Undergraduate Prospectus 2026

University for the Creative Arts

Undergraduate prospectus 2026

Contents

Welcome

Welcome to UCA.

As UCA’s President & Vice-Chancellor, I am excited to share with you our fantastic courses which will give you the opportunity to develop your creativity and the skills and experience you need to have a career in the arts and creative industries.

With access to specialised equipment, studio spaces, and the latest technology, our campuses at Canterbury, Epsom and Farnham are dynamic and exciting environments in which to experiment and innovate. You will be taught, mentored and guided on your creative journey by staff who have industry experience, are practising artists and researchers, and are connected locally and globally. With industry links to the likes of London Fashion Week, the National Theatre, Turner Contemporary and Ogilvy, our courses give you real-world experience and opportunities.

UCA is diverse and inclusive and provides a supportive environment for you to find your individual voice and nurture your personal creativity. So, whether you’re an aspiring actor or fashion designer, architect, animator, arts leader, or games developer, we’ll inspire you to become the very best version of yourself – unique, ahead of the curve and leading the creative conversation.

Join us at UCA and become the innovators, mavericks and creative thinkers who can change the world.

Professor Jane Roscoe President & Vice-Chancellor

C = Canterbury

E = Epsom

F = Farnham

M = Maidstone Television Studios

BA (Hons) Acting

BA (Hons) Animation

BA (Hons) Architecture

BA (Hons) Body Art

BA (Hons) Business & Management

BA (Hons) Ceramics & Glass

BA (Hons) Comic & Concept Art

BSc (Hons) Computer Science

BSc (Hons) Creative Computing

BA (Hons) Design for Theatre & Screen

BA (Hons) Digital Art

BA (Hons) Digital Marketing & Social Media

BA (Hons) Events & Festivals Management

BA (Hons) Fashion Atelier

BA (Hons) Fashion Branding & Communication

BA (Hons) Fashion Business & Management

BA (Hons) Fashion Design

BA (Hons) Fashion Image & Styling

BA (Hons) Fashion Photography

BA (Hons) Film Production

BA (Hons) Fine Art (Canterbury)

Degree

BA (Hons) Fine Art (Farnham)

BA (Hons) Games Arts

BA (Hons) Games Design

BSc (Hons) Games Development

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

BA (Hons) Illustration

BA (Hons) Interior Design

BA (Hons) Jewellery & Silversmithing

BA (Hons) Make-up & Hair Design

BA (Hons) Music & Sound Production

BA (Hons) Music Business & Management

BA (Hons) Photography

BA (Hons) Product Design

BA (Hons) Television Production

BA (Hons) Textiles

BA (Hons) Visual Communication

BA (Hons) Visual Effects

All courses, except BA (Hons) Architecture, offer a Professional Practice Year. An Integrated Foundation Year option is available on many UCA undergraduate degrees, check our website course pages for more details.

UCAS codes for 4/5 year courses including Integrated Foundation and/or Professional Practice Years are different to the codes above and are available via ucas.com

Please note: in this prospectus, you’ll see testimonies from graduates whose courses have changed title over the years, and we’ve indicated these with ** next to those course names.

For more information and the latest list of our current courses, visit uca.ac.uk

Why UCA?

So, you’ve decided to study a creative degree. Great choice.

The creative industries are a playground for the imagination, where you can spend each day doing what you love.

But why choose UCA?

Because here you can unleash your creativity – on our campuses and out in the world. We welcome the bold opportunists, the quiet innovators, the curious experimentalists, the out-of-the-box thinkers. We welcome you to become a part of our incredible community.

We’ll give you the tools to help you turn your ideas into reality, with the freedom to experiment, learn from mistakes, and discover new ways of working.

Our talented academic staff and technicians will guide you along the way with their expert knowledge, professional experience, and practical skills.

Through our impressive industry links, you’ll make connections that will get you set up for the working world.

“I have learned so much about being my authentic self. Being patient and diligent, building your experience, and finding your tribe are all very important.”

Seyon Amosu, BA (Hons) Fashion Media & Promotion ** Freelance creative director, fashion stylist and consultant

“UCA helped prepare me for the real world, and I don’t think I would be where I am now without it. I learned how to bounce back after mistakes and I will always be thankful for my time there.”

Lydia Beharrell, BA (Hons) Games Design Game designer, Lighthouse Games

“Every day brings a new lesson and a new opportunity to grow.”

Jamahyl

Chan Ellis, BA (Hons) Acting & Performance ** Actor

“My UCA experience was life changing. I could really be myself in an environment surrounded by like minded people.”

Craig

Maxwell, BA (Hons) Graphic Design  Graphic designer and brand manager

Build your creative career

UCA Creative Futures

Our Creative Futures team will be alongside you as you take your first steps into the creative industries, both during and after your studies. They’ll help you find and secure placements, freelancing opportunities, and even your first job as a graduate.

Work placements

At UCA, industry placements are a big part of what we offer. Depending on your course, you could be offered placements anywhere between two weeks and a year — and thanks to our wide range of contacts, we’ll do our best to make sure your placement opportunity aligns with your interests and career aspirations.

Artist, animator, photographer, designer, maker.

Wherever your talent lies, the course you choose will give you all the skills to flourish at a professional level.

But a creative degree is much more than that. It will help make you resilient and enable you to challenge the status quo, too. Analytical and creative thinking are the most important skills needed by employers. On a UCA degree course, you’ll develop a high level of both.

We’ll also help you to build professional experience and connections while you study. From live industry briefs and work placements through to Professional Practice Years, you’ll have a wealth of opportunities to start building a strong CV.

Professional Practice Years

Many of our undergraduate degrees offer the option of an additional Professional Practice Year. If you choose this route, you’ll take a study break between years two and three to go on a year-long placement related to your studies.

Live industry briefs

One of the most exciting features of UCA degree courses is the opportunity to take part in project briefs set by industry partners. You’ll collaborate on designs, creative briefs and proposals that will prepare you for the world of work.

Global opportunities

During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to go abroad to study or volunteer. You’ll return with new perspectives and fantastic memories.

Semester exchange

If you are interested in studying abroad, there are lots of options for you to consider in Europe, America, Australia, and Asia.

UCA’s Study Abroad team will visit campuses in your first semester to tell you more about it.

Volunteering abroad

UCA works with several charity organisations around the world. You can volunteer on a range of projects, from delivering creative arts and mental health programmes in rural villages to supporting building projects that provide much-needed amenities.

“Any students thinking about doing something like this – just do it! It was the best experience. I would love to go back.”

Jacob

Morgan BA (Hons) Printed Fashion Textiles** graduate, travelled to Fiji for a volunteering

project through Think Pacific.

UCA alumni

Dearest creatives,

How exciting to know you are about to embark on the same path as I did into the creative industries – and how wonderful that you are considering UCA, my old university.

My mother also taught here, and I found out for myself what UCA had to offer, learning so much along the way. It gave me the perfect grounding for the career I’ve been blessed to have, and I have such fond memories.

The creative industries are always changing – they are dynamic, moving with the times. Creatives like you and I are always seeking to challenge norms, find solutions to the issues that we face today, and bring something fresh and exciting to our craft. It takes passion, dedication, and skill – and at UCA, you’ll find all the support, freedom, and facilities you need to discover and develop these attributes.

Whatever you are going to study, make sure you focus on getting people to sit up and notice you and your work – and, most importantly, just keep going!

Dame Zandra Rhodes  Fashion and textiles designer Chancellor Emerita

Photography by Gene Nocon

Marvel Studios/Disney

StillMoving.net for Disney

Kate Herron Director (Loki, The Last of Us) BA (Hons) Film Production

“Before I started, I loved cinema but didn’t understand the inner workings of making a story come to life. UCA gave me this foundation, and taught me how to lead, and work with, a team.”

Gareth Edwards

Film director (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Creator, Jurassic World Rebirth) BA (Hons) Film & Video**

“My best friend was studying computer animation. I was doing film, and we combined our graduation films together. If I hadn’t met him or interacted with other students to discover other aspects of filmmaking, I wouldn’t have got into visual effects or ended up with the career I’ve had.”

