University of Central Lancashire

Affiliated to the University Alliance, University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is a government-run institution offering higher education, based in the city of Preston. Initially known as the Harris Art College, UCLan has its roots in the institution for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, set up in the year 1828. The institution then operated in a classical-revivalist building located on Cannon Street. UCLan went through various names and structural changes over the years and adopted its current name in 1992 after Privy Council granted it the university status.

UCLan's main campus in Preston consists of top-notch teaching, recreation and accommodation facilities. The university also operates satellite campuses in Cumbria, Cyprus, and Burnley. Engineering Innovation Centre is a major teaching and exhibition space that houses four flight simulators and numerous specialist labs. Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre has indoor facilities for individual training and instructor-led classes. The building also has a gym, which is accessible by the students who have sports membership. Faith and Spirituality Centre named Oasis, which opened in 2018, has multiple faith rooms and events and counseling spaces. The campus also features a range of social spaces like table tennis tables, pool tables, and a bean bag area.

Media Factory consists of a business incubator and digital media facilities, including newspapers, TV and radio stations. Other facilities and services on the campus include a medical center, professional photographic studios, clinical simulation suites, and recording rooms. Apart from this, UCLan has a new reception building, named the Student Centre and New Square, under construction, which will be completed by 2021. The building will house several office spaces, meeting rooms, event venues, student services, and a rooftop garden.

The academic structure of UCLan is categorized into several schools offering 400 undergraduate and over 200 postgraduate programs, either part-time or full-time. The university extends career-oriented education in various disciplines of arts, engineering, applied and biomedical sciences, business and management, psychology, social science, community service, design and fashion, medicine and nursing, language and global studies, journalism, media studies, and sports. UCLan is a diverse community of about 30,000 students from over 100 countries across the globe, out of which 58% are females and 48% are males.

UCLan has a comprehensive list of alumni who are successful leaders and award winners in their respective professional domains. Ranvir Singh (Journalist and TV Presenter), Nina Hossain (News Broadcaster), Polly Billington (Former BBC Journalist), Kerry Wilkinson (Sports Journalist and Author), Duncan Glen (Former Graphic Design Lecturer), Ewan McKendrick (Former Lecturer of Private Law), Michael Thomas (Professor), Angela Wakefield (Fine Artist), Jim Bamber (Cartoonist and Artist), Isioma Daniel (Nigerian Journalist) and Victoria Derbyshire (Award-winning Journalist) are the few notable names in the list.