The University of Central Lancashire is a public university located in Preston- the heart of the North West of England. Preston which houses the main campus of the university is regarded as the cheapest city for students to live in and the best city in North West England to work after graduation. Commonly known as UCLan, it ranks in the top 6.5% of the Centre for World University Rankings (2020-2021). It also has the highest number of 5 QS stars owing to its world-class teaching standards.
UCLan is one of the largest universities in the UK offering undergraduate and postgraduate courses in fields like Arts, Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, Law, etc. Having partnerships with more than 125 institutions around the globe, it claims to be a truly international university attracting thousands of students seeking to study in the UK. The university has undertaken a GBP 200 million project to renovate the main Preston campus and has set up the Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC) worth GBP 35 million. Additionally, UCLan has been acknowledged as the top investor in student well-being according to Student Welfare League Table 2020.
University of Central Lancashire Rankings
The university has been ranked by some of the best-ranking agencies in the world. A snapshot of the same is given below:
- QS World University Rankings 2021 - #801- #1000
- THE World University Rankings 2021 - #801- #1000
- U.S News and World Report Best Global Universities Rankings 2021 - #1089
Highlights
| Type of institute | Public |
| Location | Preston (main campus) |
| Mode of Payment | Bank transfer or banker's draft, online payment, credit or debit card |
| Housing facilities | Available |
| Intake Seasons | September and January |
| Financial aid | Discounts, Bursary, and scholarships |
| Official website | https://www.uclan.ac.uk/ |
University of Central Lancashire Courses
- The University of Central Lancashire offers more than 230 undergraduate and 206 postgraduate courses across its campuses in the UK and other places in the world
- Part-time and distance programs are also offered to aid immobile students and busy professionals earn a university degree
- Through the Worldwide Learning Center, students can learn a second language for free. Languages offered are French, German, Arabic, Japanese, etc
- To enhance knowledge, skills, and professional development, 189 accredited short courses and continuing professional development courses are offered in specialized disciplines
- Degree apprenticeship- a mix of practical work experience laced with academic studies is available for students to upgrade their employability skills for a better career prospect. There are 33-degree apprenticeship programs in diverse fields which include Mechanical engineering, Digital Marketing, Social work, Cybersecurity, etc.
- Foundational courses are available for students with insufficient entry requirements. Students can progress to their desired course of study on the completion of the program. Medical students with insufficient entry requirements can enroll in a three-year medical science foundation program.
University of Central Lancashire Campus
- The University of Central Lancashire is operated on three campuses with the main campus located in Preston.
- Preston is regarded as one of the best-networked cities in the UK with the train station being just 10 minutes away and also the safest city for students to live in the United Kingdom.
- If a student is on campus at night then the UCLan Safety Bus can get them home safely (runs 10 pm-4.30 am, PR1 and PR2 areas). It’s perfect for night owls studying in the Library, which is open 24/7 during term-time.
- Art exhibitions to music festivals; public lectures to science workshops; the University of Central Lancashire hosts a wide range of engaging events.
- All the students get free sports memberships at Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and UCLan Sports Arena. The outstanding facilities include a fully equipped gym and fitness suite, sports hall and outdoor sports pitches.
- Other campuses of the school are the Burnley campus, Westlakes campus, Cyprus campus, and other satellite campuses of the university at Mauritius and Hebei China operated in partner institution facilities.
- The Burnley campus is home to notable research centers such as Applied Digital Signal and Image Processing Research Centre (ASDIP) and Advanced Digital Manufacturing Technology Research Centre (ADMT)
- The University of Central Lancashire Westlakes has state-of-the-art facilities located at Westlakes Science and Technology Park in West Cumbria.
- Facilities on Westlakes campus include a wet laboratory, a modern lecture theatre, a design and simulation computer laboratory, a modern computing suite, a postgraduate student research office, etc.
- Students are usually keen on participating in community development and other volunteering services anchored by the University of Central Lancashire's award-winning Centre for Volunteering and Community Leadership (CVCL).
