The Complete Guide To The University Of Central Lancashire

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Since 1828, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has gone by different names.

• 1828 – Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge
• 1882 – Harris Institute
• 1956 – Harris College
• 1973 – Preston Polytechnic
• 1984 – Lancashire Polytechnic
• 1992 – University of Central Lancashire after receiving university status

Yet, UCLan’s dedication to nurturing youths and providing education remains. This spirit has propelled it to

• Launching 5 campuses across the UK and Cyprus
• Earning a 4 QS Stars Overall Rating
• Ranking #3 on the 2022 HUMEN University Mental Health League Table

If you plan to begin your uni chapter, this is a great moment. Our guide will walk you through this beautiful UK university.

Total Student Population	Over 39,000 students
% of international students	Around 18% (2022/2023)
Teaching faculty-to-student ratio	Approximately 1:25

1.2 University of Central Lancashire Rankings 2025

The University of Central Lancashire ranks #951 – #1000 globally in the QS World Universities Ranking 2025 Best Universities 2024 table. It’s Medicine-related courses are also recognised in the QS Subject Ranking:

QS Subject Category	Ranking For 2025
Medicine	#651 – 700

2. Student Life & Living Cost

2.1 University of Central Lancashire UK Campuses

Be enchanted by the University of Central Lancashire.  Its surroundings are decorated with historic buildings and beautiful greenlands. Inside, it houses the latest facilities refurbished in the past 4 years.

Today, UCLan has campuses in Preston, Burnley, West Cumbria and London. Follow us and discover what lies behind its four walls.

2.1.1 Locations and Surrounding Vibe

Preston Campus

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1828 as the ‘Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge’.
• This spacious campus now houses over 27,000 people and a 4-storey, 45,000-square-foot vet school.
• UCLan invested GBP 200 million to revamp this campus. Its latest additions are the Engineering Innovation Centre (est. 2019) and the Student Centre (est. 2021).
• The campus also has beautiful parks and outdoor spaces for a change of scenery.
• Bonus: UCLan has an on-site indie publisher and is the only UK university offering a book publishing course.

How To Get Around?
🗺️A 6-minute walk and around 1 km to Preston.

• Travel by train, bus or bike.
• The Preston Railway Station is a 10-minute walk from campus.
• The closest bus stop is opposite the Sutdent’s Union at C&T Building. It is a 15-minute walk away.
• If you are travelling by bus, there are stops on campus.

Burnley Campus

Key Highlights

• UCLan Burnley lives in 2 locations: Trafalgar Street and Princess Way.
• Constructed in 1873, Victoria Mills was once a textile mill and exporter before transforming into an institution in the 20th century.
• Today, it is a compact campus with small class sizes.
• Its countryside location serves breathtaking views of Pendle Hill, the Forest of Bowland, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
• Key Subject areas: Psychology, Nursing, Midwifery, Digital Media, Health & Social Care, Social Work, Youth Work

How To Get Around?
🗺️Both sites are around 1 km or a 15-minute walk from Burnley.

• Travel by train, bus or bike.
• The closest stations to Victoria Mill are the Burnley Manchester Road Railway Station and the Gill and Hob Club stop. Both are within a 5-10 minute walking distance.
• The closest stations to Princess Way are the Burnley Central Station and Burney College (for buses). Both are within around a 5-minute walking distance.

Westlakes Campus

Key Highlights

• UClan’s specialised campus for medicine and nursing.
• Studying here enables you to undergo NHS placements in rural communities.
• The enchanting West Cumbria paints a tapestry of sea, trees and grasslands.
• Key subject areas: MBBS, Nursing

How To Get Around?
🗺️A 15-minute bus ride from the city centre

• Travel by train, bus or car.
• The Science Park bus stop is about 1km or a 10-minute walk from campus.
• The nearest train station is Whitehaven Railway Station, a 10-minute drive away.

London Campus

Key Highlights

• Opened in September 2021 with traditional classroom-based learning.
• It supports its adult learners with condensed timetables.
• Key subject areas: Psychology, Mental Health & Wellbeing, Business & Marketing, Computing, Health & Social Care, Public Health

How To Get Around?
🗺️ A 25-minute train ride from London

• Travel by public transport or by car.
• The nearest bus stop is Blackwall Tunnel / East India Dock Road (Stop M), a 5-minute walk from campus. 
• The East India DLR station offers underground light railway services within a 5-minute walk distance.

