University rewarded in best value survey
The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has swept the boards in a survey for finding the best value for students.
Online discount site
MyVoucherCodes.co.uk has awarded the University four awards, including one gold, for the free or low prices of student gym membership, t-shirts, drinks and accommodation.
UCLan received a joint gold award for offering free gym membership to all students. It is one of only two UK institutions in the survey to offer free access to the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and the UCLan Sports Arena. The most expensive gym membership was found at Cardiff University where students have to pay £320 to access the facilities.
Silver awards were given for the low prices of University t-shirts and alcohol. A UCLan branded t-shirt, available from the Students’ Union, came in second at a cost of £5. The highest priced offering in this category was found at Manchester Metropolitan University where a t-shirt is £22.98.
The price of beer at UCLan’s Students’ Union outlets was also praised. The survey found UCLan was one of three institutions to charge £1.30 for a pint of beer while the most expensive pint was £3.63 at the University of Cambridge.
The bronze award was for the low cost of the University’s accommodation. The average weekly cost of a UCLan owned room on the Preston Campus was £98.79, the third lowest in the survey. The most expensive was the University of Westminster with £210.08 per week.
A UCLan spokesperson said: “We are dedicated to ensuring all students have an enjoyable experience both academically and socially when they study at UCLan. We pride ourselves on the fact that thousands of our students use our state-of-the-art sports facilities for free and we ensure our other services offer great value for money. To be recognised with these awards is fantastic news.”
Overall the survey looked at the price of accommodation, food, drink, branded clothing and gym.