If you want to study at Lancaster University for one semester or a full academic year, explore this page to learn more.
We hope to welcome you here soon!
Lancaster is everything a university should be. It's somewhere you can belong, a community to join with a collection of colleges that offer close-knit support, and a proud identity. Our campus is the complete setting for your life and your studies, with sports facilities, shops, places to relax and socialise, and study spaces to suit your mood.
A full list of Lancaster's degrees can be found on our Undergraduate courses webpage. Information about the classes that are offered can be found under the 'Course Structure' heading for each degree.
Not all classes will be available for visiting study abroad students, so please get in touch with studyabroad@lancaster.ac.uk if you need further information about a particular class.
Undergraduate degrees in England take three years to complete, and modules are numbered to correspond with a Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) level:
You must have completed a year of undergraduate study at your home university before coming to Lancaster.
You can study at Lancaster for:
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.
October starters:
January Starters:
From September 2026 Lancaster University will move to two semesters a year.
September starters:
February Starters:
For more information about our term dates please visit Lancaster's Term dates webpage.
Term DatesIf you are an exchange or Erasmus+ student, you pay tuition fees to your home university and none to Lancaster University.
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.
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.
The University offers a range of support across campus, with experts providing confidential support and guidance through our specialist services. Support areas include:
Visit our Wellbeing and support page to find out more.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You do not have to provide a personal statement but please share with us anything you think is relevant to your application e.g. module choices, mitigating circumstances, etc.
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.
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:
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.
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
Full Year and Semester 1 (September) entry: 31 May (30 April priority deadline)
Semester 2 (February) entry: 31 October
Once you have completed and submitted your online application, we will endeavour to:
We also offer Lancaster Global Summer Schools, which are often worth credits.
Global Summer Schools
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.
On-campus accommodation applications are made online from June (for September starters) and late November (for January starters). Emails are sent to students at the start of application period with further information about how to apply.
It is not always possible to accommodate Postgraduate (PG) Exchange and PG Study Abroad students on campus but they are encouraged to apply so that we can offer support in finding accommodation. It is likely that we will be able to find accommodation with one of our approved partners.
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:
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:
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. Please note, this timeline will change from 2026/27 onwards.
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 Bursarieswebpage. You can browse our available the postgraduate programmes at Lancaster University at Postgraduate Options.
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
