About the university
The University of Cumbria was formed in 2007 from St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts and the Cumbria sites of the University of Central Lancashire. It teaches across campuses in Carlisle, Lancaster, Ambleside in the Lake District, Barrow-in-Furness and London, and its courses range across health and nursing, teacher education, business, computing, outdoor studies, conservation and the arts.
For Indian students the 2026/27 international fee is £16,000 a year for most bachelor's and master's degrees, £17,500 for the MBA and £17,800 a year for health courses such as nursing and physiotherapy. Entry asks for 60% in Class 10 and Class 12 (or 65% in Class 12) for a bachelor's, and a first division or 60% in a bachelor's for a master's. Class 12 English at 65–80% can be accepted in place of IELTS, depending on the course. Fees for 2027/28 were not yet published on most course pages.
- Founded
- 2007, from the merger of St Martin's College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts and the University of Central Lancashire's Cumbria sites
- Type
- Public university
- Campuses
- Carlisle (Fusehill Street and Brampton Road), Lancaster, Ambleside, Barrow-in-Furness and London
- Intakes
- September for most courses; January for some master's, including MSc International Management and the MBA
- Roots
- Carlisle's art school dates back to 1822; St Martin's College in Lancaster took its first students in 1964
Rankings
Complete University Guide (UK) 2027
117th of 130 UK universities
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £16,000
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- January; September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (5.5 in each area)
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- £17,500
- Duration
- 1 year full time
- Intakes
- January; September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (5.5 in each area)
- Postgraduate
MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration)
- Fee / year
- £17,800
- Duration
- 2 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (6.5 in each area)
- Postgraduate
MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration)
- Fee / year
- £17,800
- Duration
- 2 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 7.0 (no component below 6.5)
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £16,000
- Duration
- 3 years full time (sandwich placement option)
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each area)
- Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Business Management
- Fee / year
- £16,000
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each area)
- Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) International Business Management
- Fee / year
- £16,000
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each area)
- Undergraduate
- Fee / year
- £17,800
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Intakes
- September
- English
- IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in each area)
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (GBP) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc International Management | 1 year full time | £16,000 | ≈ ₹19.5 lakh |
| MBA (Lancaster) | 1 year full time | £17,500 | ≈ ₹21.4 lakh |
| MSc Physiotherapy (pre-registration) | 2 years full time | £17,800 | ≈ ₹21.7 lakh |
| MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) | 2 years full time | £17,800 | ≈ ₹21.7 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) Computer Science | 3 years full time (sandwich placement option) | £16,000 | ≈ ₹19.5 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) Business Management | 3 years full time | £16,000 | ≈ ₹19.5 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) International Business Management | 3 years full time | £16,000 | ≈ ₹19.5 lakh |
| BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing | 3 years full time | £17,800 | ≈ ₹21.7 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at University of Cumbria with similar universities in the UK.
Scholarships
- Undergraduate, 2026/27 entry
Cumbria International UG Scholarship
Value: Up to £4,500 (£1,500 a year for a three-year degree)
Eligibility: Self-funded overseas students on eligible full-time degrees at Ambleside, Carlisle or Lancaster who meet conditions and pay the deposit by the deadline. Applied automatically.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Taught master's, 2026/27 entry
Cumbria International PGT Scholarship
Value: £2,000 off tuition
Eligibility: Self-funded overseas students on eligible full-time master's courses at Ambleside, Carlisle or Lancaster. Applied automatically.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Full-time MBA, 2026/27 entry
Cumbria Global Business Excellence MBA Scholarship
Value: £2,500 off tuition
Eligibility: Self-funded overseas students on eligible MBA programmes at Ambleside and Lancaster. Applied automatically.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Undergraduate and master's nursing, and the MPH, 2026/27 entry
Cumbria Health and Wellbeing Scholarship
Value: Up to £12,000, depending on course length
Eligibility: Self-funded overseas students on eligible full-time nursing courses at Carlisle and Lancaster. Applied automatically.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Bachelor's: 60% or more in both Class 10 and Class 12, or 50% in Class 10 and 65% in Class 12.
- A 3 or 4-year diploma from a State Board of Technical Education (or in an allied health subject) with 55% or more is also considered.
