The University has its own Health Centre (off Kirkham Street) where you will find your usual GP services. For those that like their exercise and to stay fit then Preston has all the amenities you’d expect from a decent sized city.

The best deal is probably to head to the Uni Fitness Suite where for £100 for the whole year you can use all the sports facilities on offer.

With your NUS card handy you can take advantage of some great offers in local gyms. Council-run fitness centres have a good array of equipment and the closest can be found in Fulwood (near the student area) where you “pay as you go” for a variety of activities including the use of their good pool.

Elsewhere you could try the Virgin gym on the Capitol Centre (a shopping complex which also includes the Vue Cinema, or the Total Fitness near the docks, or the smaller but friendlier Carrefour gym also near the docks. All of these have price plans which will offer discounts and incentives to students - usually around £20-30 per month. See what offers are around during Freshers’ Week.

However if you’re short of cash (and which student isn’t) then make full use of the city’s parks to take a jog for free and spend your money on the things that really matter to you.