UCA School of Architecture & Design Guide

Image by Emilio Moner De Luque

We know creativity makes our world more innovative, more joyous, and more human. We’re outside the establishment, standing for fresh perspective and originality. With us, you’ll be a name, not a number, as we deliver an education tailored to you and your future. Join the CREATIVE UPRISING and be part of a 160-year tradition of doing things differently.

“We are proud of our agile approach to creativity, where ideas are primary. Elevating human experience of environments and seeking positive societal change and equity is the goal for everything we do. We also recognise that we live in a world of limited resource and climate crisis and so mediate our thinking and actions accordingly.”

– Professor Colin Holden, Head of School, Architecture & Design

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Success after graduation

Our graduates go on to amazing things – here’s a few of our most prominent graduates:

Lorenzo Apicella Founder, Apicella Studio

Richard Armiger

Founder, Network Modelmakers

Justin Bere Founder bere:architects

Jason Pomeroy Founder, Pomeroy Studio and Pomeroy Academy

Chris Liang

Architectural Assistant at Haworth Tompkins and founded Signstrokes to create a British Sign Language (BSL) lexicon for the build environment

Helena Martin Interior Designer at Hollaway Studio

Laura Goodger

Creative Director and Founder, Studio Goodd

What’s in your future?

Start it here!

Course index

Course UCAS Code

BA (Hons) Architecture (RIBA/ARB Part 1)

BA (Hons) K100

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year K10A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year K10C

Master of Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2)

Master of Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2) Apply directly

BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology*

BSc (Hons) K200

BSc (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year K20A

BSc (Hons) with International Foundation Year K20C

BSc (Hons) with Professional Practice Year K201

BSc (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year K20B

BSc (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year K20D

BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design*

BA (Hons) WH10

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year WH1A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year WH1C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year WH11

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year WH1B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year WH1D

BSc (Hons) Industrial Design

BSc (Hons) W245

BSc (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W24F

BSc (Hons) with International Foundation Year W24H

BSc (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W246

BSc (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W24G

BSc (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice W24J

Course UCAS Code

BA (Hons) Interior Architecture

BA (Hons) W255

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W25A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W25C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W256

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W25B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W25D

BA (Hons) Interior Decoration & Styling*

BA (Hons) W253

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W25K

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W25M

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W259

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W25L

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W25N

BA (Hons) Interior Design

BA (Hons) W257

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W25F

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W25H

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W258

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W25G

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W25J

BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture & Design*

BA (Hons) K300

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year K30A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year K30C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year K301

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year K30B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year K30D

Course UCAS Code

BA (Hons) Modelmaking*

BA (Hons) W630

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W63A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W63C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W631

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W63B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W63D

BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design

BA (Hons) W243

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year W24A

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year W24C

BA (Hons) with Professional Practice Year W244

BA (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W24B

BA (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year W24D

BSc (Hons) Urban Design & Planning*

BSc (Hons) K400

BSc (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year K40A

BSc (Hons) with International Foundation Year K40C

BSc (Hons) with Professional Practice Year K401

BSc (Hons) with Integrated Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year K40B

BSc (Hons) with International Foundation Year AND Professional Practice Year K40D

BA (Hons) Studio Practice - Interior Design (top-up)

BA (Hons) W405

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When thinking about your career, there’s only one thing as important as your education – building industry experience.

At UCA, you’ll be able to get both at once, building hands-on experience while you study through a range of opportunities designed to help you enhance your CV. From live industry briefs and work placements through to optional Professional Practice Years, there’s an option to suit you.

Professional Practice Years

Many of our undergraduate courses come with the option of an additional Professional Practice Year. If you choose this route, you’ll take a study break between years 2 and 3 to go on a yearlong placement related to your studies – in an architecture firm or design studio, for example. Learn more on the course pages at uca.ac.uk

Guaranteed work placements

Preparing graduates for successful careers underpins everything we do, and all School of Architecture & Design students will be offered an industry placement anywhere between two weeks and a year in length, depending on their individual needs. We’ll draw on our wide range of contacts within the creative industries to ensure you’re offered opportunities that align with your interests and future career aspirations.

Live industry briefs

One of the most exciting features of UCA courses is the opportunity to take part in live industry briefs and competitions. Students on our Architecture & Design courses will collaborate on designs, creative briefs, and proposals which will not only prepare you for the world of work but will support you in making lifelong professional connections.