Grace Palma Actress (Dogman)

BA

(Hons) Acting & Performance**

“UCA is a really sweet, calm, safe place where I could experiment and explore without any pressure.”

“I did lots of experimenting, developing my own mark-making and finding my own voice. I still use some of the techniques I used back then.”

Paul

Robinson (aka LUAP)

Artist BA (Hons) Fine Art

Jay Thapar

Senior Advocacy Manager – Youth to the People, L’Oreal Luxury Division

BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion & Imaging**

“At UCA, I never felt isolated. It was so welcoming, and we were encouraged to be ourselves.”

Ben Pechey

Author, presenter, equality, diversity and inclusion consultant and LGBTQIA advocate

BA (Hons) Fashion Promotion & Imaging**

“We benefited from so many amazing guests, resources and industry projects. The course felt fresh, invigorating and exciting. As a freelancer now, I can see that my UCA course really prepared me for the job market.”

Kreszend Sackey

Artist and Afro hair artist for television and editorial

BA (Hons) Fashion Design

“We had an amazing tutor who taught me that, while you might see something in your design as a mistake, others may not. I still use that knowledge in everything I do.”

Our courses

BA Hons Acting

Cadell Oduola in "Birdland" by Simon Stephens

Take the spotlight, tread the boards, and break the fourth wall on our exciting industry-connected Acting degree at UCA Farnham.

Our practical and performance-based degree gives you the in-depth vocational training you’ll need to excel on stage, on screen and in digital media, combining rigorous practical learning and collaborations with a wide range of industry partners and networks including the National Theatre and British Film Institute. This course is also recognised by Spotlight and Equity UK.

You’ll participate in workshops specialising in voice, movement, text and character and, as this course is production-focused, you will be cast in both live and recorded performances, as well as devising your own work. You’ll be supported in your professional development, producing a portfolio including headshots, a voice reel, showreel and website.

You’ll be able to use our state-of-the-art facilities, including our recording, motion capture, and virtual production studios, while our partnerships with Farnham Maltings and other respected theatres will enable you to learn and showcase your work in professional live performance environments. When you graduate, you’ll also be able to audition for the new UCA Graduate Company.

Acting

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W410

BA Hons Animation

Student work by Finn Morgan-Roberts

If you’re keen to forge a career within the world of animation, then look no further than our renowned course.

Established in 1972 by Academy Award™ winner Bob Godfrey, ours is one of the best-known and most highly regarded animation courses in the world, with graduates going on to create iconic characters such as Hey Duggee, Peppa Pig, and Compare the Market’s meerkats. Whatever your preferred medium – whether you want to make animated films using CGI, traditional drawing, oil on glass, sand animation, or pixelation – you’ll be encouraged to follow your passions and aim high.

To help you achieve this, you’ll have access to our incredible facilities, including a stop motion studio with Dragonframe Capture, professional camera equipment, and stages pre-rigged with grips, stands, and lights. Not to mention computer suites kitted out with the latest Adobe, Toon Boom, and Maya CG software.

Along the way, we’ll support you with our extensive knowledge, experience, and industry contacts, providing everything you need to become an innovative storyteller and artist.

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W615

Animation

BA Hons Architecture

Student work by Kaviyan Arivanandan

Take the first step on your journey to becoming an architect on our highly regarded Architecture degree.

You’ll focus on learning about space, regulation, and society, and how design decisions can impact on the individual, on sustainability, and on climate.

We don’t expect you to have all the answers to these big questions – just an open mind. You’ll need to be ready to experiment, rethink processes and narratives, and learn as you go.

With dedicated studios, an enviable position in the cathedral city of Canterbury, and a practice-based, industry-driven teaching team, you'll have the space and support you need to learn and to create.

Architecture

Campus: Canterbury

UCAS Code: K100

BA Hons Body Art

Student work by Siobhan Martin

The evolution of body art – from its ancient origins to its contemporary manifestations – is just part of the story on our new degree in Body Art at UCA Canterbury.

You’ll critically examine the multifaceted realm of body art – you will make a comprehensive study of its historical, cultural, and practical dimensions –with an emphasis on its significance as both an artistic medium and a sociocultural phenomenon.

You’ll also engage with a range of topics, from traditional tattooing practices and body modifications to queer culture and individualism, the emerging discourse on transhumanism and the future of body art.

Alongside theoretical study, you’ll enjoy learning practical approaches by training in the use of modern tools and techniques, as well as exploring methodologies for research and analysis in the field. You’ll also prepare for your future career, as you benefit from a range of professional development opportunities focusing on areas from portfolio development to industry marketing strategies and understanding the global body art landscape.

Body Art

Campus: Canterbury

UCAS Code: W191

BA Hons Business & Management

Make an impact on global business organisations with the practical skills, industry experience, and entrepreneurial spirit you’ll gain on our Business & Management degree course.

This course is designed to prepare you to be a world-leading creative business professional, ready for a range of career opportunities in the creative business sector. As you study, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in one or more areas of the creative and cultural industries.

With a focus on creativity and design outputs, which are supported by financial literacy, data investigations and the application of analytical models, you’ll learn to solve problems and make informed decisions in the business of the global creative and cultural industries.

By the end of your degree, you’ll be ready to to enter any area of creative business with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to succeed – whether that’s within a major organisation or by embarking on your own entrepreneurial journey.

Business & Management

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: N200

BA Hons Ceramics & Glass

Student works by Roos Peeters and Jana Griffiths

Turn on the television and the schedules are packed with programmes about specialist crafts and other making activities. If you’re inspired to get involved, you can develop your passion for designing and making on our Ceramics & Glass degree.

The course is forward-thinking and dynamic in its approach to materials, but it’s also built on a strong tradition of craft practice in the World Craft Town of Farnham – meaning you get the best of both worlds when it comes to creating your own masterpieces.

Facilities here are world-class, so you’ll have everything you need to establish yourself and your craft identity with guidance from our team of expert staff – innovative practitioners in their own right – who bring extensive knowledge and experience.

Alongside making, you’ll explore the contextual background to your work, helping you gain a better understanding of the roles of ceramics and glass in history and wider society.

If working with clay or experimenting with glass is calling to you, start your journey at UCA and experience the possibilities for yourself.

Ceramics & Glass

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W266

Student work by Finn Horner

Passionate about the world of games and comics? Dream of creating exciting concepts for characters? Our highly popular Comic & Concept Art degree will give you the tools and the network to follow those dreams.

You’ll learn the techniques and modes of presentation used in the industry, together with fundamental art skills, which you’ll then apply in different ways, depending on your chosen medium. Plus, you’ll gain the storytelling skills to bring your characters and worlds to life.

You’ll be guided along the way by a team of staff who have direct industry experience, and you'll have access to enviable facilities including our suite of Wacom Cintiq tablets.

Once you graduate, you’ll have the right skills to aim high in the career of your choice, whether it’s as a comic artist specialising in layout, panel, and page design, or a concept artist creating new characters and environments, that help define the look and feel of entertainment franchises.

Comic & Concept Art

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W223

BA Hons Comic & Concept Art

BSc Hons Computer Science

While other computer science degrees sit within a traditional technological setting, our course sits within a highly creative community – giving you a fresh perspective on your learning. You’ll work with creators across different artforms – from acting to film – and gather data to feed systems and build creative outputs.

You’ll have access to a wealth of creative facilities, resources, and collaborative opportunities to create unique work that’s conceptual, aesthetically pleasing, and responsive to the latest industry developments. You’ll learn about coding, programming for interactivity, AI for creativity, and much more.

Studying in a community-driven environment, you’ll have plenty of one-to-one tutorials, plus opportunities to work alongside postgraduate and PhD students. Along the way, our programme of learning will help you develop sought-after creative problemsolving skills and prepare you to evolve with the industry throughout your career.

Computer Science

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: G400

BSc Hons Creative Computing

Student work by Tiffany Titheridge (Image generated using AI)

Whatever industry you want to work in, our degree in Creative Computing gives you the foundational knowledge and the creative opportunities to specialise, preparing you for the career you’re aiming for.

