Preston student applications boost

2:38pm Friday 15th February 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Preston's University of Central Lancashire is the North West's number one student choice outside the metropolitan centres of Liverpool and Manchester.

New data released by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) reveals that applications to UCLan for undergraduate courses for a September 08 start currently stand at 15,040.

That means the University's market share in the North West is up by six percent.

Professor Patrick McGhee, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at UCLan, said: "In terms of applications, we are again enjoying high popularity.

"Despite the new applications process, where potential students can only apply to five universities instead of six, we are still set to match last year's recruitment figures when student numbers reached record levels."

"To put this news into context we have received over 15,000 applications for around 4,000 places and we are only part way through the recruitment cycle.

"Large numbers are still applying and we expect our final applications total to be in the region of 17,000.

"We also expect to add significant numbers to our international student community which currently stands at over 1,400 students.

"Applications for courses such as accountancy, media production and psychology are looking particularly strong and other areas such as business studies and social work are recruiting well.

"Attracted by our new £15 million Media Factory, we have received nearly 1,500 applications from potential students to study on our nationally recognised arts and fashion courses."

The university has seen an 11 percent increase in applications for its BSc Police & Criminal Investigation course and 35 percent more applications for its BSc Physics and Astrophysics courses.

Courses offered through UCLanSport continue to be very popular with over 500 applications for places on sports studies and sports coaching courses.

Professor McGhee added: "Places are still available on some of our technology and combined honours courses but we fully expect to meet our recruitment targets once students start arriving in September.

"We can detect no particular pattern regarding the popularity of courses although subjects with a strong vocational link continue to remain attractive.

"Higher education still represents excellent value for money.

"At UCLan we have an attractive portfolio of courses, superb facilities and our graduates are amongst the most employable in the UK.

"All the research and surveys continue to show that possession of a degree significantly increases employment opportunities and leads to above average salaries for graduates."

The next university open day in Preston will take place on 14 June 2008.