2.2 Learning Facilities

2.3 Recreational Facilities

2.4 Student Activities

Alpaca petting? Community Fridge? Whacky challenges? The UCLANSU, or Student Union, is a gateway to many fun campus shenanigans, such as

@uclansu

The first day of the Alpaca-lypse! If you missed out on petting and feeding these cuties today, you can catch them again on Tuesday 11-2 outside our building as part of our Study Break events! Check out the list of all our Study Break events on our website and make sure to grab yourself a FREE ticket to our end of year festival on May 3rd! 🎉🍿🎪🎟️

♬ espresso sabrina – celebs media

@uclansu

Our craft and food fair is back this Thursday around our building from 11am – 3pm. This student-led event will feature a mix of local businesses and student stalls. On offer will be a variety of locally produced foods including cakes, cheese and pastries. Stalls selling artisan crafts such as jewellery and homeware will also be joining us. Come down and get yourself a little treat ✨👀

♬ Calm Down – Rema & Selena Gomez

• 150+ Clubs and Societies (C&S)
• Sports
• Exercise Classes
• Socials and Events
• Volunteering
• Student jobs

Have a go at its Taster and Give-it-a-go sessions to try new sports. Otherwise, meet new people at the ‘Get Together’ activities. 

2.5 Student Services

No matter who you are, UCLAN will be there for you. It backs you up with 

• Study Support
• Careers and Employment Support
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Support
• Disability and Inclusive Support
• Cost-of-Living Support
• Student advisers

If you are starting your Y0 or Y1, you will get an Archieve+ support package that helps kickstart your uni life. It grants you access to

• personal tutors
• student mentors
• a personalised achievement plan
• dedicated achievement coaches
• weekly newsletters
• career planning assistance

2.6 University of Central Lancashire Accommodation and Cost

Preston Campus Accommodations

On-campus

• Derwent Hall (GBP 85/week) *per person
• Douglas Hall (GBP 85/week) *per person
• Pendle Hall (GBP 117/week) *per person
• Ribble Hall (GBP 85-99/week) *per person
• Roeburn Hall (GBP 125/week) *per person
• Whitendale Hall (GBP 85-99/week) *per person

Off-campus

Nearby towns/ villages/ suburbs:
Preston, Penwortham, Walton-le-Dile, Fulwood

Burnley Campus Accommodation

On-campus

• Sandygate Halls (GBP 134/week) *per person

Off-campus

Nearby towns/ villages/ suburbs:
Burley, Padiham, Hampton

Westlake Campus Accommodation

On-campus

• Summergrove Hall (GBP 135/week)

Off-campus

Nearby towns/ villages/ suburbs:
Moor Row, Whitehaven, Cleator Moor Bigrigg Linthwaite

Nearby Suburbs of Other Campuses

• UCLan London: Greenwich, Plaistow, Isle-of-Dog, Stratford, Rotherhithe

Cost of Living in the UK

Save The Student found that students studying in the UK spend around GBP 926 – 1,264 on average each month. In the 2024 Student Money Survey, they found that most of the expenses go to

• Rent
• Groceries
• Bills
• Transport

Plus, you must present financial evidence when applying for your visa at the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for the first time. Hence, you need to prepare up to 9 months of living expenses.

*Note: Your lifestyle will change your weekly expenses. So, plan your budget accordingly.

3. Courses, Fees & Scholarships

3.1 Courses You Can At The University Of Central Lancashire

Field Of Study	Courses
Accounting & Finance	Accounting & Financial Studies, Accounting & Finance
Architecture	Architecture, Architectural Studies
Art, Design & Fashion	Animation, Art & Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Game Art
Biosciences	Biomedical Science, Healthcare Science, Biology, Microbiology, Neuroscience
Business & Management	Business & Management, Business & Marketing, International Business, Sports Business Management
Computing Science & Game Development	Computer Games Development, Computer Network & Security, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Software Engineering
Engineering	Mechanical, Civil, Electrical & Robotics, Aerospace, Fire & Safety
Health Professions	Nursing, Physiotherapy, Paramedic Science, Sports Therapy, Health & Social Care
Law	Law LLB, Law with Criminology
Media	Media & TV Production, Journalism, Filmmaking, Game Design, Sound Design
Medicine	MBBS, Operation Department Practice, Medical Sciences
Pharmacy & Pharmacology	Physiology & Pharmacology, Pharmacy, Pharmacology
Psychology	Clinical Psychology, Education & Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Neuropsychology
Sport and  Exercise Sciences	Sport & Exercise Science, Sport Therapy, Nutrition & Exercise Sciences

