University for the Creative Arts

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Want to be a part of something big? Study at a university that’s entirely devoted to the creative arts, business and technology. Be part of a creative community that cares about your studies, your wellbeing and your success. Fulfil your creative potential.

University for the Creative Arts (UCA) was named the highest placed specialist creative university in all three UK league tables and the Business School for the Creative Arts is ranked no.7 in the whole of the UK for Business, Management & Marketing (Guardian League table 2021). UCA has also been awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

Locations

UCA has been providing creative education for 160 years and is the 2nd largest provider of creative education in Europe. Based in scenic Surrey and Kent, UCA provides pre-degree, undergraduate and postgraduate education to the next generation of creatives. All the campuses are within an hour from central London and student accommodation is available on all of the campuses.

UCA Canterbury: Based in a busy, historic student city, the Canterbury campus benefits from easy access to local exhibition projects and spaces as part of Kent’s vibrant international art scene. Students can enjoy established community links with places such as the Turner Contemporary Gallery, access to big events like the Folkestone Triennial, as well as its own dedicated facilities on campus. The Canterbury campus is a short walk from the city centre and has a range of purpose-built studios, workshops and lecture theatres.

UCA Epsom: The Epsom campus is a modern, well-equipped collection of studios and facilities set in a picturesque town within easy reach of London. Living and studying at the Epsom campus, students will be immersed in a hub of creativity – the perfect place to let talent run wild and create the extraordinary.

UCA Farnham: The Farnham campus has a long history, going back more than 45 years as a respected art and design institution. There are s variety of courses on this campus, ranging from glasswork and ceramics to film and animation. With over 2,000 students, UCA Farnham is the biggest of campuses and has an incredibly strong community feel.

UCA Rochester: Perched high on a hill, the purpose-built Rochester campus enjoys great views over the town and the river Medway. The campus is a creative hub for students studying a rich variety of courses in fashion, photography, product design and digital animation. With halls of residence only five minutes away and a range of exceptional facilities, including an art shop, the Zandra Rhodes Gallery and the unique Gerber Suite, the Rochester campus offers you a genuinely inspirational study experience.

Facilities

While studying at UCA, you will have access to knowledgeable technicians and all the technology you need to complete your work. You will find workshops and resources dedicated to your courses, but you’ll also be able to explore and experiment beyond these, with access to the full range of equipment and facilities across each campus. Each campus also has an equipment hire store, where students will find an impressive selection of gear, including video and stills cameras, lighting and sound recording tools, projectors and much more. You will also have access to photography studios and darkrooms, 3D printing and laser-cutting facilities, and find specialist equipment relating to the courses that are taught at each campus.

International support

On every campus, UCA has an International Support Assistant who can help you find your way around UCA and settle into academic and social life in the UK. All the International Support Assistants are recent UCA graduates, so they understand exactly how to help student and give advice. They offer 1:1 tutorials and work with small groups from specific courses who need help.

Future Careers

The creative industries are one of the fastest-growing sectors of the UK economy, with a wealth of opportunities not only for careers in exciting industries but for personal progression and entrepreneurship.

UCA will provide students with all the hands-on knowledge and support to help you get the qualifications you need, together with work placement opportunities and live project briefs to help you build a network of vital industry contacts through UCA’s own industry links.

You will work with big brands, enjoy guest lectures from experts in their field, take part in national competitions and exhibitions and collaborate with students from other courses on exciting projects.

What can you study?

With over 140 art and design degree programmes, you will find what you’re were looking for and maybe discover something you never knew existed!

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?

The information on this page has been submitted by the higher education institution itself, and it varies how frequently they update it. If you want to know more, get in touch and one of our student advisors will answer all your questions!

Across the Pond is the official representative for this teaching institution for selected countries around the world which means we can help you apply to their courses and help with all the documents needed to submit an application. We can help answer questions about their courses and the institution itself as they do not necessarily have the capacity to deal with student enquiries from all around the world on a daily basis. This also means that they can ask us questions about your application and we can help explain if they are not familiar with your grades, academic background or the educational system in your home country. They also appreciate that students who apply through Across the Pond get the help they need, not only in terms of submitting the application and supporting documents, but also with everything needed before arrival in the UK, such as student accommodation, visa information, funding information and well as preparing for departure to the UK.

Student population: around 6,500

Number of international students: more than 1,500

Location: 4 campuses across Surrey & Kent:

Canterbury (population around 173,000)
Epsom (pop around 35,500)
Farnham (population around 40,000)
Rochester (population around 65,000)

Closest airports: All campuses are within an hour of Heathrow or Gatwick

Famous Alumni

Grant Orchard – the creator of ‘Hey Duggee’
Karen Millen – influential fashion designer
Gareth Edwards – the director of ‘Godzilla: King of Monsters’ and ‘Star Wars: Rogue One’
Mark Baker – the creator of ‘Peppa Pig’
Tracey Emin CBE – Turner Prize nominated renowned installation artist
Dame Zandra Rhodes – world renowned fashion designer
Stephen Webster MBE – Founder of the luxury jewellery brand
Arnold Schwartzman OBE RDI – Oscar winning filmmaker, graphic designer and author

Specialty Areas/Centres of Excellence

Animation Research Centre (ARC) - Founded in 1998, the Animation Research Centre at the University for the Creative Arts, Farnham is a centre for innovation, doctoral study, debate and dialogue, interdisciplinary and practice-based research into animation in all its most expanded forms. Our current work ranges from archival research, conference organization, exhibition curation and academic publication to investigations in immersive technology, block chain and movement capture.
Centre for Digital Scholarship - As a research centre of the University, hosted by the Library & Student Services, the Centre for Digital Scholarship pursues new knowledge and interpretations to resolve the challenges facing digital infrastructure, curation and engagement with digital resources in the visual arts.
Centre for Sustainable Design - Established in 1995, the Centre for Sustainable Design (CfSD) leads and participates in a range of externally commissioned research projects. It has organised over 100 conferences, workshops and training programmes focused on sustainable innovation and product sustainability, including its own Sustainable Innovation conference.
The Crafts Study Centre (CSC) - an internationally recognised museum of contemporary craft and a hub of crafts research, making it a high-profile resource centre for UK and international craft practitioners, historians and theorists.
The International Textile Research Centre - Builds on the work of The Anglo-Japanese Textile Research Centre, which was established at UCA in 2004 to develop networks within and between the UK and Japan. These networks embraced contemporary textile practice, educational establishments, funding organisations and exhibition venues in the two countries. As projects have developed, networks and connections have extended beyond the UK and Japan to those countries where textile practice occupies a corresponding position.

Great opportunity to see more of the world

Justine

Film and TV, University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

During my gap year, one of my friends from England recommended that I apply to schools in the UK. I decided that studying abroad would be a great opportunity to see more of the world while furthering my education. I researched many… Read more

I recommend UCAS to any creative-minded student

Gaebriel

Art and Design, University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

I would recommend UCA to any creative-minded students because of its easy access to London, the amazing studios and workshops, as well as the professor's connections for job placements after uni.

From the second I walked onto… Read more

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