This degree is collegiate in set-up; you’ll work alongside Computer Science students in your first year to build your coding skills, before getting opportunities to work with Digital Art students.

You’ll have access to the very latest facilities as you build your knowledge and confidence, before moving into visual programming and then getting the chance to specialise in areas such as audio, mobile app development, or AI.

There’s plenty of creative freedom, and you’ll be encouraged to bring your own ideas and concepts to the table, ready for your final-year project.

Creative Computing

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W290

Student work by Anna Davies

Tell stories, build worlds, and create characters on our exciting Design for Theatre & Screen degree at UCA Farnham.

On this course, we nurture imaginative and divergent thinkers, offering you the time, conditions, and support to find your creative voice and develop the confidence to say what you want to design and create with authenticity.

You’ll engage with, and respond to, stories – researching and exploring your own ways of telling them and experimenting to find the visual worlds where those stories can thrive. And you’ll have the opportunity to create the costumes and props that exist in those worlds, too.

Our staff are practising theatre and film professionals, and with industry links to organisations like the Royal Opera House and National Theatre, you’ll gain the knowledge, skills, and experience to sustain your craft beyond university.

Design for Theatre & Screen

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W440

BA Hons Design for Theatre & Screen

BA Hons Digital Art

Student work by Boglarka Bato

If you want to approach fine art from a technological perspective, our Digital Art degree is the ideal starting place.

On this course, you won’t be drawing on tablets – you’ll be exploring digital culture and creating art in response to it. Technology might be your subject, your medium, or both: you could use VR headsets to create a virtual experience, or build a sculpture out of them. And with access to the full scope of facilities across the Farnham campus, you’ll have endless possibilities for thoughtprovoking work.

With the skills and collaborative confidence you’ll develop during your studies, you could choose a career as an artist, or move into areas like digital content creation. Our graduates have gone on to become successful YouTube creators, including PJ Ligouri (KickThePJ), and TikTok influencers.

Digital Art

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W690

BA Hons Digital Marketing & Social Media

Student work by Talitha Ward

Want to take your place in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing and social media? This course will give you the skills to get there.

You’ll learn the fundamentals of the discipline, from media planning and buying to brand identity, marketing, and communications. You’ll explore the impact of social media on society, politics, and the economy — plus the practical elements of using social media as a business tool.

You’ll have the chance to apply your skills in a specific area of interest within the creative industries – choose from Cosmetics and Beauty, Fashion, Games, Lifestyle, or Music. And in your second year, you’ll be able to pick from a range of exciting elective units to broaden your knowledge even further.

By the end of your degree, you’ll be an expert marketeer and a highly effective social media manager with the knowledge you need to use paid, owned, and earned media to meet business goals, plus a detailed understanding of how to target your core audiences and harness the power of influencers. You’ll be adaptable and quick-thinking, with a detailed grasp of the role that digital marketing and social media play in different global markets.

Digital Marketing & Social Media

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: P304

BA Hons Events & Festivals Management

Student work by Briony Graham-Rudd

Do you want to become the next Emily Eavis, organising world-famous festivals? Or are your sights set on events management in the corporate sphere? Our Events & Festivals Management degree will help you get there.

This degree is designed to immerse students in the organisation of events and festivals, and the audience experiences within these arenas.

Employability is a key focus: the course has been developed by events industry specialists – who also teach on it – and you’ll work directly with venues, artists, audiences, and other industry partners as you develop your skills.

Professional placements will form part of your core learning, equipping you to be adaptable, resilient, globally minded, confident, entrepreneurial, and digitally savvy, and to develop the transferable skills you need to excel in employment or to set up your own ventures.

Events & Festivals Management

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: N821

BA Hons Fashion Atelier

Student work by Natasha Smith

Hands-on from day one, our Fashion Atelier degree is a dream course for those passionate about the craft of fashion.

This is the only course of its kind in the country and it demands full commitment from its students. Everything you do will result in a tangible fashion product; you’ll be making contemporary garments from the outset as you learn the specialist techniques required for creating bespoke fashion masterpieces.

From pattern-cutting and draping to translating 2D ideas into 3D products through specialist making and finishing, you'll develop bespoke tailoring skills, and become a true expert in the art of high-end couture.

As you work, you’ll be supported by experts in fashion atelier, who will guide you towards realising your vision.

Fashion Atelier Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: W237

Student work by Hattie Carline

Fashion isn’t just about the catwalk – there’s a whole world of marketing, communication, and branding behind it. On this course, we’ll help you become an expert in the fashion arena.

As well as teaching you the fundamentals of business, this course will develop your knowledge of the fashion industry to an expert level, with a particular focus on how brands communicate, operate, and innovate. You’ll use what you learn to develop methods for communicating your own creative ideas to consumers.

You’ll also get the chance to broaden your knowledge by applying these skills in a range of other specific areas of interest within the creative industries. In your second year, you’ll be able to pick from a host of exciting elective

units to extend your knowledge. By the time you graduate, you’ll have gained the experience to build lasting relationships throughout the global fashion industry using communication, promotion, networking, and technology.

From here, we’re confident you’ll follow in the footsteps of our many successful graduates, who have gone on to work for the likes of ASOS, Celine, L’Oréal, Paul Smith, Farfetch, Burberry, and Chanel.

Fashion Branding & Communication

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: WN65

BA Hons Fashion Branding & Communication

BA Hons Fashion Business & Management

Student work by Ellie-Rose Wallace

Behind every fashion brand is a brilliant business plan and a team of experts to bring it to life. If you want to take your place among the major players of the fashion industry, this course can help you get there.

We’ll develop your business sense and planning skills so that you can thrive commercially. Whether it’s fashion buying, merchandising, forecasting, management strategy, PR and marketing, branding, or international business, you’ll graduate with the knowledge and confidence to succeed.

Along the way, you’ll get the opportunity to broaden your horizons as you pick from a range of industry-related elective units, from supply chain management to behavioural studies. Whichever you choose, your learning will take a global outlook that allows you to forge a career in either domestic or international markets.

And, as this course is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute, you will work in years 2 and 3 to earn a prestigious professional qualification alongside your degree.

Fashion Business & Management

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: N101

BA Hons Fashion Design

Student work by McKenna Marsden

Turn ideas into reality, express yourself through fashion, and get invaluable access to the industry on our Fashion Design degree at UCA Epsom.

This course prides itself on its diverse student body. Regardless of where you are on your design journey, we have the space and the skilled team to help you reach your full potential.

You’ll learn a broad range of skills, from research and concept development to implementation, showcase, and branding. In your third year, you’ll create a final collection, with options for 3D or digital outputs, or a mix of the two.

And, with opportunities to undertake a second-year work placement, connect with key players in the fashion industry, and showcase your work at events such as Graduate Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, we’ll help you fashion a great career.

Fashion Design Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: W233

Student work by Seyon Amosu

Have you ever seen an advert on television, a shoot in a magazine, or a fashion runway show and wished you could have been part of bringing it to life? Then our Fashion Image & Styling course at UCA Epsom is the one for you.

The course will teach you how to create looks and experiment in the studio and on location to produce ideas for editorial, magazines, campaigns, TV, events, and film. You’ll collaborate in-house, working alongside students in fashion design, textiles, fashion photography, and make-up and hair design. In addition to working with lecturers with a wealth of industry experience and knowledge, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from visiting industry professionals in the fields of styling, editorial, and fashion communication.

Graduates of this course have gone on to work in events and campaigns for Gucci and Marks & Spencer, styled shoots for i-D Magazine and NET-APORTER, and hosted or contributed to fashion events in London, Milan, and New York.

Fashion Image & Styling Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: W239

BA Hons Fashion Image & Styling

BA Hons Fashion Photography

Student work by Izzy Cousins

Creating fashion images inspired by your personal experience and interests, but that also comment on the world around you, is what our Fashion Photography degree is about.

