Information for applicants from the USA

Every year we welcome students from across the United States to join our diverse community in the city of Lancaster and on our vibrant campus.

Explore Lancaster

Our UK home is based on a parkland campus, just three miles from Lancaster city. It's the perfect environment to study and live in, and is a great base from which to explore the region and the UK as a whole.

Virtual tour

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Our degrees

We offer over 280 undergraduate degrees and a wide range of master's degrees and PhD opportunities.

Admissions

Tab Content: How to apply

Undergraduate application

All undergraduate applications to the UK should be made through the UCAS website using UCAS Hub.

As part of the application, you will need to enter your personal details, previous and current qualifications, an academic reference, and a personal statement. The UCAS website provides helpful tips and videos that explain in detail the information required for each section of the application.

Please include in the application details of any AP/Honors/advanced/college-level classes that you have already taken, are taking or plan to take before graduating high school.

You cannot upload documents to your UCAS application, but you can email any supporting documents to the admissions team. Make sure you include your UCAS Personal ID so we can match your documents to your application.

Graduate application

Applications for graduate degrees are made through our online application portal – there is detailed information explaining the process and the documents required on our Study pages.

Tab Content: Undergraduate requirements

Our admissions requirements depend on the degree you are interested in, some will require a portfolio or an interview. We’d recommend looking through our degree pages before you apply.

We will consider your application as a whole, which means we will review all aspects of your application, including your personal statement, academic reference, current and previous qualifications and the grades you achieved so far.

Once we receive your application, we may request some additional details or offer you the opportunity to attend an online interview.

Applying from a high school located within the USA

Route 1: Three APs with scores ranging between 5,4,4 to 5,5,5 depending on the degree and subject requirements.

Route 2: Offers can be based on your high school graduation diploma GPA (typically 3.2-3.4) plus three honors, advanced/college-level/ dual enrolment classes with scores of B+ to A+ depending on the subject*.

Honors/advanced/college-level/dual enrolment classes should be in an academic subject (we do not accept practical or recreational subjects) they must have been taken in the last two years of high school (junior and senior year/ Y11 and 12) and be the equivalent of three credits or one semester in length. We may request curriculum and school profile information as part of the consideration process.

Where possible, we will also consider a combination of AP scores and honors/advanced/college-level/dual enrolment classes.

Other qualifications

For advice regarding any other USA qualifications please contact ugadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk. The team are here to help you, so please get in touch if you need any additional information or support with the UCAS application process.

*Some of our programmes do require an AP in a specific subject, please check subject requirements on the course web pages.

Tab Content: Graduate requirements

Applying with a degree from a US college or university

For entry to our master's degrees, we would require a Bachelor's degree at least four years in length with a GPA of 3.2/4.0.

Applying with a degree from another country

We have a list of qualifications for other countries on our Entry Requirements pages.

Fees and funding

You should check our degree pages for tuition fees as these vary depending on your choice of degree. In addition to our own scholarship offering, our students may be eligible for other funding opportunities, such as Chevening Scholarships, Fulbright Awards and US Federal Aid Loans (FAFSA) or private loans (Sallie Mae).

Why study in the UK?

There are some key differences between studying in the UK and the USA.

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Three-year bachelors

A standard undergraduate degree is completed in three years.

Library study space.

One-year master's

A standard master’s degree is completed in one year.

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Specialisation

UK degrees usually allow for subject specialisation from day one.

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Tuition fees and living costs

Tuition fees and living costs in the UK are often lower than private or out-of-state alternatives in the USA.

Lancaster and the community

Lancaster is at the centre of the UK and surrounded by beauty - the Lake District, Morecambe Bay, and the Forest of Bowland are all within easy reach.

The city and beyond
Lancaster Castle
Michael Thomas

An alumni perspective: Michael Thomas

I enjoyed my time at Lancaster. The campus and city is safe and the surrounding countryside is beautiful. The city has a rich history, lively pubs, some great restaurants, and connects well to other cities via rail. The university constantly hosts events on campus so it always felt like something was going on.

While the Data Science program certainly kept me busy, I had no trouble taking full advantage of extra curricular activities offered by the university. I would often go on hiking trips through the hiking society or on cultural excursions offered by the university.

The best part of the MSc Data Science program was that it provided me with a much deeper understanding of statistics and made me a more capable programmer.

My experience at Lancaster taught me to be a more capable data professional and I've worked in data-oriented positions ever since graduating.

Since graduating from Lancaster in 2017, I have worked in analytical roles at Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines in the USA. I am currently a Program Manager in Pricing Solutions at Delta.

The summer project experience at Lancaster really sets this program apart. My summer project was really valuable, I was paired with an airline consultancy called SITA in southern England. It was a real opportunity to tackle a big data problem in a corporate environment. This experience directly led to my career in the airline industry and set me up well to succeed.

The program will challenge you, but it does set you up well for a data-oriented career. Life in Lancaster is affordable and thoroughly enjoyable. I would 100% do it again.

Michael Thomas

  • The city on your doorstep

    It's a short ride from campus into the heart of historic Lancaster – a city full of character and culture.

  • Our campus

    Come to Lancaster and find your place. From the facilities you need on campus, to the historic city on your doorstep, Lancaster is made for learning.

  • Our colleges

    We have eight colleges for bachelor's students and one for graduate students. These become a hub for studying and socialising, as well as a place that offers support when you need it.

  • Student societies

    The Students' Union has over 170 student societies, from arts and culture to academics and charities. There are groups for anime, baking, Dr Who, circus skills, Pokémon and much more. And, if there isn't something for you, you can set one up.

  • Sports teams

    We've got a wide range of sports teams and groups, along with excellent sports and fitness facilities. Each year we also take part in 'Roses', a large, multi-sport varsity competition. It's one of the highlights of the Lancaster year!

  • Alumni networks

    Being part of the Lancaster community means being part of a global network for life. Our alumni receive special benefits and we have regional groups all over the world.

Connect with us

It’s hard to research universities when you can’t visit in person. But we have lots of ways you can connect with us, from webinars and email updates to social media and chats with current students.

Connect with Lancaster
Kirsten Mingins

Get in touch

If you have any questions about studying at Lancaster or life as a student here, our friendly recruitment team are on hand to help and answer your questions. Alongside the various ways you can connect with us online, Kirsten Mingins (Regional Manager, USA) also makes visits to the US throughout the year.

Get in touch