Preparing for a double degree program with Lancaster University
Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) ranks among the UK’s top 10 and for good reason: it offers a strong academic foundation, prestigious partnerships, excellent research opportunities, and a well-rounded student life. If you’ve been unsure about your choice, just read this testimonial from Dmitry Prokhorenkov, a student of the “Big Data Systems” master’s program.
Studying at Lancaster University in the UK as part of the MSc in E-Business and Innovation left an unforgettable impression on me. It gave me practical, real-world experience and the opportunity to build friendships with talented students from all over the globe. LUMS is a top-ranked business school, offering a wide range of high-quality graduate programs and staffed by an experienced faculty that includes experts from major industries and tech giants such as IBM, SAP, Microsoft, and others.
I chose LUMS because the university and this program in particular offer a unique combination of professional training and career development in digital innovation and transformation, while also providing advanced knowledge in business and management. I would especially like to highlight the constant growth of Lancaster’s Innovation Hub and the availability of research grants that are very accessible to students. Even though Lancaster is an HSE partner, this particular program had previously been recommended only to students from another HSE master's track — so I made my final decision after speaking with several 2017–2018 alumni of the program.
During my first year in the Big Data Systems program at HSE, I applied to several double degree programs. Initially, Lancaster was just one of the options I considered. However, closer to the final decision deadline, and after attending an information session with Lancaster representatives, I confidently chose LUMS.
One thing worth noting: prepare for the English language test well in advance. Otherwise, you may need to take a pre-sessional English course at Lancaster before the academic year begins. I didn’t have time to retake the IELTS, so I had no choice but to arrive a month early and complete the English prep course. But I have no regrets — I spent nearly all of September improving my language skills and getting used to the academic environment. Even though the course takes up 30–50% of your time, the rest is free to explore the UK and meet other international students. September is also one of the sunniest months in England, making it the perfect time to settle in.
The most difficult and time-consuming part of preparing for the move was assembling documents and applying for a long-term student visa (over one year). But don’t stress too much about your wardrobe or daily necessities — everything can be bought locally, often with great student discounts. Lancaster students even get free access to Amazon Prime, which is incredibly convenient.
As for housing, I strongly recommend staying on campus. Otherwise, you’ll spend about an hour each day commuting back and forth and miss out on the vibrant student life. With over 12,000 students living on campus and access to all essential facilities — including the fantastic library and sports center — living on site allows you to manage your time better and balance your studies and personal life more effectively.
To wrap up, if you’re considering spending your second year in a double degree program abroad, I wholeheartedly recommend choosing the UK. Even if you’re leaning toward Germany or France, only make your final decision after analyzing the curriculum in detail and talking to alumni of those programs. And if you ever have any questions — feel free to reach out to me directly. I’ll be happy to share my experience or offer advice: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitry-d2p/
Studying at Lancaster University in the UK as part of the MSc in E-Business and Innovation left an unforgettable impression on me. It gave me practical, real-world experience and the opportunity to build friendships with talented students from all over the globe. LUMS is a top-ranked business school, offering a wide range of high-quality graduate programs and staffed by an experienced faculty that includes experts from major industries and tech giants such as IBM, SAP, Microsoft, and others.
I chose LUMS because the university and this program in particular offer a unique combination of professional training and career development in digital innovation and transformation, while also providing advanced knowledge in business and management. I would especially like to highlight the constant growth of Lancaster’s Innovation Hub and the availability of research grants that are very accessible to students. Even though Lancaster is an HSE partner, this particular program had previously been recommended only to students from another HSE master's track — so I made my final decision after speaking with several 2017–2018 alumni of the program.
During my first year in the Big Data Systems program at HSE, I applied to several double degree programs. Initially, Lancaster was just one of the options I considered. However, closer to the final decision deadline, and after attending an information session with Lancaster representatives, I confidently chose LUMS.
One thing worth noting: prepare for the English language test well in advance. Otherwise, you may need to take a pre-sessional English course at Lancaster before the academic year begins. I didn’t have time to retake the IELTS, so I had no choice but to arrive a month early and complete the English prep course. But I have no regrets — I spent nearly all of September improving my language skills and getting used to the academic environment. Even though the course takes up 30–50% of your time, the rest is free to explore the UK and meet other international students. September is also one of the sunniest months in England, making it the perfect time to settle in.
The most difficult and time-consuming part of preparing for the move was assembling documents and applying for a long-term student visa (over one year). But don’t stress too much about your wardrobe or daily necessities — everything can be bought locally, often with great student discounts. Lancaster students even get free access to Amazon Prime, which is incredibly convenient.
As for housing, I strongly recommend staying on campus. Otherwise, you’ll spend about an hour each day commuting back and forth and miss out on the vibrant student life. With over 12,000 students living on campus and access to all essential facilities — including the fantastic library and sports center — living on site allows you to manage your time better and balance your studies and personal life more effectively.
To wrap up, if you’re considering spending your second year in a double degree program abroad, I wholeheartedly recommend choosing the UK. Even if you’re leaning toward Germany or France, only make your final decision after analyzing the curriculum in detail and talking to alumni of those programs. And if you ever have any questions — feel free to reach out to me directly. I’ll be happy to share my experience or offer advice: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dmitry-d2p/