A foot in the door

Our students say...

Camille Gaggiotti, BA (Hons) Interior Architecture & Design, commendation winner at the Retail Design Student Awards

Alfie Demmon, BA (Hons) Architecture, part of the winning team for the 2021 AIA UK Student Charrette

“The competition was part of our course – these awards are important in terms of showing potential employers that we’re capable of tackling a serious, industryled brief. It also gave me a realistic insight into what it will be like when I work with brands in the future, when I might need to meet tight deadlines or cater for specific demands”

“To any future students that are after a fun and engaging architecture experience, we cannot recommend the student charrette enough. Winning was not our aim going into this. We went to have a good time and escape the stresses of a looming formative review but as this year shows, UCA is producing a great cohort of future designers that stand out in an already extremely competitive and creative environment.”

Welcome to

With its historic surroundings and its gorgeous café culture, Canterbury is a lovely place to live and experience while you study at UCA.

Our relaxed and friendly campus, featuring architecture studios, design labs and fine art facilities, is located just on the edge of the city. Its Cathedral and array of shops, cafes and restaurants, are just a short walk away. You’ll discover new things all the time, with a wealth of attractions, galleries and museums to explore – not to mention you’re just a short bus ride away from the Kent coastline for sunny days.

Popular spots for students include The Penny Theatre pub, with its live sport, meal deals, karaoke and quizzes, and for a tasty snack on the go, Cite Crepes is a hit. You can see blockbusters alongside the best indie releases at the Curzon Cinema, or have a day out at Howletts Wild Animal Park for a change of pace.

A relaxing hang-out area for students is Westgate Gardens, which runs alongside the River Stour, and we couldn’t talk about Canterbury without recommending a visit to Canterbury Cathedral itself, with its incredible architecture and stained-glass windows.

Meet our school community

JJ Brophy Programme Director, Architecture & Design

“The people and the community here are inspiring – there’s a real sense of collective positivity. My favourite places on the campus are the studios. They are the engine room –often noisy and a bit messy, but so vibrant and exhilarating to be a part of.”

“Working alongside both the staff and students in the School of Architecture & Design is always a pleasure. From the new and exciting ideas that are explored every day, the wealth of information and the constant buzz of discussion about both the technical and theoretical processes that are involved within the field.”

Abigail Sheanon MArch student

“After two days at UCA I was well acquainted with my lecturers and them with me, first name basis happened on the first day. I found the personal touch of the university and its size to be a bonus, it had aided in making friends quickly and most importantly getting the best out of my course.”

Ben Westacott Fablab Technician

HC Henry Chan MArch graduate

“It was a wonderful experience at UCA. Both the learning environment and projects at UCA provided an excellent atmosphere and opportunities for exploration of creativity in my field of work.”

Credit: Mak Pok Leong

Credit: Gayatri Shah

Living at UCA

Moving away from home is a big moment. Wherever you’re staying while you study – campus halls of residence or privately rented flats, houses or lodgings – you’re about to have your first taste of independence in a diverse and tight-knit creative community, and we want to make sure you feel settled and happy.

Canterbury halls of residence

UCA Canterbury has on-campus halls of residence – costing around £150 per week (these are subject to change each year, but this gives you a rough idea of costs).

Ian Dury House

Our on-campus accommodation has nine self-catering flats which can house up to six students each. In each flat, you’ll find:

Single rooms with en-suite bathrooms

– A shared kitchen/communal area withcookers and fridge-freezers, and small appliances including kettles and microwaves

–

One washing machine and condenser tumble dryer

– Parking (for those with a special requirement)

One flat is adapted for students with disabilities.

Riverside Quarter

Built in 2022, UCA has acquired 120 purposebuilt en-suite rooms within this student complex based in the heart of Canterbury. The rooms are part of a cluster flat of either six or eight bedrooms. In each flat, you’ll find:

Single rooms with en-suite bathrooms

–

Communal kitchen space with seating areas and standard cooking and cleaning appliances

Communal lounge area with TV for movie nights

A study area with booths/desks

– A fitness suite featuring yoga mats, exercise balls and spin bikes.

