Meet new people from all walks of life. Find your place on our campus, in our city and community.
As a campus university, imagine our Lancaster site as a very small, friendly town. We have lots of facilities on-site such as: a sports centre, shops, cafes, a multi-faith centre, a post office and, as you’d expect from a university, a fantastic library with fiction and academic resources.
If you’re new to the UK or have never worked for a university or any other large organisation, joining Lancaster University may seem a little daunting. But it doesn’t matter whether you’re from Malaysia, Munich or nearby Morecambe, be assured you will receive a warm north of England welcome.
Once you’ve joined Lancaster University, you’ll get to know familiar faces and places. You will soon make friends through your team, college and our staff networks and any special interest groups you might join. With over 4,000 people working for Lancaster University, from all sorts of backgrounds, in a short while you will get to know people, settle in and make lots of lasting connections.
Sports and exercise facilities at Lancaster Bailrigg campus.
Life at Lancaster University isn’t just about being on campus. Just 15 mins away is the city centre of Lancaster. The castle and cobbled streets hint at the city’s long history, but the independent shops, the range of places to eat and drink, cultural venues and the packed schedule of festivals covering music, literature and arts - many of which Lancaster University plays a part in - show that it is a lively place to live, work and enjoy. See local recommendations from our employees below.
Lancaster city
Ideally located in the centre of the UK, Lancaster is a great base for getting around to experience some of the best cities, countryside and coastlines. As a place to live and work, compared to other cities, Lancaster has a lower cost of living, less traffic and less pollution. Combined with our flexible and hybrid working policy you’ll benefit from lower commuter stress levels and better mental health.
Derwentwater in the Lake District
Don’t just take our word for it when we say Lancaster is a great place to live; here are just a few top recommendations for places to go and things to do in and around Lancaster that our employees want to share with you.
"Lancaster, for a city of its size, has a really vibrant music scene - there is so much choice across a range of venues. The Lancaster Music Festival is also incredible for people who enjoy live music."
Chris, School of Engineering
“Mia Italia and Mia Gelato in Morecambe. Delicious Italian food and homemade gelato. Excellent and friendly service. Good value. Easy to park nearby on the prom, and you can walk off your food afterwards on the prom with a lovely view of Morecambe Bay.”
Sarah, Student and Education Services
"The choice of running routes that are free of traffic! It's the best place I've ever lived for running (and walking and cycling), with the canal towpath, Fairfield Nature Reserve, the route alongside the River Lune, the path to Glasson Dock, and the prom at Morecambe all connected. That's miles and miles of lovely scenery and great paths in, through, and around the city. Perfect for any runners."
Luke, Communications
"The brilliant thing about The Dukes is the variety of its offering. I have seen Shakespeare, farces, comedians, physical theatre, family shows, ballet, and opera. The cinema is also brilliant and often shows new and old films outside of the mainstream. And, if you want to, they let you take a (plastic) glass of wine into the auditorium, which always feels very civilised."
Ali, History
"Happy Mount Park in Morecambe. It is great for a lovely walk, plenty to do for the kids, and a nice cafe right by the sea. Beautiful all year round!"
Rachael, Chemistry
"The Gregson Centre is a community-run venue with a bar, food and more events, classes and clubs than I can list. Great for getting to know other people locally and also very cheap."
Laura, Lancaster University Student Union
"Having the Lake District on the doorstep! Stand-up paddleboard on the UK’s deepest lake (Wastwater), mountain bike down England's second-highest mountain (Helvellyn), and swim in the natural amphitheatre of Buttermere. Wash it all down with a meal and brew as the day draws to a close!"
Jamie, Research and Enterprise Services
Lancaster’s great transport links offer lots of choices in how you can travel to the main campus.
When looking for jobs, consider travel time rather than just distance; it’s a nicer journey and faster to get from Preston to Lancaster University than Preston to Manchester City. We have a tax-saving benefit with our low-emission car purchasing scheme, together with a reduced price for electric car parking permits. Charging points are available across our campus.
Trains from certain places, like Preston and Kendal, are frequent and fast and there are regular bus services from the station to the University. The University offers free or a 71% discount for employees travelling by bus from the Lancaster and Morecambe area as part of our commitment to more environmentally-friendly transport.
Lancaster has a good network of cycle paths, well used by staff and students for daily commuting; you might want to consider this as a possible option for daily commuting. Electric bikes can make the journey even easier!
Find out more about all the travel options to our Lancaster campus and how we can help you travel in a more sustainable and cost-effective way.
TravelBeing part of Lancaster University means sharing in the feeling that you’re making a difference to people and places. From our campus in Lancaster, our regional partnerships in north-west England and our international partnerships in China, Germany, Ghana, Indonesia and Malaysia, the impact of our research, teaching and community work extends across the globe.
Find out about some of the many ways our teams are changing the world:
As a major employer in Lancashire, we offer a generous staff benefits package to all our employees, as well as additional family-friendly advantages.
As a global organisation with employees from over 70 countries located in the UK, Europe and Asia we welcome applicants from near and far. Nearly a quarter of our staff are from overseas, and with students from over 100 countries too, our campus is alive with conversations in many languages.
Advice on applying for roles with us and our recruitment process.