As well as giving you solid foundations in the principles of photography and fashion image-making, our course champions individual voices. We will encourage you to approach briefs from a multidisciplinary perspective and make highly creative fashion images that reflect the demands of the industry and the voice of your generation.

Collaboration and boundary-pushing are not just encouraged, they are embedded in the ethos of the course. We will take you on a transformative journey that challenges you and encourages you to think critically, tapping into new media and emerging technologies to unlock and support your creative process. As you progress through your studies, you’ll be guided by a team of academics and technicians who are active fashion image-makers, and benefit from the expertise of leading industry creatives.

Fashion Photography

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: W645

BA Hons Film Production

Student work by Charlie Cawley

With a 60-year legacy and a string of successful alumni to its name, our Film Production degree is known for moving with the times to stay at the forefront of industry practice.

With an enviable location — close to a host of high-profile production hubs — and industry-standard facilities, as well as associations with the BFI and ARRI, this degree is well placed to give you the breadth of skills and connections you need to thrive beyond graduation.

Learning from a staff team that includes international filmmaking award winners, picture editors, sound post-production professionals, development producers, cinematographers, screenwriters, fiction and factual directors, and editors, you’ll explore all aspects of filmmaking to help you identify the career path that suits you best, and find your own filmmaking voice.

You’ll also be able to build a wider portfolio of knowledge and experience through a series of exciting elective units that include animation, music, and acting.

Film Production

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W600

BA Hons Fine Art (Canterbury)

Student work by Zhen Feng Ang

Diversity of people and art practice is celebrated and vital in our Fine Art degree at UCA Canterbury, where you will be supported to become the artist you want to be.

With a high level of individual support and extensive facilities, you will enjoy a bespoke learning experience.

You’ll develop independence in both your thinking and working, come to understand what it means to be creative in relation to your own interests, and learn how to communicate your practice.

Fine Art at Canterbury is well established. There is easy access to both London and Europe, and our international team of staff with world-leading practices and reputations will support, nurture, and encourage you as you create work that matters.

Fine Art

Campus: Canterbury

UCAS Code: W100

Student work by Hebe McKenzie

Learn about yourself and where you fit in the world, and connect it into your art on our close-knit and collaborative Fine Art degree at UCA Farnham.

The course is all about connecting personal passion, ideas, and a broad range of skills to help you become an artist who can exhibit work with confidence and build an exciting professional career in any of a wide range of fields, from full-time artist to art therapist, to curator.

Professional opportunities are embedded throughout the course, including organising a local art

festival, entering local, national and international competitions, and sharing your art externally. You’ll identify, plan, and prepare for life beyond graduation. And you’ll be taught – with plenty of one-to-one contact – by an academic team who are actively practising in industry.

Most of all, you’ll be challenged to learn new things, investigate your own practice, see the world differently, and make mistakes. This is your home to grow creatively.

Fine Art

Campus: Farnham  UCAS Code: W101

BA Hons Fine Art (Farnham)

BA Hons Games Arts

Student work by Luke Hockley

Is your imagination bursting with concepts for new worlds and characters? Then this practice-based Games Arts degree could be for you.

This course, located in a certified Games School, focuses on workflows for 2D concept and 3D art for video games. You’ll develop skills in 3D modelling and texturing and connect them with your drawing skills to create pro-level games assets, like characters, environments and props to make your favourite games come to life.

You’ll develop your skills using world-class facilities, with high-end hardware, plus the latest software and games engines.

You’ll also benefit from opportunities to collaborate with students on our other games courses, and make the most of our exceptional industry links to brands like Rebellion, SEGA, Creative Assembly, and Supermassive Games.

By the time you graduate, you’ll be ready to launch a career in the industry, whether in the UK or abroad.

Games Arts

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W280

BA Hons Games Design

Student work by Sarah Harrison

Learn how to shape and enhance a player’s gaming experience and fully develop exciting ideas on our holistic Games Design degree.

The role of the games designer is central to the development of any game – it’s designers that create the rules, systems and mechanics that form the core of any gaming experience. You’ll learn to prototype games using games engines, develop design documentation, conduct research, and create experiences. This course is all about developing your ideas, nurturing your creativity, and giving you the skills to make your concepts a reality.

You’ll be supported along the way by a team of lecturers with a wealth of industry experience at AAA games studios, and, since the course is aligned to the most prestigious developers and publishers, you’ll be fully prepared to start your career right after graduation.

Games Design

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: I620

BSc Hons Games Development

Student work by George Pennyfather

Begin your journey towards becoming a developer who can specialise in the growth areas of the games industry.

Our Games Development degree at UCA Farnham focuses on creativity in the realm of gameplay programming and prepares you to take a central role among artists, designers, and programming teams. You’ll learn programming to develop gameplay mechanics using game engines and have the opportunity to become a skilled technical artist as you optimise the look of characters and environments.

In your first year, you’ll learn the fundamentals of programming, becoming fluent in the most relevant programming languages in the industry today, before becoming adept at programming for gameplay, all within the context of game engines. Then, in the second year, you’ll learn technical art using specialist tools and focus in on your personal and professional interests. In your last year, you’ll undertake a final project that aligns with the kind of developer you want to be.

The skills you learn here will prepare you for an exciting career in the games industry – and help make you one of the most sought-after members of any company’s team.

Games Development

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: G450

Student work by Elena Dimitrova

Exploring traditional practice while future-proofing your skills is what our Graphic Design course is all about. We’ll get you ready for the careers and opportunities of tomorrow, while giving you the space to embark on a personal creative journey.

The design industry is changing faster than ever, not least because of the emergence of AI, so it’s important you get the time and support to work out where you want to be. We’ll coach you to mix old and new technologies and to experiment with confidence, give you a comprehensive foundation of graphic and UX design skills, and provide opportunities to fully explore your craft as you work on exciting live briefs with partner organisations of all sizes.

With an expert team and a fantastic student-to-staff ratio, you’ll feel supported and guided throughout, and our newly refurbished studios will provide all the necessary facilities for you to fulfil your potential.

Graphic Design

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W217

BA Hons Graphic Design

BA Hons Illustration

Student work by Joanna Mockett

Playfully creative. Experimental. Commercially relevant. These are all ways to describe our exciting Illustration degree.

This course has a strong sense of purpose – we want you to test what the language of illustration means to today’s audiences, make (and learn from) mistakes, research and generate ideas, and learn how to be entrepreneurial.

By placing experimentation and play at the forefront of what you do, you’ll be challenged to take risks with your work, try new ways of working and be adventurous.

You’ll get to work on exciting projects that are a combination of client-focused live briefs and external competitions with partners, such as leading restaurant chains, hotels, magazines and local and multinational businesses. You’ll also be given the opportunity to present your portfolio to illustration agencies, design houses, and art directors.

Everything on this course is practicebased, with theory, context, and research built in. Based in our creative studio, you’ll be part of an amazing community, where staff – who are all practising illustrators and artists –will push you to be the best you can possibly be.

Illustration

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W220

BA Hons Interior Design

Student work by Fatlind Avdiu

On our Interior Design degree, we’ll expect you to ask questions and think about how we use spaces, and how we can better understand people’s needs in the spaces they use.

Fundamentally, you’ll be concerned with investigating how we feel about the spaces we inhabit, and prioritising human comfort. You’ll also develop your contextual awareness and your ability to create socially and culturally sensitive design responses.

Your work will be client-driven — so you’ll learn how to meet the needs and desires of any given client, preparing you for your future career. You’ll be taught by an academic and technical team with a range of industry experience spanning areas from high-end retail to commercial space.

Interior Design

Campus: Canterbury

UCAS Code: W257

BA Hons Jewellery & Silversmithing

Student work by Hannah Norris

Offering you the time and encouragement to learn how to design and make using a range of techniques, and a place within a tight-knit community of makers, our Jewellery & Silversmithing degree is ideal preparation for a professional life in the industry.

You’ll have fantastic access to world-class facilities that are central to our teaching and learning. You can also explore a wide range of other materials and processes in our workshops, including ceramics, wood, and glass. Our teaching team of active practitioners, who are highly regarded in their fields, are the best guides to support you through your studies.