3.2 Course Fees At The University Of Central Lancashire

We have also saved you the hassle and compiled the full list of the university’s detailed course fees into one article below. Check it out and share it!

Coming Soon!

3.3 University Of Central Lancashire Scholarships

These are some of the scholarships offered by the university to international students. Check out the full list here. (Coming Soon)

Scholarships	Details
Articulation Scholarship	Value: GBP 2,200 For Undergraduate and Postgraduate International Students from eligible countries. Applicants must have previously studied at a UCLAN’s articulation partner. This applies to all programmes, except ▪️ MBBS ▪️ Online and Work-based learning ▪️ Pre-sessional English language ▪️ Professional placements
Excellence Scholarship	Value: GBP 3,500 per year For Undergraduate and Postgraduate International Students from eligible countries. This applies to all programmes, except ▪️ Foundation courses ▪️ Postgraduate research ▪️ MBBS ▪️ Online and Work-based learning ▪️ Pre-sessional English language ▪️ Professional placements
MBBS Excellence Scholarship	Value: GBP 10,000 overall tuition fee. (GBP 2,000 annually) For students who are from eligible countries and applying for the MBBS Medicine & Surgery course. Awarded to the top 10 students with excellent academic grades and Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) scores.

3.4 Popular Courses at the University of Central Lancashire

Business Courses

Is your idea still sitting in your Google document? Bring it to the University of Central Lancashire. 

Its Student Enterprise Hub (SEHub) has over 10 years of experience supporting new businesses. New entrepreneurs can receive 1-to-1 guidance and mentoring. The SEHub’s Propeller Programme organises workshops to strengthen your ideas and strategies.

If you are still learning the ropes, UCLan’s Business courses cover essential foundations. Then, you can venture into other disciplines like

• HR Management
• Marketing
• International Business Communication
• Sports Business Management

To help boost your employability, the University upholds high teaching standards that meet market demands. As such, it earned accreditations from various organisations, including

• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
• the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

There are also entrepreneurs in residence who provide extra guidance outside of lessons. They are a network of directors, CEOs and founders. These experienced mentors

• host Masterclasses and Q&As
• assign innovative projects
• advice on curriculum

As such, UCLan was crowned the Best Entrepreneurial University of the Year at the Educate North Awards 2023 and the Small Business Charter (SBC) in 2022. Its efforts and projects have

• helped 1,744 SMEs
• created 236 jobs
• and supported 851 start-ups in the past 6 years

Media Studies

Entrepreneurs aside, the University of Central Lancashire is also home to high-calibre creators. Course Leader, Mario Kkounnous has been in the creative industry since 2005. In 2022, his short film The Ticket Maker won Best Animation Film at the LAKE VIEW International Film Festival. Another rising star is Jamie Welsh, an animation graduate. He won the Royal Television Society (RTS) Student Award in 2020 and 2021.

If you love creating stories like them, UCLan explores various media. So, bring yours to life by studying one of these courses

• Sound Design
• Photography
• Game Design
• Media & TV Production
• Screenwriting with Film, TV & Radio

Moreover, UCLan supports its artists with tools that matter. There are fully-equipped TV studios and recording suites. Inside the TV studios themselves, you will find

• autocue high-definition studio cameras
• tapeless recording
• graphics software
• 24-channel digital audio mixer
• lighting rigs

For students looking into a career, UCLan also hosts an annual employability event, called cJAM-Media”. It has a full day of sharing sessions and 1-to-1 speed pitching opportunities with industry guests. If your pitch is successful, you might get a placement offer. In 2023, 88 students received their offers from cJAM.

