University of Cumbria ranks 117th of 130 in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2027, and its international undergraduate fees are £16,000 a year for 2026/27. It is a modern university with campuses in Carlisle, Lancaster, Ambleside, Barrow-in-Furness, Workington and London. Business Management asks for BCC to BBC at A level.
- Location
- main address at Fusehill Street, Carlisle, in the north west of England, with campuses at Lancaster, Ambleside, Barrow-in-Furness, Workington and London
- Type
- a Cathedrals Group university established in 2007, with roots back to 1882. Not a Russell Group member
- Ranking
- 117th of 130 in the UK (Complete University Guide 2027), 16th for graduate outcomes and 4th for graduates on track
- Typical offer
- BCC to BBC for Business Management, BBC to BBB for Computer Science, 48 UCAS points for foundation year routes
- IELTS
- generally the equivalent of 6.0 for undergraduate degrees
- International fee
- £16,000 a year for 2026/27, £17,800 for social work and health programmes
Reviewed by Dr Elizabeth Adey for 2027 entry · Uni Direct team, 2026
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 and the University of Cumbria own pages, read 2 October 2026.
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 profile for the University of Cumbria and Cumbria’s own pages, read 2 October 2026.
Where is the University of Cumbria, and what is it like?
The University of Cumbria’s main address is Fusehill Street in Carlisle, in the north west of England. It teaches at six locations: Ambleside, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Lancaster, London and Workington. Your course page names the campus, so check it before you apply.
The Complete University Guide describes the setting as city centre, rural, coastal and campus all at once. It adds that Cumbria is the only UK university in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Lake District National Park.
It has between 5,001 and 10,000 students. The Complete University Guide records 98% as UK students, 1% as international and 1% as EU. If you want a large international community around you, that figure matters. Cumbria offers university accommodation in Lancaster, Carlisle and Ambleside.
If you are weighing it against another university in the north of England, look at Lancaster University or Northumbria.
Is the University of Cumbria good?
The University of Cumbria is strong on graduate prospects and weak on its overall ranking and student satisfaction. The Complete University Guide 2027 ranks it 117th of 130 UK universities overall, but 16th for graduate outcomes and 4th for graduates on track.
That gap matters more than the overall position. Many of its courses lead to a named profession, and the university’s own figure is that 92% of its graduates are in work or further study within 15 months. Its students are less happy, with satisfaction at 127th of 130, and it holds a Silver award in the Teaching Excellence Framework.
| Measure | Cumbria | Table |
|---|---|---|
| Overall UK ranking | 117th of 130 | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Graduate prospects, on track | 83.8 of 100, 4th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Graduate prospects, outcomes | 82.1 of 100, 16th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Entry standards | 108 of 208, 98th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Student satisfaction | 2.98 of 4, 127th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Continuation | 89.2 of 100, 90th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
| Research quality | 2.30 of 4, 119th | Complete University Guide 2027 |
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 profile for the University of Cumbria, read 2 October 2026.
The two graduate measures are different. Outcomes looks at what graduates are doing after their course, and on track at how graduates rate their own progress, and Cumbria is in the top twenty on both.
If your grades are modest and you want a named profession at the end of your degree, Cumbria is worth a look. If you want a large international community around you, read the section on campus life first. Our guide to the best UK universities shows where it sits among the rest.
University of Cumbria entry requirements
Cumbria asks for modest grades. Business Management asks for BCC to BBC at A level, and Computer Science asks for BBC to BBB, while its foundation year routes start at 48 UCAS points.
| Degree | A level | UCAS points | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Management BSc | BCC to BBC | 104 to 112 | Lancaster |
| Computer Science BSc | BBC to BBB, with 32 points in Mathematics or a listed science or technology subject | 112 to 120 | Lancaster |
| Zoology BSc | BBD to BBB, with Biology at C or above | 104 to 120 | Carlisle |
| Business Management with integrated foundation year | One A level at grade A | 48 | Lancaster |
| Forest Management with integrated foundation year | GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 or C | 48 | Carlisle, then Ambleside |
Source: University of Cumbria undergraduate course pages, read 2 October 2026. The pages show A levels and UCAS points but no International Baccalaureate figure.