On this workshop-based course, you can expect to learn through making and be taught traditional technical skills that go hand-in-hand with material innovation and experimentation. You’ll also learn to present and promote your work, to communicate with confidence, and plan for future employment.

With an enviable location in the World Craft Town of Farnham, and with the world’s only Crafts Study Centre on campus, you’ll find UCA is a special and friendly place to study this fascinating subject.

Jewellery & Silversmithing

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W271

This degree has been designed for make-up and hair professionals by make-up and hair professionals, with an emphasis on work in the fashion industry, including for editorial, advertorial, and moving image.

Make-up and hair artists are key to the creation of impactful fashion images. If you are ambitious, drawn to the medium, and keen to express yourself and experiment, then this is the course for you.

You’ll learn about the history of fashion and cosmetics and their relevance to today’s discourse in fashion image-making. You’ll meet with industry professionals and learn about make-up, skincare, and beauty products, and how to use these in artistic and unconventional ways.

Equal weight is given to hair and make-up skills, giving you the scope to create head pieces, as well as master airbrushing and body paint techniques. You’ll learn how to generate ideas and develop a creative project from

conception to delivery, engaging with topics that reflect your individual voice while pushing boundaries through experimentation.

Throughout the course, you’ll be taught by academics and technicians who are active in the industry, and you’ll collaborate on exciting projects with students from other fashion image courses.

Make-up & Hair Design

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: W452

BA Hons Make-up & Hair Design

Student work by Callie Foulsham

BA Hons Music & Sound Production

Our Music & Sound Production degree will give you the skills to thrive as a music producer in today’s industry, equipping you to stretch beyond just working with musicians in a studio, or programming beats.

You’ll learn how to produce music and sound in a variety of genres, but you’ll also learn how to operate a recording studio environment, use multiple Digital Audio Workstations for music production and performance (Ableton), record, mix and master (Logic Pro), deliver sound editing and design projects (Pro Tools), and design a unique and fully functional digital sampler instrument.

As part of UCA Farnham’s vibrant creative community, you’ll collaborate with fellow students across film and television, animation and acting, to work on exciting projects throughout your studies. You’ll also respond to professional briefs and build a portfolio that suits your career ambitions to ensure you graduate ready for the industry.

Music & Sound Production

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W302

BA Hons Music Business & Management

If you have your sights set on working in the creative, innovative, and fast-moving music industry, then our Music Business & Management course is for you.

As well as providing you with an overview of the industry, this course will give you the chance to explore your own areas of interest and develop the skills you need to thrive in this increasingly global sector.

Whether you picture yourself working in record company management, music marketing, talent scouting and development, artist management, or live music, this course will give you everything you need to achieve your goals, including expertise in merchandising, e-commerce, social media marketing, branding, management, and promotion.

You’ll benefit from our excellent facilities and impressive array of industry contacts, ensuring you graduate with the knowledge, skills, and professional network you need to make your mark in the music industry, whether in the UK or beyond.

Music Business & Management Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: W376

BA Hons Photography

Student work by Tiantian Qiu

Photography can manifest itself in so many ways, and that makes it one of the most accessible creative mediums. Our Photography degree allows you to take your existing skills and develop them into professional practice.

Our close-knit course means you’ll get plenty of time with the team of expert staff who will guide you through your learning. You’ll get to collaborate with people on other courses, too –sharing some lectures with our Fine Art students to broaden your horizons and start inspiring conversations.

Professional experience is built into the course, and you’ll get chances to gain exposure for your work through competitions and other live projects –for example, our second-year students recently worked on a project with the National Portrait Gallery.

And we have all the facilities and software you’d expect for a top-level photography course, including Capture One software, in our dedicated post-production suite.

So, whether you want to become a commercial photographer, photo agent, curator or picture editor, this course will give you everything you need.

Photography

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W640

Student work by Oluwafemi Babalola

BA Hons Product Design

Student work by Yuwen Huang

Develop your design practice and follow your own ideas as you create new, or improved, bespoke products on this exciting design course at UCA Canterbury.

You’ll work alongside fellow design students to help you better understand the role of your products within a wider space, and how the product lives within any given ecosystem of not only space, but also style and technology, cost and value. You’ll also learn to understand your audience and identify a gap in the market before filling it with your ideas and prototypes.

Guided by our team of academics and technical staff, who are actively creating their own work in the industry, and with access to our extensive workshop facilities – complete with tools and equipment for working wood, metal, and plastics – you can expect to be making all the time, right from day one of your studies.

Product Design

Campus: Canterbury

UCAS Code: W243

BA Hons Television Production

Want to learn about working in television, while still being in the thick of the real-life action?

Then our Television Production degree is for you.

Our course is unique, in that it’s the only one in the country where you get to study within the complex of a working TV studio – Maidstone Television Studios.

Not only will you learn about various roles within the television industry, but you’ll also develop the skills to become an expert storyteller. Graduates typically leave with three to four credits on professional shows aired by the UK's leading broadcasters. Previous opportunities have involved working on FIFA eSports, This Time with Alan Partridge, Family Fortunes, and Jools Holland’s Hootenanny.

You’ll do all of this as part of a small, close-knit group of students, working alongside our knowledgeable and supportive staff, with everything you need to thrive and make life-long personal and career connections.

Television Production Campus: Maidstone

UCAS Code: P311

BA Hons Textiles

Student work by Bethany Collins

Learn how to design sustainably and make mindfully on our specialist Textiles degree at UCA Epsom.

Our course is one of the few in the country to teach a combination of specialist textile subjects such as natural eco dyes and printing, sustainable material making, and 3D constructed techniques.

With a strong focus on sustainability, and with consumer interest in this area growing rapidly, you’ll graduate with the in-demand skills employers are seeking.

This course will inspire you to build on your drive to design and make sustainable textiles for art, architecture, fashion, interiors, lifestyle, and luxury. We look forward to working with you to develop your passion for designing, making, and experimenting with textiles and materials.

Textiles

Campus: Epsom

UCAS Code: W234

BA Hons Visual Communication

Student work by Dani Nachev

Our Visual Communication degree combines the best of graphic design, illustration, animation, photography, and moving image to help you develop a broad range of vital skills for a career in communication media.

This course is all about helping you to think about the bigger picture when communicating any message — you may wish to illustrate a book, for example, but you will also need to consider the accompanying website, social media account, and advertising campaign. Developing a deep understanding of all forms of visual communication will enable you to appreciate the various roles each discipline can take within any given project.

During your studies, you’ll be able to specialise in various areas of visual communication — the first of which you’ll choose in your second term — with tutorial guidance and advice. Our expert staff will be there along the way to ensure you can create with confidence, but you’ll be the master of your own destiny, growing in confidence and preparing fully for life after graduation.

Visual Communication

Campus: Canterbury

UCAS Code: W215

BA Hons Visual Effects

Visual effects are an essential and integral component of contemporary films, high-end television productions, commercials, and music promos — and this is where you can begin your learning journey to create them.

Taught from a film department with a 60-year history, and working within purpose-built studios housing multiple live-action productions, you’ll gain an in-depth practical knowledge of the key software and hardware, computer graphics techniques, and production pipelines currently used in the visual effects industry.

As well as building your technical knowledge, you’ll be taught professional practices for working with clients and briefs, develop critical and analytical skills, and learn about the history of visual effects. You can also choose

elective creative units from other courses to expand your understanding of film production, acting, music, or animation.

Throughout the course, you will have the opportunity to explore and discover the roles that appeal to you as an emerging VFX artist, and develop an individual style to help you launch your career in the industry.

Visual Effects

Campus: Farnham

UCAS Code: W614

Our campuses

Canterbury

With its historic surroundings and café culture, Canterbury is a lovely place to explore while you study at UCA. Our relaxed and friendly campus, with its architecture studios, design labs, and fine art facilities, is located just on the edge of the city. The Cathedral and an array of shops, cafés and restaurants are only a short walk away. You’ll discover new things all the time, with a wealth of attractions, galleries and museums on offer. And on sunny days, it’s only a quick bus ride away from the Kent coastline.

