University of Cumbria, details of Cumbria university

Cumbria 

University ranking

• 2010  108
• 2009  104
• 2008  105

History

• The University of Cumbria was formed on 1 August 2007 through the merger of St Martin’s College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts and the Cumbria campuses of the University of Central Lancashire.
• Cumbria Institute of the Arts was founded in 1823, while St Martin’s College has existed since 1963.

Location and Transport

• The university’s locations vary from inner city sites to completely rural locations, with varying levels of public transport provision. 
• There are campuses at Carlisle, Penrith, Ambleside and Lancaster in the north west of England, and Tower Hamlets in London.

Accommodation

• Many first-year students opt to stay in halls of residence. Most students live off campus after the first year, and some new students prefer to do so from the start.
• There are almost 1,200 rooms (many en-suite) available across the campuses. Most students have their own study bedroom (some rooms in Ambleside are twins) and share a kitchen, lounge and bathroom. A member of the residential life team is on hand to help.
• There is a good choice of reasonably priced homes around the campuses. The university only advertises or leases properties that have been accredited by the council and inspected to ensure they meet statutory safety regulations. Typical prices for 2009 (per week excluding bills) will be around £45–60 per person in Lancaster, Carlisle and Penrith, and £50–70 in Ambleside.
• More information about accommodation at the University of Cumbria is available here.  

Entry standards

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• The university uses the UCAS tariff system; details of course requirements can be found with each course description on the website. More details on entry standards at the University of Cumbria are available here.  

Bursaries and Scholarships

In receipt of full Maintenance Grant (2009) £1,290

In receipt of partial Maintenance Grant (2009) £215–£1,070

• Tuition fees (2009): £3,225.
• 35 scholarships of £1,000. Students should meet defined criteria and be active in one of the following areas: community, sport, creative arts, environment, business enterprise and entrepreneurship.
• For more information on bursaries and scholarships at Cumbria, click here.

Course flexibility

• Many of the courses can be studied part-time. Students can register for a complete award or take individual modules as an associate student. 

Teaching standards

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Research standards

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• Research is an integral part of the university. Staff have actively participated in the national Research Assessment Exercises since 1992.
• Current research on Image Perception is seeking to enhance the reliability of diagnoses from medical images such as x-ray and ultrasound.

Academic strengths

• A long-standing engagement with the creative arts gives the university particular strengths in Art, Design and Media.
• Among other strengths are English, Forestry, Conservation and Upland Management, History, Theology and Religious Studies.
• The Every Child Matters agenda – a recent national focus of research – presents a particular opportunity for the university to take the lead.

Student facilities

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• 24-hour access to more than 2,000 workstations.
• Six campus libraries with 330,000 library items available.
• Multimedia production facilities and media equipment loans such as digital cameras, camcorders and projectors.
• The Learning Gateway at the Fusehill Street campus is an innovative flexible learning facility, using state-of-the-art technology to bring together students, tutors and support professionals

Students’ Union

• The Students’ Union is central to the educational, social, cultural and sporting life of the university and ensures that students have a say in the running of the university.
• The union is the place for advice and help, involvement in sport, membership of a society, or just fun.
• More information about the students' union at the University of Cumbria is available here. 

Sport

• Sport features highly at the university. There are countless clubs and societies.
• The university has extensive sports facilities, from a climbing wall and football pitchs, to dance studios. All abilities are catered for.
• More information about sport at the University of Cumbria is available here. 

For further information

• www.cumbria.ac.uk
• Contact the University of Cumbria
• University of Cumbria, Fusehill Street, Carlisle CA1 2HH
• +44 (0) 845 6061144
• Travel and maps