- Integrated Foundation Year: 50% or more in Class 10 and Class 12. Courses that need GCSE Maths accept 50% in Class 12 Maths or 70% in Class 10 Maths.
Postgraduate
- Master's: first division or 60% or more in a bachelor's degree of at least three years.
- Or 55% or more in a bachelor's degree plus at least a year's work experience.
- Health courses such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy also involve interviews and higher English scores.
Documents
- Valid passport
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- Degree certificate and transcripts for master's courses
- English test certificate, or Class 12 English marks
- Personal statement
- Reference
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | Undergraduate 6.0 (5.5 in each area); postgraduate 6.5 (5.5 in each); physiotherapy and occupational therapy 7.0 (6.5 in each); biomedical science 7.0 (7.0 in each); BSc Nursing 6.5 (6.0 in each) |
| Class 12 English | Accepted from CBSE, CISCE and several state boards: 65% for courses needing IELTS 6.0, 70% for IELTS 6.5, 75% for IELTS 7.0/6.5 and 80% for IELTS 7.0/7.0 |
| TOEFL iBT | Undergraduate 4 overall (4 in each skill); postgraduate 4.5 overall (4 in each skill) |
| Other tests | LanguageCert Academic, Oxford Test of English, Oxford ELLT, Cambridge and Trinity tests, and Cumbria's own online Password test are accepted |
Accommodation and living costs
Cumbria has halls on its Lancaster and Carlisle campuses and nearby, and halls are guaranteed for first-choice applicants. New international students must book accommodation before they travel and pay hall fees in full upfront. Prices below are 2026/27 weekly rates.
| Item | In GBP | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Waddell Halls, Lancaster: standard single | £108per week | ≈ ₹13,176 |
| Waddell Halls, Lancaster: en suite | £146per week | ≈ ₹17,812 |
| Carrock Hall, Carlisle Fusehill Street: en suiteWater, electricity, heating and contents insurance included | £146per week | ≈ ₹17,812 |
| Denton Holme student village, Carlisle (standard and en suite)Run by Host; 20 minutes' walk from Fusehill Street | £141per week | ≈ ₹17,258 |
Campus and location
Cumbria is spread across several campuses in north-west England, so check which campus your course is taught at.
- Carlisle Fusehill Street: health courses, with clinical skills and simulation facilities.
- Lancaster: business, computing and teacher education, with Waddell Halls on campus about 10 minutes' walk from the city centre.
- Ambleside, in the Lake District: outdoor studies and the MBA Tourism and Visitor Economy Management.
- Barrow-in-Furness: engineering at a new campus next to BAE Systems' facilities.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Many Cumbria courses lead to professional roles, especially in nursing, allied health and teaching, with placements across Cumbria and Lancashire. Cumbria does not publish graduate salary figures on the pages we checked. After graduating you can apply for the UK Graduate visa; see our UK guide.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|
Studying in the UK
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:
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FAQs
How much does Cumbria cost for Indian students?
For 2026/27 most bachelor's and master's degrees cost £16,000 a year, the MBA £17,500 and health courses such as nursing and physiotherapy £17,800 a year. Automatic scholarships of £2,000 (master's) or £1,500 a year (bachelor's) are available to self-funded students.
Can I use Class 12 English instead of IELTS?
Yes, from CBSE, CISCE and several state boards. You need 65% for courses that ask for IELTS 6.0, 70% for IELTS 6.5 and more for health courses.
Is there a January intake?
Yes, for some master's courses including MSc International Management and the MBA at Lancaster. Most other courses start in September.
Can international students apply for MSc Nursing?
Not for September 2026. Cumbria says it is no longer accepting Student-visa applicants for the MSc Nursing programmes starting then. The BSc Adult Nursing lists an international fee.
Sources
- University of Cumbria: international fees and finance (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: MSc International Management (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: MSc Physiotherapy (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: MSc Adult Nursing (pre-registration) (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: India (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: scholarships, bursaries and discounts (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: Lancaster accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: Carlisle Fusehill Street accommodation (opens in a new tab)
- University of Cumbria: our history (opens in a new tab)
- Complete University Guide 2027 league table (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.cumbria.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)
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