Lancaster is a campus university set in 250 acres of parkland. Since 2003 we have invested in excess of £300m in new college residential and social facilities, new and refurbished teaching spaces and new research facilities. The national Research Assessment Exercises (RAE) of 1996 and 2001 ranked Lancaster in the leading group of institutions. The most recent RAE in 2008 confirmed the universitys standing as a UK top 15 university. Our academic departments have an outstanding record of teaching quality which is evidenced through the national quality assurance process and the accolades and awards made to our staff. Our campus with its academic and college structure, is a major asset which encourages interactions between staff and students and the opportunity to build up new inter-disciplinary work. All staff are eligible to be members of one of the nine colleges that constitutes an important feature of the life and organisation of the University. We are very much part of the city of Lancaster sharing with the community its cultural and recreational facilities - theatre studio, art gallery, concert hall, multi-faith Chaplaincy Centre and well-equipped sports complex. A new £20m sports complex is currently under construction.