Law postgraduate degrees in North West England

Reflecting on my journey at UCLan in Preston, I’d say it's been both rewarding and challenging, and it’s shaped my experience as a mature student returning to education. Choosing to go back to university after some time away was a big decision, and UCLan felt like the right choice because of its strong reputation and welcoming environment. One of the best aspects of my time here has been how accessible and practical the MPharm course is. UCLan really emphasises hands-on, real-world learning, which has been invaluable for someone like me who values applying knowledge directly to real-life scenarios. The lecturers here are genuinely supportive and patient with students from all backgrounds, which made the transition back into academic life much smoother than I anticipated. They also do a great job of breaking down complex theories into manageable pieces, which is especially helpful when you're new to a subject or struggling with the material. UCLan's diverse community and open atmosphere also stand out. As a mature student, I wasn’t sure how I’d fit in initially, but UCLan has a fantastic range of societies and events that bring together students of all ages. I've found myself learning not just from the lectures but from the diverse perspectives of my classmates, which has been one of the most enriching parts of my time here. One of the standout positives of studying at UCLan is definitely the access to the sports centre and the free gym membership. As someone who values staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, this has been a huge benefit. The sports centre is well-equipped with a variety of facilities, from the gym to indoor courts, swimming pool, and even specialized rooms for classes like yoga. Having access to these facilities for free as part of the student experience has been fantastic, especially when I need a break from studying or want to clear my mind after a long day of lectures. In addition, the range of sports societies at UCLan is impressive. There’s something for everyone, whether you're into team sports, fitness classes, or even more niche activities like rock climbing or martial arts. As a mature student, I appreciate the chance to stay active and engage with like-minded individuals. The social aspect of joining a sports society has also been great for meeting new people and building a sense of community outside the classroom. It’s a perfect way to balance the academic side of university life with something fun and physically engaging, helping me maintain my well-being while also benefiting from the social connections and support that come with being part of a team. However, I’ve faced a few obstacles. My late acceptance to the course, for instance, meant I missed out on crucial welcome sessions, which set me back in terms of getting oriented. This delay added stress as I tried to navigate accommodation and enrolment in a short timeframe. The university could improve in terms of support for late applicants, as a smoother onboarding process would ease that initial period and help students settle in faster. Having a more streamlined and responsive communication system would go a long way in reducing unnecessary stress and making the overall experience more efficient and transparent for students. Clearer guidance and more timely updates would be especially helpful for mature students who might be balancing other responsibilities alongside their studies. Even with these challenges, I’d say UCLan in Preston is a fantastic place to study. The balance between academic rigour and a lively, supportive community has made it a genuinely rewarding experience, and I feel that I’m leaving with not just knowledge but also a sense of personal growth.

Best - the activities that the student union put on. The free shuttle bus and safe taxi scheme Worst - the fire alarm going off at 7am on a weekday. Being in lectures for two days a week and the days being very long

Location is ideal if you travel by train, as the train station is literally on the door step of the uni! The main campus is large, split over 2 sites across the train tracks, health and clinical courses are taught at the Mary Seacole and allerton buildings. Both very well equiped and large enough to accommodate the large cohort. Amazing facilities including xray and CT machines. The library is always open and loads of small quiet places to stay, socialise and study. This is a big campus and can be over whelming, however this is helped by good planning of rooms and common rooms across both campuses.

Edge Hill is a hidden gem as far as universities go. It's not as well known as some other unis but it's really great in almost every way. Very supportive staff, great quiet countryside location with good access to Liverpool and close to surrounding towns such as Southport. The gym facilities are top notch, as well as thr library and departments facilities. Can't recommended enough.

Student life building has a wide range of facilities and services, good standard of accommodation centrally located. Art building funding needs increasing to repair equipment such as printers, guillotine, and print credit for art students.

I have really loved my time at Manchester and although it wasn't my first choice, I am glad I came here. Any issues are definitely more at the institutional level, with individual faculties generally being really great. It is a shame to see the way the faculties and academic staff are let down by the poor organisation of the uni as a whole; it is on this basis that I wouldn't definitively recommend. I think a lot of aspects of my enjoyment of the experience have probably been in spite of the university as an overarching institution, rather than because of it. If you are someone who feels they need a lot of individual support, I'd probably discourage you as from what I've seen and heard it is quite poor.

The environment is great and there’s loads of support. The uni constantly asks for the student’s opinions on what they could do better and actually implement suggestions. It could maybe be improved if there where more help with job opportunities for international students who wish to stay in the uk and are unsure of their options.

Amazing teachers can't fault them in providing really great workshops and support. However, the admin side of things is awful the uni seem quite incompetent in this area considering they are providers of law courses it is particularly a bad look. In the exams this January alone there were 2 mistakes in the SBAQ which they noticed us about after receiving results. There was difficulty in accessing the online exam as they had not properly sorted the tech side of one assessment module. Lastly, throughout the entire year there have been many many emails from the uni correcting errors in the course content wise. It makes you feel that you are dealing with a corporate body with no knowledge of running a university and ensuring proper checks are in place.

Library is very nice and modern, good facilties. Careers and Employability were very useful and helped me improve my CV. Staff are very helpful and welcoming. Uni is very clean and gardens always look very nice. I love the private study offices and the kitchen areas. Not many downsides only really it can be very busy somedays. More facilities for food like microwaves and kettles.