Welcome to the University of Cumbria

About the University

We are one of Britain's newest universities, but we have a history of educating professionals going back over 150 years. We were formed in 2007 from Cumbria Institute of the Arts, St Martin's College and the Cumbrian campus of UCLan. With academic strengths in education, healthcare, sports, visual and performing arts, humanities, social science, law and criminology, science, outdoors, forestry and land studies we will have a great course to start your career. 

Our campuses are in Carlisle, Lancaster and Newton Rigg, Penrith. These are lively, safe, student-friendly cities with a lower than average cost of living. Transport links are excellent. We are on the West Coast mainline rail network and close to the M6 motorway. Carlisle to Lancaster is approximately one hour in a car or train. Lancaster to Manchester is just 55 mins on half hourly rail service.

The campuses are compact and situated within walking distance of the city centres. The great outdoors is on our doorstep from city centre parks to National Parks and the university's clubs and societies will help you to take advantage of all that our spectacular surroundings have to offer.

Small and friendly

Small study groups allow us to offer a more personal experience and dedicated tutors who can support you through your studies. Our student support teams, who can help with everything from academic skills to giving you support with your first steps on the career ladder, are knowledgeable and easy to access via our student support hubs.

Small and friendly campuses mean that whilst you study with us you are part of a whole campus community, including staff and academics as well as students from across all our courses.

We also have campuses in London, Ambleside and Lillyhall, Workington so we can offer courses near to where you are.

Widening Participation and changes to fees in 2012

The university has a firm commitment to, and a history of, accessible higher education regionally, nationally and internationally. At the centre of the university’s mission is the provision of an accessible and outstanding student experience and we aim to ensure as many people as possible benefit from the transformational opportunities provided by higher education. This includes seeing many students from less advantaged backgrounds succeed in higher education.

In additional to its existing work and commitment to enhancing the student experience for all students the University has sought to develop a new fee policy and Access Agreement which demonstrates this commitment by:

  • Participating in the National Scholarship Programme by matching the Government contribution to provide National Student Scholarships of £3000 for a total of 126 first-year students in 2012/13. The beneficiaries then become eligible for a Cumbria Bursary of up to £1500 per annum in their following academic years
  • Providing up to £1.32m in new Cumbria Bursaries over the first three years to students who meet specific criteria
  • Providing a range of Outstanding Performance and Student Achievement Scholarships 
  • Investing in additional resources to significantly increase the university’s outreach and access provision and committing to work in partnership with other higher education institutions and organisations to provide outreach activity in Cumbria and Lancashire
  • Investing in additional resources to help provide additional support to retain students within the university and to support them to achieve their potential.

Subject to approval by OFFA.(Expected July 2011)

Our UK Recruitment team can be contacted for further information