You Asked; We Answered
Over on our Instagram (@lancastersu by the way 👀), we asked you guys to send your questions about all things Lancaster our way. And you had lots to ask!
So, here are some of the highlights for you to come back to.
Is Lancaster a Good Place to Live?
Short answer? Yes! And an amazing one at that!
The longer answer?
We're on a beautiful campus, nestled south of the Lake District, not far from the northwest coast, and within an hour train ride of the Manchester city lights.
Check out our Life in Lancaster page which tells you all about our campus, colleges, places nearby, or take a look at our Find Your People page to see just some of the opportunities to get stuck into life here in Lancaster.
What’s there to do during Welcome Week?
There are tons of events for you to get involved in during Welcome Week, so you’ll never be bored. From Sugarhouse club nights to college socials, and so much more, there’s something for everyone!
Keep an eye out on our website for our events calendar to stay up to date, and check out our list of welcome week events you can’t afford to miss here!
What can a non-drinker do during Freshers’ Week?
Welcome Week isn’t all about drinking! It might seem like it, but there are always non-alcoholic events going on around campus.
Your colleges have plenty of alcohol-free events going on, such as Lonsdale’s Pride Feast, Just Dance with Fylde, and plenty of movie/games nights. You can check out the non-alcoholic fresher’s events here.
The Fresher’s Fair is also a non-alcoholic event, providing you the chance to meet societies and learn more about Lancaster as a whole. Join us on Wednesday 2nd October from 11:30am in the Sports Centre Complex.
There’s plenty of ways to gain experience during your time at Lancaster!
You can become an Academic Rep or Junior Common Room Exec to represent your course or your college. Or, you can nominate yourself for a role during our student elections period.
Check out more ways to get involved at LUSU here.
If you’re looking for other paid or volunteer work, there are lots of opportunities through us, the university, and beyond that you can consider. You can learn more through our article on Making Money and Gaining Experience While at University.
Any ways to get experience?
Do you have any tips for making friends and keeping a good social life?
There are plenty of ways for you to meet people and discover new passions while you're here!
During Welcome Week and beyond, your college is the place to go. They will host plenty of events and socials and you can show up to as many or as little as you want.
Societies and clubs are also a great way to keep your social life engaged, as well as discover new skills and passions. From Pokémon to dance, plus cultural & faith societies, there's something for everyone.
Find more ways to find your people here!
How many societies can you join? Do societies have a member limit?
LUSU facilitates over 160 clubs and societies in Lancaster and we encourage you to get involved and join as many as your heart desires!
It's a great way to find new hobbies, meet new people and get fully immersed in uni life.
There are no limits to how many societies you join, and most will not limit numbers either.
Check out our Societies rundown and peruse the societies available to you ahead of Freshers Fair (Weds 2nd Oct), where you can meet and quiz anyone who piques your interest!
Can I go to a society's meeting before actually joining the society?
Generally, a lot of societies will host Taster Sessions - these are free sessions that anyone can join to get an idea of what a society is like before joining officially. It's a great chance to get first hand vibes before deciding if a society is for you.
You can ask societies about Taster Sessions at the Freshers' Fair!
Do you have to join a competitive team if I want to do a sport?
You don't have to join a competitive team to get involved in sport at LUSU!
If a casual vibe is more your style, you can go to our Turn Up and Play sessions to try out sports and meet new people, minus the commitment.
Learn more about Turn Up & Play here.
What’s the night life like?
There are a few nightclubs in town, including the Sugarhouse… owned by yours truly 😉
Sugar is the only student nightclub in town, offering plenty of events throughout the academic year.
During Welcome Week, the Sugarhouse will be hosting events throughout so that you can join in on the fun. You can also grab their Exclusive Fresher's Week Wristband to save £££ on entry to all their events.
Find out more about the Sugarhouse here.
Any good food shop recs?
We may be a little biased, but our fave shop on campus is @lusu.shop!
You'll find it on the South Spine, just by Grizedale college. It has everything you need from snacks to alcohol, plus, the cheapest three-piece full meal deal you can get on campus.
LUSU Shop is run by us, so all profits go straight back into supporting you and your student experience.
Find out more about LUSU Shop here.
For more shopping recommendations, check out A Guide to Shopping in Lancaster.
Is there any support for mental health/disabilities?
At Lancaster, there is lots of support available to you - no matter what it is.
The university has designated services for both mental health wellbeing, and disability support that you can contact at any time while you're a student here. You can also contact your academic advisors for help.
Your Colleges are also here to support you! They offer help and advice through their wellbeing officer and College Advisor Team.
If you're unsure where to go, or if you need support finding the right help, then our LUSU Advice Service are here for you.
The Advice Service is comprised of fully trained, professional advisors that you can contact throughout your time at university for help with anything ranging from academic issues to housing, wellbeing, and hate crime.
Learn more about our LUSU Advice Service here.
...and that's the end of our Q&A!
But that doesn’t mean you can’t still ask us questions.
If there’s something else you want to ask, our Instagram DMs are open to you to send your questions our way. You can also send us an email over at help@lancastersu.co.uk, or drop into to our Welcome Desk in Bowland main.
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