Study Abroad
Our unique study abroad degrees – Geography North America BSC/BA and Physical Geography Australasia BSC – allow you to spend an exciting year-long period studying at a North American (Canada or USA) or an Australian (Australia or New Zealand) university. Competition for places on these schemes is fierce and entry requirements are high to reflect this (AAB at A level or equivalent). Those not accepted for this degree programme will automatically be offered a place on one of our three-year degree programmes.
All students on our study abroad programmes become full members of the overseas university during their year away from Lancaster but also remain in touch with a dedicated Study Abroad Advisor at Lancaster who will monitor students’ progress and help resolve any difficulties encountered. Accommodation is arranged at the host university and all visa arrangements are dealt with by Lancaster University.
Geography North America BSC/BA
These degree schemes present a unique opportunity for you to investigate at first hand the diverse physical environments, societies and cultures in the USA or Canada. The specific modules that you will follow will depend on the particular North American university that you attend, but the institutions with which we have links all offer modules that are complementary to our degree programmes. The marks you are awarded in North America will count towards your final degree. You will have extensive opportunities for fieldwork and travel in North America and for undertaking research towards your dissertation.
Exchange places are currently available at a number of partner institutions including, in the USA, University of California (LA and Berkeley), Colorado, Minnesota, Penn State, and in Canada, British Columbia and Toronto.
Physical Geography (Study Abroad) Australasia BSc
This unique degree provides an exciting year-long opportunity to study Physical Geography at an Australian or New Zealand university. The year abroad is the third of a four-year study programme. Students are guaranteed a place at an Australasian university. During your year in Australasia, you can choose from a range of Physical Geography modules from July to mid-November and between February and June. These include local field courses. The summer vacation of November to February is available for travel, paid work or fieldwork.
Exchange places are currently available in Australasia at the Universities of: Monash (Victoria), South Australia (Adelaide), Macquarie (Sydney), Griffith (Brisbane), and Murdoch (Western Australia), Australian National University (Canberra), Wollongong (New South Wales), and the University of New South Wales, as well as Victoria University of Wellington and Waikato in New Zealand.
“I took a place at the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and it really has lived up to expectations. There is always something going on, whether it is clambering around on Volcanoes, ‘tramping’ around the temperate rainforests and glaciers of the South Island or watching the All Blacks with a pint. There is the opportunity to take a wide range of Geography and Earth/Environmental Science courses through the year so whether your year will involve the golden beaches and Outback Safaris of Australia or the wild, wet and rugged Middle Earth that is New Zealand it’s sure to be fantastic!”
Darren Axe, BSc Physical Geography (Australasia)