Research at Lancaster

The quality, reach and significance of research produced in Lancaster University's vibrant research environment is world-leading.

Scientific research in the Physics Isolab building.
Logo for the Research Excellence Framework 2021

REF 2021

The UK Government's Research Excellence Framework (REF) confirms Lancaster as a home of world-leading research.

REF 2021 rated 99% of Lancaster's overall research environment as 4* 'world leading' or 3* 'internationally excellent'. This includes support and training of research students, research integrity, equality and diversity, as well as facilities available to support research.

REF 2021 results

Find Lancaster University research

Our Research Directory allows you to search for specific people or publications or find a list of our research groups.

Research Directory
A researcher looks through a microscope

‘This is Lancaster’ - a podcast series.

Here at Lancaster University, we bring people together to deliver solutions to complex problems, both in our region and around the world.

At the heart of Lancaster's research endeavour, our experts are working in partnership with others to make a difference. In this series of interviews, Lancaster University researchers share the stories, setbacks and discoveries behind the headlines and provide an in-depth look at some of the truly life-changing work taking place in our University.

This is Lancaster Podcast
A researcher in a lab holding and pointing toward a petri dish containing samples.
Professor Muhammad Munir

Sustainability across Lancaster's research

Academics and researchers from across Lancaster University are working to address the climate emergency in diverse ways.

Faculties and Departments

See the full list of Lancaster's faculties, departments, institutes and research centres.

Interdisciplinary research

A major strength of Lancaster University is its thriving ecosystem of interdisciplinary research. This collaborative approach is fostered by our mixture of formal and informal structures - including Institutes and University Research Centres - bringing together experts from different disciplines to address regional, national and global challenges.

  • Security Lancaster

    Working with government and industry to find new ways for individuals, organisations and societies to secure and protect themselves.

  • Data Science Institute

    Taking a joined-up approach to data-driven research challenges, from infrastructure and fundamentals to global problems and the legal and ethical issues of 'big data'.

  • Materials Science

    Home to a field of study practiced at a handful of world-class, research-led UK universities and equivalent universities globally.

  • Social Futures

    Combining social science and humanities with science and technology research to discover routes to the futures we want and need.

  • Centre for Ageing Research

    Growing a centre of excellence for interdisciplinary research around ageing, older people and age-related disease.

  • The Ruskin

    Home to the leading collection of the works of John Ruskin (1819-1900), the epoch-defining writer, artist and social thinker.

  • Energy Lancaster

    Experts from across Lancaster University working with global partners to the develop secure and sustainable energy supplies.

  • Centre for Mobility Studies

    Combining social theory with research and innovation to bring long-term sustainability to mobile life.

  • The Pentland Centre

    A world-class hub for transdisciplinary research on sustainability in business.

  • Centre for Global Eco-Innovation

    Delivering solutions for clean and sustainable growth at scale with businesses, communities and wider partners.

Support for Researchers

Providing support and development opportunities for researchers is a key part of Lancaster's research strategy:

Research Services

Lancaster’s Research Services team provides support for all aspects of externally-funded research activities.

Our experts help academic staff to:

  • Identify funding opportunities
  • Develop applications
  • Cost proposals
  • Deal with post-award administration

The team also provides University-wide support for research governance and ethics, REF, research contracts and research information and systems.

Research Services

Researcher Development

The development of our researchers is central to the success of Lancaster's 2020 strategy.

As part of our People Strategy, we are fully committed to the Concordat to Support the Career Development of Researchers and have an action plan in place to support its implementation.

Lancaster's demonstrated commitment to the Concordat has received European recognition in the form of the HR Excellence in Research award, first awarded to the institution in 2011, retained in 2013 and again in 2016.

Researcher Development

Research stories

Lancaster University research stories from the past few weeks: