Explore Your Colleges

Lancaster University is a collegiate university (think Hogwarts but cooler). All students are pre-assigned to one of Lancaster’s nine colleges – each with their own unique character – which is yours for life (whether you choose to live on campus or not).

Colleges are co-run by Lancaster University and us, LUSU. You will inevitably get to know your college very well throughout Freshers week and beyond – hosting events, sports, and somewhere to go to find your people.  

Map of the colleges

College Events

During Welcome Week, each of the colleges will host their very own freshers’ events. You can go to as many or as little as you want, and generally college events are open to every student regardless of college affiliation. It’s time to explore!  

You can check out the list of College Freshers’ Events here.  

JCRs

Junior Common Room is essentially your college community while at university. Each JCR has an exec team, who can provide you with help, advice, and welfare support throughout your time at university. They will also host events and activities to make sure that you get the most out of your college identity and your time here at university.  

You can read more about your JCRs here.

Student playing tennis in a colleges tshirt

College Sports

All of our colleges have a fierce rivalry of intercollegiate sport – and have their own football and netball teams which battle out week after week – as well as other activities such as bar sports.   

Sound like something you’d be interested in? You can read some more about Competitive Sport here

College Bars

Yup, that’s right: some of the colleges here at Lancaster have their very own on campus bars and spaces for you to hang out in. Not all of the colleges have bars, but most of them do. 

  • Find the Northern Oak on Mazemap.

  • Find the Trough of Bowland on Mazemap.

  • Find Trevor on Mazemap.

  • Find The Mill on Mazemap.

  • Find Grizedale Bar on Mazemap.

  • Find Pendle Brew on Mazemap.

  • Find the Red Lion on Mazemap.

  • Find Barkers on Mazemap.

Alcoholic drinks

College bars are open to everyone; you don’t have to be a student at a certain college to use their bar!

Summer Ball

At the end of an epic year here at Lancaster, something really special happens… All nine colleges come together with LUSU to put on an end of year party like no other – our renowned Summer Ball. Think music, entertainment and memories to last a lifetime.  

You can read more about what magic the Summer Ball holds here.

Disco ball performer

Your colleges are diverse, welcoming communities that are here for you.

They’re run by students, for students, and ensure that you get the experience you deserve during your time at Lancaster.

And they can’t wait to meet you!  

Written by Shannon Daniel

ENGLISH LANGUAGE & CREATIVE WRITING GRADUATE