Popular spots for students include The Penny Theatre pub, which offers live sport, meal deals, karaoke, and quizzes. For a tasty snack on the go, look no further than Cité Crêpes. You can catch blockbusters and the best indie releases at the Curzon Cinema, or have a day out at Howletts Wild Animal Park for something completely different.

Westgate Gardens, which run alongside the River Stour, are a favourite hangout of students in the area, and we couldn’t talk about Canterbury without recommending a visit to the Cathedral to admire its impressive architecture and stained-glass windows.

Facilities at Canterbury

Our Canterbury campus is home to architecture, design, fine art, and visual communications courses. It has a wealth of facilities for you to enjoy, experiment with, and master:

• Large, accessible machine workshop equipped with a mixture of hand tools and machinery including CNC routing and milling machine

• Digital Fabrication Lab where you can use laser cutters and 3D/SLS printers

• Print Bureau with multiple options on finishing and papers, offering self-service and bespoke printing to professional standards

• Sculpture studios equipped with resins, kilns, and facilities for moulding, casting, welding, and plasma cutting

• Painting Studio, where you will learn to construct frames and stretchers, as well as using traditional painting techniques and materials

• Printmaking studios for screenprinting, litho, offset, lino cutting, and etching

• Three fully equipped digital media suites with the latest Macs and PCs running up-to-date software

• Motion capture studio

• Colour and black-and-white darkrooms for developing film, cyanotype, and the use of industrystandard film processors

• Photographic studio, where you will be able to book photoshoots and document your portfolio of work

• Animation suite installed with specialist software, high-end drawing tablets, and scanners

• Rochester House (Doctoral College and Visual Communication studios).

Accommodation at UCA Canterbury

UCA has two accommodation options at Canterbury – Ian Dury House on campus, and Riverside Quarter, a short walk away.

Hall No. of rooms

Ian Dury House 57 (all en-suite) Riverside Quarter 100-150 (all en-suite)

(Prices range from around £150 to £160 per week, self-catered)

If you'd prefer private accommodation, our dedicated team can help you to find and secure it. You can find out more about this and our services at uca.ac.uk/accommodation

Ian Dury House

Riverside Quarter

Ian Dury House

Epsom

Our Epsom campus is located just on the edge of the town centre of Epsom, where you’ll find everything you need – from shops, bars, cafés and restaurants, to nights and days out.

Popular spots include Rosebery Park, which is opposite the university, for socialising and relaxing, and The Faraday pub, which offers regular karaoke, bottomless brunches, live sport, weekly quizzes, and an extensive vegan menu. For shopping, there’s The Ashley Centre shopping mall, together with a large range of high-street stores. If you want a bigger day out, you’re close to the Thorpe Park and Chessington World of Adventures theme parks and Epsom Downs racecourse, and a short train ride from central London. There’s also the Epsom Playhouse, which hosts a range of regular touring shows, well-known stand-up comics, and tribute acts.

Image Credit: Oluwafemi Babalola (artist impression)

Facilities at Epsom

Our Epsom campus hosts our creative business, fashion, and textiles courses, and has a wealth of facilities for you to enjoy, experiment with, and master as you study:

• Extensive fashion studios with sewing facilities

• Dedicated Fashion Atelier machine rooms and pattern-cutting studios

• The Gerber suite, a unique ComputerAided Manufacturing (CAM) facility for fashion

• Digital Fashion studio

• Textiles studios

• Make-up and hair design salon

• Digital print studio with large and small format printing, bookbinding, guillotine, perfect binding, vinyl cutting, and dry mounting

• Screen-print studio for traditional printing

• Facilities for traditional oil-based print including intaglio, relief, and hot metal letterpress equipment

• Sound studio with equipped sound booth

• Woodwork and plaster studios

• Fully equipped photographic studios

• Colour film processing (C41) developing film, and hi-spec scanners, colour workflows, and photographic printing

• Laser cutter and 3D-printing facilities

• 250-seat auditorium

• Seminar rooms

• Video conferencing

• Boardrooms and breakout spaces

• IT studios

Accommodation at UCA Epsom

UCA has a range of halls accommodation both on-campus or around a ten-minute walk away.

Hall

No. of rooms

Bradford House 99 (all en-suite)

Crossways House 99 (all en-suite)

Wilberforce Court 70 (shared facilities)

Worple Road 53 (all en-suite)

(Prices range from around £161 to £187 per week, self-catered)

If you'd prefer private accommodation, our dedicated team can help you find and secure it. For more information, visit uca.ac.uk/accommodation

Bradford House

Worple Road

Bradford House

Farnham

With its market-town charm, World Craft Town status and excellent transport links to London, the South East and the south coast, Farnham has plenty to offer.

Our campus here has extensive specialist facilities and a large on-site halls community. It sits a stone’s throw away from the picturesque Lion and Lamb Yard and a host of cafés, restaurants, pubs, and independent shops.

Students’ favourite venues include the Slug & Lettuce and The Lost Boy pubs in the town centre. For a bit of culture, you’ll find a lively programme of shows, stand-up comedy, films, and activities at Farnham Maltings, and popular nightlife venues such as The Star Inn and Komo nightclub are just a short bus or train ride away in Guildford.

For shopping, there’s plenty of choice, with a range of charity shops, bookstores, Elphicks department store, Pullingers Art Shop, and 101 Collectors Records among the highlights.

You’ll also find stunning spots for countryside walks close to Farnham, including Bourne Woods, where many blockbuster movies have been filmed, and Caesar’s Camp, which gives spectacular views across Surrey and Hampshire.

Facilities at Farnham

Our Farnham campus is home to our film, performing arts, fine art, photography, animation, crafts, graphic design, illustration, creative technology, and games courses, and has a wealth of facilities for you to enjoy, experiment with, and master as you study:

• Multiple film soundstages with industry-standard lighting facilities

• Virtual Production and Motion capture studio

• State-of-the-art Avid/Media Composer post-production video editing studios, and sound editing (Pro Tools) facilities

• Visual Effects studio

• Cinema

• Animation studios with Mac workstations, lightboxes, line testers, and hi-speed batch scanners

• Animation rostrum rooms set up to capture stop-frame animation on DragonFrame

• Analogue film processing and darkrooms (colour and black and white) and digital imaging studio

• Photography studios with an infinity table

• Digital print Bureau providing a professional print and finishing service using an extensive range of materials, paper types, sizes, and finishes

• Book-finishing room which provides spiral and perfect-binding options along with paper handling machines for creating handouts and booklets

• Live performance room with musical instruments, control room for sound mixing, dubbing theatre, radio studios, TV studio, and foley studio

• Specialist environments and equipment to support hand and mechanical processes for working ceramic, glass, wood, metal, plastics, and jewellery, and a foundry for casting bronze and aluminium

• Digital and traditional looms for woven textiles and associated dye facilities

• Digital Fabrication Lab with laser cutters and 3D/SLS printing facilities

• Dedicated performance and rehearsal spaces

• Traditional printmaking workshop including equipment for intaglio, relief, screen printing, and letterpress

• Three-camera digital television studio, networked to our broadcast newsroom and using industry-leading autocue software

• Dedicated building with high-end games creation and experiencing environments and facilities, immersive VR studios, 3D printing, animation, and games audio resources

• Comic & Concept Art digital studio with Wacom drawing tablets

• Computer science and creative computing labs.

Accommodation at UCA Farnham

UCA Farnham has two on-site halls accommodation choices, both less than a minute from class.

Hall No. of rooms

Student Village 345 (16 en-suite)

University Walk 252 (all en-suite)

(Prices range from around £125 to £187 per week)

If private accommodation is what you’d prefer, our dedicated team can help you find and secure it. For more information, visit uca.ac.uk/accommodation

University Walk

University Walk

Student Village

Maidstone Television Studios

If you’re considering joining our BA (Hons) Television Production degree course, you’ll be spending your time at Maidstone Television Studios, where we have a unique partnership in place.

