FOUR higher educational institutions operate in Cumbria and North Lancashire: the University of Central Lancashire; St Martin's College; Cumbria Institute of the Arts; and Lancaster University.

The University of Central Lancashire's latest campus, its third, is the former University of Northumbria site at Carlisle.

Its campus at Newton Rigg, outside Penrith, was formerly an agricultural college and now offers courses that range from forensic science to forestry.

UCLan's main campus is at Preston, where students can upgrade foundation degrees earned from either Newton Rigg or Carlisle to full degrees.

St Martin's college offers undergraduate degrees, postgraduate teaching diplomas and professional development.

The college has a main campus at Lancaster, a second site at the former Charlotte Mason teacher training centre in Ambleside and a third campus in Carlisle. Cumbria Institute of the Arts is based at its Caldewgate campus in Carlisle but it also shares performance and studio space with nearby Shaddon Mill.

Lancaster University's main campus is at Bailrigg, just south of Lancaster. The university's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology investigates fish populations in Cumbrian lakes and soil ecology in Cumbrian wild flower meadows.

Lancaster University also manages the International Centre for the Uplands, at Hackthorpe, near Penrith, a research and action centre created in April 2004.