University of Central Lancashire

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in Preston was founded in 1828 as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge. ‘Ex solo ad solem’, or in translation, ‘From the Earth to the Sun’, has been its motto ever since – helping people from all walks of life to make the most of their potential is what UCLan’s all about.

Today UCLan is one of the UK’s largest universities. With a student and staff community approaching 38,000 it is the fifth largest employer in the North West of England. Internationally UCLan has academic partners in all regions of the globe and it is on a world stage that the first class quality of its education was first recognised. The University has an increasingly thriving campus in Cyprus delivering UCLan programmes and original research within a UCLan environment and culture.

In 2010 UCLan became the first UK modern university to appear in the QS World University Rankings. In 2015 the Centre for World University Rankings placed UCLan in the top 3.8 percent of all worldwide universities, highlighting the progress the institution has made in providing students with real-world learning experiences and reflecting the institution’s broad pool of academic talent.

Amongst its programme portfolio of some 400 undergraduate and 200+ postgraduate courses, UCLan has been at the forefront of developing degrees in emerging disciplines such as Fashion and Forensic Science to more recent additions such as Dentistry and, new for 2015, undergraduate Medicine which is being delivered in the UK’s newest Medical School.

Aerospace Engineering is another new programme, part of UCLan’s commitment to grow its portfolio of engineering-related courses, and is coupled with the development of a £30 million+ Engineering Innovation Centre (EIC). The aim is to provide a rich source of new graduates that reflect the economic priorities of the North West, the UK and indeed the global economy.

The EIC forms a key pillar of the University’s £200 million Campus Masterplan which over the next 10 years will create a world-class educational environment that blends new facilities with the creation of public, green spaces to benefit the University, the City of Preston, and the economy of the North West. UCLan’s plans are being informed by the local, regional, business and civic communities, with whom it continues to build close relationships.

Creating a remodelled campus environment will help drive UCLan’s commitment to academic excellence, striving to ensure that its teaching and learning, research and knowledge exchange activities are all recognised as being of exceptional quality. The impact is perhaps best seen in the results of the 2014 Research Excellence Framework: all 16 subject areas in which UCLan’s research was assessed were judged to contain ‘world leading’ quality.

The University’s reputation as a regional economy powerhouse has been boosted through its strong track record in supporting graduate business start-ups; UCLan is ranked as the leading UK university for incubated start-up businesses still active after three years of trading. It is ranked second in the UK for the number of graduate start-ups still active overall and ranked third in the UK for estimate turnover for active firms. In the last five years UCLan has helped over 1,000 students or graduates start a business or became self-employed, the second highest figure in the UK.

In the future UCLan will enhance its standing as an institution with a world-class academic reputation firmly rooted in modern-day relevance. It is a future which focuses on the provision of innovative thinking – for the real world.

UCLan’s premier campus in Preston is located close to the city centre, a short walk to the bus and rail stations. A clean, green and compact campus, it houses state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, learning and leisure such as the iconic Media Factory for performing arts students and a multi-million pound sports arena.

The Preston campus is also home to 53 Degrees, the Students’ Union entertainment venue with a choice of live concerts, comedy and club nights.

Other campuses are the Llangollen Campus in Wales and the Westlakes Campus in West Cumbria, which offers support to local people and employers, and is an important contributor to the ongoing prosperity of the area.

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) offers over 500 undergraduate courses and approximately 300 taught postgraduate programmes. UCLan also provides an attractive portfolio of research degrees. The following is a list of the different Schools that feature at UCLan:

UCLan Schools :

• School of Art, Design and Fashion
• School of Business
• School of Community Health and Midwifery
• School of Dentistry
• School of Engineering
• School of Film, Media and Performance
• School of Forensic and Applied Sciences
• School of Health Sciences
• School of Humanities and Social Sciences
• School of Journalism, Language and Communication
• School of Management
• School of Medicine
• School of Nursing
• School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences
• School of Physical Sciences and Computing
• School of Psychology
• School of Social Work, Care and Community
• School of Sport and Wellbeing
• Lancashire Law School
• Myerscough College (Associate School)

As a student at UCLan you also have an opportunity to study abroad and visit different countries as part of the University’s exchange programme. You can choose to undertake world-wide exchanges under the ISEP (International Student Exchange Programme) as well as exchanges to Australia, Mexico, Maastricht and USA.

English Language Programmes

The University offers a range of English Language Programmes of varying lengths - Certificate of Achievement in Elementary, Pre-Intermediate or Intermediate English and the Pre-Sessional Programme which are appropriate for students with lower levels of English.

