Lancaster University : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details | Top Universities
Ranking

# =141QS World University Rankings

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440Undergraduate programs

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225Postgraduate programs

stars

5QS stars

About Lancaster University

Located just three miles from Lancaster city centre in England's scenic North-West, Lancaster University is situated on a spacious green campus. Our community is comprised of staff and students from over 100 countries, so whether you’re local or crossing oceans to join us, you’ll build lifelong connections that cross borders and make memories to last a lifetime.

Lancaster is internationally renowned for excellence in teaching and research. We are proud to be a UK Top 10 University (Complete University Guide 2025) and Top 150 in the World according to the QS World Rankings 2025.

Lancaster students benefit from access to our dedicated careers team for life and this year we were named one of the top 30 most targeted universities by the UK's top graduate employers by the Graduate Market in 2024 report (High Fliers). 

Our community is split into eight undergraduate and a postgraduate college, each providing access to wellbeing professionals, events and social activities, trips and excursions, and social spaces.

Accommodation at Lancaster has been named UK’s ‘Best University Halls’ eight times since 2010 at the Global Student Living Index awards, so whatever your budget or room preference, you’ll find a comfortable place to live.

Our teaching is underpinned by the research we do to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.  Our community of researchers transform lives and communities across the globe. The strength of our research was recognised by the UK Government’s Research Excellence Framework which rated 91% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in 2021.  

One of the key pillars of the University, is our commitment to sustainability. We declared a climate emergency in 2020 and aim to become carbon neutral by 2035. We are delighted to have been awarded a Gold rating for Environmental Impact as part of the QS World University Rankings 2023. Alongside our sustainability policies, you’ll find many ‘green’ initiatives on campus, including our wind turbine and the Green Lancaster partnership.

Our green, spacious campus is a home from home with everything you would expect from a university, including modern lecture theatres, specialist subject spaces, and an award-winning, 24-7 in term time library. Here, you will also find the unexpected - arts venues including a cinema, theatre, art gallery, extensive indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, shops, restaurants, cafes, a pharmacy, a medical practice and much more. The campus is like a self-contained town with everything you need close by.

Outside of the colleges and academic departments, you can also get involved in events and activities through the many student societies and clubs. With over 175 to join, from academic interests and volunteering to craft hobbies and sports, there are plenty of new experiences to be had at Lancaster. 

Find out more

Postgraduate Open Day - 8 February 2025

Want to find out more about postgraduate study at Lancaster? Our on campus open day will provide the perfect opportunity to see what we have to offer. Discover the wide range of postgraduate study options available, meet your academic department and get valuable information and advice on the application process, fees and funding support.

Book your place

About Lancaster University

Located just three miles from Lancaster city centre in England's scenic North-West, Lancaster University is situated on a spacious green campus. Our community is comprised of staff and students from over 100 countries, so whether you’re local or crossing oceans to join us, you’ll build lifelong connections that cross borders and make memories to last a lifetime.

Lancaster is internationally renowned for excellence in teaching and research. We are proud to be a UK Top 10 University (Complete University Guide 2025) and Top 150 in the World according to the QS World Rankings 2025.

Lancaster students benefit from access to our dedicated careers team for life and this year we were named one of the top 30 most targeted universities by the UK's top graduate employers by the Graduate Market in 2024 report (High Fliers). 

Our community is split into eight undergraduate and a postgraduate college, each providing access to wellbeing professionals, events and social activities, trips and excursions, and social spaces.

Accommodation at Lancaster has been named UK’s ‘Best University Halls’ eight times since 2010 at the Global Student Living Index awards, so whatever your budget or room preference, you’ll find a comfortable place to live.

Our teaching is underpinned by the research we do to solve some of the world’s greatest challenges.  Our community of researchers transform lives and communities across the globe. The strength of our research was recognised by the UK Government’s Research Excellence Framework which rated 91% of our research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in 2021.  

