University of Central Lancashire

Founded in 1828 as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge, The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) now has a staff and student community approaching 38,000 and 180,000 alumni. The University offers over 200 postgraduate courses – both taught and research – in a range of subjects. We also have a community of around 20,000 students from over 120 countries, including 5,000 postgraduate students and 700 research students.

Offering a world-class research environment, UCLan has a wide range of taught and research degree courses, taught by the University's highly qualified and dedicated members of staff.

You can study full or part-time on the majority of the taught degrees, as well as learning remotely via distance learning – an ideal way if you are looking to balance studying with a full-time job or family life.

Lecturers at the University have been recognised for their work and were recently awarded a silver quality award in the first national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) assessment.

Based in the North West of England, Preston is a vibrant, cultural and friendly place, as well as a popular student city, with the railway station just a 10-minute walk through the city centre.

Close to the coast, the city offers plenty of attractions, including two shopping centres, art galleries, museums, cinema, coffee shops and restaurants. For those who enjoy a night out, there are also many bars, clubs and pubs around the city. There's everything from bowling, crazy golf and darts to an assault course, karaoke booths and laser tag.

Preston is also one of the most networked cities in the country, located a short distance from the coastline, Lake District, Manchester, Liverpool and several international airports.

Facilities

• 24-hour library (term-time) with over 700 computers.
• On-site sports centre complete with a fitness suite and sports halls.
• Dental clinic and pharmacy.
• New social spaces - bright, modern areas packed with comfy sofas, table tennis, pool tables, beanbags and study spaces.
• The University has recently completed a £200 million investment of the Preston Campus with a new Student Centre and University Square, bringing together student support and enhancing the student journey. This also includes our new Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), home to our Engineering courses and helping to shape industry in the North West.

Over 95% of UCLan graduates go onto find work or further study within six months of leaving the University (Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

UCLan is also ranked as the leading UK university for entrepreneurship, based on the number of start-up businesses they have incubated that are still active after three years of trading, according to the latest HEBCIS 2016-17 survey. The University has been named the top university in the North of England for producing start-up businesses, and is ranked fifth overall in the UK (Tide, 2021). The University’s Propeller enterprise hub offers business start-up support to students and graduates, including skills and knowledge workshops, networking opportunities, and a business incubation space.

All students have access to the services at UCLan Careers, including CV writing, interview preparation, careers events and workshops. There is also the opportunity to book a one-to-one appointment with a careers advisor as well as finding the latest job listings on the university's website.

What's more, UCLan has impressive industry links with over 1000 employers, providing plenty of work experience opportunities for students. Find out more about our graduates.

Research

Our UCLan Research Centres provide the environment for researchers and organisations or individuals who can contribute to, and benefit from, the impact of our research activity. Alongside these, our Graduate Research School offers a dedicated resource and focus for postgraduate research students who are the future of our research endeavours.

Over the last decade, UCLan has consistently increased its international research capacity as demonstrated by the improvement in results in the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF2014). All 16 subject areas in which UCLan’s research was assessed were judged to contain ‘world-leading’ elements.

At UCLan we offer a wide range of postgraduate research-based degrees which are ideal if you are aspiring to pursue an academic career, contribute to the advancement of human knowledge and make a positive difference to the world.

Many of our academic staff are active researchers whose work is leading to new discoveries and making a positive impact on people’s lives all over the world.

English language support

We offer an English Language Support Service to help assist with the language needs of International and European students. There is a range of opportunities to improve both academic and general English with taught year-long modules starting in September, and regular one-to-one tutorials and workshops throughout the year.

As well as this, the UCLan TESOL team (Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages) offers General English classes supported by trainee teachers under supervision, which are available to members of the public as well as students.

IELTS requirements vary course to course and by country, and can easily be checked on our website.

Fees and Funding

Fees vary according to the course – visit our website to find out more about fees and funding.

Scholarships and bursaries specifically for postgraduate students are available from the University, and you may also be eligible to apply for the Government’s Postgraduate Loan Scheme.

You will also benefit from studying in the cheapest city in the UK, whilst Preston is regarded as the best place in the North West to live and work (PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) 2017 and the thinktank Demos).

Accommodation

UCLan offers accommodation places in University-owned and leased halls of residence. This includes a wide variety of en-suite and shared bathroom facilities within fully self-catered halls, mainly with shared kitchen and communal areas. Rooms are furnished and include fuel, water bills and internet access. The Student Accommodation can help with any queries and there’s always security on site.

All accommodation is within walking distance of both the campus and the city centre and details and costs can be found on our website.

Events

To find out more about the University we are offering a range of online events and chats.

How to apply

Visit our website for further details on how to apply to UCLan.