Note: This is a fictional first-person review based on research and student feedback. It’s written as a lived story to help you picture the place.
Why I picked it (and what surprised me)
I wanted a hands-on course. Less talking, more doing. So I chose Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston. Folks call it UCLan. The campus sits near the city center, so you can grab a bus, or just walk. I liked that. It felt friendly, not too big, not too fancy, and a bit no-nonsense. Very Lancashire.
If you’re the type who likes league-table proof before committing, the latest stats are up on the Complete University Guide.
For another personal walk-through of those early impressions, read this take on the Uni of Lancashire (UCLan, Preston).
First week, I stood in the new Student Centre, looking at the big glass and the wide steps. Rain outside, buzz inside. I remember thinking, okay, this feels alive.
The course, for real
Here’s the thing: you don’t just sit in lectures. We had labs, workshops, and live tasks. In the Media Factory, my group booked the TV studio for a mock news bulletin. I read the autocue. My mate ran sound. We messed up the first take. We laughed. Then we fixed it and ran it clean.
Another week, I borrowed a DSLR from the kit store and filmed on Friargate. A street busker let me shoot a short piece while he played Wonderwall. My tutor gave notes the next day—clear, sharp, fair. It stung a bit, but it made the piece better.
We used the online portal for slides and deadlines. It didn’t feel slick every day, but it worked. When it didn’t, staff were quick with a workaround. Honest truth.
If you want someone else’s straight-shooting breakdown of the teaching style, you might appreciate this honest take on the University of Central Lancashire.
Places I kept going back to
- The Library: Warm light. Four floors. Quiet rooms that actually stayed quiet during exams (well… mostly). I wrote half my feature portfolio on a corner desk, headphones on, rain tapping the window.
- Student Centre café: Good coffee, quick toastie, lots of plugs. If you time it right, you’ll snag a seat by the window.
- Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre: Five-a-side on Friday. I’m not great, but I run hard. Felt good after a week at the screen.
- University Square: On sunny days, people spill out, sit on the steps, chat, and eat chips with gravy. You’ll hear accents from everywhere.
City life hits different
Preston is small but easy. The market hall has cheap eats—Greek wraps, Thai bowls, a sweet little bakery that sells warm pasties. If you fancy venturing a bit further for a proper Lancashire gastropub, book a table at The Three Fishes and treat yourself to a top-notch roast. Avenham Park is close too. Big green space with a hill. I’d take a walk when my head felt full.
On match days, Deepdale gets loud. The buses buzz, traffic slows, strangers talk football. If that’s not your thing, grab a quiet seat by Winckley Square and just breathe.
The good, the bad, and the “huh?”
Good:
- Hands-on gear and space. The Media Factory felt like a real workplace.
- Friendly staff who answer emails. Not always within an hour, but fast enough to help.
- Careers team ran a CV clinic. I left with clean bullet points and a pitch that worked for a local placement.
Not so good:
- Timetables moved around in term one. It settled, but it made planning part-time work tricky.
- The Library got packed near exams. If you want a spot, go early, bring a sweater, and camp.
- Some older rooms in Foster felt stuffy by mid-afternoon. Open a window, if you can nab one.
A weird note: booking the good cameras can feel like a race. I learned to plan shoots a week ahead. It saved my grade and my sanity.
Housing talk (the real bits)
First year, I stayed in uni halls five minutes from the Library. Small room, clean kitchen, and a hallway group chat that pinged all night. We shared pans, fixed a wobbly chair with duct tape, and argued over who burned the toast. You know how it goes.
Second year, we rented a place near Moor Lane. Short walk. Cheap enough. The landlord was fine, not a saint. When the boiler sputtered, we kept records, sent emails, and got it fixed in two days. Grown-up stuff no one teaches you, but you learn.
Support that actually helped
I used the writing lab once, then kept going. They looked at my feature lead and said, “Cut the fluff.” I cut it. It read clean after that.
I also met a mentor through a student society. We ran a small campus news page. Twice a week, quick posts, one deeper feature on Sunday night. It wasn’t fancy, but it taught me deadlines are real.
Safety and getting around
Campus paths are lit. Security walks at night. I felt okay walking with a friend after late edits. The train station is close, so day trips are easy. Manchester, Blackpool, Lancaster—cheap and simple.
Speaking of Blackpool’s beach nights, if you ever wonder about mixing seaside air with a bit of intimacy, you can skim through this practical, French-but-easy-to-follow guide to safe sex on the beach — it breaks down consent, privacy, and sand-proof tips so you stay on the right side of fun and the law.
Bring a good coat. Lancashire rain sneaks up on you. I kept a spare hoodie in my bag, just in case.
For students who end up doing a semester abroad or simply travel stateside during breaks, you might be curious about navigating nightlife and dating off-campus. If your journey ever leads you to California’s Central Valley, the directory at AdultLook Bakersfield provides verified local profiles and safety guidelines, helping you connect confidently and discreetly while exploring the city after dark.
Who will love it (and who won’t)
If you like practical learning, a friendly vibe, and a city that won’t bleed your wallet, you’ll be fine here. If you want old stone halls and grand lawns, this isn’t that. It’s more “roll up your sleeves” than “ivory tower.” I mean that in a good way.
Little tips I wish I knew sooner
- Book kit early. Plan your shoots. Save your files twice.
- Grab study rooms mid-week for group work.
- Try the market hall on a rainy Tuesday. It lifts your mood.
- Join one society. Don’t join five. One is plenty.
- Keep receipts for housing fixes. It speeds things up.
Final word
UCLan felt real. Some days were messy. Some days, magic. I left with clips I’m proud of, friends who answer at 2 a.m., and a sense that I can handle a deadline. That’s what I wanted. And honestly, that’s what I got.
You can match these reflections against another honest take on UCLan in Lancashire to see where opinions line up—or don’t.