For English, Cumbria generally asks for the equivalent of IELTS 6.0 for an undergraduate degree. It also accepts a GCSE or A level in English if you began studying in the UK before 18, and its own Password English Test. If you are short of the grades, its International College, run with Malvern International, offers an International Foundation Programme and an International Year One that leads into the second year of a degree. See our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS for other routes.
Graduate entry Medicine is open to UK, Republic of Ireland and settled applicants, so it is not a route for most international students.
Courses the University of Cumbria is best known for
Cumbria is best known for professional courses. The Complete University Guide covers it in 15 subjects, including Nursing and Midwifery, Paramedic Science, Physiotherapy, Education and Social Work, and its own undergraduate list runs from Business Management and Computer Science to Zoology, Ecology and Wildlife Conservation, and Criminology and Forensic Investigation.
There are newer courses too. Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics, Security, Intelligence and Cyber, and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence all appear on the list. Many courses have a version with an integrated foundation year, which adds a year at the start.
Medicine is a graduate entry course for UK, Irish and settled applicants, and nursing and health courses carry placements. If you are applying from abroad, check that your course accepts international students and where the placements run.
University of Cumbria acceptance rate
The University of Cumbria does not publish an acceptance rate or a count of offers made.
The entry standards stand in for it. Students who arrived at Cumbria held an average of 108 UCAS points, which is 98th in the country, and the course pages above ask for between 104 and 120. Applicants with solid, rather than top, grades are the students Cumbria is set up to take.
Source: Complete University Guide 2027 entry standards and the University of Cumbria course pages, read 2 October 2026.
How much does the University of Cumbria cost?
The University of Cumbria charges international undergraduates £16,000 a year for most degrees in 2026/27, and £17,800 for social work and health programmes. Cumbria has not yet published 2027/28 fees, so these are the latest figures.
| Cost | Figure |
|---|---|
| Tuition, most bachelor’s degrees, 2026/27 | £16,000 a year |
| Tuition, social work and health programmes, 2026/27 | £17,800 a year |
| Tuition, most bachelor’s degrees, 2025/26 | £14,900 a year |
| University accommodation, 2026/27 | £95 to £153 a week |
| Deposit | up to 50% of the programme fee |
| Money to show for your visa, outside London | £1,171 a month for up to nine months |
| Money to show for your visa, London | £1,529 a month for up to nine months |
| Immigration health surcharge | £776 a year |
| Student visa application | £558 |
Source: University of Cumbria international fees page and accommodation pages for Lancaster, Carlisle, Ambleside and London, read 2 October 2026. GOV.UK for the visa figures, read 2 October 2026.
Cumbria asks for a deposit of up to half the programme fee, which is not refundable unless your visa is refused in exceptional circumstances. You can then pay the balance at registration or in five equal instalments. Rooms run from £95 a week for a standard single at Brampton Road in Carlisle to £153 for an en-suite at Fell Court in Ambleside. Cumbria has no halls in London, where it points students to the Studentpad listing site instead.
You can compare these figures with other universities in our guides to the cost of living for international students and the cheapest universities in the UK.
The visa figures come from GOV.UK, which is the only authority on the Student visa rules. We work with partners where an application needs professional handling. Our student visa guide sets out the steps.
University of Cumbria scholarships for international students
Cumbria lists its international scholarships, bursaries and discounts on one page of its website, without values that apply to every applicant.
Check that page for your own year of entry and country before you rely on an award, and ask the international team to confirm in writing what you qualify for. You can reach them at [email protected].
The payment plan is a help in itself. Cumbria lets you split the balance after the deposit into five equal instalments, so you are not paying the whole fee on the day you register.
Source: University of Cumbria international scholarships, bursaries and discounts page and fees page, read 2 October 2026.
What is the National School of Forestry at the University of Cumbria?
The National School of Forestry is the University of Cumbria’s forestry school, based at its Ambleside campus in the Lake District.
On the BSc Forest Management with integrated foundation year, you spend the first year at Carlisle and then move to Ambleside from year two. The course is accredited by the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and it offers field visits across the UK and the option of a one-year work placement.