Here, you’ll have the opportunity to study at the UK’s largest regional independent TV broadcast facility, where some of the UK’s most recognisable shows have been filmed for the last 40 years. You’ll be right at the heart of the action and, supported by our dedicated work placement co-ordinator, benefit from a range of professional opportunities during your studies. Students have worked behind the scenes on the likes of Catchphrase, I Can See Your Voice, FIFA eSports and The European Championships, and Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny.

Our learning environment inside the studios is spacious, friendly, and packed with all the facilities and resources you need to hone your skills, including access to live galleries, editing suites and an audio booth, as well as a fully stocked equipment store and library.

Accommodation at Maidstone Television Studios

There is no halls accommodation close to Maidstone so, while it is possible to apply for Canterbury accommodation and commute, most students studying here seek private accommodation. Our accommodation team are more than happy to help you with this process, and you can find more information at: uca.ac.uk/accommodation

Our libraries

Our libraries are amazing – offering great spaces to study, a wide range of computing, printing and copying services, helpful and dedicated staff, and access to our unique specialist arts collection, which includes:

• 400,000 print and electronic books and exhibition catalogues

• 17,000 print and electronic journals and magazines

• 500 metres of archives, including the work of Tessa Boffin and Bob Godfrey

• 17,000 DVDs

• More than 2 million films, television and radio shows online

• A wide range of special collections, including zines and artists’ books

• 80 academic and visual databases.

Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to study or somewhere to work in a group, there are lots of different spaces in our libraries – from learning pods to meeting and seminar rooms, as well as open-access computing facilities. We also have social spaces where you can sit back, relax, and catch up, or browse our wide range of specialist online and print magazines, newspapers, and journals.

Supporting you at UCA

We want to make sure you get the most of out of your time with us. That means offering more than just general information: we are here to provide a listening ear, help, and practical advice.

At the Gateway desks in our campus libraries, you'll find our Student Services team; your first point of contact for information, advice, and guidance whenever you need it.

Advice and Student Finance

Our team of Specialist Advisors offer confidential, practical, and personal support with issues such as managing money, relationships with family, friends or roommates, visa applications and extensions, or familiarising yourself with UK life.

Wellbeing and Counselling Service

Our Wellbeing and Counselling team is here to support your wellbeing and mental health while you study. We can talk with you about how you are feeling, and work with you to create a plan to help you address your worries or concerns. We can also offer ongoing wellbeing support, or refer you to other specialist services.

For useful tips and tools to help you manage your wellbeing day to day, you can also download our University-wide wellbeing app.

Life at UCA is more than getting a degree. It’s an opportunity to experience new things, make friends for life, and enjoy your independence.

Designated Members of Staff

If you’re a student who is under 18, a care leaver, carer, or estranged student, we can offer specialised support throughout your university experience. Your designated member of staff will act as a point of contact for you and any carers or professionals working with you, ensuring seamless and confidential support throughout.

Library and Learning Support

Our staff can help you get the very best from our library resources and services. Liaison Librarians can provide information and guidance on how to search, use, and reference our collections, and Learning Development Tutors can help you develop your academic skills, from managing your time effectively to understanding your assessments and improving your academic writing.

Disability & Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)

If you feel comfortable telling us you are disabled, or have a learning difference or a medical condition that impacts on your learning, UCA’s experienced Disability & SpLD team can support you, and work with academic colleagues to help provide an accessible learning experience.

Our aim is to encourage and foster independent learning – we do this by helping you to develop the strategies, skills, and knowledge you need to succeed on your course.

We will work with you to:

• Think about your needs, expected outcomes, and the support you need to successfully access learning.

• Support you through the process of applying for any external support you need, such as Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

• Signpost and refer you for additional assessments if required, such as a dyslexia assessment.

For more information, visit: uca.ac.uk/support

Becca's story

There is plenty of support for you throughout your learning – as Fine Art graduate Becca’s story shows.

Becca didn’t know she was dyslexic until she was in her second year at UCA, when she unexpectedly failed an essay. After undertaking a test for dyslexia, she found she was severely dyslexic, but with a high IQ, which probably masked her struggles.

“UCA, alongside Student Finance, issued me with a learning disability grant that covered a one-to-one tutor for one session a week to help with my essays, and eventually my dissertation," she says.

"I had access to other benefits, such as extended deadlines, and a budget for additional materials and gadgets to help me work.

“If you are struggling with your work, in particular with writing, then I highly recommend getting tested for dyslexia. Speak with your tutors and see if they have noticed any patterns in your work, because what I was completely oblivious to before seems so obvious now that I’ve been taught to spot the signs.

“Although it is a little bit of an investment for the test, the rewards outweigh the initial cost. It has impacted my life in a positive way and shaped my career into something I never thought was achievable.”

Join us at #UCAlive

We run live Q&A sessions on a number of different topics, where you can ask questions about what it's like to live and study at UCA. Visit our website to find out when our next UCA live session is.

Chat with our students

If you're looking to find out more about student life at UCA, our unibuddy scheme gives you the chance to chat with people who are studying here right now. To chat with a student in your subject area, visit: uca.ac.uk/chat

Becca Marsh

Meet your Students’ Union

Hey there folks!

You might not have come across UCA Students’ Union before, but our main mission is to make sure you have an amazing time at UCA. We’re all about enhancing your academic journey, organising fun social events on campus, and elevating the voices of all our students. At UCA Students’ Union, everything we do is to benefit our members, and we hope you’ll join us soon.

Your Students' Union UCASU

Membership from day one

Did you know that when you enrol on a course at UCA, you automatically become a member of the University for the Creative Arts Students’ Union (UCASU). You can be as involved as you want!

Clubs and Societies

One of the UCASU highlights is the number of opportunities you will have to meet others, further your non-academic interests and discover new hobbies. So, whether you’re into K-Pop dance or cheerleading, sports, or culture, or you’re looking for friends in the LGBTQ+ or international communities, there’s something for everyone.

Events, activities and advice

Throughout the year, UCASU hosts Winter and Spring Markets for you to attend or sell your creations and a range of activities for you to join in with and support. And if you find yourself with a problem, or you’re ever struggling, and you need some independent advice, there’s a wealth of independent information and support available through UCASU too.

Where to find us...

You’ll find a UCASU office on your campus, right in the heart of things, so make sure to say hello and get involved!

If you want to keep on top of the latest news, events, and opportunities, you’ll find us on most social media platforms with the @ucasu tag.

We've got your course supplies

We’ve got your course supplies covered with our art shops on the Canterbury, Epsom and Farnham campuses. The Workshop offers student-friendly prices, a warm welcome and a great range of goods.

How to apply

Your portfolio

At UCA, we know you’re about more than just grades.

To us, exams are only part of the picture – your creativity and what you can do are just as important. Which is why, when you apply to most of our courses, we ask to see a portfolio.

We'll ask you to bring this when we invite you to an Applicant Day. The day will be a fun and informal experience and an opportunity for you to meet us, and for us to learn more about you as a person.

We want to see what inspires you, what you create, and what makes you unique. And if your course doesn’t ask for a portfolio but you still want to show us your work, we’d love to see it anyway.

For most courses, we’ll ask for 12 to 20 examples of your recent work that show off your experience, interests, aspirations, and passion for your subject. For our Performing Arts courses, we will ask you to complete a short audition.

Find out more about our portfolio advice at uca.ac.uk/portfolio-advice

Scan this QR code to see our YouTube playlist of portfolio advice videos:

Funding your studies

Going to university is a major investment in your future, and one of the biggest tasks is sorting out your funding and paying your fees. We’re here to help you through the process.

Tuition fees: what to expect

Your main outlay will be tuition fees. For almost all UK undergraduate students, the Student Loans Company (SLC) will lend you the money for your fees, so you don’t have to pay upfront. There are two types of loans:

Tuition fee loans are not means-tested, and all UK students can apply to cover the full cost of tuition.

Maintenance loans are designed to help you with living costs, like accommodation, food, supplies, and travel. These are means-tested, with the amount you borrow based on where you live and your household income.

