About us
The University of Central Lancashire is the international, multi-campus university tracing its roots back to 1828 and leading the way in modern learning today.
Leading the way in modern learning
Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, you can expect a warm welcome at the University of Central Lancashire. You’ll be joining a thriving community of over 42,000 students and staff from more than 100 countries. This makes our university a vibrant place to learn, connect with new people and have fun. We’re proud of our Lancashire spirit and you’ll notice how approachable and supportive everyone is here. You’ll soon feel right at home.
Edufuturists University of the Year 2023
We have been named as University of the Year 2023 for our innovation and progressive approach to education.Most affordable university in the UK (The Times, 2023)
We're proud to have the lowest cost of living for students in the UK.Strategic plan 2021-2028
Learn more about our vision for the university and how we plan to implement this. Find out how you can be part of this.Why choose us
From excellent support to low-cost living, the University of Central Lancashire have everything you need for a great student experience.
Multi-campus university
We started life in Preston and have since grown the number of our UK campuses. As well as Preston, we are also based in Burnley (East Lancashire), Westlakes (West Cumbria) and London. We were honoured to establish the first British university in Cyprus in 2012 having been granted an academic license by the Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture.
Our ambitious Campus Masterplan vision is to create an attractive and inviting, world-class campus compatible with our status as one of the UK’s largest universities. A core principle of our plan is to integrate our campus seamlessly with the rest of the city, benefitting current and future generations of students, staff, visitors and the wider community.
A wide choice of courses
Today we’re one of the UK’s largest universities with a staff and student community approaching 42,000. Our employment-focused course portfolio with over 350 undergraduate programmes, nearly 200+ postgraduate courses and rich array of CPD courses means we offer you the skills and experience that industry needs.
Scroll or swipe on small screens to see all table columns
Timestamp |
Visual |
|---|---|
| 0:01 | We are |
| 0:02 | the University of Central Lancashire |
| 0:06 | the international, multi-campus university |
| 0:10 | Westlakes ... Preston ... Burnley |
| 0:13 | Cyprus |
| 0:15 | [image of map showing global connected world] |
| 0:19 | 2020 [Year scrolls back to 1828] |
| 0:21 | Our roots go back to 1828 |
| 0:23 | and we believe |
| 0:25 | in the spirit |
| 0:28 | of opportunity for all |
| 0:31 | Today we're leading the way |
| 0:35 | in modern learning |
| 0:38 | because |
| 0:41 | we believe |
| 0:43 | in helping people |
| 0:45 | to seize every opportunity |
| 0:49 | to flourish |
| 0.50 | in education |
| 0:52 | at work |
| 0:54 | and for life |
| 0:57 | With our universal second to none support |
| 1:00 | whatever your goal |
| 1:02 | together we'll make it happen |
| 1:06 | we're innovative by nature |
| 1:10 | Offering more choices |
| 1:12 | Creating more possibilities |
| 1:15 | Combining academic excellence |
| 1:16 | and real world teaching |
| 1:20 | We give our people the skills |
| 1:23 | and experience that industry needs |
| 1:27 | That's why our talented graduates |
| 1:29 | are in such high demand across the world. |
| 1:33 | Whoever you are |
| 1:34 | Wherever you are in life |
| 1:37 | There's always a way |
| 1:40 | Where opportunity creates success |
| 1:43 | University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) |
Our graduates
We’ve always believed in helping people to seize every opportunity to flourish in education, at work and for life. Through the combination of academic excellence and real-world teaching, we inspire people to transform their lives by seizing opportunities and achieving things they never thought possible. And now we have over 200,000 alumni worldwide.
Our graduates achieve outstanding results and are highly employable. Over 68% of our students graduate with a First or 2:1 (OfS 2023). Discover what our talented graduates are doing now.
A global university
Our community is made up of students from more than 100 countries around the world. And we are partnered with 123 institutions across the globe making us a truly international University.
We are ranked in the top 7% of universities worldwide (Center for World University Rankings 2024).
Where is Preston?
