Preston Campus

If you’re a new student you’ll be joining us at the perfect time as our £200 million Masterplan project nears completion. Our ambition is to create a world-class campus where you’ll enjoy an exceptional teaching, learning and social experience. During your time with us you’ll benefit from several exciting developments across the campus. Firstly, you’ll love our fantastic new Social Spaces - bright, modern areas filled with comfy sofas, pool tables, table tennis tables, beanbags and study spaces, making them perfect for meeting up with friends in-between your lectures, relaxing with a coffee, or just taking some time out.

Our £60 million Student Centre will be opening its doors soon to provide you with first-class advice and support services. Whatever you need, we’ll help you succeed at every step of your student journey – so drop by whenever you need some expert guidance on planning your future career, getting your finances in order, improving your study skills, your health and wellbeing, accommodation and a whole lot more.

The Student Centre looks out over Adelphi Square – the new centrepiece of our stunning campus and one of the largest civic spaces to have been developed in England over the last 100 years. It will become an iconic gateway linking together the city and the University as well as a thriving hub for student and community events.

We’re especially proud of our new £35m Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC), which opened in 2019. It’s an advanced, state-of-the-art teaching and research facility which provides students with real-world experience on live projects working alongside industry professionals. Facilities include an additive manufacturing lab (3D printing), advanced manufacturing workshop, intelligent systems facility, motorsports and air vehicles lab, and flight simulator suite. The EIC is set to establish us as one of the UK’s leading universities for innovation, producing the next generation of world-leading engineering graduates.

You’ll also love our Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre – the perfect place to go when you need some time to relax and reflect. It offers a warm welcome to students of all faiths or none, and there are areas for prayer and worship as well as social spaces, regular activities and a lovely rooftop garden.

Elsewhere on campus you’ll find modern laboratories and classrooms, computer suites, restaurants, the Students’ Union building and a Medical Centre. And you can get yourself fighting fit at the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, which houses an impressive sports hall, squash court and two exercise studios. It’s also home to a fully equipped fitness suite, the CardioZone (a nightclub themed workout room complete with flashing lights and banging tunes!) and a year-round programme of exercise classes.

Preston is widely regarded as one of the safest cities to live in which is why it has been awarded Purple Flag status. While you’re studying and living on campus we want you to feel safe and secure at all time. We have a Campus Security Team who can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we also run a free night bus service to get you home safely if you’ve been working late at the Library.

From the North or West Coast, leave the M6 at junction 32 (M55) and take Exit 1 (A6) to Preston/Garstang. Follow the A6 to Preston and proceed through five major sets of traffic lights. Immediately after the fifth set, take the right hand lane and bear right at the next set into Moor Lane, following the signs to Liverpool. The University is signposted along this route.

From the South or East, motorways M6, M61 or M65. Leave the M6 at Junction 29 or M61 at Junction 9 and join the M65 towards Preston, then leave the M65 at its end (Junction 1). At the motorway terminal roundabout take second exit (All Traffic). Follow the A6 to Preston through three roundabouts. The University is signposted along this route. You will come to a set of traffic lights with a large retail centre to the left. Go straight on at this set of traffic lights, and also at the next set you come to. You will need to move into the middle lane for the next set of traffic lights to go straight on, signposted Liverpool and Southport. Continue straight through the next set of traffic lights. Move over to the right hand lane to be ready to turn right at the next traffic lights, signposted for Blackpool and the University.

National Express coaches operate to and from Preston bus station to destinations across the UK. You can book via the National Express website. Low cost intercity bus travel is also available from Megabus.

Our car parks require a University parking permit. Official visitors can request a pre-booked space on Victoria car park which needs to be arranged in advance (48 hours) by the member of staff they are visiting. Visitor spaces are limited and space is allocated on a priority basis. Applicants attending a School open day (week-day events) or interview day should refer to paperwork provided by the School. A limited number of pay and display facilities are available on Harrington, Victoria 2 and Foster (evenings/weekends only) car parks (£1/hour to a max £4 for a full day ticket). For more information on University permits and visitor parking please telephone: +44 (0)1772 892066.

By rail

Our Preston Campus is conveniently situated within walking distance of Preston railway station. Preston also benefits from direct rail links north and south to London and Glasgow and to Manchester Airport. You can purchase a ticket at the Station, buy online from Trainline or the Transpennine Express website. For more information visit the National Rail website. If you are coming on foot from the train station, exit from the station’s main entrance, turn right and then left down Corporation Street to Ringway. Cross Ringway at the lights, turn right, then take first left down Corporation Street (shops including Aldi on your left). Straight ahead and follow signs to the University.

By bus

Served by Preston bus station, the city and the surrounding area enjoy reliable and extensive transport links in and around Preston. The number 31 bus service runs every 15 minutes from the bus station and stops outside C&T Building, which is opposite the Students’ Union. The University is a 15-minute walk from Preston bus station. Head towards Lancaster Road until you arrive at the Cenotaph. Turn right downhill on Friargate. Walk through pedestrianised area down to traffic lights at Ringway. Cross Ringway and continue up Friargate. Follow signs to University. For more information visit the Preston Bus website and you can also download the free Preston Bus app on the App Store, where you can pay for a day, weekly, monthly or family pass and use your mobile as your ticket.

Through the implementation of our Travel Plan, we are working hard to help make the University Campus and Preston a healthier and sustainable place in which to work, study or visit.