Lancaster University is set in parkland, surrounded by beautiful countryside with a view extending to the sea and offers both easy access to the thriving city of Lancaster 3 miles away and the advantages of a friendly, safe and compact campus. It  is located in the city of Lancaster, a picturesque city of about 50,000 on the west coast of England, lying just south of Lake District National Park.  This area is great for hiking, canoeing, climbing, and other outdoor activities.  The city has plenty of things to do and places to see, but maintains its small- town-friendly atmosphere.  Lancaster has a variety of restaurants and bistros, and plenty of cute shops, parks, and walking paths.  Liverpool and Manchester are close by, and London is three hours away by train.  Travel to Ireland and throughout Europe is quick and easy.  Students often travel on weekends and vacations. Read the Welcome brochure for study abroad students here.

Academics:

Lancaster University has a different calendar than UMaine. The fall semester is called Michealmas term and the spring semester is divided into Lent term and Summer term. There is a month-long Easter vacation between Lent and Summer term and exchange students use it to travel around the U.K. and the rest of Europe.

Michaelmas term (fall): October 8, 2010 to  December 17, 2010

Lent and Summer term (spring) : January 14, 2011 to July1,  2011 (Spring break   – March 25  to 29 April)

Lancaster University offers a large selection of courses across many majors. Exchange students may choose courses in any study area, as long as they meet any prerequisites for the course. Browse available courses in the Study Abroad Handbook.

Bachelor degrees in England take three years to complete and the course numbers at Lancaster are different from the course numbers at UMaine. At Lancaster University, 100-level courses are usually equivalent to 100- and 200- level courses at UMaine. Courses at the 200- and 300-level correspond to 300- and 400- level courses at UMaine respectively. Transferring credits  from Lancaster University is as follows:

4 credit hours at Lancaster University = 4 credit hours at UMaine

Students should pay attention to the following designation to determine which courses they can select for registration. Exchange students cannot register for a course offered for the academic year (FY) if they are studying at Lancaster University for only one semester.

FY - A course taught throughout the academic year

M - A course taught in the Michaelmas term (October – December)

L - A course taught in the Lent term (January – April)

LS – A course taught in the Lent and Summer terms (January – June)

S – A course taught in the Summer term, (April – June) and ending in June

M or L – A course taught in either the Michaelmas or Lent term.

For course equivalency between UMaine and Lancaster University, visit the Transfer Course Equivalencies  link (third on the left) on the MaineStreet website. No login required.

Housing:

At Lancaster University, American students live with other international students as well as British students in on-campus residences called ‘colleges.’  Read about the eight Lancaster colleges to decide which college you would like to live in and join. These colleges sponsor social events, gathering places, and many activities. Housing during Easter break (almost all of April) is not included in the housing cost for the semester. Students studying at Lancaster University for the Lent and Summer term should set aside sufficient funds to cover housing during Easter break.

Housing is guaranteed for exchange students. Students can live in a single room in a suite with a shared bathroom, a single room with a private bathroom, or students can share a room with another international student. A housing deposit of 200 British pounds must be paid in August for a September start, which will be returned to the student at the end of the semester if there is no damage to the room.

Helpful links:

• Study Abroad guide for Lancaster University – information about the university, housing, cost, course registration, etc.
• Maps and travel
• Financial Information
• Passports, visas and working in the U.K.
• Pre-arrival information

Application process:

Schedule a meeting with the Study Abroad Advisor to start the study abroad process at 207-581-1509. Read about the application process here.  

Back to Study Abroad Programs