University of Central Lancashire (UCLan)

The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) was founded in 1828 as the Institute for the Diffusion of Knowledge, based in Preston. ‘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 – from ensuring the best facilities, teaching and support are in place to help undergraduate students succeed, to providing world-leading Astrophysics researchers with the opportunity to work with NASA and photograph the Sun. UCLan has evolved over the years to become a world class institution, recognised with its inclusion in the 2010 QS World Rankings – the first Modern University in the UK to gain this status. With 11 areas of research judged ‘world leading’ in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, UCLan has the global recognition of its peers, with a focus on applied research, including the identification of human remains in mass disasters, the development of new sign languages, and a variety of health-related research initiatives that are helping to change lives around the world. Amongst its programme portfolio of some 500 undergraduate and 200+ postgraduate courses, UCLan has been at the forefront of developing degrees in the emerging disciplines of Journalism, Fashion, Forensics and Sports Science. The range of excellence extends to include the likes of Pharmacy, Architecture, Astrophysics and the first new School of Dentistry to be launched in the UK in more than a century. The University aims to create the perfect blend of knowledge, practical experience and relevance to equip its graduates with the confidence and skills they need to get ahead in the world of work. Not only are employability skills embedded into every degree programme, but the sector-defining ‘futures’ careers and employability service offers help and advice, courses and work experience opportunities to help UCLan graduates’ CVs stand out from the pack. Capital investment in outstanding facilities and a dedicated student support service, The ‘i’, combined to help UCLan be awarded the accolade ‘Times Higher Top Modern University for Student Experience 2010’. A truly global institution, UCLan’s student body includes 120 nationalities; its partnership network extends to 125 countries in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia; it runs 100+ student exchange programmes; and is already building new campuses in Cyprus and Thailand. The University encourages and nurtures originality, from its ground-breaking Energy Management partnership with BAE Systems to its launch the world’s first International Fashion Institute and the UK’s first MBA in Fashion, to its proud record of student business start-ups – a sector-leading 60% of which are still thriving after three years. With a world class academic reputation firmly rooted in relevance, UCLan is focused on a future of providing innovative thinking – for the real world.