Preston is a vibrant, multicultural city in the heart of the North West of England, making it the perfect place to live, work and play. Our Preston Campus is home to a thriving international community of over 27,000 students and staff.
Explore our campus and city
Sustainability
The University is a Gold Tier University in the Green Universities Report 2023 (USwitch), highlighting our commitment to sustainability. We have retained a 2:1 classification in the People & Planet University Green League 2023/24, where we also ranked first place in the North West for water reduction. The University is also one of just 13 universities worldwide to achieve a Bronze Carbon Literate Organisation status.
Our research
On the world stage, our research teams work collaboratively with major international organisations, from the United Nations and the World Health Organisation to the European Space Agency and NASA. Whether it’s helping to produce the world’s first photograph of a Black Hole, advising the Government on the potential fire risks to those living in high rise tower block, or supporting the wellbeing of those living with dementia, our researchers are delivering accessible and impactful research that is relevant to society.
Connecting with business
Our University is Lancashire’s largest provider of graduate level qualifications. We have established links with global businesses, police constabularies, NHS trusts and work with more than 7,000 enterprises across a variety of sectors.
Proud of our roots
In 1828 the University of Central Lancashire was founded as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. Our motto ‘Ex solo ad solem’ means ‘from the earth to the sun’; and remains an important part of who we are today. We help people from all walks of life to achieve their potential.
Investing in your future
Our Preston Campus has recently undergone a radical transformation as a result of our £200m masterplan project. Our vision is to create a world-class campus for the benefit of students, staff and the surrounding community.
Our brand-new Student Centre which opened in 2021, looks out over our new University Square. The University Square is an exciting hub of activity, a focal point for community events and an iconic gateway linking together the city and the University.
Our new £35m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), which opened in 2019, has become a hive of innovation, bringing together University researchers, industry experts, local businesses and students in a spirit of collaboration and discovery.
The new development of our innovative four-storey Veterinary School is now underway. Located on our Preston Campus, the 45,000 square feet Veterinary School will be the first of its kind in Lancashire and 11th in the UK.
Values and initiatives
Our values reflect who we are as a university and what we stand for. They define the things that are most important to us and nurture our sense of shared purpose. Supporting our values and initiatives are a number of networks, creating positive change throughout our university, for our students, colleagues and the wider communities.
We’re proud of our mission and we take it seriously. Since being founded as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge in 1828, our educational ethos has brought life-changing learning to local people, this remains at the heart of our mission.
Our institution motto ‘Ex solo ad solem’ translates to ‘From the Earth to the Sun’. It means helping talented people from all walks of life to make the most of their potential. We create positive change in our students, staff, business partners and wider communities, enabling them to develop their full potential by providing excellent higher education, innovation and research.
We are a proud civic anchor too, committed to adding social value and playing our role in the economic prosperity of the places in which we are based; sourcing products and services locally, boosting jobs and economic growth.
We pride ourselves on universally supporting our people, being actively liberating, inherently innovative and proudly spirited to face whatever life throws at us. These values are woven into the fabric of who we are and will always be.
The University of Central Lancashire is committed to supporting people in crisis and conflict. We work closely with the Council for at-risk Academics (Cara) and are proud to be part of the Cara Scholars at Risk UK Universities Network.
Cara provides urgent help to academics in immediate danger and those forced into exile. In partnership universities, Cara offers practical and financial help, and assistance to reach a place of safety. This support makes it possible for academics at risk to connect, during their period of exile, with colleagues within the wider academic and scientific communities, facilitating collaboration, enhancing skills and ending isolation, so that, when the moment comes, they are equipped to go back and help re-build their societies. In addition, we support our academic community in undertaking postgraduate study through fully funded places - this year (21/22) we funded 2 places.
The University of Central Lancashire offers sanctuary to those academics who are at risk in their own countries, and as part of the Cara Fellowship programme provides financial support, fee waivers and other support for Cara beneficiaries. Fellowships help academics in danger to escape to a safe place where they can continue their work.
For more information, please visit the Cara website or contact the Vice Chancellor’s Office.