This is your moment to shine and snitch some tips.

“Top tips for employability, I always say that it’s also based on personality and confidence. Equally, it’s what they do outside the course,” – AJ Reed, Communication and Engagement Manager, ITV in the North.

Speaking of what you do outside lectures, the University exposes you to collaborative projects. Before, students worked with BBC as production crews to recreate a lost episode of DR Who within a week! The other project they joined was Soap In A Week by ITV.

Psychology Studies

What does“WAAAAAHHHH” and “Waaaaahh” mean? Maybe you can tell us after studying Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire.

UCLan allows you to specialise in Children’s Development and other aspects of psychology. If dealing with little ones overwhelms you, you can study either

• Forensic Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Neuropsychology

All Psychology degrees are accredited by the British Psychology Society (BPS). They also share the same Y1 units, such as

• Methods and Practise of Psychology Inquiry
• Introduction to Development and Social Psychology
• Being a Psychologist
• Introduction to Psychobiology and Cognition

Depending on what you choose, each course brings a different classroom experience. For example, the Forensic Science degree hosts interactive workshops. There, you hear people from various walks of life share their stories. A criminal classified as “UK’s Most Wanted” and a detective superintendent experienced in high-profile murder investigations were 2 of the previous speakers.

Moreover, UCLan’s specialised facilities help study various brains. The Child Observation Suite has recording equipment and an L-shaped researcher room for studying kids. Meanwhile, the Health Psychology Suite houses a neuroendocrine lab, where you analyse hormones, blood and saliva.

Computer Science

If you dread early classes on your first week, here’s something to look forward to. UCLan’s Computer Science degrees throw you into a Computing Challenge in your first year. This exciting 4-week team project connects you with people and your course. Together, you will build apps, market the product, and present your journey.

Additionally, these courses also centre around software development. They build the essential foundation with subjects like

• Programming
• Computer Systems and Security
• Systems Analysis and Database Design

Then, you can choose a specialisation in your second year, including

• Games Development
• Software Engineering
• Cyber Security

No matter where you go, the University of Central Lancashire’s degrees are recognised by experts. It has accreditations from the British Computing Society (BCS) and the Chartered Institute for IT. Meaning, they are quality-assured to get you career-ready.

Plus, there are high-tech gears on campus to sharpen your skills. For instance, the Hydra Minerva Suite recreates emergency phone calls and radio messages. It mirrors the systems used by emergency services in the UK and abroad.

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4. Entry Requirements & Intake Dates

4.1  University of Central Lancashire Entry Requirements 2025

Minimum entry requirements for Undergraduate Degree:

• UEC: B4 grade in at least 5 subjects.
  (Not including Chinese or Malay.)
• STPM: BBB Grades
• A-Level: BCC Grades
• IB: Pass with BCC grades from Higher Level subjects
• SAM: ATAR 85
• Diploma: Successful completion.
• CPU: 65% in 6 advanced-level Grade 12 subjects 
• International Foundation: Successful completion

Minimum entry requirements for Postgraduate Degree:

• Undergraduate: GPA 2.4

Minimum language proficiency requirements (IELTS):

• Undergraduate: 6.0 Overall
• Postgraduate:  6.0 Overall

Some courses may require you to earn higher entry requirements and additional qualifications.

4.2 University of Central Lancashire Intake Periods for 2025

The intake periods for 2025 are as follows:

• Degree: January, March, September
• Postgraduate: January, March, September

Please note that the intake periods may vary depending on the courses. For specific intake periods and dates, click here (Coming Soon!).

4.3 Admission Process To Study In The UK

Need more information about how to study in the UK? Here are some articles that will be able to help you!

• The Ultimate Study In UK Guide For Malaysian Students
• Top 10 Benefits Of Engaging A Higher Education Consultant 
• Education Consultant: A Free Study Abroad Guide

5. Student Testimonials & Alumni

6. Conclusion

It is your turn to live your time at the University of Central Lancashire. With its 200 years of experience, UCLan refines its resources to meet the latest industry standards. So, immerse yourself in its 4 QS Stars teachings and find your strength among its courses.

While you strive for success, remember to enjoy your experience. A vibrant student life awaits.

SEE OTHER UNI GUIDES

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