BA Design is for creative thinkers who want more than a traditional design course – it’s for people who want to challenge the present and design better futures. You’ll explore big questions about society, business, technology and the planet, tackling real-world problems and deciding on which design approaches work best rather than being limited to one type of design.

Alongside developing core design skills such as in graphics and user experience (UX) design, you'll learn how to question current ways of doing things, imagine alternatives, and propose new ways of living and interacting. You’ll learn how to design for sustainable futures, work with real clients and lead creative projects.

Taught by experts from ImaginationLancaster, our internationally recognised design-led research lab, you'll graduate with a bold portfolio, creative confidence, and the kind of versatile and adaptable skills that employers are actively seeking. You will be ready to begin your career in a broad range of settings such as in design agencies and design consultancies, tech companies, healthcare, public services and beyond.

Why Lancaster?

Develop a future-focused, adaptable, and agile skill set that enables you to use design to address complex challenges

Become a socially and environmentally responsible designer

Learn from expert designer researchers and practitioners who push the boundaries of design

Gain valuable industry experience through working on live briefs and with real-world clients

Visualise. Experiment. Create.

At Lancaster, we view design as a way of understanding the world, as a creative process that can address any problem and contribute to creating a better society. You will work on projects that help you put this view into practice. We nurture creative experimentation, intellectual inquiry, adaptability, critical thinking and ethical awareness as well as emphasising the importance of developing design solutions that are rooted in solid design research. You will learn how to explore and frame problems, generate ideas and translate insights into exciting design outcomes, visualised to industry standards.

Explore what interests you

You will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of relevant topics at Lancaster, including (but not limited to) sustainable futures, healthier lifestyles, cultural innovation, climate action, and the impact of emerging technologies. In your final year, you’ll lead a major project of your own design, exploring your own interests and developing a creative, impactful solution that helps you stand out from the crowd when you graduate. From social innovation to digital futures, previous final-year projects highlight the variety of bold and innovative solutions our students design to address real-world challenges, including:

Designing to support people with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Creating digital and physical tools to enhance children’s language learning

Developing a ‘wardrobe for life’ to promote sustainability

Building an interactive device to address loneliness in older adults

Conceptualising inclusive prison spaces for neurodivergent people

Reimagining smart home technologies to support positive family communication

Discover your design identity

Throughout your degree, you will be encouraged to explore and develop your own design identity and values. By doing this, you will graduate with a strong sense of where you want to take your design career, and you will develop your portfolio to reflect this.

To support you in planning your future career, we will help you gain professional contacts by inviting design professionals, many of whom are our alumni, to share their experiences of working in the design industry. You will also work on live briefs as well as with real clients, giving you valuable experience you can take forward into your career. In your final year, our Design Consultancy module enables you to work with a real client for the entire year. Previously, briefs have included:

Developing a probe for prostate cancer detection focusing on the user experience and increasing uptake of testing

Designing a creative campaign to increase the impact of The Northern Design Festival

Creating a strategy to showcase a major chocolate brand’s commitment to social and environment sustainability

Reimagining loyalty mechanisms for a big supermarket chain

Building a campaign to raise awareness of Energy Lancaster’s work to transition Lancaster University to net zero

Furthermore, our students often secure design internships and placements that have informed their future directions. Internships have taken place at the globally recognised design agency Pentagram, as well as Nesta, L’Oréal, BUPA, and Nestlé among others. Ultimately, your portfolio will reflect your values and express your design identity as well as your ability to create exciting design solutions that address a diverse range of issues.

Your department

School of Arts

Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

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Visit us this autumn

Explore courses, tour the campus, and chat with our students. Book now for 17 October.

Book an Open Day

Download the course booklet to find out more about Lancaster University, how we teach Design, and what you'll study as a Design student.

Design subject guide

Design at Lancaster University

Led by practical, collaborative studio work and underpinned by the latest research, discover how studying Design at Lancaster University could help you create a better world through design.

