New To Lancaster

Are you a new student starting at Lancaster or an exchange student coming over? We have listed a few tips and tricks for you on this page to help you make the best of your first few weeks here and get you acquainted with the university.

What to bring to uni

These are some essential stuff you will need in your flat. Don’t worry about bringing everything with you during your travel, but do plan a shop when you arrive to get those things you didn’t bring.

Cleaning stuff – Sponges, wipes, washing up liquid, kitchen roll, some sort of cleaning spray. A lot of accommodation has cleaners that will clean the kitchen floor and surfaces, but its still good to have these things on hand. The cleaners will not do your washing up or clean your mess.
Plates, glasses and bowls – You really don’t need more than one plate, bowl, mug, glass and set of cutlery each. Maybe 2 in case you have a friend round or brake one. If you only have enough for you, it will help you keep on top of your washing up.
Pans and baking trays – Again, be realistic. Don’t bring loads, again it will help you manage your washing up and the odds of you cooking a meal that requires more than two pans at once are slim.
Chopping Board – It’s one of those things people seem to forget.
Utensils – A good wooden spoon and specular and colander are probably as much as you need to be honest.
One good knife – As you get older, you appreciate the value of that one good knife you have in the kitchen more than you may appreciate right now. But trust me, having that one good knife for chopping is just great
Swimming Costume – Swimming is a great way to relieve stress and an excellent low impact workout. Having yours with you saves you the hassle of having to go out and buy a new one when you fancy a swim.
Hiking Boots – Whether you’re going to the Lake District for the day, taking a trip to the Trough Of Bowland or having a wander around the woodland trail on campus, having some boots or shoes you don’t mind getting mucky is good.
Slippers – The fire alarm will go off in the night at some point, and you won’t always want to wear shoes for nipping around the flat so invest in some slippers for comfy walking.
Dressing gown – For pretty much the same reason as slippers.
Wellies – Lancaster is a wet place, wellies or waterproof shoes are handy for town and wandering around campus.
Sportswear – Team trials are at the end of Welcome Week, but even if you aren’t planning on trying out for a uni or college team having some activewear with you will be handy.
Winter clothes – Hats, gloves, coat, jumpers etc. Lancaster is pretty north, and it does get cold by late October so be ready. You don’t want to be having to travel home to pick up your winter wardrobe.
Post-it notes – Different shapes, sizes and colours. They are useful for studying, reminders, notes, place holders and more.
Coloured pens – Sharpies, felt tip pens and biros and highlighters. Using different colours can be so helpful in editing and revision. And they come in useful for fancy dress.
Pencil pot – For your desk so you aren’t scrambling around for pens and it keeps your workspace clear.
Files – Having a file or two helps keep things together. A lot of essay submissions are digital, but you’ll find you print things and have loose notes lying around. Best keeping them together to help future you out.
Notebooks – A notebook per module or subject is not excessive. It means your notes are in order when you come to look back through your books.
Pencil sharpener – So many people don’t have them, and you’ll find yourself all using the one pencil sharper of the art student you happen to live with. The same goes for erasers.
Scissors – You never know when you might need them.

Easy to forget stuff:

Laundry basket – Doesn’t need much of an explanation but don’t forget it!
Passport and ID – You will need your passport if you get a part-time job, take a trip or even as ID. Double-check you have it.
Headphones – So easy to forget.
Phone Charger – Easy to forget
Laptop – People genuinely forget to bring their laptops.
Paracetamol – There is a chemist on campus but always good to have a few in.

Pre-arrival

First of all, you should decide how you will travel to Lancaster. We are easily reachable by plane and car. If you travel by plane, the closest international airport is Manchester, and that’s only a short train journey away. If you have decided you will take the car to Lancaster, we are right off the M6. Take J33 and take the second exit on the roundabout; you cannot miss us. You should have been notified when we are expecting you for the move-in weekend (if you have accommodation in town, make sure you know when you are allowed in).

Make sure you have got everything you need for your dorm or flat, we have made an overview of things we thought are necessary just above.

Finally, do take the time to say goodbye to friend and family, as it might be a while until you see each other again. But do not worry, you will make loads of new friends here at the university, and the college!

This is an interesting video made by the university, which is good to watch as well. Somethings are more targetted at undergraduates, like the colleges, but there is loads of useful information for postgraduates.

Important

Please do not ship your belongings ahead of your arrival. If you need to send items, then please make sure they will arrive AFTER you do. We do not have enough storage space to keep things for weeks before you get here!

Please do not ship any perishable food items. We have had many parcels delivered to the college filled with mouldy, smelly and inedible food. You should easily be able to purchase all the foods you prefer and want in Lancaster or surrounding areas. Please make sure your family and friends do not send food to you either!

If you are an international student, make sure your visa has been sorted so you can come into the country.

Welcome Week

Welcome Week signifies the beginning of the academic year at Lancaster and is also referred to as week 0. In 2019/2020 Welcome Week will start on 30 September and ends on 6 October. During this week the PG Board, Graduate College and university will organise all kinds of events for you to attend and meet your new friends at the college. Both the PG Board and College hold a postgraduate welcome event in the Great Hall to welcome all postgraduates to the new academic year; it is usually followed by a Postgraduate Fair to introduce a whole range of societies to join during the year.

A detailed overview of Welcome Week activities will be posted shortly!

First weeks of class

The first weeks of class seem scary, these might be your first experience with postgraduate studies, and you might feel overwhelmed. Be sure to look after yourself, have a good nights sleep and eat healthily. If you ever feel down, go and talk to your new friends (they are all going through the same), drop by the college/PG Board for an informal chat or go to the Student Based Services at The Base for professional help if you feel it’s necessary. Keeping fit is also a good way to relieve stress, our sports centre has loads of facilities to enjoy such as a excersise room, swimming pool, indoor courts (batminton, tennis etc.) and outdoor courts (football, rugby…).

It might be obvious, but don’t forget to keep up-to-date with your coursework and studies so you won’t get overwhelmed at the end of the term. Don’t forget your tutors and lecturers are here to help you with your academics, so do send them an email or have a chat after class if you need help with anything.

Student Representation

As a postgraduate student you will be at Lancaster for one year (Masters) or more (PhD), so try and make the best out of it. One very rewardign way is to join the Students’ Union (it also looks good on your CV), there are many ways you can become a student representative. If you want to help your fellow cohort you can become an Academic Rep and work together with your department to improve your degree and facilties, reach out to your Postgraduate Coordinator if you want to become one. On a larger level you can join the PG Board itself, there you will work with the College, Students’ Union and sometimes the University to fight for changes academically, scocially, or otherwise. PG Board nominations happen in Week 1, there will be a link on the website and the College Facebook page to point you to the website to nominate yourself. You can find more info about the PG Board on this page.

The College Experience

One of the unique aspects of Lancaster University are the colleges. As a member of Graduate College you will be able to enjoy many of the facilities it provides, we have a great social space (The Social Hub) to socialize with your fellow students, a silent study space if you have a deadline and need to focus, a PC Lab if you need to go online and a group study room for all your group projects. You can find all of them in South-West Campus, close to the College Porters’ Lodge and The Herdwick (Grad Bar). If you live off-campus you are free to use these spaces as well, and we also have an off-campus room, where you can have a shower and store some items if you need to. On main campus we have our own postgraduate room in the library, just for us to use! In town there is a study room at The Storey, which is easy to reach wherever you live in town.