About us

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.