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.

We’ve spent £200 million on transforming our Preston Campus to give it a world-class makeover. This includes a stunning brand-new Student Centre and University Square at the heart of campus, social spaces and a whole lot more.

Our new £60m Student Centre brings all the advice and support teams under one roof, providing second-to-none support. It’s a stunning space designed to support every step of the student journey. 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.

Whoever you are, wherever you are in life, there’s always a way.

Where opportunity creates success.

  1. Welcome Week
    25 September 2023

    Semester 1
    2 October 2023 - 19 January 2024

    Student vacation period
    18 December 2023 - 8 January 2024

    Semester 2 
    22 January - 3 May 2024

    Student vacation period
    29 March - 12 April 2024

    Semester 3 
    7 May 2024 - 16 August 2024

Leading the way in modern learning

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.

Our courses

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.

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 2023).

Sustainability

The University has refreshed its Strategic Plan to further recognise that sustaining and enhancing the wellbeing of people, places and the planet are amongst the most important challenges we face today.

Our sustainability strategy

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) and Westlakes (West Cumbria). 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.

Our campuses

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 and we have established links with global businesses, police constabularies, NHS trusts and more than 1,000 regional enterprises across a variety of sectors.

Connect with us

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.

Read more

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.

Find out more
  • Our people

    Our University is operated and supported by passionate teams across our campuses. Our people are dedicated to achieving our vision of transforming lives through education.

  • University Board of Governors

    The University Board is the governing body of the University of Central Lancashire and its business is conducted in accordance with the Instrument and Articles of Government.

  • Companies and trusts

    Information regarding the University of Central Lancashire's companies and trusts.