Applying

When can I expect to hear about my application?

Provided that we have received all the required documentation, you should hear from us within 20 working days of submitting your application. We will contact you if we require further information and you will be able to view the status of your application at any time during the admissions process using the MyLancaster admissions portal.

Is there an application fee?

We do not charge an application fee.

What is a conditional offer?

If your offer is conditional, it means that you need to satisfy those conditions which are stated on your offer letter.

Sometimes, your offer will state that you need to get a certain grade in a particular subject or provide further documentation. This may be because you are intending to study the same subject at university, or because it is for some reason deemed to be especially relevant to your further study.

What is an unconditional offer?

If your offer is unconditional, it means that you already meet the entry criteria for the programme and you are not required to provide any additional information or documentation.

Can I apply for a part-time course if I am not living in the UK?

This depends on the programme that you have applied for and where you are resident. We recommend that you contact our International Student Advisor for guidance.

Can I apply for more than one Masters programme?

You can apply for more than one programme by using the MyLancaster admissions online application process. Your personal details and personal statement will be saved and may be used for each new application you make, should you so wish. Please note that you will need to upload your supporting documentation separately for each application that you submit.

Will you use the same supporting documentation (references, transcripts) for multiple applications?

Not automatically.You will need to upload your supporting documentation separately for each application that you submit.

If I want to apply for a PhD, do I need to provide a research proposal along with my application form?

Yes, if you applying for a PhD, you will need to provide us with a detailed research proposal with your application.

I'm currently studying a PhD elsewhere, can I transfer to Lancaster?

Transfers are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the relevant Faculty Admissions Office and they will consider your request in consultation with the appropriate department/academic unit.

Do I have to complete my application in one go? Can I save it?

You can save your application at any point when applying online, by selecting the 'Save' option.

I can't find my previous institution to tell you where I've studied.

The institution search list that forms part of the application form is generated in a specific format that may not match the way you have entered the title of your previous institution.

You may wish to try again by entering only one or two keywords from the name of the institution. For example, type 'Manchester' to find the University of Manchester or 'Zhejiang Normal' to find Zhejiang Normal University. After you have typed this keyword, select 'Find'.

If you still cannot find the institution where you have previously studied in the searchable list, please contact us and we will add it on to our system as soon as we are able.

How can I find my MyLancaster admissions username and password?

Your username and password will be sent to you by email when you create an account on the MyLancaster admissions site. Your username will be the email address you used to create the account.

My account is de-activated, how do I re-activate it?

If you wish to re-activate your MyLancaster admissions account, please contact the relevant Faculty Admissions Office, who will be able to help you.

How do I provide you with supporting documentation?

The easiest way to provide supporting documentation is as part of the application process on this portal, MyLancaster admissions. Screen 8 of an application will permit you to upload supporting documentation directly to our secure server. If however you are unable to upload your documents in this way, you may send them by post. The relevant postal addresses may be found here.

Will you accept scanned copies of transcripts, certificates and references?

We will accept scanned copies of your supporting documentation during the admissions process. It is important that they are clear copies and that they are on official letterheaded paper. If we are unable to consider the documents that you have supplied we will contact you by email to inform you. Please note that your original documentation will be required during Registration in order to formally register at the University.

I can't upload my supporting documentation successfully

There are four possible reasons why you may not be able to upload your supporting documentation:

You may not have selected your programme on screen 2.
Your file may be too large. You may upload no more than 50MB in total of supporting documentation. Either reduce the size of your files or contact us for assistance.
Your internet connection may be too slow. A file must transfer to our server in less than 360 seconds. Either reduce the size of your files or contact us for assistance.
The type of file is not approved. Please save the file in one of the following formats: bmp, doc, dochtml, docx, eps, exc, gif, htm, html, img, jpe, jpeg, jpg, jfif, mdi, mid, midi, mp2, mp2v, mp3, mpeg, mpe, mpa, mpg, mpv2, msg, odp, odt, pdf, pdfxml, pic, png, ppt, ppthtml, pptx, pptxml, psd, psp, rtf, spl, swf, tif, tiff, txt, vdx, vsd, vss, vst, vtx, wma, wm, xml or zip.

How do I provide you with a reference?

When applying online using MyLancaster admissions, you will usually be asked to provide the names of two referees (at least one of whom should be able to comment on your academic suitability for your chosen programme). Once you submit your application, your referees will be automatically contacted by us to provide a reference unless you indicate that you will supply the reference.

Can I change one of my referees after submitting my application?

If you wish to change one of your referees after submitting your application please log-in to MyLancaster admissions. From your personal homepage, you can edit details on your application(s). You should update screen 7 (referees) for each application to change the details of your referees.

Do my references have to be on the Lancaster template form, or can it be a letter?

References can be provided using the Lancaster template or may be provided on official letterhead with an authorised signature.

My university will not accept online reference requests and will only send them on their reference form. Will this be acceptable?

References may be provided on official letterhead with an authorised signature.

I don't seem to be able to upload my reference(s).

If you do not see the option to upload a reference on screen 8 (supporting documentation), please check the selections you made on screen 7 (referees). If you are in possession of the reference from a referee and wish to upload it yourself, you should select 'Applicant' in reply to the question 'Reference to be supplied by' for that referee on screen 7.

Will a copy of my degree certificate be sufficient?

You will need to provide a scanned copy of your degree certificate as part of your application. Please note that your original documentation will be required during Registration in order to formally register at the University.

Do I need to send my supporting documentation with my application form or can it be sent separately?

Wherever possible, please ensure that you provide supporting documentation when submitting your application. You will be guided through this process if using the MyLancaster admissions portal. If you are applying by post, please refer to a copy of our Postgraduate Prospectus for advice. If a piece of documentation will not become available until later in the year, please indicate this clearly.

Are references confidential?

Your referees will be contacted separately for a reference and we prefer these to be confidential. However, under the terms of the UK's Data Protection Act (1998), should an applicant request a copy of a reference, we are obliged to provide one to them.

If you make me an offer, how long do I have to accept it?

The offer letter will state the deadline for replying to an offer of study with us. Normally, you will have no longer than four weeks to respond.

I've submitted my application but I'm receiving emails telling me that I've not yet submitted one.

To ensure we're providing a good quality service we send automatic emails to applicants with incomplete applications offering our assistance. These emails also remind applicants that they have started an application but not completed or withdrawn it. Please log-in to your MyLancaster admissions account and check whether you have any unwanted applications. You can tell which application the email relates to by looking at the reference number in the first line. Select 'Withdraw' to cancel any unwanted applications and you will no longer receive these notification emails.