A warm welcome to Lancaster

Emily was nervous when she first came to Lancaster, but she found a welcoming arrival waiting for her and discovered how supportive her course was.

A welcoming arrival and great first impression

Written by Emily Shim Yi Jie

When first coming to Lancaster, I had flown in from Malaysia a day earlier than everyone, so the University was very quiet when I arrived. Despite that, I met with a staff member who had been working with Malaysian colleges and was familiar with the school I was from! She went out of her way to bring me on a short campus tour, settle me into my flat, and even introduced me to my college International Welfare Officer. It was a delightful first impression, settling most of my first-day nerves instantly!

There is so much to do and see on campus, the list of places I have not yet seen far exceeds the areas I have already explored! Still, out of the places I have managed to visit, the University Library would probably top the list. Modern, spacious, and filled with thoughtfully arranged study areas and meeting rooms, it is the perfect place if you find yourself in need of some focussed quiet. As someone who enjoys reading, the library has become a much-beloved space.

A wonderful location and international community

Lancaster University is a comfortable place away from the bustle of the city but conveniently located along a main bus route into the city centre. It’s easy to settle into life here, whether the campus is a few hours away from home or halfway around the world. There’s nearly always something going on for those that craving activity and want to get involved, and numerous quiet spots tucked away for peace and relaxation. Most importantly, you can always find someone who shares the same culture, language, interests and home.

I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by everyone I’ve met here at Lancaster. The course mates I’ve had the pleasure of meeting were outgoing and good-natured. My flatmates have been friendly from the start – despite our differences in course and culture, there’s always an interesting conversation to be had. Additionally, there’s a huge international community here and plenty of chances to meet someone from home as I did in the Malaysian student society. Hearing the familiar slang is always a joy and a relief!

Challenging but supportive learning

For me, learning physics once seemed like an impossible juggle between theory, mathematics, practical experience and critical thinking. The physics course at Lancaster manages a careful balance between all the above and more, pushing us to give our best while taking care not to overwhelm us. It’s challenging, as a university course should be, but ensures that we’re well-equipped with a thorough understanding and a wide repertoire of valuable soft and hard skills for the future. In particular, I am extremely grateful for my academic supervisor, who has been a constant and excellent source of advice and encouragement from the start!