Preston’s university has seen a second year of moving up the higher education social mobility rankings.
The University of Lancashire is now ranked 16th, an improvement of two places, in the latest English Higher Education Social Mobility Index.
The ranking, put together by the Higher Education Policy Institute, looks at university’s which are encouraging people from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds to attend university.
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Two recent graduates have spoken about the importance of the university’s commitment to social mobility when reflecting on their careers they are now in.
Hayley Dickinson who is now a project manager at BAE Systems studied business studies with marketing.
She said: “When leaving school, I lacked confidence and was undecided on what career path I wanted to take, However, one thing I did know was that I was determined to succeed. I secured a Business Administration Apprenticeship working at Preston College, which provided me with a multitude of experiences and options which helped me to shape my future. The fantastic support network I had around me within the College both as an employee and student gave me the confidence and push I needed to apply to University, despite not meeting the traditional entry requirements for a Degree.
“The University of Lancashire recognised that my experience within the Business environment outweighed any academic achievements, and through a short interview I successfully gained a place on the Business Studies course.
“The three years I spent at UCLan, as it was then, gave me a renewed confidence in my own abilities, through academic achievement, building practical skills such as presenting and the support from my lecturers. Graduating from the University of Lancashire with a First Class Degree remains one of my proudest moments almost 9 years later, in which time I have been building a successful career as a Project Manager at BAE Systems.”
The move up the rankings of two places follows a 13 place leap in the 2024 index. 100 higher education institutions are ranked in the table and Preston is now fourth in the North West.
Dean Hardy graduated in 2022 with a first-class honours Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree and now works for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT). It was Dean’s childhood dream to become a doctor but he never thought someone from a working class background could become one.
He said: “I didn’t think becoming a doctor was possible but the University of Lancashire believed in me and gave me the chance to prove that with hard work I could fulfil my ambition. It completely changed my life and now I have a career I love, working as an A&E doctor and giving back to the community.”
A University of Lancashire spokesperson said: “Our advancement in the English Social Mobility Index reflects the University’s longstanding commitment to making higher education accessible to all, regardless of background.
“We have many initiatives in place to enable this, including offering a suite of access bursaries to remove financial barriers and support students from underrepresented backgrounds and a comprehensive Fair Access Scheme, offering up to a 16 point UCAS reduction and targeted support for students facing educational disadvantage.
“We remain firmly focused on strengthening this work and further enhancing the life‑changing impact of higher education.”
Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, Nick Hillman OBE, who publish the Index said: “At a time when there is a lot of criticism of universities, it is important to be reminded of the critical work they do transforming lives. The Social Mobility Index is different to other rankings because it puts the focus wholly on students and their real-world outcomes. The diversity of institutions in this year’s top 10 suggests the Index measures something valuable that institutions of all types can do well at, if they choose to adopt a dedicated focus.”
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