The LSP runs pre-arrival information events both online and on campus, where you can meet other mature students from your own and different departments. Some of our students are still good friends with the mature students they met before they even arrived at Lancaster.

We run regular LSP mature social/networking events, which start right at the beginning of term. Feedback from our mature students tells us that connecting with other mature students from the start helped them to settle in quickly and feel they belong.

You’ll meet your personal LSP Success Coach right at the start of the academic year and will have regular one-to-one coaching meetings (an average of 2 per term) throughout your undergraduate years. The meetings are led by what you want to focus on and are an opportunity for you to reflect on your progress and come up with some actions to work towards your goals.

All mature LSP students are invited to join these small groups of students (around 4-7), who commit to meet with a staff facilitator twice each term. A student will have the opportunity to present an issue to their peers, who will then ask coaching style questions to empower the student to delve deeper and make positive steps. Issues come from the students themselves on the day and often include areas such as imposter syndrome, perfectionism and procrastination. We find that students form really supportive bonds with each other from building up a level of trust through active listening and sensitive questioning. These sessions will be for you if you're comfortable with opening up to others.

New for 2023-2024, these are more flexible, casual opportunities than ALSs for students to get together 2 or 3 times a term in a larger group to discuss a particular theme, such as careers, exam preparation and time managment, which will usually be advertised in advance so you can decide if it's relevant to you. They are a perfect way to find out how other students are getting on (you'll usually discover you're not alone in how you're feeling!) and support each other by swapping tips and tricks. With Student Advocate involvement this will be a real opportunity for peer support.