You’ll only begin repaying your loan to the SLC when you start earning more than £25,000 (or £27,660 in Scotland) a year. This works similarly to how you pay tax –repayments are taken out of your earnings before you receive your net pay, and the more you earn, the more you repay. Get an idea of how much you could borrow and what your future repayments might look like at: gov.uk/student-finance

What will it cost?

The annual fee for our undergraduate degree courses and Professional Practice Years are as follows:

Undegraduate

fees

2025/26

• Integrated Foundation Year £9,535 (£5,760 for selected classroom-based courses)

• BA/BSc (Hons) degree £9,535

• Professional Practice Year £1,900

For more information about our fees, visit: uca.ac.uk/fees

Additional costs

There will be other expenses to consider on top of your tuition fees, such as the cost of mandatory trips and exhibitions, and materials. We’ll tell you as much as we can about these when we offer you a place. When you’re planning your finances, remember to consider other outlays, such as accommodation, groceries and food, utility bills, equipment, and art materials.

Scholarships

UCA offers scholarships and fee discounts for a range of learners and subject areas – you can find out more on our website: uca.ac.uk/scholarships

Application process

We really hope you’ve got all the information you need and are feeling excited about starting the next stage of your journey with us at UCA.

If you’d like to apply to become a student here, there are a few things you need to do. So, we’ve put together this checklist of tasks for you to tick off as you go.

If you are an international student, your application process is slightly different - visit uca.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply

APPLY

For full-time undergraduate courses, fill out an application form via ucas.com. The institution name is UCA, the institution code is C93, and campus codes are C, E, F and M (for Maidstone TV Studios). We guarantee to consider your application if you apply by the UCAS equal consideration deadline (14 January 2026) but we usually still have places available after this date.

Note: If you are only applying to UCA, you can use the direct application forms on the course pages of our website.

YOUR APPLICATION

Once you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive an email from us with your username and password for the UCA Applicant Portal, which you can use to check the status of your application.

CREATE A PORTFOLIO

Your course might require a portfolio – we’ll send you specific requirements after you’ve applied. More details are on p158-159, but the main tips are:

• Lead with your show-stopping pieces

• Show us how you think – document your ideas in a sketchbook

• Present examples of your research that show idea development

• Let your personality shine through and tell us what or who inspires you.

COME TO YOUR APPLICANT DAY

This may include a portfolio review, audition and/or a meeting with your course team. You’ll also learn more about your course and campus, and get to meet current students.

YOUR OFFER

If your application is successful, you'll receive an offer email from us that explains the full terms and conditions of your offer (you’ll also be able to find this on the UCA Applicant Portal). Remember - if your offer is conditional, you’ll need to provide evidence of meeting the conditions before you join. We’ll let you know how to do this.

ACCEPT YOUR OFFER

For UCAS applications, accept by logging into UCAS Hub. For direct applications, accept using the task in your UCA Applicant Portal.

APPLY FOR ACCOMMODATION

As soon as you can apply for accommodation, we’ll contact you to let you know. This is usually in March for courses starting in September.

APPLY FOR A STUDENT

LOAN

To apply, visit: gov.uk/student-finance (England), saas.gov.uk (Scotland), www.studentfinancewales.co.uk (Wales) or www.studentfinanceni.co.uk (Northern Ireland).

CONFIRM YOUR ACCOMMODATION

For halls or local accommodation, make sure you’ve:

• Made your advance payment

• Confirmed your moving-in date.

• Settle into your accommodation

Enrol on your course • Meet your new friends!

Entry requirements

When looking at whether to offer you a place on one of our courses, we’ll consider your academic credentials alongside the creative talent shown in your portfolio. You can learn more on pages 198-199 about how to put a portfolio together. Sometimes, we make offers with lower entry requirements to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance, and who were expected to achieve higher results. In these cases, a strong portfolio is particularly important.

Here’s a breakdown of the usual academic requirements for each of our courses:

Integrated Foundation Year of a BA/BSc degree

• A Level results adding up to 32 UCAS tariff points

• Or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with a Pass

• Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma with Pass/Pass/Pass

• Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Pass

• Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 32 UCAS tariff points

• Or T Level Pass in a related subject

• Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 24 or above.

AND

Four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English Level 2).

AND

A portfolio of work at the required standard.

BA/BSc degree

• A Level results adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

• Or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with a Pass

• Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma with Distinction/Merit/Merit

• Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Merit

• Or 112 UCAS points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in an appropriate subject

• Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

• Or T Level Merit in a related subject

• Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 27–30 (at least 15 IB points at Higher Level).

AND

Four GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English (or Functional Skills English Level 2).

Courses with specific requirements:

BA (Hons) Architecture

• A Level results adding up to a minimum of 128 UCAS tariff points

• Or 128 UCAS points from an Access to Higher Education Diploma in an appropriate subject

• Or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design with a Merit

• Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/BTEC National Extended Diploma with Distinction/Distinction/Merit

• Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Merit

• Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 128 UCAS points

• Or T Level Merit in a related subject

• Or an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 29 to 32 (at least 16 IB points at Higher Level).

AND

Five GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including maths and English (or Functional Skills English Level 2).

GCSE maths is also required for entry onto the Integrated Foundation Year for BA (Hons) Architecture. For the Integrated Foundation Year of this degree, you will need a minimum of 64 UCAS points.

BA (Hons) Fashion Business and Management

The Chartered Management Institute accreditation for this course requires applicants to demonstrate their motivation and ability to study the course, which we assess through a short post-application questionnaire.

BSc

(Hons) Games Development

Applicants will need five GCSE passes at grade 9 to 4 and/or A* to C, including English language, maths (grade 9–6/A*–B) and science or physics (grade 9–6/A*–B) for entry onto the main degree or the Integrated Foundation Year.

International students

International students can view typical entry requirements by country on our website.

If your first language is not English, you will be required to provide evidence of your English language ability – usually a total score of 6.0 on the IELTS for UKVI Academic or IELTS Academic tests, with no less than 5.5 in any component. More information on our English language entry requirements and other evidence we can accept is available at uca.ac.uk

Other qualifications

We can consider other relevant and equivalent UK/EU/international qualifications on an individual basis.

Mature students

If you’re returning to study as a mature student, your entry requirements may differ, so email us at admissions@uca.ac.uk and we’ll guide you through the process and what you need to do to secure a place.

You can find out more about becoming a mature student at UCA, by visiting www.uca.ac.uk/study-at-uca/maturestudents/

UCAS tariff points

The UCAS Tariff is a point system which compares a wide range of qualifications to enable universities to operate a fairer decision-making process when it comes to making offers. You can find the tariff value of your qualifications using the UCAS Tariff calculator at ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Not all qualifications are included in the tariff, so don’t worry if you can’t find your qualification – if it’s not there, get in touch and we’ll confirm whether we accept it.

Open Days at UCA

Coming to an Open Day is a great way to find out more about UCA, the courses we offer, and whether this is the right place for you. When you visit us on campus, you’ll get a feel for life in our creative community and a taste of how our courses can help you turn your passions into an exciting and impactful career.

Plan your Open Day

If you decide to come to an Open Day, you’ll need to book a place through our website. It’s easy and free to do, and you’ll also be able to register for any talks you'd like to go to. These include presentations about our courseslife at UCA, how to put a portfolio together, and how to fund your studies.

There will also be campus and accommodation tours. Our academics and student ambassadors will be around to chat about what life here is really like.

The prospectus is a collaborative project between the University for the Creative Arts and the following companies and individuals:

Creative Direction: Louise Richardson

Design: Spin Communications Ltd spin.co.uk

Print: Belmont Press Ltd belmont.co.uk

Cover: Kate Bones

Campus photography: Liz Carrington, Katie Chuter, Iain Crockart, Teresa Dale, Sam Garner, Michelle Marshall, James Newton, Chris Russell, Chris Tuck

Student work: Students of UCA, credited where appropriate

All information correct at the time of print. For the latest updates please visit uca.ac.uk or email enquiries@uca.ac.uk

Undergraduate prospectus