Creative Arts Facilities at Lancaster University

Whatever creative arts subject you choose, you’ll find we have specialist spaces and equipment to inspire your studies.

Annual Degree Show

Every year our final year students showcase their designs in a major degree show exhibition, which is open to the public.

Your year abroad

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Study abroad

The study abroad option is an exciting opportunity for anyone who is thinking of working abroad during their career or who simply wants the experience of living and studying overseas as part of their degree.

Often study abroad students describe the year abroad as a “transformative experience”, as it can shape your future career path as well as having a positive impact on your personal development.

Study abroad - Lancaster students

Experience and skills

On a study abroad course, you'll spend two years at Lancaster before going overseas in your third year to study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to

develop your global outlook

expand your professional network

increase your cultural awareness

develop your personal skills.

You’ll return to Lancaster for your final year of study in year four.

Host universities

During your year abroad, you will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially other modules offered by the host university that are specialisms of that university and country.

The places available at our overseas partners vary every year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty have included Australia, United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Alternative option

We will make reasonable endeavours to place students at an approved overseas partner university that offers appropriate modules. Occasionally places overseas may not be available for all students who want to study abroad or the place at the partner university may be withdrawn if core modules are unavailable.

If you are not offered a place to study overseas, you will be able to transfer to the equivalent standard 3-year degree scheme and would complete your studies at Lancaster. Lancaster University cannot accept responsibility for any financial aspects of the year abroad.

Next button

As a Lancaster Design graduate, you will integrate practical design skills with rigorous design research, enabling you to create innovative, impactful solutions across diverse challenges. This combination of creative thinking and an adaptable, research-driven approach will equip you to contribute meaningfully within the creative industries and beyond.

BA Hons Design empowers you to consider a range of existing and emerging careers that include:

User experience (UX) designer

Design researcher

Graphic designer

Interaction designer

Brand manager

Design facilitator

Service designer

Design consultant

Virtual/augmented reality designer

Ethics and inclusion designer

AI interface designer

Product designer

Our alumni have found success in varied settings from joining large organisations such as Nestlé, Cooperative Bank and Capgemini to successfully pursuing freelancing careers.

Additionally, many graduates have secured places on postgraduate courses at Lancaster University and other prestigious institutions in the UK as well as worldwide, including The Royal College of Arts, University College London, University Arts London, Alto University in Finland, University of Twente in The Netherlands, and others. This underscores our commitment to equipping you not only with technical and creative skills but also with a mindset geared toward lifelong learning and personal development.

Careers and employability support

Our degrees open up an extremely wide array of career pathways in businesses and organisations, large and small, in the UK and overseas.

We run a paid internship scheme specifically for our arts, humanities and social sciences students, supported by a specialist Employability Team. The team offer individual consultations and tailored application guidance, as well as careers events, development opportunities, and resources.

Whether you have a clear idea of your potential career path or need some help considering the options, our friendly team is on hand.

Lancaster is unique in that every student is eligible to participate in The Lancaster Award which recognises activities such as work experience, community engagement or volunteering and social development. A valuable addition to your CV!

Find out more about Lancaster’s careers events, extensive resources and personal support for Careers and Employability.

Lizzie's career in user experience

I am a User Experience Designer at Capgemini, a technology consultancy, working within the design team of the Customer Experience department. I consult with clients from both the public and private sectors to enhance their digital interfaces. My role allows me to dive into various aspects of UX, including user research, content design, UX/UI design, service design, and interaction design. I am loving the opportunities to work on different client projects and explore various areas of UX.

My passion for UX was sparked while studying on the Design (BA) course at Lancaster, where I had the opportunity to tailor my third-year projects to UX, inspiring me to pursue a career in this field.

Lizzie Huckett, BA Design, Graduated 2024

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Find out about some of the careers our alumni have entered into after graduation.

Entry requirements

These are the typical grades that you will need to study this course. This section will tell you whether you need qualifications in specific subjects, what our English language requirements are, and if there are any extra requirements such as attending an interview or submitting a portfolio.

