Thinking about university?

Lancaster Access Programme is an exciting opportunity allowing young people in Years 9-13 to develop skills to help their school/college studies, attend informative events and enhance their application to progress to university in the future. Students apply to Lancaster Access Programme from 15 partner schools across the North West with the support of their school or college.

The programme gives students the opportunity to take part in a range of activities, events and experiences including campus residentials, workshops, study skills and masterclasses. They have access to a dedicated online Lancaster University Moodle platform allowing them to sign up to events, access a range of dedicated resources and receive support from Lancaster University staff and current students.

Find out more information on the Lancaster Access Programme webpages.

Realising Opportunities is a national collaboration of 16 research-intensive universities, working together to promote fair access and social mobility of students from groups underrepresented in higher education. Over the two year programme Year 12 students from partner schools across Lancashire and Cumbria, take part in a student conference, an academic element and have the opportunity to visit universities around the country.

Upon successful completion of the programme, students are eligible for special consideration on application at any of the 16 partner universities.

More information on the programme can be found here: Realising Opportunities.

Access to Medicine is an amazing opportunity for students in Year 10, 11 and 12 to find out more about studying medicine at Lancaster University and to help you decide if medicine is a career you wish to pursue further. 

You will discover what it is like to learn at Lancaster Medical School and receive expert advice and guidance about how to make a successful application to study a medical degree.

More information about Access to Medicine and how you can get involved.

All Inclusive is a programme for students in Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 who have a disability, mental health condition, Specific Learning Difficulty and/or who are on the autism spectrum. All Inclusive aims to provide you with information, advice and guidance regarding university and the range of support services available at university, to support you in making informed decisions about your education in the future. 

A range of opportunities are available as part of All Inclusive, from in-school workshops and activities, to one-day campus visits for your school, community group or to attend with your parents/guardians. 

If you would like to learn more about our All Inclusive campus visits or are interested in attending a future visit then please get in touch via outreach@lancaster.ac.uk or you can call us on 01524 593880.

We are currently working with the Students’ Union and the Red Rose Society, as well as academics and other staff across the University to develop a package of support for an asylum seeker or refugee where they do not have access to student finance due to their immigration status.

In addition, working with the University of Cumbria and other local partners, we are looking into options to support local asylum seeker and refugee communities with free language classes, business workshops and careers advice and access to University facilities.

We are currently working in collaboration with Lancashire County Council to provide a programme of support for young people in care and those who work with them.

In addition, we offer a range of visit days, events and activities for young people who are currently in care, care experienced or care leavers.

These activities and visits provide an insight into student life and the support available at university for care leavers.

If you would like to learn more about this project or you are interested in attending a future visit, please get in touch by emailing outreach@lancaster.ac.uk or by calling us on 01524 593880.  

Our annual STEM Taster Day is aimed at Year 12 students who are interested in pursuing a STEM-related subject at degree level. Spending a day at our campus, the Taster Day will equip you with a greater knowledge of your favourite subjects at higher education and provide an insight into university life, helping you to make informed choices about what you would like to study when it comes to applying to university.

During the event you will have an opportunity to:

• Tour key locations around our 560-acre campus
• Take part in interactive taster sessions
• Meet staff and current students from our academic departments
• Enjoy a free buffet lunch

To learn more, visit the STEM Taster Day webpage.

Our Summer Schools programme offers a range of exciting opportunities for Year 12 students to experience university life and prepare for future study in higher education.

Over 4-5 days, you will complete academic sessions in your chosen subject and experience lectures, workshops, and practicals. We also offer a full social calendar to allow you to understand university life beyond your academic studies.

We offer Summer Schools across all four faculties throughout the year and a separate Medicine Summer School.

Discover what it is like to be an independent learner at university by taking part in our Essay Competition, for students in Year 12. You will have the opportunity to research, produce and submit a piece of academic work, developing skills that will help you prepare for degree-level study. Not only will you receive feedback on your work, but you’ll also have the opportunity to win some amazing prizes!

Applications will open shortly.

Energise works with young white men to explore their perceptions of masculinity, their future plans and career ambitions through the development of a creative arts project in collaboration with The Dukes Theatre in Lancaster. The young men explore a range of themes through in school sessions and work together with their peers to develop a visual media piece.

The project is framed by a launch event in school and a celebration event on campus at the University. The young men will showcase their visual media projects to teachers and parents, as well as receiving higher education guidance and employer input.

