Study Abroad

Enhance your studies, boost your self-confidence and immerse yourself in the culture of another country as part of our exciting opportunities to study overseas.

If you choose one of our Study Abroad courses, you will have the opportunity to spend your second year of your degree at one of our partner universities. Which university you choose to study at is entirely up to you, although places are subject to availability. You have the choice to study in the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. If you don’t wish to spend an entire year away from Lancaster, you could also take advantage of a shorter 3-month placement in Europe through the Erasmus exchange programme.

Experience life and culture in another country
Enhance your job prospects and stand out from the crown
Study different natural and man-made environments
Take advantage of opportunities to travel

During your time at Lancaster, you will study the same modules as those who have not opted to study abroad, ensuring you receive the very best education in the biosciences, whilst also giving you the fantastic opportunity to spend a year living and studying in another country.

Student support

Studying on the other side of the world can be a daunting prospect, and it is important to us that we help you make informed decisions about where to study and provide support whilst you are abroad so that you greatly benefit from the experience. In addition to having a dedicated advisor, who will help you decide where to go and what to study, you’ll also have the opportunity to network with students who have previously studied abroad and who are able to provide you with a wealth of practical tips. Additionally, our International Office is on hand to help you with application forms and the financial and legal aspects of studying abroad.

Study in Europe

Spend 3-4 months at a partner university in mainland Europe as part of the Erasmus+ scheme.

You do not need to apply for a place on the scheme until the first term of your second year at university. Places can be competitive, so we will expect you to have achieved good grades in your first year studies and priority will be given to those with the highest first year grades.

Research (dissertation) placements

Placements are available at the following universities for you to do practical research as part of your dissertation project – this might include lab work, fieldwork or computer modelling.

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland
Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Your three months abroad will be during the summer towards the end of your second year at Lancaster, from May/June to August/September.

You will be working with an English-speaking research group and supervisor, so the ability to speak a foreign language is not essential.

Studying courses taught in English

You can spend the first semester of your third year (between August and December) taking taught courses at one of our partner universities in the Netherlands:

Wageningen University and Research Centre
University van Amsterdam

The courses studied in the Netherlands will contribute towards your degree at Lancaster using the European Credit Transfer System.

Fees and funding

Those undertaking an Erasmus+ placement will continue to pay tuition fees to Lancaster, but will not have to pay any tuition costs to the overseas institution. You may be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant of around‎ €250-€350 for each month spent abroad and, if you’re spending more than 15 weeks abroad, you may also be eligible for a Government travel grant.

Living costs vary from country to country, but are very low in Croatia and the Czech Republic, making these destinations particularly attractive to those on a limited budget.

Information about how the decision to exit the EU may affect the Erasmus scheme is provided here by the International Office.

Rest of the World

If you opt to study abroad, you will have the exciting opportunity to spend a year studying at an overseas university in North America or Australasia. The year abroad is not an add-on to your degree; it is fully integrated so that you can complete your BSc in just three. You will spend your first year in Lancaster, your second at a university overseas, and then return to Lancaster for the third year. Destinations include the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to broadening your academic horizons, developing your personal and social skills and providing you with an understanding of another culture and society, the experience is also likely to enhance your job prospects.

Where can you go?

The majority of our partner universities are in North America, located in the United States and Canada. You could spend your second year in Florida, North Carolina, Oregon, Ottowa or Toronto. Alternatively, you have the opportunity of studying in Australia or New Zealand, including Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney or Wellington. The choice of destinations and number of places can vary from year-to-year, so although we cannot guarantee that you will be able to go to your first choice, we are sure that wherever you go it will be an experience to remember.

How to apply

You should apply for one of our Study Abroad degrees when you make your application through UCAS. You’ll then need to make a decision in the January of your first year if you would still like to spend the following year abroad. Changing your mind is perfectly fine, and you can easily transfer onto the standard degree. It may be possible to opt into the Study Abroad scheme after you have started at Lancaster, but this is dependent upon the number of places available and your academic performance in Year 1.

If you apply for a study abroad course, we will also automatically consider you for the ‘standard’ degree programme (for which the entry requirements are typically lower) and therefore you do not need to list both courses on your UCAS application. If at any time during your first year, you decide that you no longer want to study abroad, you can simply switch to the standard degree programme.

Fees and funding

Studying abroad might not cost as much as you think! Lancaster will waive 85%* of your tuition fees for the year you spend abroad and you may also receive an increased maintenance loan. Additionally, you could be eligible for a Government travel grant, which covers some of your travel and medical insurance costs. Whilst there will be extra expenses you should be aware of, such as flights, insurance and immigration fees, studying abroad is a great way to add a unique experience to your degree.

*This figure remains to be confirmed and may be subject to change