A report on the latest undergraduate admissions figures from Alan Thomson, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Teaching:
The admissions process is now more or less complete. The table below shows what I believe to be our current state. Figures are shown weighted, i.e. joint majors count as fractional students. The target set in May for Home/EU entrants, based partly on applications at that time, is also shown.
| Home/EEC Entrants | Overseas/Islands | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department | Year 1 | Target | Year 2 | Year 1 | Year 2 |
| Biological Sciences | 149 | 135 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Communications Systems | 24 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 7 |
| Computing | 42.5 | 45 | 1 | 8 | 1.5 |
| Engineering | 33 | 35 | 1 | 10.5 | 5 |
| Environmental Science | 95.1 | 95 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Geography | 139.9 | 140 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mathematics | 62.5 | 65 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Natural Sciences | 25 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Physics | 49 | 54 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Psychology | 141.5 | 135 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 761.5 | 759 | 9 | 37.5 | 14.5 |
Overall the Faculty achieved its target for Home/EU entrants. The shortfall in Natural Sciences and Physics was compensated for by an over-recruitment in Biology and Psychology. Hidden in the data, because of how the targets were fixed, is the large rise in Environmental Science (65 last year) and the big decline in Computing (63 last year).
Computing and Engineering have recruited very well for first year Overseas students. The 12 overseas students entering the second year in Communications Systems and Engineering come from 2+2 agreements with overseas universities where students take their last two years at Lancaster and receive Lancaster degrees.
Most of our departments put a great deal of effort into student recruitment and the pattern of the numbers above reflects national popularity in most cases. It is apparent that the two departments which have created new attractive programmes (Environmental Science with the Earth Science programmes, Biological Sciences with Biomedical Science and Premedical Studies) have shown the largest increases showing that both programme and good publicity drive recruitment.
Alan Thomson
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Teaching
Science and Technology stories from LU News:
An international team of scientists at Lancaster University is trying to predict 'space weather' in an attempt to prevent global power failures and damage to satellites
http://domino.lancs.ac.uk/info/lunews.nsf/r/4386
Two new members of staff have joined Lancaster University's medical centre in preparation for the first intake of students later this month
http://domino.lancs.ac.uk/info/lunews.nsf/r/4106
Academics in the Department of Communications Systems are busy designing the next generation of mobile phone applications - and they want your input
http://domino.lancs.ac.uk/info/lunews.nsf/r/434e
A team of international business consultants based at Lancaster University are to advise the UK and Indian Governments on how to develop collaboration between the two countries
The Wellcome Trust has a new funding opportunity for Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships. Candidates should have no more than 12 months' postdoctoral experience at submission of a full application (February 2007). The competition will be run on an annual basis and preliminary application forms are available on the Wellcome Trust website and must be returned by 20 November 2006.
Harvard University is seeking applications from outstanding candidates for graduate study 2007-2008. Application is via the university and therefore expressions of interest should come from heads of department to the Dean by the end of September. Further information can be found on Harvard's website.
These scholarships are for graduate study at Harvard MIT. Applications are to be made by the university and expressions of interest should come from the Head of Department to the Dean by the end of September. Further information can be found on the Kennedy Trust website.
This scheme is run by the MRC in partnership with the EPSRC, BBSRC and the PPARC. Discipline Hopping Grants provide short-term support to pump prime new collaborations between Engineers and Physical Scientists with Life Scientists, with the aim of fostering long-term interaction. The key feature that enables this is the opportunity for academic researchers to apply for funds to 'buy out' their own time with funding for replacement salaries. This could include the salary of the Principal Investigator or other researchers. The deadline for applications is the 19 October 2006. Further details are available on the MRC website.