The International Foundation Programme is a 21-week programme which prepares students for academic study and provides options in English for: Computing / Art, Fashion & Design / Science & Engineering / Business / Research methods / Law / IELTS training / Current Affairs

Undergraduate and Master’s Foundation Programmes

These programmes are offered on the UCLan campus by the Cambridge Education Group and are designed for students whose academic qualifications do not already meet the requirements for direct entry to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the University.

The Undergraduate Foundation Programme has a number of specialist streams – business related; humanities; engineering and science; life sciences; and art/design media with guaranteed progression to a UCLan undergraduate programme following successful completion.

The Master’s Foundation Programme includes English language tuition; business modules and research methods to prepare students for guaranteed progression to a UCLan master’s programme following successful completion.

Clubs & Societies

The sixth largest university in the UK, UCLan’s 35,000 students come from a variety of social and ethnic backgrounds, from almost every country in the world. There are over sixty clubs and societies that cater to students from all parts of the globe and help you make friends from the UK and around the world.

Sport & Leisure

As a student at UCLan you can also try yourself at sports played on campus, taking advantage of the wonderful facilities for sports and recreation. Other leisure options include an independent cinema that screens films from the world over, and canteens and coffee shops that cater to a wide range of tastes.

Visit the Student Union website for more details.

Accommodation

As an international student arriving at UCLan you are encouraged to take up residence on campus to integrate with other students from around the world and experience the multicultural flavour of life on campus. Once you have been made an offer of an academic place at UCLan, the International Admissions Office will be in touch with you to provide more information on how to apply for accommodation.

The two main types of accommodation available to students are the following:

• University owned accommodation
• University registered accommodation

All accommodation is self catering, and given that the cost of living in the Central Lancashire region is generally lower than in most parts of the UK, you will find very reasonably priced shops and food outlets on or close to the campus.

UCLan, a modern UK university with a truly international focus, provides you with fantastic facilities and cutting edge study environments in all subject areas. Close to £80 million have been invested by the University on the state-of-the art learning resources, which include the following:

• A library, well-stocked with books, journals, reference texts and online resources
• Large computer access areas, with thousands of networked terminals across campus providing  free internet and email access and a personal work area
• A Specialised Learning Resources Unit, for students with special needs

The student information centre, called The ‘i’, can help you with advice on most subjects ranging from accommodation to careers.

Student support is also extended to the following areas:

• Arriving at UCLan
• Money Matters
• Work/Careers
• Healthcare
• Buddy Scheme

Besides general advice on academic and personal problems as well as visa issues, the International Office also provides you with information on inviting family and friends over to the UK and travel outside the UK.

At the heart of student life on campus is the Students’ Union, which is housed in a building containing some of the best facilities in the country including retail and catering outlets, a print shop and UCLan’s very own radio station and magazine.

UCLan International Scholarships and Bursaries

We are delighted to announce our scholarships and bursaries for September 2015 entry. Please see our website for more details.

Applications

If you are applying for an undergraduate course as an international student you may apply directly to UCLan using the International Application Form or through UCAS. To apply for a postgraduate course you can use UCLan’s online application system or alternatively the International Application Form. Applicants to research degrees can apply using a Research Degree Application Form.

All completed application forms must be emailed to International Admissions or returned in person to the International Admissions Office, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK.

Entry Requirements

Undergraduate courses

For undergraduate study, you would need to pass the STPM with 3 passes at minimum grade C in relevant subjects.The standard English language requirement for undergraduate study is an IELTS equivalent of 6 or an SPM grade 5-6.

Postgraduate courses

For postgraduate study, you should hold a Bachelors degree from a university or recognized private universities/colleges, with CGPA of minimum 2.5. The standard English language requirement for postgraduate study is an IELTS equivalent of 6.5.

If you do not meet these academic or English language entry requirements, you may wish to consider joining one of UCLan’s foundation programmes.

Quick links

Tuition Fees

UCLan believes that going to University is not just about getting a good degree but developing yourself to be ready for the world of work - to shape graduates not just as very well qualified but also highly employable as well. UCLan ‘futures’ provides you with advice about employability by extending support in the following ways:

• Free careers advice and guidance
• Work-experience
• Internships & placements
• Employability electives, modules and live projects
• Events and workshops

As a graduate you can also make use of specialised support services such as:

• Free career guidance, by email, telephone or face-to-face
• Job opportunities and internships at ‘myfutures’, UCLan’s careers portal
• Career Resources

The Bridge

For those of you who wish to take up a part-time job as part of the study abroad experience, there is a student employment agency – The Bridge – that helps you find temporary or vacation work. The Bridge is essentially a specialist job centre for students, offering employers a variety of recruitment services.The Bridge office can be contacted for further details.