Study at University of Cumbria

Why study at University of Cumbria

Its roots reach back to an arts society founded in 1822 and the teacher-training college established by Charlotte Mason in the 1890s, and education remains a core strength alongside nursing and allied health, creative arts, and forestry and environmental study. The Ambleside campus sits inside the Lake District National Park, and the Pears Cumbria School of Medicine, run with Imperial College London, trains doctors for the region. The university has held research degree-awarding powers since 2019.

Location and student life

The university's main sites are Fusehill Street and Brampton Road in Carlisle, Bowerham Road in Lancaster, Ambleside in the Lake District and provision in London, with a new campus in Barrow-in-Furness. Carlisle, the headquarters city, has road and rail links to Scotland and the North East with junctions off the M6, while Lancaster is a compact student city and Ambleside a small rural town inside a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Student life is campus-based, with halls of residence, sports facilities, cafes and students' union activities. Carlisle offers shops, leisure and green spaces, and Ambleside puts fells, lakes and woodland on the doorstep for students who want an outdoor setting.

Courses and subjects

Teaching is organised into institutes covering health; education, arts and society; business, industry and leadership; science and environment; and engineering, computing and advanced manufacturing. Established areas include nursing, midwifery and allied health, teacher training, policing, sport, business, creative arts, forestry, geography and zoology.

International applicants who do not yet meet degree entry can take the International Foundation Programme or International Year One through the University of Cumbria International College, and online pre-sessional English (OPSE) courses are available before starting a degree.

Entry requirements for international students

Entry requirements vary by course and by country, so international applicants should check the course page and the university's country guidance before applying. As a guide, standard undergraduate entry asks for IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component, and standard postgraduate entry asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 5.5 in each component, while health courses such as nursing, physiotherapy and social work ask for 7.0. Online pre-sessional English (OPSE) courses can raise an applicant's level before enrolment.

Accommodation

The university guarantees a room in halls of residence for first-choice applicants, including those accepted through Clearing who apply by the published deadline. Halls are available in Carlisle and Lancaster, with accommodation options in Ambleside and help for finding private housing. Brampton Road halls in Carlisle offer over 100 bedrooms close to teaching areas. International applicants should apply early and check deadlines on the accommodation pages.

Scholarships and funding

For 2026/27 the university lists several international awards: the Cumbria International UG Scholarship of up to £4,500 and the competitive Global Excellence UG Merit Scholarship of up to £7,500; at postgraduate level, a £2,000 International PGT Scholarship and a £5,000 Global Excellence PGT Merit award, plus an MBA scholarship of £2,500 and a Health and Wellbeing Scholarship of up to £12,000 for nursing and public health. Some awards are automatic while merit awards need an application. Amounts and eligibility change each year, so check the scholarships page for current terms.