UCLAN/Preston? What’s it like?

[theferry]

DD is looking at a course at Uni of Central Lancashire on the Preston campus. I’ve never been to Preston, but my sister says it’s a dump. What’s it like? The course looks fantastic.

UCLAN has a number of specialist courses that are very good in their field. Radio journalism is one.

I don't know enough about film to know if this is the case.

My brother did the radio journalism one and worked for the bbc for nearly a decade on the strength of it,

Preston is decidedly not a big city however, but you can train to Manchester which is.

@Piggywaspushed they do film studies but they’re humanities based. DD wants to do the technical side/actually make the films. She wants to be a cinematographer.

Yes, I did see that. I'm a big fan of university education but I still think it's important to note that we aren't France : there aren't required degrees for cinematography. I'd be amazed if most cinematographers have specific film making degrees. That's not to say they aren't useful experience, of course, or that they offer opportunities andbuild networks. But the route into cinematography will be the hard yards and experience. Is there anything on UCLAN website, or any others that show what past students have done?

Places like Brighton Film School do have industry connections. But I appreciate that's very far from you!

DS is doing film making at Nottingham Trent. He initially loved MMU and was very torn, but now he is at Trent he tells me that in retrospect he's glad to be there rather than MMU. Smaller course, v friendly, and his mate from Manchester chose NTU as he wants to be a cinematographer and the range of cameras is better than MMU.

The course is very practical and hands on, and no exams. They do mostly group work with opportunities for individual projects.

Most people on these courses want to be writers/directors so those with a passion for sound, or editing or DOP or that sort of thing get loads of practice while the others fight over who is going to direct!

If she wants London, Preston seems unlikely to work, good course or not. It’s not really a city as such, more a sizeable town.

Ah ok! If she likes London do London - it’s the best city in the world. Easy enough links to Scotland. Northern city-wise, Liverpool or Sheffield. Manchester is a dump, like Preston but thinks it’s better. Brighton is also over rated.

If she wants London, then she either needs to get a part time job (or take a year out) to cover the increased costs, or she settles for Liverpool or Manchester. Preston won't work if she's fixated on London/NYC. Time for her to learn to compromise and budget. Welcome to the real world. 😜

(I grew up near Preston - spent a lot of time in that bloody bus station ha ha - and now live in London).

If London or NYC are her aspirations I am not sure she will be satisfied with Preston!
What are the other options?

Preston as a city is pretty tired and desperately needs investment (I live locally). It had great transport links though - can get to London in just over two hours, and is close to the Lakes and the coast, not far from Manchester and Liverpool. Parts of the city are lovely (Winkley Sq, Harris Museum, the market, the Guild Wheel.)
The uni has a decent reputation for certain courses, not sure about film, but I did my journalism post grad there about 30 years ago and it was highly thought of in the industry, helped me establish myself quickly.
Has your DD considered Salford? One of my DCs is doing a creative course there, it has a really strong reputation, Media City right there, lots of industry contacts, placements etc. Close to Manchester which is truly a big city and an amazing place to be as a student.

If she wants big city vibe I’d say no. There are lots of students and lots of places sprung up to cater to them like coffee shops (rise, black sheep) it’s very affordable living. Good train links to London and Glasgow.

Hi. Not sure if you will see this, but I'm due to start a distance course with Uclan in September.
Do you receive anything on paper at all? Or any books recommendations? Haven't a clue what to expect.

Thanks

Preston is my nearest large town - I’d say it’s not as bad as people think and has improved over the last 30 years or so imo. Better than some of the other northern post-industrial cities. Main reason I go is for the big parks and nature reserve by the river though … big city vibe not so much!😂
Agree with PP, the various other options sound more her sort of place. Uni choice has to be a combination of the course and an environment in which they’ll thrive.

Napier is fantastic for film if you want a Scottish uni, although it’s difficult to get in.

DD considered the course at UCLAN, but we were told that Preston is very run down and she also likes big cities.

Preston isn’t a large city but I wouldn’t say it was especially run down. There’s lots of cafes/coffee shops aimed at students and a big new cinema/dining complex. Harris museum just reopened after extensive refurbishment. Beautiful big park Avenham & Miller in centre. Easy access by train to Manchester, London etc. Lots of countryside on doorstep, not far to Lakes. If you want lots of nightclubs it’s not for you. Diverse population.

The higher loan doesn’t really cover the expensive rent, travel, food etc.

Slightly random suggestion but if she wants a city with a film/TV making industry, why not Queens Belfast?

I used to live in a suburb of Preston. I avoided it like the plague and it is unsafe in general in my opinion. Very diverse population and a lot of poverty. The more well off live outside Preston & beyond. I moved to Scotland as quick as I could, been here 20 years now. I wouldn’t send my daughter there, especially a daughter x

The centre and university area have changed a lot in the last couple of decades though.

FFS, it’s not Dodge City! Enough with the pearl clutching.
Agreed, it is a northern city which has suffered underinvestment. That said, it’s safe for nights out and has a growing cultural presence and some good independent venues etc. Transport links are excellent.
Re the uni, in the subjects where uclan is good, it’s really good but it’s bang average anywhere else. My degree was in a uclan specialism and it was so good I returned to do my MA there too!

I’ve lived here as a single woman since I came to university here and wouldn’t say it’s unsafe at all

would I go for a walk at 3am? Probably not, but I wouldn’t do that anywhere. I have lovely neighbours, like the diversity as it means a good range of events etc and I’ve never felt unsafe on a night out

think everywhere has nicer areas and not nicer areas even from places I used to live like Oxford

They also give £3000 scholarship to all GB students yr 1 (except medicine/dentist) and £100 to GB going to open day so well worth a look.

Even decades ago, Preston was never “unsafe”. No idea why one particular poster is acting like it’s the equivalent to Hackney’s old murder mile but I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion.

I grew up in one of the villages outside Preston and from my early teens onwards frequently got the bus into Preston (oh the joys of brutalist Preston bus station!). My mum was a teacher in Frenchwood so I’d usually walk there to get a lift home with her. As a student I had summer jobs in Preston and the closest to danger in Preston I ever came across was narrowly missing been blown up the IRA on my route to my summer job (luckily my bus was late that day or I would have been right outside at the time of the explosion).

Preston is fine. Like most places, there are rough parts and there are nice parts but generally the people are decent and friendly and you can get whatever you need there. There are much worse places to live. There’s been a huge focus on UCLAN in recent years and student life there is pretty good as a result.

I have no idea of what the course is like. I was a bit surprised when the daughter of a London friend decided on QUB a few years back, but have since visited. An established University with a lovely campus within walking distance of the city centre. Cheaper than most comparable cities (and as a result attracting student from the Republic) and grade requirements often lower than what you might expect. Belfast, 25+ years after the peace agreement is a city having its moment and there is a real creative buzz. Game of Thrones, Line of Duty, Blue Lights and plenty of others are filmed in NI.

I have been to the QUB cinema and theatre, which form an important part of Belfast cultural life. Lovely facilities. It is often not on people's radars but is worth a look.