Lancaster University creates positive economic, cultural, societal and environmental change. We do this by combining our independent spirit with high quality teaching and research and our strong sense of community.

Considered among the best in the UK; we're consistently placed in the top 15 in major UK league tables and rank highly in international league tables such as the QS World Rankings. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 91% of Lancaster’s research was rated ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

Crossing borders and connecting businesses and sectors, our approach to research collaboration and teaching is global. Lancaster University values diversity and this includes our interdisciplinary approach to research which encourages diversity of thought.

Our researchers enjoy the opportunities to work together with experts from different disciplines to address regional, national and global challenges in a holistic way. For example, our Future Cities Research Institute based at our partner campus at Sunway University, Malaysia is looking at the challenges facing urban environments, addressing issues around sustainability, resilience, health and the impact of digital technology.

Engaging with businesses, public sector and not-for-profit organisations ensures our knowledge, expertise and resources have real-world impact. Lancaster University helps businesses to grow, solves problems through developing new technologies and provides specialist expertise to tackle social, commercial, environmental and technical issues. Lancaster’s research and knowledge exchange activities with businesses made a positive economic impact of £726 million in the UK in 2021-22 (report by London Economics).

With our beautiful, main campus in north-west England and our five global teaching partnerships across three continents, Lancaster University offers rich educational and social experiences to more than 29,000 students worldwide. Even after graduating, Lancaster students remain part of our community. We invest in helping our alumni of over 170,000 members from over 180 nationalities have fulfilling careers by providing careers advice for life.

Staying true to our founding motto ‘Truth lies open to all’ we connect with our communities through widening participation and pathway programmes and more inclusive learning models to increase access to higher education. By transforming the aspirations of a broader section of people we contribute to greater social mobility and inspire a different generation of change-makers.

We believe that universities should be shaping the future; and that attitude is demonstrated by how we anticipate and engage with global change and challenges, through research, partnerships and the evolution of our teaching offerings. Lancaster University has made a commitment to becoming carbon net zero from all emission scopes by 2035. We are one of the highest producers of renewable energy within the UK Higher Education sector. We are committed to positive change.