University of Lancashire: Courses, Fees & Admissions

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About University of Lancashire

The University of Lancashire is a public, multi-campus university based in Preston, Lancashire, in the North West of England. It traces its roots to 1828, when the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge opened in Preston, and gained university status in 1992 as the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan). It took its current name in 2025 following approval from the Office for Students. Its motto, Ex solo ad solem, means 'from the earth to the sun'. The staff and student community numbers over 42,000 people from more than 100 countries, and the alumni network exceeds 200,000.

The main campus sits in the centre of Preston and is home to over 27,000 students and staff. UK campuses also operate in Burnley (East Lancashire) and at Westlakes near Whitehaven in West Cumbria, with a London base delivered in partnership with LCA Education Ltd and an overseas campus in Larnaka, Cyprus, opened in 2012 as the first British university campus in Cyprus. A further 19 UK further education colleges and specialist training organisations deliver courses leading to university awards.

Teaching is organised through ten schools: Arts and Media; Business; Engineering and Computing; Health, Social Work and Sport; Law and Policing; Medicine and Dentistry; Nursing and Midwifery; Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences; Psychology and Humanities; and Veterinary Medicine. The portfolio covers over 350 undergraduate programmes, around 200 postgraduate courses, degree apprenticeships and CPD, including professional programmes in medicine (MBBS), dentistry and veterinary medicine (BVMS).

Recent investment on the Preston Campus includes a £200 million masterplan, the £60 million Student Centre (opened 2021) overlooking a new civic square, the £35 million Engineering Innovation Centre (opened 2019) and a new four-storey Veterinary School under development. Research is organised through 13 Research and Knowledge Exchange Institutes established in 2024, and the university works with more than 7,000 enterprises.

Student life centres on the Students' Union, the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre and a 24/7 term-time library in Preston. University halls are guaranteed for new full-time students at the Preston Campus, with further halls at Burnley and Westlakes. International students receive dedicated admissions support, a pre-sessional programme through the Language Academy and automatic scholarships for many nationalities. The university is an exempt charity regulated by the Office for Students, and it holds 5 QS Stars for global engagement (2025).

University information

Tuition fees

UK/home, 2026/27: full-time bachelor's, integrated master's and foundation degrees £9,790; two-year accelerated degree £11,750; part-time undergraduate £1,630 per 20 credits; postgraduate taught full-time £10,000 to £11,000; postgraduate research full-time £5,510. UK/home, 2027/28: full-time bachelor's degree £10,050; postgraduate research full-time £5,620.

EU and international, 2026/27 and 2027/28: full-time bachelor's degree and foundation year £17,750 to £19,500; postgraduate taught full-time £18,750 to £19,500; postgraduate research full-time £19,250; Bioveterinary Sciences £28,000; Dental Therapy £44,000. For 2027/28, Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) is £49,950 and Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS) £39,500 per year. Fees for individual courses are set on the course pages (UK fees; international fees).

International scholarships (2027/28 entry)

Combined awards are capped at £5,500 per year of study. Most are applied automatically as a tuition fee reduction and exclude MBBS, dentistry, BVMS, postgraduate research, online, blended and part-time study.

Excellence Scholarship: £3,500 for the first year, with later years subject to an average mark above 60%; for international undergraduate and postgraduate taught applicants with excellent prior grades; applied automatically.
Country Scholarship (Group A): £3,000 per year for nationals of listed countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Egypt, South Africa and others; applied automatically.
Women in STEM Bursary: £2,000 per year (£3,500 where Excellence criteria are met) for courses in the School of Engineering and Computing.
Family Loyalty Scholarship: £2,000 per year for siblings, spouses and children of current international students or alumni.
Articulation and Franchise Scholarships: £2,000 per year for students progressing from specified partner institutions; separate awards for NCUK and OnCampus progression students.
MBBS Excellence Scholarship: a £2,000-per-year fee waiver, to a maximum of £10,000, for the top ten international MBBS applicants in the Multiple Mini Interview.

Other scholarships and bursaries

Sports scholarships: Bronze (up to £500), Silver (up to £2,000) and Gold (up to £5,000) cash awards with support packages, for athletes in BUCS sports; priority for basketball, netball, golf, rugby league, table tennis and women's football; apply by application form with evidence from the last 12 months.
Alumni Loyalty Discount: 20% off postgraduate taught or research tuition fees for University of Lancashire graduates.
JILeaders Industry Scholarship: PGCert fee scholarships for news media professionals on the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme.
Medivet Hardship Fund: support for BVMS students with essential one-off study costs.

Hardship and financial support

Discretionary hardship funds, non-repayable grants and emergency support are available to students in financial difficulty, together with bursaries and grants for mature students. The Financial Support Team in the Student Centre helps with Student Finance England loans and can be reached on +44 (0)1772 891828 (option 2) or at [email protected]. Full details are on the scholarships and bursaries page.

