Partner Universities

University of Lancashire works in partnership with Furness College to approve a number of courses delivered by the College, giving local students the opportunity to access higher education. Partner students are able to access the facilities and services at Furness College as well as being able to access a range of University facilities at the Preston Campus.

University of Lancashire is one of the largest Universities in the UK, offering a range of world class undergraduate and postgraduate courses.  The University’s motto is ‘Ex solo ad solem’, or, ‘From the Earth to the Sun’ and helping people from all walks of life to make the most of their potential is what University of Lancashire and its partnerships are all about.

Courses offered at Furness College:

BA (Hons) in Education (Top-up)

Foundation Degree in Children, Young People and Their Services (0 – 16 years)

Certificate in Education (Education and Training)

Postgraduate Certificate in Compulsory Education (PGCE)

Lancaster University has an excellent reputation, reflected by consistent high rankings in the UK’s major university league tables - the Complete University Guide 2026 (10th), The Guardian University Guide 2026 (14th) and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 (15th). Lancaster was also awarded 5 Stars for overall performance in the prestigious QS World Ratings. The evaluation features 5 Stars for each category: environmental impact, employability, facilities, global engagement, good governance, innovation and knowledge transfer, research, and teaching.

Courses offered at Furness College:

BEng (Ord) in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (IEng and CEng (part) IET accredited)

BEng (Hons) in Electrical or Mechanical Engineering (IEng and CEng (part) IET accredited)

The University of Cumbria’s University Centre is housed in Furness College’s £47 million campus – the first dedicated centre for Higher Education delivery in Barrow.

It provides state-of-the-art facilities, including flexible study spaces, computing equipment and a core collection of library books. Interaction between HE students and the many FE students at the College is encouraged, so that everyone has a chance to learn something new.