Private accommodation

If the idea of halls isn’t for you, or you don’t get a place in our halls, private accommodation is the way to go. There is a bit more to consider if you take this route, so preparation is key, as well as research and budgeting. We’ll help you with the process and finding the information you need.

Accommodation Guarantee

We’re proud to offer all first-year students a guaranteed accommodation offer – either through halls or privately – for 2023. To qualify, you must accept your offer from UCA by the UCAS deadline (usually mid-January). International students applying directly to UCA must apply by 30 April 2023 to qualify.

Here to help

You can find out more about our accommodation offering, services, contact details, and Accommodation Guarantee for first-year students by scanning the QR code below.

Our facilities and resources

With its open plan and bright north-facing studios, and the historic city of Canterbury on its doorstop, the School of Architecture & Design is a home fit for great design, innovative ideas and experimental practice.

Our courses are designed to help you design the future – and to back that up we’ve got exceptional facilities and resources to turn your ideas into a reality.

Whether it’s putting your concepts into a digital, virtual format, or moulding them into a tangible item, the campus is your playground.

Check out our facilities highlights – and remember this isn’t even including our incredible libraries and exhibition spaces, or the support you’ll get along the way from our team of expert technicians.

Facilities highlights

TrackLab, with VR and digital scanning technology

– 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 printers

Print bureau with multiple options on finishing and papers, offering selfservice and bespoke printing to professional standards

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

Printmaking studios for screen-printing, litho, offset, lino cutting, and etching

Three fully equipped digital media suites with Macs and PCs running the latest software

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

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

Design for change

At UCA, live industry briefs and competitions are all part of the learning experience – and in many cases these projects can lead to much bigger things. Take BA (Hons) Product Design graduate Anna Lis, who won a prestigious work placement after her design for a “Superhuman Shoe” caught the eyes of competition judges.

Anna won a Special Commendation Award in the Design the Change Competition, run by law firm Bolt Burdon Kemp in association with charity partner Cerebra, which helps families with children who have a brain injury or condition.

Her design, which can incorporate an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) if required, was in response to the creative brief – to invent a product aimed at improving the lives of people with a spinal cord injury.

Entries were received from university students nationwide, and judged by a specialist panel of experts, including wheelchair rugby player and chairman of Stoke Mandeville Wheelchair Rugby Club, Ian Hoskings, and Doug Neville, the Head of Mechanical Design at Williams F1.

Anna’s entry was so strong that the judges wanted to offer her a work placement at the Cerebra Innovation Centre in Swansea.

Anna, who exhibited her designs at her Graduation Show, said: “This was my favourite and most meaningful project in my time at university and the placement opportunity at the Cerebra Innovation Centre is something I would love to experience. I’ve been working on Accessible Design projects ever since I took up Product Design at A-level, and

these projects have given me purpose in my work.”

Anna thanked those who supported her during the project - Mark Gower and Natasha Benn who provided her with primary insights to understand what it’s like to live with a spinal cord Injury, and Rentaro Nishimura, Emma Rawson and Jim Casey, for their help.

Mark Gower, Anna’s Programme Director, said: “We were delighted to hear that Anna’s ‘Superhuman Shoe’ proposal received a special commendation, we thought it was an outstanding piece of work that was informed by some incredible research.

“She really got under the skin of the issues that face those with ‘Drop-Foot’ and her product will make a huge difference to people who suffer from this condition. We are so proud that she received recognition for her creativity, innovation, empathy and hard work.”

Victoria Oliver, Head of the Spinal Injury team at Bolt Burdon Kemp, said: “The quality of entries for the Design the Change competition was incredibly high, but Anna’s was one that really stood out. The judges thought Anna’s design was well thought out and incredibly practical and would not only help those with a spinal cord injury but other disabilities as well, such as stroke sufferers. Anna also showed a high level of commercial insight which impressed the judges. I would also like to extend my thanks to the teaching staff at the Product and Furniture Design course who have been so enthusiastic about the competition and supportive of our aim to increase disability awareness among future designers.”

Read more student stories at uca.ac.uk/blogs

Activism in design

One of the hallmarks of UCA’s architecture and design courses is the culture of activism – creating work which has the potential to change lives or raise awareness.

This runs through both our undergraduate and postgraduate courses – take for example the projects undertaken by our Master of Architecture students.   Anastasia Lavrova’s final project reinvented a Beirut skyscrapertransforming it from office space into an organ clinic – and explored how architects and architecture could adapt to sudden change and crisis-based need.