Country Scholarship (Group A) →

Country Scholarship (Group C) →

Articulation Scholarship →

Excellence Scholarship →

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Undergraduate (UK applicants)

Full-time undergraduate applications are made through UCAS (institution code C30), opening in early September for entry the following year. The equal consideration deadline for most courses is in January; applications are still accepted through UCAS until 30 June, after which they go into Clearing. Part-time applicants apply directly through the university's online application portal. Entry requirements vary by course; most courses ask for three A Levels or equivalent qualifications such as BTECs, together with good GCSE grades, usually including Maths and English. T Levels are accepted on the basis of UCAS tariff points alongside course-specific requirements. Every applicant writes a personal statement and supplies a reference. Some courses require an interview or audition, and offers are made from November to April.

Contextual admissions and prior learning

Additional information about an applicant's background can be taken into account, and eligible applicants may be accepted on a reduced entry tariff. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows academic, vocational or professional experience to count towards a degree.

Medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine

For UK applicants, the UCAS deadline for Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Veterinary Medicine (BVMS) and Dental Surgery (BDS) is usually mid-October of the year before entry. MBBS applications are assessed against academic and non-academic criteria, with the UCAT considered for UK applicants; shortlisted applicants attend Multiple Mini Interviews held between December and April. Offers are based on interview performance, and enrolment requires an enhanced DBS check, police checks and a health check. International MBBS applicants may apply through UCAS or directly through the application portal throughout the year.

International undergraduate entry

International applicants apply through UCAS or the university's online application portal; EU applicants apply through UCAS. Applicants should check course entry requirements against their home country or place of study using the country pages. Those who do not meet the entry requirements may complete a foundation programme with OnCampus or another recognised international foundation provider before progressing to a degree. Intakes run in January, March, April and May as well as September; for January 2027 the application deadline is 30 November 2026 and the deposit deadline 7 December 2026.

English language requirements

Undergraduate and postgraduate taught: IELTS 6.0 with no component below 5.5; PTE Academic 61 with at least 59 in each component; Duolingo 105 overall with no sub-score below 100; LanguageCert Academic 65 in each skill.
MBBS, BVMS and dentistry: IELTS 7.0 in all components; PTE Academic 76 in all components; Duolingo 130 with no sub-score below 130.
Postgraduate research: IELTS 6.5 with no component below 6.0 (IELTS 7.0 may be required in some subjects).

Some courses set higher requirements. The Language Academy at the Preston Campus runs a pre-sessional English programme of six to 30 weeks for applicants who need to reach the required level.

Postgraduate taught

Applications are made through the postgraduate online application form, with transcripts, referee details and, for some courses, a personal statement. Most programmes require at least a lower second-class (2:2) honours degree from a recognised university or an equivalent professional qualification; some, particularly conversion courses, require a 2:1. Enquiries go to [email protected] or +44 (0)1772 892444.

Postgraduate research

Research degrees start in September, January and March. Applicants proposing their own project must contact the relevant research degree tutor before applying (except for MRes and professional doctorates). Applications include the online form, a research proposal of up to 2,000 words, degree certificates and transcripts, and two academic references. Deadlines for January 2027 entry are 1 December 2026 (home) and 1 November 2026 (international); for March 2027, 1 February 2027 (home) and 1 January 2027 (international); and for September 2027, 1 August 2027 (home) and 1 July 2027 (international). International students on a Student Route visa must study full-time and should allow time for visa and any ATAS clearance.

Preston Campus (Preston, Lancashire): the main campus in the city centre, home to over 27,000 students and staff and most schools. Facilities include the £60 million Student Centre (student support, careers, finance and wellbeing services) overlooking Adelphi Square; the £35 million Engineering Innovation Centre with an additive manufacturing lab, advanced manufacturing workshop, intelligent systems facility, motorsports and air vehicles lab and flight simulator suite; a library open 24/7 in term time with bookable study rooms and a Mac media suite; laboratories and computer suites; the Students' Union; a Medical Centre; the Oasis Faith and Spirituality Centre; and the Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre with a sports hall, squash court, two exercise studios and a fitness suite. Halls (Derwent, Douglas, Pendle, Ribble, Roeburn and Whitendale) are a short walk from campus, with 24-hour campus security.
Burnley Campus (Burnley, East Lancashire): undergraduate, postgraduate and degree apprenticeship courses taught in Victoria Mill, with a library in Sandygate Mill. Facilities include an anatomage table, a clinical skills suite, a manufacturing suite, a Students' Union hub and social spaces. Sandygate Hall offers 136 en-suite bedrooms in 29 flats.
Westlakes Campus (near Whitehaven, West Cumbria): on the Westlakes Science and Technology Park, three miles from Whitehaven, teaching medicine and nursing courses in small classes. Facilities include clinical skills laboratories, a library, computer suites, a restaurant and coffee shop, free parking and an on-site Student Services team, with Summergrove Hall accommodation. Westlakes Research Ltd is based here.
London: UCLan London, at the Import Building, 2 Clove Crescent, London E14, delivers flexible programmes for adult learners through a partnership with LCA Education Ltd.
Cyprus Campus (Larnaka, Cyprus): opened in 2012, offering double degrees in subjects such as accounting and finance, business, hospitality and tourism, electrical and electronic engineering, computing, mathematics, psychology, sport and exercise science and law, plus LLM, MBA and MSc programmes. Facilities include lecture theatres, a moot court, a library, computer and engineering labs, a sports lab, a gym and a cafeteria.

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