Qualifications and typical requirements accordion

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A levels

Access to HE Diploma

24 Level 3 credits at Distinction plus 21 Level 3 credits at Merit

Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales

We accept the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in place of one A level, or equivalent qualification, as long as any subject requirements are met.

BTEC Extended Diploma

BTEC in combination with A levels

A level at grade B plus BTEC(s) at DM, or A level at grade C plus BTEC(s) at DD, or A levels at grade BC plus BTEC at D

International Baccalaureate

30 overall with 15 points from the best 3 HL subjects

Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

We are happy to admit applicants on the basis of five Highers, but where we require a specific subject at A level, we will typically require an Advanced Higher in that subject. If you do not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone, we will consider a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers in separate subjects. Please contact the Admissions team for more information.

T levels

Merit overall

GCSE requirements

English Language grade 4/C.

We will also look at your overall GCSE profile when considering your application as a whole.

We do have flexibility when considering GCSE requirements. Go to our GCSE information for more details.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, we require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for this programme. English language qualifications for undergraduate study.

Help from our Admissions team

If you are thinking of applying to Lancaster and you would like to ask us a question, complete our enquiry form and one of the team will get back to you.

We also have more details on our website about:

Other qualifications we accept

International qualifications

How to apply and what happens afterwards

International foundation programmes

Delivered in partnership with Lancaster University International Study Centre, our one-year tailored foundation pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University degrees. Visit the Lancaster University International Study Centre for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Contextual admissions

Contextual admissions could help you gain a place at university if you have faced additional challenges during your education which might have impacted your results. Visit our contextual admissions page to find out about how this works and whether you could be eligible.

Course structure

We continually review and enhance our curriculum to ensure we are delivering the best possible learning experience, and to make sure that the subject knowledge and transferable skills you develop will prepare you for your future. The University will make every reasonable effort to offer programmes and modules as advertised. In some cases, changes may be necessary and may result in new modules or some modules and combinations being unavailable, for example as a result of student feedback, timetabling, Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies' (PSRB) requirements, staff changes and new research. Where the course offers optional modules, they may not all be available every year.

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The Reflective Design Process

Design is a dynamic and creative problem-solving process with distinct stages. In this module you’ll immerse yourself in this process and engage with it in a hands-on way.

You will develop essential creative and analytical skills and build your confidence in:

Conducting research

Generating insights

Exploring possibilities

Prototyping

Refining ideas into innovative solutions

Observation and documentation are key to good design, so you will learn methods such as:

User shadowing

Fly-on-the-wall observation

Journey mapping to uncover behaviours, needs and opportunities

This module encourages experimentation, iteration and critical thinking, fostering adaptability and resilience—key attributes for designers in today’s fast-evolving creative industries.

Through a design project that encourages reflective practice, you will gain the ability to navigate complex design challenges and communicate your ideas effectively. By understanding design as a dynamic and creative problem-solving process, you will build a strong foundation to guide your creative practice throughout your undergraduate studies.

Design Contexts

This enlightening module explores how design both shapes and is shaped by the world. You will examine key moments in modern design history, considering the historical, social, political, cultural and technological forces that influence design as a discipline and practice.

Through interactive lectures, practical activities and critical discussions, you will investigate how design responds to global challenges, drives innovation and reflects societal change. From the Industrial Revolution to the Digital Age, this module deepens your understanding of design’s evolving role in society, the economy and the environment.

This essential knowledge forms a foundation for thoughtful, critical, informed and innovative design practice, preparing you to navigate and contribute to the ever-changing contexts in which design operates. By developing a critical awareness of design’s impact, you will be equipped with the analytical and conceptual skills that are sought after in creative industries.

Visual Communication

The ability to effectively convey ideas through visual means is a fundamental skill for any design career and in this module, you will learn the skills to do this.

This module focuses on key forms of visual communication, such as the photograph, the diagram and the page, encouraging you to explore such mediums both conceptually and practically. Through engaging lectures, practical studio activities and video tutorials, you will develop the ability to translate complex ideas into clear and compelling visuals.