In order to facilitate her concept project, she also conceived the idea of The United Nations Organization of Architectural Resources (UNOAR) – designed to provide architects globally with maximum information on existing resources and potential possibilities.

Meanwhile, Fatmanur Toy wanted to provide shelter for refugees with her project. She looked at how isolated refugees currently felt in the UK, and wanted to give them a welcoming and supportive atmosphere through the provision of housing but also the provision of space to grow food and produce meals for the community.

She said in her summary: “This project is more than just an integration centre focusing on refugees, it is for the whole of society. I offer everyone living in London, especially Tower Hamlets, to contribute to food production and help to create a secure environment.”

Tower Hamlets was also the focus of Fernanda Nascimento’s final project – but this time seeking to solve the homelessness crisis. She found there were more than 320 homeless people in the borough – together with an alarming number of disused and neglected buildings in need of restoration.

In her summary, she said: “My thesis encourages us to give those going through homelessness another chance to survive,

to care for them and reintegrate them into society. As well as this, it encourages us to give neglected structures another chance of purposely serving a more vulnerable public.”

Looking further afield, graduates considered cultural and environmental pressures.

Theodora Aristeidou’s project sought to give a sense of belonging and status for the marginalised Sahrawi people and Berber culture in the Western Sahara.

She designed the Amgala Oasis, taking the regional gatherings of the Sahrawi and Berber cultures further to create a National gathering place, where they can celebrate the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Independence Day.

Meanwhile, investigating how Guyana’s booming oil trade can best aid its economy while protecting its ecology, is the final project of Janine Antoine. She investigated how the country can become a green petrostate, and how its capital, Georgetown, can lead the transition.

Read more student stories at uca.ac.uk/blogs

At UCA, we understand that you might need to develop your portfolio and skills, or maybe you haven’t studied creative subjects at college. We don’t believe these things should stop you from achieving your dreams.

This is why we offer our Foundation Years to those students who need it. The Foundation Year is designed to bridge the gap from where you are now, to where you need to be so that you can begin your degree with confidence. All of our courses feature a foundation year if you need to take one – whether you’re a UK or international student.

Integrated Foundation Year

For UK students, the Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your

degree in the best possible way –with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and more. You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

Integrated International Foundation Year

For our students coming from a nonUK educational background, your Integrated International Foundation Year is exactly the same as for our UK students – but with a few small changes to help you settle in and be the best you can be, including the English speaking and writing skills you’ll need to progress.

success

Our courses

BA (Hons) Architecture (RIBA/ARB

Your journey to becoming a qualified architect begins here on our fully validated and accredited BA (Hons) Architecture course.

Throughout the course, we’ll challenge you to become highly skilled in technical drawing and design. You’ll also be encouraged to consider how architecture can have a wider impact on everything, from its immediate surroundings and social contexts, right through to the human body.

You will benefit from dedicated studios, master a wealth of industry-grade technology and apparatus, and have the use of our Tracklab virtual reality studio.

Year 1

You’ll be introduced to fundamental issues, processes and skills that will be relevant throughout your studies, learn about how social and environmental issues will inform your work. You’ll undertake a small building design project and learn core theories.

Year 2

You’ll complete a medium-scale building design project in this year, explore architectural design in relation to human behaviours, expand your knowledge of the technological principles, civil regulations, and societal challenges that inform contemporary building construction, and begin looking at potential career paths.

Year 3

You’ll create a portfolio and report pertaining to detailed proposals for a housing scheme, as well as a piece of self-directed research on a subject that is related to your specialist interest. You’ll also complete a final major project with a large building design.

Credit: Keerthigan Thavaseelan

Master of Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2)

Credit: Kanchana Somboon

Our two-year Master of Architecture (MArch) course will challenge you to design the spaces and buildings of the future and to consider their societal and environmental impacts.

This course, which carries full and unconditional prescription from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board (ARB) as satisfying the Part 2 criteria, will challenge you to consolidate your architectural experiences, both in education and in practice, while simultaneously questioning your preconceptions of the discipline.

By the end of your studies, you will be able to initiate and deliver projects grounded in design-based research and continue a process of learning through practice-based experimentation and enquiry.

