Top of the league
Influential student survey ranks UCLan in UK’s top 20 and top modern university
- Good library and library opening hours ranked 5th in the UK
- Students’ Union rated as 5th in the UK
A national student experience survey has ranked the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) as the UK’s top modern university and in the top 20 overall.
The Times Higher Education (THE) asked more than 11,000 full-time undergraduates from 104 universities to rate their experiences on campus taking into account a wide range of factors including teaching, facilities and social life.
The results, published in a comprehensive ranking table, place UCLan in 18th position overall, up from 23rd last year and 37th the year before that. The University is ranked top of all the UK’s modern universities and top overall in the North West.
Professor David Phoenix, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, said the results once again confirmed the University’s commitment to providing an excellent academic experience that coupled with new, award-winning facilities is creating a winning formula for students.
“I’m delighted that for the third year running we have improved our position in this survey,” said Professor Phoenix. “This poll is particularly influential because students choose the factors important to them in a high-quality university experience.
“It is fantastic news the UCLan has been rated so highly on the excellence of its academic and support staff, its well structured courses, Students’ Union and library facilities and the first-rate individual relationships our students have with teaching staff. The survey also highlighted our Students’ Union, community atmosphere and safe environment as being key strengths of UCLan.”
Within the North West, the University took the top spot for the following ten measures:
Well structured courses
High-quality facilities
Personal requirements catered for
Good students’ union
Good support/welfare
Good personal relationship with teaching staff
Centralised/convenient facilities
Cheap shop/bar/amenities
Good library and library opening hours
Fair workload
Meanwhile the University’s growing popularity has been confirmed in the latest figures from UCAS which show an 18 percent increase in applications for courses beginning in September 2010. This is compared with an 11 percent increase across the sector as a whole.
Professor Phoenix explained that UCLan will continue to attract students to Preston and the University will play a key role in the wealth creation and economic regeneration of the region: “We have the highest number of graduate start-up businesses in the North West and during the during the next 12 months our ambitious development plans will see the completion of our new £17 million indoor sports centre and our £12.5 million forensic science facility. We will continue to attract students to Preston from all over the world, creating a highly skilled workforce and inward investment that can only be to the benefit of Preston and the North West.”
Students’ Union President, Beth Woodthorpe-Evans, said: “This is a fantastic result for UCLan, especially with the Students’ Union moving up from 10th to 5th place this year. Students are obviously recognising our hard work and commitment to making their lives better.
“The union works very closely alongside the University, and I know with such a good working relationship we can only get better for all of our current and prospective UCLan students.”
15 January 2010