University of Central Lancashire Residence
- Accommodation is guaranteed on campus for all full-time students admitted to study at the Preston campus.
- There are seven halls of residence with price pegged at 77 GBP to 108 GBP per week, and one 1- & 2-bedroom self-contained flats at the Preston campus with rent of 97 GBP to 124 GBP per week.
- Facilities available at the Preston campus halls of residence are refurbished common room on-site, shared kitchen, and lounge area. While the rooms have amenities such as a bed, study desk and chair, large notice board, wardrobe and drawers, a bedside cabinet, lamp, and en-suite wet-room.
- Students who wish to stay at the school residence halls and flats at the Preston campus are required to apply via the online application service and make an advance payment of 250 GBP.
- In most halls of residence, Students have the liberty to choose from catered or self-catered, co-ed or non-co-ed, and the choice of facilities options during accommodation application.
- On-campus accommodation is not available on the Burnley and Westlakes campus.
- Students at the Burnley campus are offered assistance by the Student Accommodation Service to get suitable private accommodation, estimated rent per room ranges from 85 GBP to 145 GBP including utility bills
University of Central Lancashire Application Process
Application Portal: UCAS Online Application or UCLan Online Application for undergraduates while the postgraduate application portal is exclusively UCLan Online Application.
Application Fee: UCLan Online application is free while the UCAS application is 25 GBP
Application Deadline:
- The deadline for applications to courses like Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary courses is October 15 for September Intake
- Main application deadline – January 15 for September intake
Supporting Documents: International applicants are required to submit the following supporting documents:
- Full academic certificate and transcripts
- English language qualifications
- Academic references
- Personal Statement
- Copy of your passport photo page
- Course-specific requirements
- English Language Proficiency Tests
Note:
- Due to the current scenario in the world, the University of Central Lancashire has expanded the list of accepted English language tests for September intake. Students are advised to visit his/her country home page for more information
- Students who do not meet the English language entry requirements can enroll in the six and ten weeks Pre-Sessional English course which is offered online
University of Central Lancashire Cost of Attendance
Preston is officially the cheapest city in the UK for students. The following are the categories of the tuition fee payable by the students.
| Program | Non-Lab Based (GBP) | Lab-Based (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Course | 7,600 | 8,600 |
| Undergraduate courses | 12,700 | 13,700 |
| Postgraduate Taught | 13,200 | 14,200 |
| Postgraduate Research | 13,700 | 15,200 |
The total estimated annual cost of attendance for the 2020/2021 academic session is as presented in the table below:
| Fees | Undergraduate (GBP) | Postgraduate (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 12,700 – 13,700 | 13,200 – 15,200 |
| Accommodation | 3,242.82 - 4,536 | 3,242.82 – 5,239.08 |
| Meal | 1,500 – 3,000 | 1,500 – 3,000 |
| Printing, copying, stationery | 125 – 500 | 125 – 500 |
| Travel expenses | 0 -3,500 | 0 -3,500 |
| Books | 250 – 500 | 250 – 500 |
| Miscellaneous | 625 – 3,600 | 625 – 3,600 |
| Total | 13,342.82 – 29,336 | 18,942.82 – 31,539.08 |
University of Central Lancashire Scholarships
The University of Central Lancashire offers scholarships and bursaries for international students in the U.K. Bursaries are awarded based on financial requirements, while scholarships are rewarded based on academic achievements.
