Thursday 09-10-2025 - 13:00

 

 

Lancaster University has seen a recent decrease in post-graduate research (PGR) study spaces. PGR students include PhD and Masters research students. 

 

 

Over the summer, two major shifts in PGR study spaces have been seen across the university, the relocation of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (FHASS) to Bowland Annex and removal of the post-graduate (PG) study space in The Storey in Lancaster city centre.
 

The Storey

The Storey is a venue on Meeting House Lane, where Lancaster University has been leasing a study space for PG students. In June, a select few PG students were notified of the space’s closure in July, without consultation of students. The email claimed that usage had declined and there had been consideration of alternative spaces. LUMS PGR Faculty rep Radwa ElSekhily wrote a response to the notification email regarding the spaces closure, stating how “having personally used the space over the past two years, I can attest to its consistent use by a diverse group of students which confirms its usefulness for many students.”

 

The former PG Study Space at The Storey. Now cleared of furniture.

 

Students were told that there was consideration of other available study spaces in Lancaster city centre in making the decision to close the Storey, citing the public library as an option. However, Radwa argues that it was “not a comparable space in terms of study environment, quietness or suitability for focused work”. For example, students are unable to safely leave items out whilst on a short break. Radwa argues that, instead of shutting down The Storey, it would have been preferrable to publicise the space more or better to understand the “under use” of the space to ensure that any issues could be mitigated.

This move not only removes study space from PG and PGR students but also removes the convenience for students who live off campus in Lancaster city centre. 

This will disproportionately impact PG and PGR students who may have caring responsibilities, and those who may be affected more by the increase bus and travel costs.

The University has yet to give a proper response to Radwa's concerns.
 

Bowland Annex

In addition to the Storey shutting, as part of a wider ‘Envision’ project, FHASS PGR students have been moved from their department's buildings into Bowland Annex, a newly refurbished study space.

 

The new FHASS PGR Hub in Bowland Annex, mid-way through transition.
 

This move has created discontent amongst PGR students, as they have been removed from their departments to a common PGR study space. Previously, smaller shared offices were the norm. Now, there is a single collaborative workspace, with bookable and hot desks. Permanent desks have been arranged for those who need them such as for accessibility accommodations; however, this is for a limited number of students. 

Two significant issues have been highlighted regarding this move to the annex. First being the capacity, and the second being the way that the move has been conducted, with the overall project receiving a significant lack of consultation from students.

This Annex is supposed to accommodate 300 PhD students, around 130 of which regularly come to campus to study. However, the space only has around 50-60 desks. This leaves limited space for students and no room for their belongings. When space becomes high in demand, this will alienate students from the space and their community, which should be their place of belonging. As one PhD student puts it “the sad reality is that we’re not moving to Bowland Annex, we are essentially being asked to move our possessions home, because of how inadequately small the new space is.” 

This change is unique to FHASS students as PhD students in every other faculty will continue to have permanent desks with shared offices between smaller numbers of students. Unfortunately, this will contribute to an unequal PGR experience across the University.

Regarding consultation, former FHASS PGR Faculty Rep Chris Sanderson stated in an open letter that “the meeting with the Dean, of which we were given less than a week’s notice, [had]no online option and [abruptly ended] after 30 minutes”. This only contributed to further confusion and outrage amongst students. Furthermore, Chris highlighted how students “funded by research councils, where a proportion of the funding going towards providing an appropriate space” are now left wondering where that funding is going. FHASS Executive Dean, Ed Simpson responded to the open letter, stating that the move aims to create collective space that brings people together. In addition to responding to additional concerns regarding the move, Ed outlined the action taken to mitigate concerns such as adding lockers for equipment and storing data. However, students felt as if their primary concerns around capacity and sense of belonging were not adequately addressed in the response.

Despite the discontent, the move has gone ahead. Throughout the moving process communication has remained contentious. For example, there has been a significant time delay between students being removed from their offices to the Bowland Annex and the place becoming ready. With the lack of adequate warning to make other arrangements, this has left students without a space to work and a sour taste in their mouths.

To conclude, the removal of The Storey PG study space and Bowland Annex move shows a negative trend towards a lack of consideration for the Lancaster PGR Community. The changes themselves leave PGR students feeling increasingly sidelined, with the way in which these developments have been communicated and conducted further amplifying post-graduate discontent.

This situation highlights the importance of Lancaster University decision makers to consider the wider context and collaborate with their student communities when making decisions that impact them, especially when decisions are likely to be contentious. The next step would be for the university to collaborate and have meaningful discourse with PGR communities in order to develop and improve PGR spaces with the aim of maximising the PGR experience.