You will engage in collaborative learning with peers, as well as independent practice, responding to structured tasks that will strengthen your technical and creative abilities. Regular studio sessions with tutors will provide valuable feedback, helping you to refine your work. Your independent learning will be supported by core software tools that you can access on your personal devices, allowing you to experiment and iterate at your own pace.

You will build visual communication skills that are essential for a broad spectrum of design careers.

Design Through Making

This highly practical module puts experimentation, materials and physical creation at the heart of the design process. Using our well-equipped workshop, you will explore a range of techniques including laser cutting, 3D printing and traditional fabrication methods, helping you bring your ideas to life.

Developing your skills through practice, you will test, refine and iterate your designs, discovering the value of failure as an essential part of innovation. By working with different materials and processes, you will develop a deeper understanding of how design translates from concept to reality. With making at the core, you’ll gain practical skills while developing a more intuitive, hands-on approach to problem-solving.

By the end of the module, you will have a strong foundation in prototyping and material experimentation, along with the confidence to explore new ideas through physical design.

Design Sprints

Discover a fast-paced, highly creative module that challenges you to generate ideas quickly, experiment fearlessly and explore your creative voice through practical design.

Working on a series of intensive one-week projects, you will explore different ways to develop and present your ideas, helping you to build confidence in your own creative process. You will learn to embrace failure as part of innovation, using feedback and testing to improve your concepts. Each sprint pushes you to think critically, adapt to new challenges and communicate your ideas effectively in weekly exhibitions and design reviews.

Through momentum and experimentation, you will learn to overcome creative blocks and develop your instincts. With these essential skills, you will have a stronger ability to generate, develop and present ideas in response to design briefs, setting you up for success in your future design projects.

Optional

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Raw Materials of Performance

Every piece of performance, big or small, uses the same foundational ‘raw materials’. Explore these and more as you develop your critical, aesthetic and theatrical vocabulary by examining the formal building blocks of performance, such as the body, space, time, text and media.

Through a combination of practical workshops and seminars, you will learn how these building blocks are used to construct a variety of performance forms including:

Traditional stage plays

Live art

Performance art

Physical theatre

Site-specific or immersive theatre

By analysing specific examples of these performance forms, your studies in this module will complement the projects undertaken in Making Theatre I, helping you progress in your learning.

Understanding Media and Culture

What does it mean to study media today? In this module, you’ll be introduced to major debates, theories and thinkers in studying media and culture.

You will encounter a diverse range of material from different media, including: television, film, news, advertisements, social media, video games and more.

You will explore the intersections between our cultural environment and our identities, aspirations, beliefs and value systems, to develop essential skills in critical thinking and analysis.

The Arts and Identity (Discovery module)

This module explores the role of the arts in building community, identity and confidence. You will engage with a variety of different art forms (such as painting, theatre, fiction, designed artefacts and film) and develop your own voice via collaborative projects such as a podcasts, video essay or presentation. You will also engage in individual critical reflection for example via a blog, journal or research project.

This module fosters co-operation, intellectual experimentation and self-assurance.

Interaction and Experience Design

A fascinating introduction to the principles and practices of design, you will create meaningful interactions between people and digital or physical products, services, and systems.

Developing both theoretical and practical skills, you will learn to design intuitive, engaging, and effective interactive experiences. Through creative exercises, you will explore design methods including wireframing, prototyping (both paper-based and digital), and iterative testing. You will learn to identify interaction strengths and weaknesses to continuously improve your designs.

Emphasising responsible design practices, we will teach you to craft interactions that not only meet functional requirements but also consider emotional impact, accessibility, and ethical implications. Alongside this, you will analyse how well-designed interactions can benefit people and the planet as well as the economy.

By completing this module, you will develop the critical and creative thinking skills needed to design seamless, meaningful interactions for a variety of contexts, from websites and apps to physical products and service systems.

Insight-led Design

Focusing on the generation of insights through engagement with people, data and desk research, this module will strengthen your ability to apply creative methods and tools to develop impactful design solutions rooted in real-world contexts.