The following table presents some of the various scholarships available to international undergraduates and postgraduates at UCLan.
| Scholarships/Bursary | Eligibility | Award Value |
|---|---|---|
| Excellence Scholarships | Undergraduate/Postgraduate Taught courses – Awarded based on academic records during admission to the courses | GBP 3000 per year |
| International Bursary | International undergraduates (Except Chinese students/pre-sessional English language programs/distance learning courses/MBBS students) | GBP 1000 per year |
| Merit Scholarships | International undergraduates | GBP 2000 per year |
| Sports Scholarships | Full-time or part-time taught courses (Except Distance Learning/Blended Learning courses) | GBP 1000 per year to be reviewed up to GBP 3000 altogether |
| Articulation Scholarships | Students from China, Kenya, Malaysia, and Singapore who have completed the study in one of the partner institutes of UCLan and currently registered at UCLan for undergraduate courses (Except Distance/Blended Learning/Postgraduate taught/MBBS) | GBP 2000 per year |
University of Central Lancashire Alumni Network
- The institute has a great alumni association and as a part of it, one can enjoy a number of benefits such as:
- Up to 15% or (2,000GBP - 3,000 GBP) discount for a postgraduate course
- Career advice for life
- Business Support
- Access to school facilities at a discounted rate
- Some notable alumni of the institute are as follows:
- Mandip Gill – English Actress
- Victoria Derbyshire – Journalist
- Ranvir Singh – Television presenter
- Brent Sadler - CNN Correspondent
- Waqar Azmi – Founder of Remembering Srebrenica
University of Central Lancashire Placements
- The University of Central Lancashire offers an excellent opportunity to its students to have a successful career in the U.K through its links to more than 1000 organizations.
- Graduates have an impressive employability score of 95.5% after completion of courses at UCLan.
- Some of the employers of UCLan graduates include organizations like ASDA, Aston Martin, Marks and Spencer, BBC, Capita, IBM, John Lewis Group among others.
- Students can avail career services at UCLan like workshops, CV writing, interview preparation, etc. to upgrade their skills.
- According to Emolument, the best paying degree at UCLan is an Executive MBA where the alumnus can earn an average annual salary of USD 97000.
- The best-paid job profile for a UCLan graduate is Consulting, Accounting, and Professional Services, which pays around USD 76000 annually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. How can I apply to the University of Central Lancashire?
Ans. You can apply to the University of Central Lancashire through the UCAS portal. International students can apply through the university’s Online Application Portal too.
Ques. Does UCLan offer on-campus housing facilities?
Ans. Yes, guaranteed on-campus accommodation is available for full-time students at UCLan.
Ques. What are the courses offered at UCLan?
Ans. UCLan offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses, along with Foundation Programs, Degree Apprenticeships, Language courses, and Professional Development programs.
Ques. Is it possible to enroll in Online Courses at the University of Central Lancashire?
Ans. Yes, you can opt for online short courses or CPD courses at UCLan. Apart from these, the degree courses are available for Distance Learning.
Ques. What is the TOEFL/IELTS score required for admission to UCLan?
Ans. For undergraduate admission, the required IELTS score is 6.0 with a minimum sub-score of 5.5, and the required TOEFL score is 80 with a minimum component score of 20. For postgraduate admission, the required IELTS score is 6.6 with a minimum sub-score of 6.0 and the required TOEFL score is 88 with a minimum component score of 21.
Ques. How can I track my application at UCLan?
Ans. You can track your application for admission through UCAS Track.
Ques. Is there an interview for admission to UCLan?
Ans. There can be an interview if your application is selected for admission. The interviews are mainly conducted for Health, Performing Arts, and Design courses. The university will email all the details regarding the booking of slots.
Ques. Is the University of Central Lancashire affordable for international students?
Ans. University of Central Lancashire is an excellent option for international students because it has an affordable tuition fee of around GBP 14000 per year. Apart from that, the university offers several scholarships to students ranging from GBP 1000 to GBP 3000 every year based on academic achievements.
Ques. Is UCLan a good university to study engineering?
Ans. UCLan has an excellent team of faculties coupled with a world-class engineering curriculum. It has won international recognition for its Civil Engineering courses with the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM) accreditation. Moreover, the university has set up an Engineering Innovation Centre worth GBP 35 million at Preston Campus to provide state-of-the-art learning and training to its students.
