuition fees to your home university and none to Lancaster University.

Living Costs and Budgeting

  • On-campus accommodation costs vary depending on the kind of room you choose; have a look at the 'quick cost comparison' table for a detailed breakdown.
  • All students pay a small college membership fee, which supports the running of college events and activities. The fee for visiting study abroad students is £15.
  • Insurance costs vary depending on the cover required. Rent on campus includes limited cover.
  • Entertainment costs are excluded. Please budget for these according to your own needs

You will also need to budget for:

  • Visa
  • Travel costs to and from Lancaster
  • Health insurance if you are attending Lancaster for less than 6 months
  • Textbooks
  • Vacation and weekend travel
  • Entertainment
  • Telephone, laundry, cooking and eating utensils; and other personal expenses. These will obviously vary widely according to your budget, tastes and requirements.

You can find budgeting advice and tips on how to get the most for your money whilst at Lancaster on our Managing your money ASK page.

Tab Content: Life at Lancaster

Explore the campus

Our campus is often likened to a small town. This is because we provide everything you need to live comfortably and safely: accommodation, facilities, social areas, green spaces, and so much more. Study and research takes place in a range of modern and state-of-the-art spaces. Take a virtual tour of our beautiful campus and discover what we can offer you.

Wellbeing and support

The University offers a range of support across campus, with experts providing confidential support and guidance through our specialist services. Support areas include:

  • Wellbeing, counselling and mental health
  • Disability
  • Diverse communities
  • Academic support, including adjusting to UK teaching and learning styles
  • Visa and immigration
  • Careers and employability

Visit our Wellbeing and support page to find out more.

Societies and sports

Student-run clubs and societies are a great way to meet new people and follow your interests. With over 200 societies, you can discover new hobbies, sports and interests or increase your academic networking. Lancaster provides multiple ways of joining in with sport, either on your own, as a member of your college or as a member of one of our many sport societies.

Accommodation

Make your home on campus in our award-winning accommodation. We have 6,700 bed spaces available on campus in a range of different accommodation types. Explore the options to find out more: Accommodation at Lancaster University

Visiting students will be sent a link to apply for accommodation after their application as been accepted by Lancaster University.

The City and beyond

Lancaster city is a relatively small but bustling city with a rich history. The city centre can easily be reached from campus, so you can explore its cobbled streets, museums, quirky outdoor spaces and landmarks, including a well preserved 12th century castle.

Our central location in the UK means we're well-connected to many places of interest - within a short journey you'll find coastal resorts, buzzing cities or the beautiful Lake District. For trips further afield, Manchester airport is easily accessible by train. Explore our in-depth guide to the city and beyond to find out more.

How to apply

Applying to study abroad at Lancaster University is a simple process and all applications are made online. Follow these easy steps to find out more.

Applying to Study Abroad at Lancaster University

To make your online application you first need to be nominated by the appropriate office at your home institution. Once nominated we will send you a link to apply online.

If the staff at your home institution would like more information about the nomination process for Lancaster University, please ask them to email studyabroad@lancaster.ac.uk.

Applications must include:

  1. A Current Transcript (your transcript needs to be an official copy. If it is not in English you will also need to provide an official translation)
  2. English Language: If you are not a national of a country that has been deemed to be a majority English-speaking country, proof of your English Language level will be required
  3. Passport: A copy of your current passport

You do not have to provide a personal statement but please share with us anything you think is relevant to your application e.g. mitigating circumstances.

Academic Requirements

You are expected to have a GPA of 3.0, a credit or grade B average or equivalent. If you do not meet this requirement, or have any questions about whether you are eligible to apply, please contact your Study Abroad Office at your home institution.

You must have completed a year of undergraduate study at your home university before coming to Lancaster.

Language Requirements - Undergraduate students

If you are a national of a country that has been deemed to be a 'majority English-speaking country', you are not required to submit evidence of your English language ability.

Our English requirements are:

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall (with at least 6.0 in writing and 5.5 in the other elements);
  • TOEFL IBT (tests taken before 21 January 2026):87 overall (with at least 22 in writing, 18 in reading and 17 in the other elements);
  • TOEFL IBT (tests taken from 21 January 2026): 4.5 overall (with a minimum of 4 in each element)
  • Pearson PTE Academic: 58 overall (with at least 50 in writing and 42 in the other elements);
  • Cambridge CPE: 176 overall (with at least 169 in writing and 162 in the other elements);

The language certificates must have been issued within the past 2 years and be valid on the start date of your studies at Lancaster.

We may also be able accept some of the High School English language qualifications.

Students who have IELTS 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each element) or Pearson PTE Academic 50 overall (with at least 42 in each element) can take part in the short pre-sessional English language course course instead of retaking their tests.

