There are always events and socials happening but here is a taste of our core year...
The team in Furness - from the staff to the JCR Executive - bring you a variety of events and social activities through the year. There are also our core events, tournaments with other colleges and big University-wide challenges.
This page details the core calendar of events Furness students can look forward to and get involved in. Keep an eye on the website and our social media for more as it happens.
The first chapter in your journey through university begins on Arrivals Weekend, when our peerless team of staff, dedicated JCR Executive and dozens of First Year Reps that have done it all before, welcome you into Furness and Lancaster University life. More information can be found on our Welcome Week page.
Welcome Week sees us take a few coach loads of new students to the English Lake District for something distinctly Furness. It's the perfect way to get explore the Lake District with your College JCR Executive Officers and College Staff and a way to make new friendships. Details can be found on the College Events page.
There's a good number of sports teams in Furness, from Football and Netball to Pool, Darts and Dominoes - and we cater to many different abilities! Highlights of the year include the Patriots Cup against Cartmel College, and the Roses tournament that pitches Lancaster students against the University of York.
Take a look at our Furness Sport page for more details and a picture gallery.
Every year the eight undergraduate colleges compete in a University Challenge style quiz, so if you feel you can support Team Furness please do get involved! Lancaster's academic staff set the questions and judge the various heats that culminate in the springtime final.In 2022, 2023, and again in 2024, the Furness quiz team have won the competition.
Taking place in the Michaelmas term and open to first year undergraduates, the Lancaster Debating Society and the Colleges organise the annual Inter-College Debating Competition. The Debating Society will provide training to help you develop your debating, research and public speaking skills, as well as setting the subject for debate. Members of the winning team will each receive gift vouchers as well as the honour of the College Debating Mace.
In 2019/20 and 2017/18 the Furness College team won the competition and were runners up in 2016/17.
Furness celebrates the end of the Michaelmas term with a Winter Ball which is organised by the JCR Executive Officers. The college takes several coach loads of students out to a hotel for an evening of socialising, a three course sit-down dinner and then some dancing. In the past the college ball has been held at the Netherwood at Grange-over-Sands, the Villa at Levens, and more recently the Town Hall in Lancaster. Look out for tickets going on sale in November.
The Charities Challenge gives you the chance to help raise money and make a difference in the community. All colleges enter a team and each nominates their own charity to support and promote by way of events such as bake sales, sports tournaments and skill auctions. The teams write up their experiences in a report and the challenge culminates in a charity showcase, where certificates are awarded by the University.
In this video, John Garman (Furness) explains why he took part in the Charity Challenge and what he gained from it.
Furness College has chosen to support Eggcup as their chosen Charity for 2020.
The Colleges run a sustainability challenge to encourage students to ‘think green’ and find ways to make life on campus more sustainable. Each team is coached by an academic, who will work with them to develop their concept into a plausible proposal, before presenting it to a panel of judges. The successful team wins a cash prize, the chance to make their project a reality, and a EcoChallenge trophy which is displayed in the college trophy cabinet. All students receive an EcoChallenge certificate and 15 points towards the Lancaster Award.
Furness was the 2018 winner of the challenge with their idea of introducing rooftop gardens and living walls across campus. Congratulated on their quality and depth of research by the judges, the team won on the feasibility of the idea and took home a cash prize.
In 2025, Furness won the challenge with 'Binnovation'. A community-based project focused on improving the attractiveness, safety, and knowledge of the campus bin stores and recycling. Judges praised all the entrants for their engaging pitches and were pleased to see some real-life problems addressed by actionable solutions.In 2026, Furness claimed first place and a £250 prize with 'RootedinUnity', an initiative designed to make gardening and sustainable activities more inclusive and accessible by creating welcoming planting spaces within each college.
The Memorial Day brings together two memorial sporting events and happens towards the end of the Lent term, bringing back previous alumni to play the current teams.
The Richard Slatter Memorial Pool Tournament and the Nick Lewis Memorial Football Match are both cherished events by the friends and families of two former Furness students, and the celebratory proceedings much enjoyed by all that take part.
Towards the end of the summer term (week 29) your JCR host an end of term Summer Party, which many students come along to and celebrate the end of their exams or the end of their degree.
The event has live music, award celebrations, with plenty of food and drinks.
The last significant event of the year is Graduation Day when Furness puts on either lunch or afternoon tea in the college to fit around the time of the graduation ceremony. Many students come along with their families to enjoy the celebratory atmosphere in Furness Quad and its surrounding facilities. Look at our Graduation Day page for details and a picture gallery.
