About the university
Lancaster University is a campus university in north-west England, built at Bailrigg in the 1960s. Every student belongs to one of its colleges, which gives the campus a close community feel. It teaches 29,000 students from over 130 countries, including at partner locations overseas.
Lancaster ranks 10th in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2027 and 164th in the world in the QS World University Rankings 2027. Its Management School (LUMS) is known for business, finance and marketing, and the university is also strong in data science, statistics and cyber security.
For Indian students the biggest draw is value: most master's courses on this page cost £30,900 a year, and the Postgraduate India Scholarship takes £10,000 off the fee for Indian students with a first or 2:1 average. There is no application fee for 2027 postgraduate entry.
Lancaster is a historic city in north-west England. The Times 2026 named it among the five best places in the UK to live for under-35s, and living costs are lower than in London.
- Founded
- 1960s; the first teaching buildings at the Bailrigg campus opened in 1966
- Type
- Public collegiate university on a single campus outside Lancaster
- Total students
- 29,000 students from 130+ countries worldwide, a third of them at overseas locations (university figure); 15,180 in THE 2027 data
- International students
- 32% of students (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Student–staff ratio
- 12.6 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
- Intakes
- October (Welcome Week from 27 September 2027)
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
164 in the world
THE World University Rankings 2027
=183 in the world
Complete University Guide (UK) 2027
10th of 130 UK universities
Guardian University Guide (UK) 2027
27th in the UK
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (UK) 2027
26th in the UK
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
- Postgraduate
International Business and Strategic Management MSc
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £30,900
- Duration
- 1 year (full time)
- Intakes
- October
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Science MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
| Artificial Intelligence MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
| Business Analytics MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
| Cyber Security MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
| Management MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
| International Business and Strategic Management MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
| Finance MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
| Project Management MSc | 1 year (full time) | £30,900 | ≈ ₹37.7 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Lancaster University with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
- Taught master's, 2027 entry (full time, on campus)
Postgraduate India Scholarship
Value: £10,000 off tuition fees
Eligibility: Nationals or permanent residents of India with a first or 2:1 average (or equivalent) who accept an offer for 2027. Considered automatically; can be combined only with the Alumni Loyalty Scholarship.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate
Undergraduate India Scholarship
Value: £3,000 off tuition fees each year of study
Eligibility: International students from India starting an undergraduate degree.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Taught postgraduate, 2027 entry
Early Acceptance Scholarship
Value: £2,000
Eligibility: Eligible international students who accept their place before 23:59 GMT on 7 April 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Taught postgraduate
Master's Excellence Scholarship
Value: 15% off tuition fees, up to £4,635
Eligibility: Students with a 2:1 or first-class undergraduate degree (mainly for students not eligible for the India Scholarship).
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Indian Standard XII: a pass with a 75% to 87% average in the best four subjects (excluding Hindi and PE), depending on the course.
- Each course page lists the exact grades and any subject requirements.
- Apply through UCAS.
Postgraduate
- Most master's courses on this page ask for a 2:2 honours degree (UK or equivalent); some ask for a relevant subject, such as computing or finance.
- Lancaster treats Indian degrees as follows: first class 70% to 85%, 2:1 60% to 80%, 2:2 55% to 75%, depending on the university.
- There is no application fee for postgraduate study starting in 2027.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Degree transcripts and certificate
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- English test score or Class XII English result
- Personal statement
- References where the course asks for them
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each skill for the master's courses on this page; undergraduate courses ask for 6.0 to 6.5 with 5.5 in each component. |
| PTE Academic | 58 overall with 50 in each skill (for the IELTS 6.5/6.0 band); test-centre tests only. |
| TOEFL iBT | 87 overall (19 reading, listening and speaking, 22 writing) for tests before 21 January 2026; 4.5 overall with 4 in each skill after. |
| Class 12 English | Indian Standard XII English at 80% or above, or 75% or above from CBSE and ISC boards. Punjab and Haryana state board English is not accepted. |
Accommodation and living costs
Postgraduates live in Graduate College, an on-campus college only for postgraduate students, with shared flats, studios and family homes. Incoming postgraduates are invited to apply from March of the year they start. Prices below are 2026/27 weekly rates.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Room with shared bathroom (cluster flat, 40 or 50 weeks) | £149per week | ≈ ₹18,165 |
| Room in a four-bedroom house (40 or 50 weeks) | £186per week | ≈ ₹22,631 |
| En suite room (40 or 49 weeks) | £203–206per week | ≈ ₹24,817 – ₹25,142 |
| Single studio (40 or 50 weeks) | £241per week | ≈ ₹29,446 |
Campus and location
Lancaster's Bailrigg campus is a self-contained site, which an Indian student quoted on the university's India page calls ‘a town of its own’, with teaching buildings, colleges, shops and services in one place.
- Every student joins one of the colleges; postgraduates usually live in Graduate College.
- Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is on campus and teaches the business and finance courses on this page.
- The campus has restaurants, a pharmacy, a post office and a large library with study pods.
- The Data Science Institute supports data science teaching and research.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Lancaster is among the top 30 universities most targeted by the UK's top graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2026). After graduating you can apply for the UK Graduate visa; see our UK guide for current rules.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| International students as a share of all students | 32% | THE World University Rankings 2027 |
| Most targeted universities by top UK graduate employers | Top 30 | The Graduate Market in 2026, quoted by Lancaster University |
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much is a master's at Lancaster?
For 2027/28, most master's courses on this page cost £30,900 a year for international students, and the MBA costs £34,000. The Postgraduate India Scholarship can reduce this by £10,000.
Who gets the Postgraduate India Scholarship?
Indian nationals or permanent residents with a first or 2:1 average (or equivalent) who accept an offer for 2027 entry on a full-time campus course. You are considered automatically when you apply.
Can I use my Class 12 English marks instead of IELTS?
Yes. Lancaster accepts Standard XII English at 80% or above, or 75% or above from CBSE and ISC boards. English from Punjab and Haryana state boards is not accepted.
When do courses start?
Courses start in October. Welcome Week for 2027/28 runs from 27 September to 3 October 2027.
Is there an application fee?
No. Lancaster charges no application fee for postgraduate study starting in 2027.
Sources
- Lancaster University: rankings and reputation (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: about us (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: campus construction history (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: Data Science MSc (2027 entry) (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: Computer Science BSc (2027 entry) (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: students from India (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: postgraduate English requirements (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: scholarships and bursaries (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: Postgraduate India Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: postgraduate accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- Lancaster University: term dates (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: Lancaster University (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.lancaster.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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