One of the key pillars of the University, is our commitment to sustainability. We declared a climate emergency in 2020 and aim to become carbon neutral by 2035. We are delighted to have been awarded a Gold rating for Environmental Impact as part of the QS World University Rankings 2023. Alongside our sustainability policies, you’ll find many ‘green’ initiatives on campus, including our wind turbine and the Green Lancaster partnership.

Our green, spacious campus is a home from home with everything you would expect from a university, including modern lecture theatres, specialist subject spaces, and an award-winning, 24-7 in term time library. Here, you will also find the unexpected - arts venues including a cinema, theatre, art gallery, extensive indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, shops, restaurants, cafes, a pharmacy, a medical practice and much more. The campus is like a self-contained town with everything you need close by.

Outside of the colleges and academic departments, you can also get involved in events and activities through the many student societies and clubs. With over 175 to join, from academic interests and volunteering to craft hobbies and sports, there are plenty of new experiences to be had at Lancaster. 

Find out more

Postgraduate Open Day - 8 February 2025

Want to find out more about postgraduate study at Lancaster? Our on campus open day will provide the perfect opportunity to see what we have to offer. Discover the wide range of postgraduate study options available, meet your academic department and get valuable information and advice on the application process, fees and funding support.

Book your place

Available programs

Design BA Hons

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Fine Art BA Hons

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History BA Hons

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Economics BA Hons

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Finance BSc Hons

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Biology BSc Hons

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Biology MSci Hons

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Zoology BSc Hons

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Geography BA Hons

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Physics BSc Hons

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Law LLB Hons

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Politics BA Hons

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Sociology BA Hons

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Design Futures MA

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Fine Art MA

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Global Affairs MA

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History MA

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Philosophy MA

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Economics MSc

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Finance MSc

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Management MSc

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Management MSc

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Marketing MSc

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Film Studies MA

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Gender Studies MA

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Law LLM

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Politics MA

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Public Policy MSc

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Sociology MA

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Statistics MSc

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University information

Lancaster has a dedicated team of Admissions staff that manage applications and are on hand to help with any questions you might have about your application. We also have a specialist Visa and Immigration team to process visa applications and provide advice and guidance to you as you apply to study in the UK.

General

3.3+
35+
6.5+

Bachelor

6.5+
87+

Master

580+
3.3+
6.5+
87+

The Lancaster University campus has everything you'll need for an enriching student experience. 

Campus will become your home from home and provide a background to all the memories you will make during your time at university.  

Located at the heart of campus, our library is a welcoming place that brings people together to study, learn and attend events. With staff ready to support your learning, over a million digital and physical resources, living walls and a tree affectionately named Norma.

Our eight undergraduate colleges have a social space each (open to all) and campus boasts a bunch of food outlets and recreational spaces that are the perfect setting for life outside of your studies.

Surrounded by woodland that you can explore with paths and trails, campus has many green spaces that are ideal for moments of calm or somewhere to socialise with friends.

Keep healthy with our extensive sports facilities, including sports halls, a climbing wall, swimming pool, fitness suite, strength and conditioning room, outdoor pitches and courts, and a 2.6-mile Trim Trail that spans campus. 

When venturing off campus, you’ll find a packed calendar of events and everything you need from a city in Lancaster - shops, cosy cafes and pubs, buzzing bars and clubs (including our very own Students’ Union nightclub), and an assortment of places to eat.  

Lancaster’s location means choice, from city life to the scenic quiet of the UNESCO world heritage site on our doorstep, the Lake District. By train, we're around 1 hour from Manchester or Liverpool or 2.5 hours from London, Glasgow or Edinburgh. Lancaster is well connected and easy to get to. 

15,397
79%
21%
5,492
69%
31%
1,456
62%
38%

Student life

The colleges are central to student life at Lancaster. 

Moving to university can be daunting at first, but your college is there to help you settle in. You and your college will move in together, take part in Welcome Week events together, and forge connections in the early stages of university.

