Physics, Astrophysics & Cosmology at Lancaster (but not Russell Group?)

I'm going to be studying at Lancaster and I'm a little bit worried now after reading a few things regarding Russell Group Unis. I read that whilst it doesn't matter when at Undergraduate level, I've hear Russell Group Unis matter when you become more academic and applying for PhD and research positions. I see Lancaster ranks highly on tables; I believe it is second now on one table for research. Could someone explain the situation in a bit more detail to put my mind at rest?

Thanks,

Mike

I'm going to be studying at Lancaster and I'm a little bit worried now after reading a few things regarding Russell Group Unis. I read that whilst it doesn't matter when at Undergraduate level, I've hear Russell Group Unis matter when you become more academic and applying for PhD and research positions. I see Lancaster ranks highly on tables; I believe it is second now on one table for research. Could someone explain the situation in a bit more detail to put my mind at rest?

Thanks,

Mike

I'm going to be studying at Lancaster and I'm a little bit worried now after reading a few things regarding Russell Group Unis. I read that whilst it doesn't matter when at Undergraduate level, I've hear Russell Group Unis matter when you become more academic and applying for PhD and research positions. I see Lancaster ranks highly on tables; I believe it is second now on one table for research. Could someone explain the situation in a bit more detail to put my mind at rest?

Thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike,
Firstly, you can apply to study your masters/PhD anywhere! Secondly, I think the institution is far far less important than your skills. If you're interested in academia then make sure you try to take any research internships that you can (and quite a few will be available to you at Lancaster!) and develop skills that would be important for research. For masters programmes, they want to see that you're interested in studying their course and that you have taken steps to further your knowledge about what it's like to be a researcher.
No one can really say whether league tables or rankings 'matter' but it's about what you do when you're there!
Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions,
Charlotte
2nd year Biological Sciences with Biomedicine

Thanks everyone for your words of advice

Hi Charlotte,

When you say there'll be quite a few research internships at Lancaster could you elaborate a bit on to what they consist of and a bit more info?

Many thanks

Mike

This, along with your third year project, can help your application for masters/PhD stand out as these are research focused activities. You can of course apply for research internships outside of uni (say at a different uni or a company) during the holidays and you can find information like this in the designated careers team for your department.
Hope this helps and let me know if you have anymore questions,
Charlotte

Hi Charlotte,
From your experience of these internships, are they're more aimed at end of 2nd year students in particular? I ask because we've booked our 2020 holiday for early August and I am now feeling a bit guilty having read your response above! I know our biochemistry daughter will be interested in doing an internship but I assumed end of 1st year wasn't likely due to campus accommodation ending in June.
Thanks in advance!
Dad of biochemist

Hello,
They do tend to be aimed at 2nd year students but third year students can also carry them out. I haven't heard of any first years doing them so it could be possible. It's also possible to undertake them at different points on the year - it just depends what's available! There are of course external research internships as well. And you can of course take a year in industry and do a placement instead! In terms of accommodation, I think that the university would likely provide some whilst you're there if you don't have any yourself (a lot of student lets stop in July).
Let me know if you have anymore questions,
Charlotte