Research

Our innovative academics produce high-quality international and world-leading research that addresses today’s challenges. Our programmes support and nurture our postgraduate research students and early career researchers. We put research, innovation, and knowledge exchange at the centre of everything we do.

REF2021 results

Our REF2021 results recognise our academic excellence across a wide range of research. All 19 academic areas submitted have been officially recognised as demonstrating elements of world-leading and internationally excellent research.

Find out more

Discover our results

Research Themes

Our research fits under six broad themes, ranging from arts and culture to transformative science and technology.

Explore Research Themes

Research Institutes

Our Research Institutes, first established in 2018, enhance the quality of our research environment and create more opportunities to achieve world- leading impact through their activities.

People sitting outside on the grass, enjoying the sunshine

Institute of Citizenship, Society and Change

We are well placed to respond to urgent and profound questions concerning a sustainable future and relationships between individuals and communities.

Mountain climber scaling a large rock beside the sea

Institute for Global Health and Wellbeing

The UCLan Research Institute for Global Health and Wellbeing (LIFE) brings together researchers from across the University in order to enhance and enable health and wellbeing research that is globally relevant.

Jeremiah Horrocks Institute

The Jeremiah Horrocks Institute was originally established in 1993 as the University’s Centre for Astrophysics. The Institute builds on a long tradition of astronomy in the Preston area dating back to the early 17th century with the pioneering work of the father of English astron...

Discover our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment

Browse our wide range of facilities and equipment which facilitate learning, teaching and the sharing of knowledge across our community.

Explore our facilities

Research Centres

Our Research Centres, first established in 2019, help us grow and develop our research activity in diverse areas, providing a vibrant and active environment to nurture our early career researchers and attract collaborators who can contribute to, and benefit from, the impact of the research.

Explore Centres

Staff member helping student in the library

Research and Enterprise Service (RES)

Our skilled and knowledgeable staff provide a professional, effective and holistic offering for researchers to support them in their research and enterprise journey, from ideas and training to funding, dissemination and knowledge exchange.

Students walking outside the front of the Student Centre

Research Excellence Framework

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is the process for assessing the quality of research in UK Higher Education institutions. The REF uses a process of expert review with sub-panels for each of 34 Units of Assessment (UOAs) working under the guidance of four broad main panels...

Research strategy and policy

Our research culture is ambitious, inclusive and supportive. Our focus is on the continuous enhancement of the quality, scope and capacity of our research activities, in particular the development and evidence based achievements of our research staff and students.

Choose to study a research degree at the University of Central Lancashire and you’ll be joining a vibrant and world-class research environment

Postgraduate Research Degrees

900+

Research or knowledge transfer-active colleagues

£7.3m

Total annual research income

800+

Research students currently enrolled

72%

Submissions to REF2021 classified as having outstanding or very considerable impact

Knowledge Exchange

We believe in establishing collaborative industry partnerships. What sets us apart is our strong reputation for applied business research, entrepreneurship, and innovation to help give you that competitive edge.

Find out more

Access our research publications (CLoK)Access our research data repository

Research Themes

Research Institutes

Institute of Citizenship, Society and Change

Institute for Global Health and Wellbeing

Jeremiah Horrocks Institute

Research Centres

Research and Enterprise Service (RES)

Research Excellence Framework

Research strategy and policy

Related links

Research contacts

General research enquiries

Prospective research students

Public engagement

Collaborative research enquiries

Media enquiries

Image credit