Every college has its own bar, social spaces, sports teams, days out and events. This means there’s always something to do, somewhere to go, and a genuine community to be a part of. With 24/7 security in term time and dedicated welfare teams in each college, you can feel safe and secure knowing that your college has your back.

Lancaster University Students’ Union is here to enhance every aspect of your time as a student – supporting your social life, your studies, your sporting activities, your hobbies  and interests, and the causes you care about. Your activity groups are at the heart of life at Lancaster. With more than 175 clubs and societies covering a huge range of sports, activities, hobbies and causes, there’s something for everyone – we’re here to help you find it, making sure you find a sense of belonging.

The Students’ Union also helps build a sense of community on campus by hosting a full calendar of events – including Roses (our annual sporting event with the University of York) and Lancaster’s legendary ‘Extrav’ celebrations at the end of the year.

You’ll have every possible opportunity to make international connections at Lancaster, meeting students from more than 120 countries – whether you’re doing group work, getting involved with one of our student societies or enjoying a night off at a big celebration.

You might spend a few weeks abroad as part of your course, or even study for a whole academic year with one of our partner institutions around the world. And when you graduate, you’ll join an alumni network that touches every corner of the globe – putting a 170-country network at your fingertips.

If you study at Lancaster, you won’t just graduate with an excellent degree from an institution recognised nationally and internationally for its leading teaching and research, but with memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Going to university is a life-changing experience; it’s about expanding your knowledge, developing new skills, and making meaningful connections.

Studying at Lancaster University is an investment in your future. Our students benefit from excellent teaching, which is underpinned by world-leading research and meaningful engagement with industry.

Our courses are informed by industry and designed to train people for the future global workplace. In addition to the opportunities to engage with companies and learn about industries that are built into our degrees, there is also a vast range of development activities available through the Careers service, the Students’ Union, sports clubs and student societies, and elsewhere in the University.

Whether you have an idea about your career path before you start university or not, we’re here to guide and support you throughout your time studying with us and throughout your life as a Lancaster graduate. In addition to the careers workshops and activities you might expect at university, such as CV advice and interview practice, we offer a range of work experiences, study and work abroad opportunities and bespoke employability programmes to help international students prepare for a career in the UK or overseas.

Tuition fee and scholarships

Domestic Students

9,250 GBP
-

International Students

22,000 GBP
-

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
opportunities

Where to look for scholarship opportunities

how_to

How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

list

A list of available scholarships around the world

checklist

A scholarship application checklist

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Your tuition fees will be based on your residential status at the time of applying. To find out how much your tuition fees will be, please go to our course search and find the degree you are interested in studying or view the fees at a glance.

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.

We also offer scholarships to high-achieving students around the world. Check our Scholarships and Bursaries pages for more information.

Rankings & ratings

Lancaster University is one of the top public universities in Lancaster,, United Kingdom. It is ranked #=141 in QS World University Rankings 2025.

QS World University Rankings

  • 2012
    #163
  • 2014
    #156
  • 2015
    #160
  • 2016
    #121
  • 2017
    #129
  • 2018
    #=135
  • 2019
    #131
  • 2020
    #128
  • 2021
    #135
  • 2022
    #132
  • 2023
    #146
  • 2024
    #122
  • 2025
    #=141
QS Stars is a rating system that helps you select the right university based on your interests. It provides a detailed look at an institution, identifying which universities rate highest in the specific topics that matter to you, like facilities, graduate employability, social responsibility, inclusiveness, and more.

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Campus locations

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FAQs

Your tuition fees will be based on your residential status at the time of applying. To find out how much your tuition fees will be, please go to our course search and find the degree you are interested in studying or view the fees at a glance.
Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting in the October of your year of study.
We also offer scholarships to high-achieving students around the world. Check our Scholarships and Bursaries pages for more information.
Lancaster University advanced Public Very High 11 yes 22000 5492 L 335