Year 1

Your first year of study blends lectures and seminars with studio design projects. You’ll undertake indepth architectural design research and use what you find to formulate complex design proposals. You’ll also complete a dissertation.

Year 2

Your second year of study is about developing your own research agenda, and your design style. You’ll develop, propose and present your design thesis – and this may include the production of models, drawings, installation, video, photography and text. You’ll experiment, take risks and address the rigours of professional practice and attend a series of talks centred around the RIBA stages: pre-agreement, ideas-design, pre-construction, construction and completion. Finally, you’ll produce a technologically driven realisation which arises out of an issue identified in your design thesis.

BSc (Hons) Industrial Design

Design and create the next generation of products to improve and enhance our lives, on our highly technical BSc (Hons) Industrial Design degree.

With access to our extensive workshop facilities – from 3D digital design software, laser cutting, CNC technology and virtual reality and spatial tracking technology – you’ll have plenty of exciting opportunities to make prototypes of your work.

You’ll explore the manufacturing process from beginning to end, with an emphasis on design, and even challenge the definition of modern industrial design. The transferable skills that you’ll gain on this course will include making prototypes, presenting concepts to investors and developing a scientific understanding of materials and their interaction.

You’ll graduate with a wealth of knowledge and experience, ready to enter a variety of industries that have a production element – working on anything from cars to furniture, toys or electronic devices, or in printmaking, 3D printing and more.

Year 1

You will be introduced to a range of core skills in concept development and representation, through sketching, model making, diagramming, and timebased media, all through a series of design projects. You’ll also learn core theory, social and environmental concerns, and explore the processes of design practice through spatial or product analysis, deconstruction, documentation and augmentation.

Year 2

You’ll advance your skills in sketching, model making and visualisation, with specific focus on digital representation methodologies, and material and manufacturing constraints and opportunities. You’ll also expand your approach to constraint-based design by undertaking a detailed design project, while also refining your theoretical knowledge to better interrogate ideas, designs and actions.

Year 3

As well as using exciting new technologies to produce compelling digital and physical prototypes, you’ll consolidate all you’ve learned through your final major project, which should reflect your deep understanding of contemporary practice.

Credit: Shuwen Tan

BA (Hons) Interior Architecture

Credit: Wailok Chan

Interior Architecture and Interior Design are two closely linked disciplines with significant overlap in terms of skills and design processes.

As you study Interior Architecture, you’ll focus on the interface between the existing and proposed elements of a design, or in a new building, between the construction detailing, services (electrical, plumbing, air handling etc) and the interior spatial experience.

You’ll learn about these things through progressive briefs that engage with real-world challenges, through research, and through design as your primary means of inquiry.

You’ll be given the freedom and confidence to speculate and become aware of your social responsibility as a designer of the built environment.

Year 1

You will be introduced to a range of core skills in concept development and representation, through sketching, model making, diagramming, and timebased media. You’ll also learn about how social and environmental issues will inform your work, together with core theory.

Year 2

Credit: Lih Yiing Chin

You’ll advance your skills in sketching, model making and visualisation, with specific focus on digital representation methodologies, and material and manufacturing constrains and opportunities. You’ll also prepare and develop a medium-scale design proposal, and you’ll also begin your preparations for life after UCA, and what career paths you may travel down.

Year 3

The final year of your study will see you produce a piece of self-directed research together with your Final Major Project, developing an expansive project that uses all your skills in design, making, research and project development.

BA (Hons) Interior Design

Looking at real-world challenges to transform interior spaces — both old and new — our BA (Hons) Interior Design degree bridges the gaps between architecture, fine art and spatial practice.

You’ll work alongside students across the School of Architecture & Design to create designs for various settings, and question and consider the role of the designer in contemporary society. Through experimentation, play and research you will engage with design briefs as agents of social, cultural, political, and economic change.

As a result of this vigorous blend of practical and research-led study, you’ll become a confident and innovative interior designer with a focus on social responsibility, materiality, specification, and careful control of the holistic human experience, in interior spaces.

As part of the course, you’ll benefit from interaction with industry through live industry projects, masterclasses and optional work placements.

Year 1

You will be introduced to a range of core skills in concept development and representation, through sketching, model making, diagramming, and timebased media, and prepare and develop a small-scale design proposal. You’ll also learn about how social and environmental issues will inform your work.