You will explore participatory methods, such as workshop design for gathering and interpreting insights, alongside data-led processes and research. Emerging technologies, including AI, will be introduced as tools to enhance insight generation. You will learn how to transform data into meaningful concepts, strategies, and design narratives, ensuring your ideas are both informed and innovative.

Practical, studio-based projects will foster playful, creative exploration of real-world design challenges. By combining analytical research with creative practice, you will develop solutions that are insightful, forward thinking, and socially engaged—supporting bold thinking, critical reflection and a commitment to impactful design.

Design Visualisation

Investigate how designers use visualisation to develop ideas, explore interventions and communicate possible futures. This innovative module will build on your previous knowledge gained from the Visual Communication module and enhance your skillset further with a range of technical and conceptual tools.

Practical techniques for creating visualisations will include 3D modelling, rendering, generative AI, and data visualisations. You will also engage with contemporary issues in design visualisation, such as the ethical implications of using Generative AI in design practice.

Featuring a dynamic blend of lectures, studio sessions, and video tutorials, this module promotes both collaborative and independent learning. Continuous feedback will be provided through studio assessments, allowing you to present your work-in-progress and engage in constructive discussions.

Culminating in a portfolio submission, you will have the chance to reflect and showcase your creative journey, encouraging personal growth and professional development.

Design for Sustainability

Join us as we challenge you to rethink how design can address urgent global challenges across both the physical and digital worlds.

Businesses, policymakers and communities are increasingly looking for designers who can develop ethical, responsible, and future-proof solutions that reduce environmental and social impacts. This module equips you with the skills and knowledge to meet this demand, exploring how design can drive positive environmental, economic and social change.

You will engage with sustainability frameworks and ethical design principles to develop creative, impactful solutions. Whether designing tangible products, services or digital experiences, you will explore strategies like repair, reuse, regeneration, and material innovation to align your work with the growing need for sustainability.

By the end of this module, you will be prepared to design for a more sustainable world, enhancing your employability and empowering you to make a real impact in shaping a better future.

Speculative Design

Take on the challenge to explore possible futures and their societal implications by creating radical products and services that question the status quo.

In this studio-based module, you will critically and creatively examine emerging innovations such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, and biomaterials. Through doing this, you will be able to anticipate their long-term consequences and propose thoughtful, forward-thinking, creative responses. You will develop skills that enable you to envision future scenarios through creating 2D and 3D prototypes that make speculative futures feel real and relatable.

With businesses, governments and NGOs increasingly looking for future-focused designers who can navigate uncertainty and drive innovation, these skills are in high demand. By the end of the module, you will be able to communicate potential futures in compelling ways, creating standout, unique portfolio pieces that showcase your ability to merge critical thinking, innovation and futures-focused design.

Employability, Purpose and Social Impact (Discovery module)

Hone a strong sense of purpose and gain the satisfaction of applying your skills and knowledge to a community, charity or student-led initiative.

Your challenge will be to take responsibility for arranging and completing a voluntary or fundraising activity—locally, virtually or during vacation periods at home. You will need to show that you have made a positive difference through this activity.

In class, you will be asked to reflect on this experience and explore the wider social impact of the work. In doing so you will build your confidence in your ability to contribute meaningfully to society through your future personal and professional path.

Global Challenges and Collaborative Solutions (Discovery module)

You are invited to collaborate in an interdisciplinary team with other students as you explore major global challenges such as climate change, inequality or emerging technologies.

Throughout the module you will examine how the humanities, arts and social sciences contribute to understanding and addressing complex issues. Classroom discussions and activities focus on the process of identifying problems and considering innovative, ethical responses, while helping you to consider and articulate the relevance of this work to your personal and professional development.

Visual Cultures

Our everyday lives are saturated by images of all kinds. This module will introduce you to some key ‘ways of seeing’ our world of images. We will explore questions such as:

How are images made, who gets to produce them and, importantly, from whose point of view?

How do pictures circulate?

