Celebrating 50 years of Psychology at UCLan

Before 1974, Preston Polytechnic offered only joint honours degree programmes, giving students the opportunity to combine multiple disciplines. That all changed in the 1974/75 academic year, when the first cohort of students enrolled in a single honours degree—Psychology.

This summer marks 50 years since that milestone, and with it, half a century of delivering high-quality psychology education. It’s a moment to reflect on our journey, celebrate the achievements of our alumni, and look ahead to the future of the discipline at Preston.

We are hoping that former staff and students will join current staff and students at this event. We know that you are still in touch with your own friends from the course, so bring them along and together we can recall our favourite moments from those fifty years.

The event is free, but we are limited to 100 places in the lecture theatre. We will also look to share online the event for those that wish to attend but cannot do so in person

We will reflect on a half century of teaching, and research as well as the social aspects of the course (who remembers the pantomimes of the early 2000s?). There will be a series of celebratory talks as well as the opportunity for alumni to look around the campus at all the new developments.

Mark Roy (MPRoy@uclan.ac.uk) or Andy Morley (AMMorley@uclan.ac.uk)

Subject to demand we should be able to arrange tours of the new facilities on campus via the Alumni Association in the morning. Should you wish to arrange for a tour (either to join others or with a group of friends) please email Andy Morley

We have deliberately left the evening free for you to catch up with old classmates. Several staff might be persuaded to stay should they be asked. ...