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Research at the University of Central Lancashire

Research of national and international excellence is at the heart of academic life at the University of Central Lancashire. The University has an established research reputation in a wide range of academic disciplines including History, Law and Physics and has developed research excellence in Health, Humanities, Design & Technology, Science and Business areas. The University has steadily increased the substantial volume of external research funding from Research Councils, EU, NHS, Industry and Government grants at both local, regional, national and international levels over the last few years.

Academics at the University of Central Lancashire are making a vital contribution to disseminating research and global knowledge and helping to shape the world future beyond academic life. The Research community at the University of Central Lancashire unites academics, supportive staff and students in the pursuit of novel, original and significant contributions to the knowledge of academic disciplines and provides innovative solutions to our public sector and industrial partners in the North West. Researchers collaborate with colleagues from other academic and service departments throughout the North West, nationally and internationally.

As a university, we recognise our excellent research as one of our defining characteristics and are committed to maintaining an active, productive and innovative research culture across the University. Research at the University contributes to the development of the learning programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and brings vitality and creation to the learning environment.

The numbers of our research students has doubled over the last few years and we are committed to further increasing this number and building an international community of excellent researchers. We offer numerous higher research degrees including PhD, MD, MPhil, LLM, MA and MSc by Research with dedicated supervisory teams comprising of active researchers, many with international and national reputations in their field. We encourage applications from well‑qualified candidates, both for full‑time and part‑time study from UK and overseas. Potential postgraduate students are invited to browse the web sites of our research centres, units and also academic departments in search of interesting relevant areas of expertise and potential supervisory teams.

Suitably qualified applicants for postgraduate research degrees are entitled to apply for most of the competitive research grant schemes administered by Research Councils and other national funding bodies. The University currently has a number of research studentships funded by several UK Research Councils. Full‑time bursaries are also available within the University through a variety of schemes within research centres, units and also academic departments. To make initial enquiries, please contact the appropriate research degree tutors. The University offers annually, research assistantships and research fellowships arising from certain research projects that are advertised as they become available.

The University of Central Lancashire has a lively and expanding academic environment, conveniently situated for access to Manchester, Liverpool, Blackpool, the English Lake District and Cumbria. It has an excellent academic library, supplemented by valuable archive resources in the city of Preston and the surrounding area of Lancashire and Cumbria. The University of Central Lancashire is an attractive and dynamic place to begin a research career, and we are delighted to welcome all enquiries from potential postgraduate research students from the UK and overseas.

Professor John Wilson
University Director of Research