Lancaster Uni

CHILLIWILLIE

:beer: Eldest daughter will be going this year,doing sociology, living in, anyone out there got any advice ? Things like finance, budgeting, cooking for herself laundry etc etc that sort of thing.

Darksun

I'm a first year (Computer Science Major) at Lancaster University, it's brilliant!

There's a couple of things different about Lancaster to most other universities in the UK, you'll probably get loads of information about them but I'll quickly let you know anyway.

The first is the college system. There are 8 Undergraduate colleges (and one postgraduate college) in the university, you become a member of one of them. Each has it's own accomodation, facilities, bar and council (JCR). Really, they're all about the same, and whichever one you end up in is the best. I based my choice on accomodation - I chose one of the cheapest, but I didn't want to share with too many (I'm in a corridor with 9 others, it's great - some corridors share with up to 25 others I think). Some of the colleges have newer accomodation that's all en-suite, but this is pricey (and a bit out of the way, it's about 10 minutes walk from most of campus). They're also redeveloping a lot, possibly some of the new buildings will be finished for next year (I believe they will become part of Furness college).

The other difference is the minor system. In the first year, you study three subjects. One of these is the major you applied for, the other two are (usually) your own choice. It's possible to switch majors at the end of the year, and carry on with a different subject in 2nd and 3rd year, if you wish. Sometimes subjects take up two of your minors, so you only do one additional subject (like Computer Science). Sometimes by taking one subject you have to take another, there are a few rules like this but it's all straighforward enough, and you don't have to choose your minors till midway through freshers week.

All accomodation on campus is self catering. There are a few places to eat on campus but these are pricey and not all that good, so making your own food is the way to go. Don't worry, I can't cook and I manage, so your daughter should aswell There are also plenty of laundrettes with washers and driers on campus.

Most things like budgeting, finance, loans etc are the same for all unis. You'll receive information about it, and there's plenty of information on the web. Lancaster has a great support network aswell, so if there's ever any problems, there's a whole range of people to talk to (corridor reps, tutors, JCR, student union, etc).

Of course, there's also the most important thing about university - going out :P
There are 9 bars on campus (one for each college), they're not really cheap but not expensive either. There are also plenty of bars and clubs in town, during freshers week the college intro team try and make you see as many of them as possible.

Anyway, if you or daughter have any more questions, just post them, I'll try to answer them best as possible.

CHILLIWILLIE

Thanks very much for that Darksun, it sounds great, we took a trip to the Uni a few weks back and got the guided tour.I was very impressed with it and I think she was too,we went round Cartmel, looked nice. :beer:
I wish I was 18 again and had been offered the chance to go to Uni, I just know I would of loved it, still, I somtimes wish I was 18 again anyway knowing what I know now ! (or then again, maybe not)

nearlyrich

We have done at least 2 previous threads on going to uni, I would think they are still around, lots of contributions from students and tutors and parents, both experienced with students and nervous newbies to further education.

I will have a search and post some links if I can find them.

CHILLIWILLIE

:j I`m still new to all this postin :T g lark, so please be gentle !

nearlyrich

Here's one from last year

Welcome to MSE and don't worry about being new we all had to start somewhere.:beer:

CHILLIWILLIE

Just a quickie, nothing to do with students, how do I get an Avatar ?

andrew1810

I graduated from Lancaster in 2004 (BSc Business studies), loved every minute of it there.

I was there before all of the building work, so was 'placed' in the Bowland Annexe (16 in a corridor, 1 kitchen and one shared toilet between us, 2 showers and 3 toilets, also no sink in the rooms!! :eek: )
The new accomodation looks much nicer though.

For laundry, stock up on 10p and 20p pieces for the dryers, the washing machines use a card which you buy before hand from the Porters.

Whereabouts up north are you, I'm in Northumberland, so if you are up this way I can give advice on the best routes to take etc. I lost count how many times I drove that route!

Andrew

greyster

I did MSc IT, Management and Organisational Change there for a year. You got to love the place. It has the largest campus in the UK, 2 miles away from the City *cough* town. Students can quite happily survive there without ever needing to go to town but I'm sure your daughter will want to venture out there soon. Its only a campus after all even if it has a load of bars with cheap drinks!

Moneysaving wise -

There is only a Spar ... a large one. If she wants to save money on food she'll have to shop in town which has a Sainsburys and Quiksave. There is an Asda and Morrisons in Morecambe. Only 10 mins by car (too long on the bus route).

Just before I got a car, Asda announced home delivery in Lancaster area. Worth a look to see if they deliver the extra two miles to the campus. This is an ultimate money saver seeing as delivery is £3-5 which divided down across flatmates is nothing. There are also £10 off £40 spend codes often for Asda online shopping.

Make sure she uses her NUS card everywhere for the usual 10-20% discount. Dorothy Perkins (Burtons for me, just to be clear) is one of the best shops for students with discounts on top of sales discounts. HMV do good discounts on CDs/DVDs for students too on and offline. Local cinema and multiplex in Morecambe do discounts too.

Can't think of much else. I look back at my 5 years of uni and i must have saved £££££££ with my NUS card. The town has just launched a city card for a fiver which I now use to get similar discounts to the NUS card.

Oh yeah .... if you are worried about your daughter going out and stuff in Lancaster - Its quite a safe place especially in groups. The uni owns a club in town called Sugarhouse which is students only even on a Fri/Sat night during term time. So she will definitely feel the student atmosphere. I wish Plymouth uni had something like this when the Marines were in the port

CHILLIWILLIE

Thanks for that info, handy to have someone who`s realy been there rarther than get the "official " line. It sounds like a fantastic 3 years coming up for her, and it`s only 1 hour`s drive away from home so Mother will be a bit happier, she thinks we are going to be taking food parcels up there every weekend, and bringing back laundry, I`ve got news for her ha ha. :beer: