LICA at night

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Lancaster University

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

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.

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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 Arts and Humanities, Law, Education, and Social Sciences in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. We are considered one of the top ten universities in the world for Linguistics by the QS World subject rankings 2023, 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 also have a strong track record for graduate prospects.

Reputation and Rankings

Welcome from our Executive Dean (Interim), Professor Willem B. Hollmann

Whether you’re a prospective student, colleague or external partner, UK-based or international, we want to hear from you and get to know you.

If you’re thinking of coming to study with us I imagine you may be attracted by any number of things. Perhaps it is our commitment to sustainability. This is obvious everywhere around our stunning green campus. Maybe it’s our strong belief that our students are all individuals whose views contribute to making us even better and more inclusive. Or it could be our commitment to your future success, evident from our many Placement Year programmes and other work experience opportunities.

If you’re looking to join us as a colleague you will have come across our research. We’re known internationally for our interdisciplinary and innovative work, which often challenges orthodoxy. You may be drawn to our beautiful surroundings. There’s not just the campus but also the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales and Forest of Bowland all right on our doorstep. And you’ve possibly met some of my colleagues in the Faculty, many of whom enjoy working here so much that they choose to stay with us at Lancaster University for a long time and continue to contribute to our excellence.

If you are a prospective student, an academic, or you work for a business or partner organisation, you may have come across our values, research, education, and our deeply engaged local and global outlook. We pride ourselves on being a truly civic university. We are an anchor point in and for the region, nationally and internationally. And we’re always open to novel opportunities and new partnerships that enable us to collaborate in pioneering and exciting ways.

Welcome to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Lancaster University. Let us start a new conversation.

Professor Willem Hollmann, Executive Dean (Interim) of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

News

Baby hand in adult hand

Guidelines published to help improve practice when the state intervenes to safeguard an unborn or newborn baby

Guidelines to help improve practice when the state takes action to safeguard an unborn or newborn baby have been finalised and published by Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. The work has been led by the Centre for Child & Family Justice Research at Lancaster University.
Word Future in a hand

Lancaster University to host Anticipation conference in 2024

Lancaster University will host the flagship international conference in Futures studies in 2024.
Shelves of highly colourful folders

£5.8 million project to deliver a more sustainable future for Open Access books

A new project, led by Lancaster University, that works to increase access to valuable research is to receive more than £5.8 million in funding.
Image shows front cover of Dust Child and the author

Former student returns to Lancaster to launch new book

An internationally acclaimed author, who studied creative writing at Lancaster University, is all set to return to the city to launch her new book next month.
Students on campus at Lancaster University beside a fountain

Lancaster subjects ranked among the best in the world

A host of Lancaster University subjects have been placed in the global top 100, according to the latest QS World Rankings - with Linguistics coming in tenth place.
Indian children in uniforms eating together

Tackling food insecurity could improve children’s learning

Indian children’s education can be impaired when their households struggle to access enough nutritious food, new research led by the Food Security for Equitable Futures research team based at Lancaster University, has found.

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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.

  • Distance and Online Courses

    Our expertise and experience ensure a high quality learning experience.

  • Faculty Placements and Internships

    The Faculty has an outstanding track record on graduate employment, and supports employability in a variety of ways.

  • Eden North

    Together with Eden North and local partners we are developing an educational programme that supports a shared vision for the future of the community.

Events

On
Now

Extra-Curricular Language Classes

Monday 16 January 2023, 6:00pm to Thursday 1 June 2023, 7:30pm
13th Apr

What are we educating for in primary education?

Thursday 13 April 2023, 4:00pm to 6:00pm
18th Apr

Youth Chinese Test (YCT) Advanced Class

Tuesday 18 April 2023, 4:00pm to Tuesday 23 May 2023, 4:45pm
18th Apr

Youth Chinese Test (YCT) Beginner Class

Tuesday 18 April 2023, 4:55pm to Tuesday 23 May 2023, 5:40pm
18th Apr

Kathleen Jamie in conversation with Karen Lloyd

Tuesday 18 April 2023, 7:00pm to 8:30pm

More Events

Coronavirus

Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by the global pandemic. Throughout this very difficult time our priority has been to protect the health and wellbeing of our community, while continuing to provide high quality teaching and research.

Latest Covid-19 updates from Lancaster University