A welcome from Joe Thornberry, Principal of Bowland College

Welcome to the Bowland College Website. My name is Joe Thornberry and I have the honour of being Principal of Bowland College. I hope you will find this website a useful introduction to what we like to think is the friendliest college at Lancaster University.

Bowland, established in 1964, was the first of the Lancaster University colleges. The collegiate system is one of the brightest jewels in the University’s crown and has contributed enormously to the quality of experience for generations of Lancaster students. All students and staff at Lancaster join one of the 9 colleges on campus (eight undergraduate colleges, one postgraduate college).

Bowland currently has 900 student members and 300 staff who have chosen to become senior members of the College. All members are commonly referred to as 'Bowlanders' and it is the way in which we work, socialise together and support each other that underpins our success as a collegiate community. We aim to foster a college spirit of mutual support and regard for others, of respect and understanding for the variety and diversity of cultures, opinions, beliefs and abilities that abound in Bowland. Above all, we seek to be welcoming to all.

If you're a new student, one of our primary roles is to help you settle in and find your feet. This starts from the moment you arrive, when you will be greeted and assisted by the many second and third-year Bowland students who have volunteered to welcome our new arrivals. After you've settled in, we switch our attention to helping you make the most of your time here, supporting the realisation of your academic potential and your personal and social development – and helping you thoroughly enjoy yourself in the process.

Your time as a student should be the best few years of your life, and the more you get involved, the more you will get out of it. This applies to all aspects of your life here, academic as well as social and recreational.

So on behalf of my fellow Bowlanders, I’d like to thank you for taking the time to find out more about our fantastic College.

Joe Thornberry
Bowland College Principal