Three students in County college pool room

Colleges and Community

Nine colleges - one home

Illustration of nine student faces
Illustration by BA Hons Film Studies student Abbie Flaherty

Central to the Lancaster University experience

When you arrive, university can seem like a buzzing town where everyone else knows where they're going. It can take a while to get your bearings, but your college is there from day one. It's your base on campus, a place you can put down roots, your home.

For most students, your college is also your accommodation for the first year, but it's more than just a place to stay, it's where you'll study and socialise too. You can meet your friends in the social space or join in your college's events and activities such as quizzes, live performances or even cooking classes. If you live off campus, or move into the city in your second year, your college is still yours, wherever you're staying. 

You'll make friends through your course and any societies you might join too, but your college is a ready-made set of friends. You'll live together, compete together in intercollege competitions and most people find these are the friendships that last the longest. 

During your time at Lancaster, your college offers the first port of call for any support. There are staff on duty round the clock, ready to help, whether it's a friendly word of advice, or something more serious. 

Once you have your degree, you'll leave Lancaster University behind, but you'll always belong to your college.

What does it mean to be part of a college?

You'll hear a lot about our colleges, but what will it actually mean to you when you're studying at Lancaster?

Third-year Grizedale College student and Digital Content Ambassador Abbie explains what it means to her to be part of a college, how your college supports you, and how being part of your college can help you build your Lancaster community.

A student group chatting in a study space

Our students' experiences

Listen to our students describing their experiences of the Lancaster community: the societies they join, the people they meet, and the friendships they make.

  • View transcript

    Student 1: "I'd describe the community at Lancaster as very friendly. It's very open, it's very easy to get on with people, it's very easy to meet people with like-minded interests." Student 2: "This community is one that's very tightly knit. Everyone seems to be wanting to help each other out, you know. Everyone's just so nice and helpful." Student 3: "My community at Lancaster, it's very special, it's different, it's very unique because of the wide range of cultures, personalities, just different individuals that you encounter on a daily basis." Student 4: "Lancaster University is so welcoming. The reason that I came to Lancaster University is because of the feel that I got when I attended an open day. I visited a lot of universities, and when I came to Lancaster it was so friendly." Student 5: "Also I like the campus a lot, and I didn't think I would like a campus university, but I think it's really helpful in first-year, makes you feel settled in. It really does feel like a community and you have all the accommodation so close, all in one place." Student 6: "I'd say there's quite a good community feeling, especially with the college system. You tend to get to know quite a lot of people in your college, and you have that identity as part of your degree and the people you hang out with. The community feel is definitely quite strong in comparison to other unis I've been to." Student 7: "It's so easy to meet people here. There are so many societies, and there's not going to be one that you're not interested in if that makes any sense. You'll find something that you're going to be interested in, and if you do, you're going to find other people that are interested in the same thing. That way, you're just going to meet people with common interests and make friends." Student 8: "I joined quite a lot of societies in my first year. They're another community that you can draw into. I did football, netball and darts in my first year. So I did college darts - that was kind of more sociable, we got to meet people on quite a friendly level, not too competitive. And then I did university football. So that was more competitive but still had the group of people that you could interact with, go to socials with. And then darts was kind of just turn up, have a laugh and it was a really nice way to get to know people." Student 9: "Subject-specific societies such as the Advertising or Marketing Society offer really great event, such as networking events with industry leaders or event social events, just getting to know other people on your course you might have never met, or even other people in the uni who don't do your course and you would never otherwise come across." Student 10: "I also joined photography society because that's something I had just started, so that was my hobby. I was just a member. We had workshops, went on some trips, which was really great."

Your community

There are so many members of the Lancaster University community that leave a footprint on the hearts of others, and are remembered by our students long after they leave Lancaster. Our college porters are a friendly face and a first point of contact in colleges for our students, 24 hours a day.

In this video, Lonsdale College student and Digital Content Ambassador Chelsey wanted to thank Paul for his help and support when she moved to Lancaster.

Black and white portrait of a female student

Maddy's experience - County College

"The college experience was great right away as a fresher. I loved that each college had its own events and sense of community. We very quickly became really close, like a little family. As a first experience living away from home, I couldn't have asked for more. It was nice to have the kitchen/living area to socialise and my own room for when I wanted to study and be alone. It's great being back on campus for my third year. I'm still living with friends I lived with in my first year, as well as new people - so even now, I'm still making great friends!"