The University of Cumbria is ranked on the Guardian University Guide. A number of courses come out “Top in the North West” and the university is Ranked in the Top Three in the North West for Business and Management studies.

The University of Cumbria has roots extending back to the Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts established in 1822. It was created formally on 1st August 2007 from an amalgamation of St Martin’s College, Cumbria Institute of the Arts, and the Cumbria campuses of the University of Central Lancashire. The university has campuses in Carlisle, Newton Rigg, Penrith, Ambleside, and Lancaster and a specialist teacher education centre in London. The University also has strong links and a close working partnership with the four FE (Further Education) Colleges in Cumbria (Lakes Colleges, Furness College, Carlisle College, and Kendal College) to enable HE (Higher Education) delivery locally across the county. In addition, the University is the lead institution of Cumbria Higher Learning, a Distributed Learning Network for Cumbria.