Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Lancaster University

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A dynamic and creative community of enquiry, learning and engagement.

Discover the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University

Executive Dean Professor Edward Simpson welcomes you.

News

Individual images of Philip Long, Jacqueline Bowen and Geoff Barton smiling at the camera in their cap and gowns, holding their awards

Alumni awards for outstanding graduates

Three Lancaster University graduates have been presented with Alumni Awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements during this week’s graduation ceremonies.
Róisin McMullan siiting in a theatre setting surrounded by blue chairs

Graduate’s reviews topped the bill at Edinburgh Fringe

A Lancaster University student who came top in a writing award at the Edinburgh Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, is now looking toward a career in Arts journalism.

Muyiwa Oki with the Chancellor the Rt Hon Alan Milburn

Honorary degree for the President of the Royal Institute of British Architects

Muyiwa Oki has been awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Science at the July graduation ceremonies.
Image shows a smiling Dr Emily Woof in her graduation gown and hat against a leafy green backdrop

It was ‘all about the place’ for actress Emily Woof’s dance to PhD success

A movie actress, who starred in The Full Monty and Oliver Twist, was awarded her Doctorate this week by Lancaster University.
Image shows four children - three sitting and one standing - all heavily engossed in a litcraft activity on a tablet

Grant opens new chapter on library project for University spin-out company

Lancaster University spin-out enterprise Litcraft Community Interest Company (CIC) has been awarded an Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant to bring its innovative approach to encourage reluctant readers into libraries across Cumbria this summer.
Image shows women, who are alleged witches and live in the Northern Region of Ghana, picking pebbles and sieving dust mixed with maize, soya bean and other grains gathered from the floor of the town market to clean and make food for themselves and their families.

Legislation not the ‘silver bullet’ in fight against barbaric practices

Every year thousands of people globally are wrongly accused of witchcraft, often with fatal consequences yet, says new research by Lancaster University, legislation designed to stamp out the barbaric practices is rarely used.

More News

School of Global Affairs

The Lancaster School of Global Affairs launches in September 2024. The former Department of Languages and Cultures is the primary constituent of the new School, which takes a distinctive place-based approach to the major planetary challenges of our times.

Global Affairs
Group side silhouette men and women of different culture

The reputation and influence of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences extends across the world. We are placed in the top 100 in the world for Education, Arts and Humanities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025. We are considered one of the top three universities in the world for Linguistics by the QS World subject rankings 2025, with several other subjects placed in the world top 100.

Many of our subject areas feature in the top ten of UK university league tables, and we have an excellent track record for graduate prospects.

Reputation and Rankings
Staff brainstorming using a glass panel and marker pens

'Remarkable results' for Faculty of Arts and Social Science in the Research Excellence Framework (REF2021)

Two departments in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University achieved the highest possible score for impact in the Research Excellence Framework results published on 12 May 2022. The Department of Educational Research and the Department of Linguistics and English Language are both rated ‘outstanding’ for 100% of their research impact and both are rated joint top in the UK for impact. Read more about the notable successes in our other departments.

Read more

Areas of Focus

Our diverse and vibrant Faculty has research strengths across the arts, humanities and social sciences. We hold true to the University’s mission to be a pioneer in challenging established thinking and championing new ideas.

  • Lancaster Arts

    Lancaster Arts has a long-established artistic reputation for the creation, development and presentation of cutting edge contemporary arts.

  • The Ruskin Library, Museum and Research Centre

    Home to the leading collection of the works of John Ruskin (1819-1900), the epoch-defining writer, artist and social thinker.

  • Confucius Institute

    Supporting language learning and enterprise in the North West region and awarded Confucius Institute of the Year 2019.

  • Centre for Child and Family Justice Research

    The Centre’s mission is to progress cutting-edge research to improve the lives of children, young people and families

  • ImaginationLancaster

    Our research centre works with a variety of organisations to provide design-led perspectives on real-world issues and facilitate innovation.

  • School of Architecture

    We are exploring the future of architectural practice through work on issues of global importance, with a focus on ethical and sustainable solutions.

Events

18th Jul

The Value of Literature Conference

Friday 18 July 2025, 8:00am to 6:00pm
24th Jul

Guest Lecture – Hacking the Mind: Cyber Effects and Information Confrontation

Thursday 24 July 2025, 11:30am to 12:30pm
28th Jul

Chinese Language and Culture Summer School 2025 (6-11 years old)

Monday 28 July 2025, 9:30am to Friday 1 August 2025, 3:30pm
28th Jul

Language, Speech, and AI: A Forensics Summer School

Monday 28 July 2025, 12:00pm to Wednesday 30 July 2025, 1:30pm
29th Jul

PhD in Higher Education: Research, Evaluation and Enhancement Applicant Webinar

Tuesday 29 July 2025, 9:00am to 10:00am

More Events