About Lancaster University

Near the British Lake District in Northern England, Lancaster University is located just three miles to the north of the historical city of Lancaster. The 250-acre campus is a beautiful setting for a year abroad.   From the campus, Manchester and Liverpool are less than one hour of travel and London is a quick three hour train ride. The University has approximately 6,000 students and maintains a strong international community on campus.

Lancaster offers studies in liberal arts, business, engineering, and science.   As is standard for the British educational model, Lancaster is on a tri-mester system.  Students have the option of choosing to study abroad at Lancaster for academic year, fall semester or spring semester studies.  Texas A&M students studying abroad for the fall semester only studies will be enrolled at Lancaster for their Michaelmas term (October-January) and students studying abroad for spring semster only studies will be enrolled at Lancaster for both of the Lent AND Summer terms (January - June).    

 Program Information

A. Eligibility Requirements

• All majors welcome
• Be a TAMU student for at least one semester prior to application
• Attend TAMU for at least one full semester after the exchange
• Have a minimum 3.0 G.P.A.
• Have a minimum Junior classification by beginning of exchange; can be a Sophomore at the time application
• Provide Texas A&M faculty references
• Provide official transcripts from all college-level institutions attended

B. The Program 

As the program is based in a country whose native language is English, students have the full curriculum available to them.  Due to this large selection of course offerings, this exchange program will satisfy the academic needs, including research, of almost any Texas A&M student.  Upon completion of the program, students will earn a minimum of 12 hours of A&M credit for semester only studies or 24 hours of A&M credit for academic year long studies. 

For a complete listing of available courses, click here.  Please be sure to pay check that the course is offered during the terms that you plan to study at Lancaster.  Students spending only the fall semester at Lancaster will enroll in classes that last just for the Michaelmas term (M).  Students that will enroll at Lancaster for just the spring semester will enroll in classes that last for both the Lent and the Summer term (LS).  Students are encouraged to meet with the program advisor, Ms. Orie Varner, to discuss course options prior to applying for the program.

Course syllabi may be found online, click here.

For the Lancaster academic calendar (see page 9), click here.

C. Housing

Students at Lancaster live and learn "in college" under the traditional British educational system, renowned for the closeness of teacher-student contact.  Due this residential college format, students are quickly integrated into Lancaster's residences, social life and extra-curricular activities.  The majority of on campus rooms are ensuite (with private shower, washbasin and toilet) and a limited number have a washbasin and shared bathroom facilities. Telephones and internet points are available in all study bedrooms.  Dorms also include cooking facilities.  In each college there is a mix of British undergraduates and international students.

For more information on housing options, click here. 

All accommodation is self catering and Lancaster does not have a comprehensive meal plan. However, campus facilities offer a variety of outlets: coffee and snack bars, a pizzeria, Chinese and Indian restaurants, fish and chip shop, a bakery and licensed bars. Vegetarian choices are widely available and snacks and sandwiches can be bought from the bakery, supermarket and coffee shops on campus. 

D. Costs

One of the benefits of participating in a reciprocal exchange is their affordability.  Overall costs are comparable to studying in College Station with the main difference in costs coming from travel related expenses and the exchange rate of the US dollar against the British Pound. 

Please keep in mind that because you are enrolled at A&M, your tuition and fees will be paid at A&M just as if you were taking classes on campus.  Housing is paid directly to Lancaster upon arrival at the university.  Additionally, students will be provided with the necessary information for them to make arrangements for all other expenses.  A cost breakdown is provided in the program brochure in the helpful links section. 

As soon as you decide to participate in a study abroad program, you will want to look into the funding available.  Texas A&M Scholarships designated specifically for study abroad include: The Study Abroad Fellowship and the International Education Fee Scholarship.   More information on funding opportunities is available at http://studyabroad.tamu.edu/?go=financial_resources and http://www.studyabroadfunding.org.  

E. Helpful Links

• 2012-2013 Brochure and Semester Program Costs
• Lancaster Courses
• Lancaster Module Catalog (Syllabi Listing)
• A&M Course Equivalencies Database
• Academic Calendar
• Housing
• Information for Students Going to Lancaster University
• Pre-Arrival Guide for International Students
• Lancaster Study Abroad Handbook
• Student Life at Lancaster
• Virtual Campus Tour
• Lancaster International Student Services
• City of Lancaster Information – Official Tourism Website
• City of Lancaster Information – Lonely Planet
• Facebook Group
• BAFTX Study Abroad Scholarships
• BUTEX Scholarships
• Culture Shock in the UK

For more information, contact Orie Varner. 

Student Quote

"It was an indescribable experience, but I feel as though it has opened a door to a world that I never knew existed. I chose the Lancaster University reciprocal exchange program because of the cost and because I could take Chemistry courses. When I got there, I fell in love with all of the people and the location. Lancaster is located next to the mountains so on the weekends I would go camping, hiking and backpacking. I even joined the university's volleyball team and had the chance to travel all over England for matches. Although I think my high school volleyball team was better, we ranked 2nd in the country and I have the trophy to show for it! A year sounds like long a time, but you'll be so busy that you're not even going to think about being homesick. I wish I had more time there because it went by too fast. A longer time in a country really allows you to be immersed and to become a part of the culture. Lancaster was an unforgettable experience.

A bonus to studying abroad is that it will make me more attractive for the job market. I will have international experience when most Chemistry majors don't. Not only that, studying abroad taught me a lot about myself. I have a new outlook on life. Nothing seems the same. I now feel confident that I can achieve things I wouldn't have considered before like learning another language or attending graduate school in Europe. Without hesitation, I would recommend the program to others!"

Helen Hamilton '10

Major: Chemistry

Hometown: Sealy, Texas