If you are a non-native English speaker studying at an English speaking university, please include a copy of the Secure English Language Test (SELT) certificate, e.g., IELTS, Pearson or TOEFL you submitted when you applied to your home University/College.

Students coming for 6 months or less

If you are coming to Lancaster for 6 months or less, we will still need to review your English Language ability. However, we can accept a wider range of certificates including a written English Language proficiency voucher form signed by your home university. This voucher form will be emailed to you at the time of the application.

Students coming for more than 6 months

We will accept the most recent SELT according to the English Language requirements outlined above or equivalent. We may also be able accept some of the High School English language qualifications.

Students under the age of 18

Any student who is under the age of 18 when they arrive in Lancaster will need to follow the guidelines set by the University's Policy for the admission of students under the age of 18.

If you have any further questions about this, you can email studyabroad@lancaster.ac.uk

Application Deadlines

Full Year and Michaelmas (October entry): 31 May

Lent/Summer (January entry): 31 October

Once you have completed and submitted your online application, we will endeavour to:

  1. Review your application within 10 working days
  2. Send you a formal offer via email when your application has been accepted.
  3. Invite you to apply for accommodation

Summer Schools

We also offer Lancaster Global Summer Schools worth credits.

Global Summer Schools

What happens next?

After you have been accepted to Lancaster, you will be guided through the steps necessary to prepare you for your time here.

You may find it helpful to consult our list of Frequently Asked Questions on Lancaster's Advice, Support and Knowledge (ASK) portal.

You will initially be given a ‘Friend account’ that will allow you to access some of the services you will need (such as booking accommodation) and some applets within our mobile app, iLancaster.

Your Friend account username is usually the email address you used in your application.

About a month before you are due to start, you will be invited to complete Online Registration. Once this is complete your full student IT Account will be available, giving you access to all the services you will need during your time at Lancaster. Your full student account will have a new username and password and will no longer be based on the email you applied with.

If you have any issues with your Friend Account, please visit Friend accounts for applicants.

Information on how to apply for your accommodation will be sent to you once you accept your offer to study at Lancaster.

Undergraduate and Postgraduate visiting students are guaranteed accommodation on campus providing they apply before the deadline. Students will be invited to apply for accommodation from April and offers will be made from June. The deadline for undergraduate students to apply is 5 August 2026. The deadline for postgraduate students is 31 July 2026.

  • On-campus accommodation contracts are automatically adjusted for visiting students to match the length of your period of study at Lancaster.
  • The contract will run for the full duration of your study placement- if you are a Lent/Summer student, the contract will run until the end of June, even if your exams end before this.
  • Your exact contract dates will be in your confirmation documents from the Accommodation Team after you apply.

If you wish to make your own accommodation arrangements, we recommend that you use Lancaster University Homes. We also recommend that students live in Lancaster, as a long commute may negatively affect your experience during your time with us. Students who do not live in University accommodation will still be a member of a College.

Most visitors travelling to the UK need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) or a visa. What you need depends on:

  • your nationality
  • the length of your stay in the UK

You can check whether you need a visa or ETA to study by answering a few simple questions on this UK Government Visa webpage.You will also be sent detailed information about visas and immigration when you have accepted your offer to study at Lancaster University.

If you have questions or need help regarding immigration matters when you are at Lancaster, you can contact the Visa and Immigration team for advice and guidance.

Prior to arrival in the UK we will email you your:

  1. Pre-arrival Guide 4 weeks before you arrive to help you prepare for your visit to Lancaster, information will include registration instructions, booking information for the coach transfer from Manchester airport and how to get to Lancaster from other areas
  2. Orientation Booklet outlining your first week at Lancaster, 2 weeks before you arrive.

You can find information and advice to help you pack, plan your travel, what to do when you arrive and what you can expect when you get here on our Coming to Lancaster University webpage. You can also find advice and support about student life at Lancaster on the Portal.

Transcripts: A digital transcript will automatically be sent to your adviser at your home university at the end of your study period at Lancaster. For students leaving in December, transcripts are normally sent by early March. Transcripts for students leaving in June are sent in August.

If you want your own copy, you can request an official copy or copies of your transcript after you have left Lancaster. There is a small charge of £10 per transcript. Please make sure that you place your transcript order at least 4 working weeks in advance of when you actually need it to ensure it reaches you in good time.

Alumni: After you’ve finished your Study Abroad at LU programme, you can benefit from a wide range of alumni services. Please keep your details up to date so we can stay in touch and invite you to alumni events.

Lancaster University offers a range of postgraduate scholarships to eligible students, find out more on our Scholarships and Bursaries webpage. You can browse our available the postgraduate programmes at Lancaster University at Postgraduate Options.

Get in touch!

If you have any questions about Study Abroad at Lancaster, we're here to help!

Lancaster University Global Experiences,Welcome Centre, Lancaster University, LA1 4YW