Energise is offered to Year 10 and 11 students who are white males from low socio-economic backgrounds (household income below £30,000) or from low participation neighbourhoods (POLAR 4 Quintile 1 postcode). We ask that young men also meet one of our widening participation criteria. To take part in the project, we also ask that participants are capable of achieving GCSE English and Maths at Level 4 and a further seven GCSEs at Level 4 or above.

If you need any more information or are interested in being involved in Energise for your students please get in touch on outreach@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 595232.

The EPQ programme helps students to complete their EPQ qualification with the assistance of Lancaster University researchers, staff and online resources. The programme includes a number of support options and is delivered to students who are engaged in the EPQ as part of their sixth form studies.

Our EPQ support includes three main elements (which can be delivered individually or as a complete package): an EPQ introductory talk or workshop in your school; an EPQ Library Visit at Lancaster University; and online EPQ mentoring. 

Our EPQ support package is targeted towards widening participation students and involvement can be discussed on a cohort basis with schools.

If you need any more information or would like to be involved, please get in touch on outreach@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 595232.

The Inspire project is focused on supporting Year 10 and 11 students from coastal communities in the North West to reach their potential. Students are selected by their teachers and need to meet two widening participation criteria. Students on the Inspire project do not need to meet any academic criteria, but their teacher must believe they have the potential to achieve.

Students will receive regular group mentoring, attend academic workshops, development days, and finish the project with a residential on campus and a celebration event with parents. The group mentoring sessions focus on raising confidence, resilience, assertiveness, and improving students' growth mind-set.

If you need any more information or would like to be involved, please get in touch on outreach@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 595232.

Inspiration Days give Year 10 pupils the opportunity to visit a highly-ranked, research intensive university and take part in a series of activities designed to both challenge and inspire. All activities are delivered by our highly-trained current students, giving your pupils the chance to hear first-hand about the academic, social, sporting and cultural opportunities available at university.

At present, there are no Inspiration Days scheduled. To find out more or to request a place for your school, please contact outreach@lancaster.ac.uk.

Lancaster Plus offers a range of mentoring and skills sessions, delivered by current Lancaster University Student Ambassadors, for groups of Year 9, 10 and 11 students across the North West of England. These sessions provide students with the key skills and knowledge to succeed in their GCSEs and ultimately progress to higher education. Available sessions include:

• Exam and Revision Skills
• Resilience and Fear of Failure
• Goal Setting and Looking to the Future
• Your Next Steps and Careers
• Skills for the Future
• Time Management and Organisation
• Stress Management

Lancaster Plus is offered to school groups of Year 9, 10 and 11 students who meet two of our widening participation criteria in North West schools.

If you need any more information or are interested in being involved in Lancaster Plus, please get in touch on outreach@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 595232.

An amazing array of equipment, resources and activity plans, Research in a Box allows you to bring university style learning and research to life in your classroom.

Aiming to inspire the next generation of researchers, these free resources give your students the opportunity to learn through engaging activities or experiences using research equipment as part of interactive practical sessions. Designed by our academics, these resources will also enable your students to discover the long-reaching impact of our world-leading research. The equipment and activities have been designed with the GCSE and A-level curriculum in mind, enabling you to teach the syllabus in a fun, exciting and innovative way. 

Visit the Research in a Box page to find out more about the range of Boxes available to loan.

The Role Model Ambassador Project is an outreach initiative working with current Lancaster students and young people in Year 9 - Year 13 from the British South Asian community in the North West.

The project comprises of a series of Role Model Ambassador visits, community events and Madrasah workshops, sessions in local faith and non-faith schools and on campus events. 

If you would like to get involved in the Role Model Ambassador Project or learn more about upcoming events, then please get in touch via outreach@lancaster.ac.uk or 01524 593030.

Our annual STEM Challenge Day enables Year 9 students to share their enthusiasm for subjects across science, technology, engineering and maths whilst meeting our world-leading academics. Competing on behalf of your school in a range of fun and interactive challenges, your pupils will have an amazing day and could even win a range of prizes for themselves and the school. The challenges vary each year, but in previous years students have been challenged to design and fire bottle rockets, make iodine clocks and even create musical instruments from fruit!

To find out more or to book a place for your school, please contact outreach@lancaster.ac.uk.