How do viewers read and interpret images?

Who gets to look and through whose eyes?

How do these processes and practices relate to power?

We’ll consider these questions in relation to a range of media texts, from photographs and advertisements to television and film.

Taking an Idea and Making it Happen (Discovery module)

Explore how ideas can be developed into real-world projects with lasting value. Through hands-on collaboration and problem-solving, you will develop innovative projects, learn how to bring ideas to life and explore ways to sustain them.

Whether you are working in a team or individually, you will be encouraged to experiment with different approaches to making a difference in artistic, cultural, social and community spaces.

Your Year Abroad

In your third year you will study at one of our international partner universities. This will help you to expand your global outlook and professional network, as well as developing your cultural and personal skills. It is also an opportunity to gain a different perspective on your subject through studying it in another country.

You will choose specialist modules relating to your degree and potentially modules from other subjects offered by the host university that are specific to that university and country.

The availability of places at overseas partners varies each year. In previous years destinations for students in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences have included Australia, United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

Design Consultancy

Helping you gain essential industry experience, this module allows you to work on a live project with a real client, providing valuable insight into the role of a design consultant.

In a team, you will tackle real business challenges, delivering creative solutions grounded in robust design research. Each project is unique, shaped through collaboration with your client to meet their specific needs, while aligning with your team’s strengths. Your brief could cover:

Product Design

Brand Design

User Experience Design

Design Strategy

Throughout the module, you will refine your skills in data gathering and analysis, idea generation, conceptualisation and visual communication. You will also develop your ability to manage client relationships and communicate design decisions, boosting both your confidence and employability skills.

By the end of the module, you will gain vital experience solving real design problems and collaborating effectively, making this the perfect stepping stone into your career.

Design Independent Project

This is your chance to take full creative control and develop an independent, self-directed project that reflects your personal interests and career goals. It is an opportunity to dive deep into a topic you are passionate about; push your creative boundaries and refine the skills you have developed throughout your studies.

You will shape every aspect of your project, from concept to execution, with guidance from tutors who will support your creative and professional growth. This project will showcase your unique approach to design and your readiness for the next step in your career. Additionally, it is your chance to build a portfolio-defining piece that highlights your creativity, problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large-scale design project independently.

By the end, you will have a standout project that reflects your growth as a designer, as well as sets you on the path toward your chosen career.

Design Leadership

Creatively blending design, leadership and innovation, this module will explore design and systems thinking to help you become an agent of change.

As you prepare to graduate, this module will enable you to develop your unique design leadership approach and communicate your design vision and values. You will learn key principles of design management, design and product development processes and tools for designing sustainable business models, to help you transform creative ideas into impactful solutions.

With a forward-thinking approach, you will explore the diverse future roles of designers as well as learn to create and communicate a strong value proposition, positioning design as a key driver of change and innovation.

By the end of the module, you will be equipped to lead design initiatives, make strategic decisions, drive meaningful change and impact businesses and society in the rapidly evolving field of design.

Confronting the Climate Crisis (Discovery module)

How might we engage with the implications of environmental transformation locally, nationally and globally? Where do we have agency and capacity to intervene?

This module brings together a range of perspectives—historical, political, philosophical and cultural—to explore the nature and severity of the effects of the climate crisis on our world.

People Power and Collective Action (Discovery module)

What are the possibilities and pitfalls of community and citizen action, voice and agency? This module uses interdisciplinary case-studies to critically examine collaboration with communities.

You will participate in activities such as a mock citizens' assembly, visit local community groups and hear different points of view from a range of guest speakers on concepts like power, race, gender, class, affect and justice.

Queer Futures (Discovery module)

What do we understand by queerness? Looking back at earlier interpretations, we imagine how queerness might evolve—how it might be lived, felt and understood in the future.

You will explore queer futures from a range of perspectives and viewpoints, while examining both feminist and queer theory, as well as queer media and cultural texts and material relating to areas such as activism, politics and healthcare.