Year 2

You’ll further refine your skills in sketching, model making and visualisation and use these skills to take the next step in your designs with a mediumscale proposal. You’ll also develop more advanced theoretical skills and start to look at life after graduation and your possible career options.

Year 3

As you consolidate all you’ve learned, you’ll produce a piece of self-directed research, and showcase your skills with the development and completion of an expansive final project.

Credit: Emma Quettier

BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design

If you’re passionate about turning the everyday into the extraordinary, then our BA (Hons) Product & Furniture Design degree is the perfect course for you.

You’ll explore the fundamentals of thinking, analysing, drawing, making and testing through a mix of digital and analogue methods. Along the way, you’ll discover the importance of the relationship between products, furniture items and the spaces they occupy, working alongside BA (Hons) Interior Design & Architecture students.

Our industry-facing focus allows you to make the most of our partnerships with leading design agencies and work directly with the local community and businesses on live projects.

By the time you graduate, you’ll be an intelligent problem solver with a curious outlook and a bold approach to how product and furniture design can serve society, both today and in the future.

Year 1

You will be introduced to a range of core skills in concept development and representation, through sketching, model making, diagramming, and time-based media, and learn how social and environmental issues, and core theory, can inform your work.

Year 2

Advancing your design skills, you’ll focus on digital representation methodologies, and material and manufacturing constrains and opportunities, as you develop a medium-scale design proposal. You’ll also start to look at life after graduation, and the potential career options you could take.

Year 3

For your final year you’ll produce a piece of selfdirected research and complete your Final Major Project, an expansive project which showcases your skills in design and making, research and project development.

Credit: Annie Hazel

Credit: Jie Lin

BA (Hons) Studio Practice (Interior Design)

Our new Studio Practice top-up course in Interior Design will give you the chance to gain all the skills you need to progress to postgraduate study in the UK.

The course is aligned with our final year undergraduate students’ studies, enabling you to progress to a Master’s course in a streamlined way. You’ll get right into the action from the start, undertaking research and practical projects, working on collaborative activities and building your skills, knowledge and confidence.

Your studies will align with the work undertaken by final year undergraduate students throughout the School of Architecture & Design, with high-level contextual research and the production of a major project in your specialism.

Credit: Chaoran Li

BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology  BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design

Credit: Maisie Bishop

Becoming an Architectural Technologist requires specialist skills and confidence – on our new BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology course you’ll gain those skills and knowledge to help construction design teams bring new structures to life.

You’ll learn a wide range of spatial practices, and the value that an Architectural Technologist can add to architectural practice and society more widely. Our campus benefits from extensive facilities, including advanced forms of fabrication and prototyping, the latest scanning and VR technology, and traditional crafts. You’ll also learn advanced forms of digital modelling and control, such as building information modelling (BIM), using these tools to develop your own individual approaches to challenges of building construction and detail.

Along the way you’ll be guided by our team of academics and a wide range of industry professionals, and collaborative opportunities alongside students across the School of Architecture & Design will give you an enriched experience where specialised learning is combined with new perspectives and approaches to broaden your own horizons.

Are you keen to drive the conversation and design transport solutions for the future? Our new BA (Hons) Automotive & Transport Design degree at UCA Canterbury will help you do just that.

The automotive and transportation industry is undergoing massive change driven by the twin effects of a dire need to decarbonise in response to the climate emergency, and a social and cultural change in attitudes to car ownership and use, as well as public transport. Through this course, you’ll be poised to lead design thinking and policy in this sector, enabling positive disruption and innovation to thrive, firmly focused on the human, spatial, tactile, and material experiences of the future of transportation.

To effectively create your concepts and develop your skills and design practice, you’ll have access to the amazing facilities at UCA Canterbury, including advanced forms of fabrication and testing, the latest 3D scanning and VR technology, and a suite of traditional craft-based workshops, photography studios, and print facilities. You will have the freedom to establish your own unique specialisms, such as advanced materials, or personal mobility systems, and you will develop your own highly individualised design identity and style.

Along the way you’ll be supported by our academic team and extensive industry links and enjoy collaborative opportunities across the School.

