Lancaster University Management School


Lancaster University Management School is the business school of Lancaster University in Lancaster, England. The School was established in 1964. A full range of subjects are taught, ranging from undergraduate degrees to postgraduate degrees including MBAs, PhDs and post-experience executive education. The Financial Times consistently ranks Lancaster University's MBA programme amongst the top in the world.

Reputation and accreditation

In 2019 Lancaster University was ranked in the top 10 UK universities in several major national league tables. LUMS is one of a small group of business schools in the world to have achieved quadruple accreditation by the leading international business school accreditation organisations:
RankingPlaceYear
The Times Good University Guide6th in the UK2018
The Independent Complete University Guide7th in UK2020
The Guardian University Guide6th in the UK2019
Financial Times Global MBA Ranking91st Globally, 11th in the UK2019
Financial Times Masters in Finance29th in the world, 5th in UK2018
Financial Times Masters in Management6th in the UK, 61st in the world2018

Campus and facilities

LUMS is one of the four faculties of Lancaster University and is situated on the university campus, south of the city of Lancaster. The campus consists of a number of new buildings and facilities grouped together near the south end of the campus. The Hub area and atrium of the school opened in 2005 and is primarily a host to postgraduate studies. The Charles Carter Building opened in 2010 and provides additional teaching space as well as PhD study facilities. It is home to several academic teaching departments.
In 2018, the University unveiled plans to extend the Business School with a new building known as the West Pavilion, to include three lecture theatres with associated teaching and office space.

Organisational relationships

LUMS has worked in partnership with many companies to develop customised executive education. Partners have included: AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, Bass, British Airways, Pilkington, Rexam, Royal & Sun Alliance and Total. The School has worked with many public sector organisations including the NHS and The UK Cabinet Office. Through its Department of Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation it also provides business support and knowledge transfer for small and medium enterprises in England's North West region. LUMS was awarded a Small Business Charter Gold Award in 2014.
In 2005, LUMS partnered with Ernst & Young to offer undergraduate degrees in Accounting and Finance, in which students undertake two periods of paid work-experience with Ernst & Young, in preparation for a Chartered Accountant career. Several LUMS postgraduate programmes have modules designed and delivered by employers – these include Accenture, Deloitte, Cisco, IBM and SAP AG.

Academic profile

Seven subject areas exist within the Management School, including Accounting and Finance; Economics; Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation; Leadership and Management, Management Science, Marketing, and Organisation, Work and Technology.

Research focus

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, Lancaster University Management School submitted to UoA 19: Business and Management Studies. LUMS was ranked 1st for 'research power', 1st for number of faculty submitted, 1st equal for research environment, 11th for grade point average, and 9th for percentage of 4* publications.

Research Centres at LUMS

LUMS delivers a wide range of taught and research courses, catering for continuing students and professional and executive training. Postgraduate students who study at LUMS are automatically made members of Graduate College.

Undergraduate study

LUMS currently has 2,268 undergraduate students enrolled, all of which will have been assigned to a college of Lancaster University in their first year. Most programmes offer the capability to take part in an industrial placement year. It is argued that such placement- or internship-focused degrees enhance students' employability upon completion of degree programmes.

Extra-curricular

A range of extra-curricular opportunities exist at LUMS, in addition to those available within Lancaster University. Each year, the School submits a number of teams into the UK IBM Business Challenge and is involved in numerous case competitions.

Study abroad and international exchanges

has an international exchange programme of which LUMS is an active member. Study Abroad Programmes enable students from one host university or institution to "swap" places with another from an alternative institution so that both may enjoy a new culture, setting and different approach to learning. Many of the undergraduate programmes at LUMS include the option to study abroad for periods ranging from a term to a year.

Notable alumni

NameProgramme of StudyYearCurrent Status
Antony BurgmansMA Marketing1971chairman – Unilever
Gillian MerronBSc Management Science1980Held an MP seat for Lincolnshire and Minister of State for Public Health until May 2010.
Nahed TaherPhD Economics2001Founder and CEO – Gulf One Investment Bank
Ricky WongBA Accounting & Finance2002CEO – Asia Media
Richard AllinsonBSc Economics1980BBC Radio 2 Broadcaster
Richard CousinsMSc Operational Research1981CEO – Compass Group
Rob HoldenBA Economics1977Former CEO – Crossrail
Randall ZindlerMBA1999CEO – Medair
Gian FulgoniMA Marketing1970Founder & chairman – ComScore
John C. HullMA Operational Research1969professor of Derivatives & Risk Management – University of Toronto
W. Brian ArthurMA Operational Research1967Economist – Santa Fe Institute & Stanford University
Rainer HerschBA Economics1985Comedian
Ruth Dianne HinesPhD Accounting1994Accounting academic, poet, and children's author
Collette RocheBBA Management1997Chief Operating Officer at Manchester United Football Club