Audiences, Fans and Participatory Cultures

How has the experience of being part of a media audience transformed in recent years? How do we make sense of being a fan nowadays? In what ways do fan culture and audience community manifest social transformations on both local and global scales? This module aims to provide you with a critical understanding of fandom and audiences in a global and transnational context. The module will focus on issues such as participation, pleasure, performance, and power by investigating fan culture and audience communities of a wide range of transmedia texts in a global perspective. You are encouraged to analyse the multi-layered dynamics between individual fan, fan community, audience participation, media texts, and industries through interdisciplinary lenses, for example, feminist studies, queer studies, and postcolonial studies.

Fees and funding

Our annual tuition fee is set for a 12-month session, starting at the beginning of each academic year.

Our Undergraduate Tuition Fees for 2027/28 are:

International

Fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Additional costs

Additional costs for this course

For full details of the University's financial support packages including eligibility criteria, please visit our fees and funding page

Students also need to consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation it may be necessary to take out subscriptions to professional bodies and to buy business attire for job interviews.

There may be extra costs related to your course for items such as books, stationery, printing, photocopying, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits. Following graduation, you may need to pay a subscription to a professional body for some chosen careers.

Specific additional costs for studying at Lancaster are listed below.

College fees

Lancaster is proud to be one of only a handful of UK universities to have a collegiate system. Every student belongs to a college, and all students pay a small college membership fee which supports the running of college events and activities. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

For students starting in 2026 or 2027, the fee is £40 for undergraduates and research students and £15 for students on one-year courses. Students on some distance-learning courses are not liable to pay a college fee.

Computer equipment and internet access

To support your studies, you will also require access to a computer, along with reliable internet access. You will be able to access a range of software and services from a Windows, Mac, Chromebook or Linux device. For certain degree programmes, you may need a specific device, or we may provide you with a laptop and appropriate software - details of which will be available on relevant programme pages. A dedicated IT support helpdesk is available in the event of any problems.

The University provides limited financial support to assist students who do not have the required IT equipment or broadband support in place.

Study abroad courses

In addition to travel and accommodation costs, while you are studying abroad, you will need to have a passport and, depending on the country, there may be other costs such as travel documents (e.g. visa or work permit) and any tests and vaccines that are required at the time of travel. Some countries may require proof of funds.

Placement and industry year courses

In addition to possible commuting costs during your placement, you may need to buy clothing that is suitable for your workplace and you may have accommodation costs. Depending on the employer and your job, you may have other costs such as copies of personal documents required by your employer for example.

What is my fee status?

The fee that you pay will depend on whether you are considered to be a home or international student. Read more about how we assign your fee status.

Fees in subsequent years

Home fees are subject to annual review, and are liable to rise each year in line with UK government policy. International fees (including EU) are reviewed annually and are not fixed for the duration of your studies. Read more about fees in subsequent years.

Fees for study abroad and work placements

We will charge tuition fees to Home undergraduate students on full-year study abroad/work placements in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:

Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard tuition fee

Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard tuition fee

International students on full-year study abroad/work placements will also be charged in line with the maximum amounts permitted by the Department for Education. The current maximum levels are:

Students studying abroad for a year: 15% of the standard international tuition fee during the Study Abroad year

Students taking a work placement for a year: 20% of the standard international tuition fee during the Placement year

Please note that the maximum levels chargeable in future years may be subject to changes in Government policy.

Scholarships and bursaries

You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status:

Fee status:

Any fee status

Home students

International students

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

Similar courses

BA Hons : W281

Design (Placement Year)

BA Hons : W282

Fine Art and Design

BA Hons : W1W2

Fine Art and Design (Placement Year)

BA Hons : W1W3

Fine Art and Design (Study Abroad)

BA Hons : W1W4

Marketing and Design

BSc Hons : NW52

Marketing and Design (Industry)

BSc Hons : NW53

Marketing and Design (Study Abroad)

BSc Hons : NW54

Important information

The information on this site relates primarily to the stated entry year and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. Find out more about our Charter and student policies.

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