Overview
The University of Cumbria is a public university in Cumbria, with its headquarters in Carlisle and other major campuses in Lancaster, Ambleside, and London. It opened its doors in 2007, and has roots extending back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts, established in 1822, and the teacher training college established by Charlotte Mason in the 1890s.
The University of Cumbria was formed from the merger of St Martin’s College, Lancaster, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts (formerly Cumbria College of Art & Design), and the Cumbrian campuses of the University of Central Lancashire on 1 August 2007, which ran degree programs accredited by Lancaster University and the University of Central Lancashire. To facilitate the change, St Martin’s College applied for independent degree-awarding powers in March 2005 and was successful in July 2006 after nine months of scrutiny by the Quality Assurance Agency. In January 2007, official university status was granted by the Privy Council.
The university is based upon the findings of a report by Sir Martin Harris. This plan envisaged a university based upon a “distributed learning network” so that teaching would take place both at the University’s main campuses and at colleges of further education around the county. This solved a problem for remote areas that did not previously have direct access to higher education.
The headquarters of the university are in Carlisle. Its other major campuses are at Ambleside, Lancaster (formerly St Martin’s College) and it has classrooms and open workspace in the “Energus” facility in Blackwood Road, Lillyhall, Workington. The university previously also had sites in Penrith (formerly the University of Central Lancashire in Cumbria and before that Newton Rigg Agricultural College) and London. Newton Rigg has since been transferred to Askham Bryan College and the Tower Hamlets provision has moved to East India Dock Road. Furness College in Barrow-in-Furness has developed close links with the university and they share some facilities.
15,000 Students
Location
Learning
TEF Rating
Courses Available
- Accounting, Business, Management and Marketing
- Biology and Biomedical Sciences
- Computer Science and Information Technology
- Health Professions
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- Law and Legal Studies
- Natural Sciences
- Recreation, Sports and Fitness Studies
- Veterinary, Agricultural and Food Sciences
- Visual and Performing Arts
Applying
How to Apply?
For International Students
(in lieu of IELTS)
Deadlines and Important Dates
Cost and Scholarships
Types of Scholarships Available
Scholarships
Cumbria Bursary
| Total Worth | £1,000 per year |
|---|---|
| Eligibility and Requirements | 1) Student is entering into year 1 or integrated foundation year of a specified undergraduate degree at the University of Cumbria. 2) Student has a household income of £25,000 or less as assessed by Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland or Student Awards Agency Scotland. Assessed by funding provider before 4th October 2024. |
| Available for International Students | No |
| Application Deadline | -- |
| Other Details | Cumbria Bursaries will not be available to students who are: studying less than 50 credits per year already holding an HE qualification e.g. Cert HE, HND or Foundation Degree. transferring from another institution undertaking a postgraduate qualification, including PGCE courses |
PGCE Alumni Scholarship
| Total Worth | Up to £2,000 |
|---|---|
| Eligibility and Requirements | -- |
| Available for International Students | Yes |
| Application Deadline | -- |
| Other Details | £1,000 cash payment and up to £1,000 off accommodation fees for University residences* to students enrolling on University based PGCE programmes** in Lancaster or Carlisle in September 2024 or January 2025 who are alumni of the University of Cumbria. |