Visitors will find a unique energy and enthusiasm at the University of Central Florida, the largest university in the United States. There’s also a real diversity, with more than 60,000 students from over 100 different countries. The majority are studying at the main campus in Orlando, with others dotted across 12 satellite campuses, including a Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona that offers medical and dental degrees.
20 kilometres east of Orlando, on the road to Cape Canaveral, the concentric circle-designed main campus is home to most of the university’s academic buildings. At its centre is the John C. Hitt Library and the student union. Student housing lines the perimeter of the campus. Most of the campus is pedestrianised, and there are usually thousands of students milling around. Close by is the Arboretum of the University of Central Florida, a green park that’s home to over 600 plant species.
Buses from Orlando’s Lynx Central Station leave to the University of Central Florida at regular intervals. When driving, the main campus is located along Florida State Road 434. There are large car parks around Apollo Circle, but parking and vehicle access are limited closer to the centre of the campus.
The university originally focused on aerospace and technology, evolving out of demand for qualified personnel to join the US space program on Florida’s Space Coast nearby. It continues to receive grants for space research and lists numerous NASA directors and astronauts amongst its alumni.