Successful study stems from a partnership between students and staff. The University is committed to providing you with a challenging learning experience that can help you reach your full potential.
The University strives to provide excellence in teaching and research, and to enhance the student experience by focusing on the needs of our students and by seeking to instil a shared sense of inclusiveness, collegiality and community. Underpinning this partnership, the University has a supportive set of regulations, policies and procedures, which are designed to protect and maintain both academic quality and your rights and responsibilities as students of our University. The Student Contract sets out these rights and responsibilities and states the obligations of both parties to each other.
The terms and conditions set out in the Lancaster University Student Contract, together with the University’s Regulations, guidelines, rules, codes of practice, policies and procedures and other documents found here, and the terms of your student offer, form the Contract Terms for Students.
Applicants and new and continuing students should familiarise themselves with these documents, particularly those that are most likely to be relevant to them and their studies. Whilst these pages are generally available, your attention will be directed to the Student Contract each year at registration. You may also have other contractual arrangements with other organisations, such as the Student Loans Company or accommodation provider. You should make sure that you understand these separate arrangements.
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The Lancaster University Student Contract relevant to your initial year of registration should be read carefully prior to accepting an offer of a place at the University or when re-registering for a subsequent year of study.
students who first registered as a student in academic year 2023-24. You will be subject to these Contract Terms for the full duration of your programme;
continuing students who first registered as a student prior to academic year 2023-24. These Contract Terms will apply for the remainder of your time as a registered student of the University and you will no longer be required to re-contract with the University annually as part of registration.
A set of frequently asked questions has also been produced to assist applicants and students in understanding their contract with the University.
The University’s Admissions Policy summarises Lancaster University’s policy on undergraduate and postgraduate admissions to full-time and part-time degree programmes, including routes for feedback and complaints. Further information is available in the Admissions Policy and the Applicant Appeals, Complaints and Feedback Policy.
To find information about undergraduate courses or postgraduate courses, you can use the University’s course searches. Alternatively, you can download a copy of the or order a printed copy of the prospectus.
All students are required to act within the Student Discipline Regulations of the University which are subject to UK laws but take precedence over any other University code of practice, charter or rules.
The academic quality management framework described in the Manual of Academic Regulations and Procedures (MARP) and the regulations and procedures contained or referenced in it apply to all categories of students, all academic programmes, and all types of award except where special regulations have been approved through the appropriate channels for specific types of provision, programmes, awards or for specific groups of students.
The University may make changes to programmes or modules, but only in certain circumstances including taking account of the impact of any change on the students affected and consulting with them on major changes.
As an element of the University’s duty of care towards its staff and students we expect students to be fit to study, as defined by the University’s .
Lancaster University uses third-party organisations to provide some of its information systems services for students. In some cases, this may involve sharing the minimum required personal data with these third parties to enable their provision of service to students. The Student Privacy Notice explains how the University will collect, use, disclose and protect your personal data.
The Student Protection Plan is intended to provide assurance to our current and future students and to the Office for Students that we have in place arrangements to protect the quality and continuation of study on your chosen programme of study.
Central to the mission of Lancaster University is a strong and productive partnership between students and staff. Your University and Student's Union have worked together on a Students’ Charter to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire.
The Student’s Union is a separate organisation with which the University collaborates closely. All students become members of Lancaster University Students' Union by default at registration. Students may choose to opt out of membership by writing to the Director of Strategic Planning and Governance.
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When you accept the offer of a place to study at Lancaster, a contract will be formed between you and the University. This guarantees you a place at the University provided you go on to meet all the conditions of the offer. If you have met those conditions, you will be required to register at the University by a given deadline. When you have registered, a new contract is formed between you, as a registered student, and the University, and you then become liable for payment of tuition fees.
Yes. You have a 14-day statutory cancellation period during which you can change your mind about accepting an offer to study at the University. Even after this period you can withdraw your acceptance of an offer at any time prior to registration without incurring any fees to the University, although the University may retain any deposit you have paid.
If you are a new student and you registered online or remotely, there is a 14-day statutory cancellation period. If you cancel your place within this cancellation period, you (or your sponsor) will receive a refund of any tuition fees paid to the University less any non-refundable deposit you have paid. To cancel your place, you must notify the University in writing.
For new students who register in person, there is no statutory cancellation period, although the 14-day ‘cooling-off’ or cancellation period will still apply to students who register within 14 days of the date of accepting their offer. However, should you change your mind about studying at the University up to and including Friday of week one of the first academic term of the first academic year of your course you will not be charged tuition fees and the University will refund any tuition fees paid less any non-refundable deposit you have paid. In such circumstances you will, however, remain responsible for any accommodation or other payments due to the University.
Please see paragraph 19 of the Student Contract for more details.
The University may terminate your contract if you materially breach the Contract Terms, or in relation to certain breaches of the University’s regulations, including the Student Discipline Regulations. Please see paragraph 44 of the Student Contract for more information. A decision requiring you to leave the University will only be taken in accordance with the relevant procedure and is subject to a right of appeal.
Please familiarise yourself with the Student Discipline Regulations. Please see paragraph 30 of the Student Contract for more information.
Please also familiarise yourself with the Academic Regulations and Procedures, which set out your rights and obligations with respect to academic matters.
Please also see paragraphs 24-26 of the Student Contract for more information.
The University may make changes to programmes or modules, but only in certain circumstances including taking account of the impact of any change on the students affected and consulting with them on major changes.
Please see paragraphs 28 and 29 of the Student Contract for more information.
There may be times when timetabled teaching is delayed or cancelled for reasonably unavoidable reasons. Please see paragraph 29 of the Student Contract for more details. As such, the University reserves the right to reschedule or, if it proves necessary, cancel timetabled teaching; however, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise such delays or cancellations.
The University will not increase the tuition fee you are charged during the course of an academic year. If you are studying on a programme of more than one year’s duration, the tuition fees for subsequent years of your programme are likely to increase each year. Detailed information on tuition fees and other relevant charges, including how they may increase and how they should be paid, is set out in paragraph 23 of the Student Contract.
The University’s requirements on the payment of fees can be found in the Manual of Academic Regulations and Procedures (MARP). If you do not pay your tuition fees in full or on time, you may not be allowed to progress on your programme or you may be excluded from the University. Please see paragraph 20 of the Student Contract.
As a general principle, the University recognises that each student is the owner of the intellectual property s/he/they creates in the course of his/her/their studies, however, this is subject to exceptions. Please see the Intellectual Property Policy for more details.
The Student Privacy Notice provides information on how the University complies with the General Data Protection Regulations. Please see paragraph 40 of the Student Contract for more details.
For details on the exclusions and limits of the University’s liability, please see paragraph 38 of the Student Contract.
Please follow the complaints process which can be found in the University’s Admissions Policy.
Please follow the complaints procedure which is outlined on the Student Complaints page.
The University’s address is:
Lancaster University University House Bailrigg Lancaster LA1 4YW