Source: University of Cumbria Forest Management course page and Complete University Guide 2027 subject table, read 2 October 2026.
The league tables are less kind. The Complete University Guide ranks Cumbria 19th of 19 in Agriculture and Forestry, with a score of 78.9 of 100. Accreditation by the professional body is the better guide to what you will be qualified to do.
How do I apply to the University of Cumbria?
Choose a course
You choose a course and check the entry requirements for your country.
Apply online
International undergraduates apply online directly through the Cumbria website, and some course pages also mention UCAS or an approved agent.
Meet your offer
You receive an offer, meet its conditions and pay your deposit.
Receive your CAS
You then receive your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies letter before you apply for your visa.
Help with your Cumbria application
We can help you with your application to Cumbria, from choosing your courses to writing your personal statement and meeting your deadline. If you are not sure yet whether Cumbria is right for you, we can talk it through with you first.
Past students keep coming back to one thing: Liz replies quickly.
Cumbria is a university I would look at for a particular course and not for the general experience. Entry is gentle, with Business Management from BCC and foundation routes from 48 UCAS points, and its graduates rank 16th in the country for outcomes. The 1% international share is the figure I would weigh first. Before you pay a deposit of up to half the fee, I would want the campus, the number of international students on your course and the support on arrival confirmed in writing.
Frequently asked questions about the University of Cumbria
Is University of Cumbria good?
University of Cumbria is good for graduate prospects and weaker elsewhere. The Complete University Guide 2027 ranks it 117th of 130 overall, but 16th for graduate outcomes and 4th for graduates on track. Its weakest measure is student satisfaction, at 2.98 of 4 and 127th, so it suits a student set on a professional course.
Where is University of Cumbria located?
The University of Cumbria is in the north west of England, with its main address at Fusehill Street in Carlisle. It also teaches at Lancaster, at Ambleside in the Lake District, at Barrow-in-Furness, at Workington and in London, so the course page decides where you will study.
Is University of Cumbria accredited and legit?
Yes. The University of Cumbria is a UK university established in 2007, with roots back to 1882, and the Complete University Guide 2027 ranks it among 130 UK universities. It holds a Teaching Excellence Framework Silver award, and courses such as Forest Management are accredited by their professional body, here the Institute of Chartered Foresters.
Is University of Cumbria a Russell Group university?
No. The University of Cumbria is not a member of the Russell Group, which is made up of research-intensive universities. It describes itself as a Cathedrals Group university and was established in 2007. You can read more on our page about Russell Group universities.
What IELTS score do you need for the University of Cumbria?
The University of Cumbria generally asks for the equivalent of IELTS 6.0 for an undergraduate degree. It also accepts its own Password English Test, and a GCSE or A level in English if you began studying in the UK before 18. Other routes are covered in our guide to studying in the UK without IELTS.
How much are international fees at the University of Cumbria?
For 2026/27 the University of Cumbria charges international undergraduates £16,000 a year for most bachelor’s degrees and £17,800 for social work and health programmes. You pay a deposit of up to 50% of the programme fee, which is normally non-refundable, and can then spread the balance over five equal instalments.
Does the University of Cumbria have a London campus?
Yes. The University of Cumbria lists London among its six locations, but it has no halls there and points students to the Studentpad listing site. Living costs are higher, and GOV.UK sets the visa maintenance figure at £1,529 a month in London, so check which campus your offer names.
The next step
Tell us your grades and the Cumbria course you are considering, and we will tell you where you stand.
If Cumbria is on your list, send us your grades and the course you are considering. We will tell you how your profile compares with Cumbria’s requirements and which campus the course runs on. Our guide on how to study in the UK covers the steps from choosing a course to arriving.
You may also want to compare Cumbria with Anglia Ruskin, Lancaster and Northumbria. Or for a free consultation, contact us now.
Sources: Complete University Guide 2027 · University of Cumbria about, international fees, accommodation, application, International College, scholarship and course pages · GOV.UK Student visa. Read 2 October 2026. Photograph by Mtaylor848, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Next review: when Cumbria publishes its 2027/28 international fees and its scholarship values.