BA (Hons) Interior Decoration & Styling  BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture & Design

Credit: Junyan Du

On UCA’s new BA (Hons) Interior Decoration & Styling course you’ll become a confident Interior Decoration and Styling professional with specialist knowledge of sustainable materials specification and contemporary design visualisation.

You’ll have the freedom to establish your own unique specialisms, such as materials specification and performance, or brand-led style composition and photography, and you will develop your own highly individualised design identity and style. Along the way you’ll have access to advanced forms of fabrication and testing, the latest scanning and VR technology, and a suite of traditional craftbased workshops, photography studios, and print facilities, all of which will allow you to bring your design proposals to life.

You’ll learn from our team of expert academics and industry professionals and enjoy collaborative opportunities with students on our other courses, such as product and furniture design, and interior architecture. Through exploring real briefs and contexts, you’ll have the chance to engage with and show your work to established practitioners, and on graduation you will become part of the school’s expanded network of mentors and career advisors.

Develop the advanced skills required to become a professional Landscape Architect with specialist knowledge of ecological and environmental design on our BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture & Design degree course.

You’ll be exposed to a wide range of spatial practices and come to understand the value that a Landscape Architect can add to projects, the wider community and society. You will have access to advanced forms of fabrication and testing, the latest scanning and VR technology, and a suite of traditional craft-based workshops, all of which will allow you to bring your design proposals to life. You will have the freedom to establish your own unique specialisms, such as practical plant-based knowledge, and you will develop your own highly individualised design identity and style.

Supported throughout the course by a wide range of industry professionals, you will have opportunities to collaborate with your peers in other design specialisms such as architecture and urban design. Through exploring real briefs and contexts, you’ll have the chance to engage with and show your work to established practitioners, and on graduation you will become part of the school’s expanded network of mentors and career advisors.

BA (Hons) Model Making BSc (Hons) Urban Design & Planning

Being an exceptional model maker is all about taking people on a narrative journey, be it for VFX and prop design, or architectural and product industries. On our BA (Hons) Model Making course you’ll learn the skills and specialist knowledge to do just that.

This course will help you become a confident and unique Model Making professional, distilling your creative imagination into sophisticated models and build specialist knowledge of sustainable and contemporary design. You’ll have full access to a range of design practices, all of which have “story telling” at their core. You will have access to advanced forms of fabrication and testing, the latest 3D scanning and VR technology, and a suite of traditional craft-based workshops, photography studios, and print facilities, all of which will allow you to bring your design proposals to life. You will have the freedom to establish your own unique specialisms, such as advanced materials, or mechanised articulation, and you will develop your own highly individualised design identity and style.

Supported throughout the course by a wide range of industry professionals, you will have opportunities to collaborate with your peers in other design specialisms such as product and furniture design and interior architecture. Through exploring real briefs and contexts, you’ll have the chance to engage with and show your work to established practitioners, and on graduation you will become part of the school’s expanded network of mentors and career advisors.

Credit: Yijun Wu

Discover the role of the urban planner and designer and its impact on society and learn the advanced skills to become one on our BSc (Hons) Urban Design & Planning course.

You’ll learn spatial practices, and the value that an Urban Designer can add to projects and the wider community. You’ll use Canterbury and the wider Kent landscape as a canvas from which to work, researching, designing and examining the impact that your designs and plans would have upon it.

On campus, you’ll be able to take advantage of our extensive facilities, including forms of fabrication and testing, the latest scanning and VR technology, and a suite of traditional craft-based workshops, all of which will allow you to bring your design proposals to life. You will have the freedom to establish your own unique specialisms, such as advanced retrofit-based knowledge, and you will develop your own highly individualised design identity and style.

Along the way you’ll be guided by our team of academics and a wide range of industry professionals, and collaborative opportunities alongside students across the School of Architecture & Design will give you an enriched experience where specialised learning is combined with new perspectives and approaches to broaden your own horizons.

Credit: Denis Yau

Next steps

1. Applying

For full time undergraduate courses, fill out an application form via ucas.com (deadline 25 January). The institution name is UCA, the institution code is C93, and campus codes are C, E, F and M (for Maidstone TV Studios).

OR

For part-time undergraduate courses, fill out an application form directly with us using the ‘Apply now’ link on the course pages at uca.ac.uk

2. 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.

3.

Create a portfolio

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.

4.

Come to your applicant day

Depending on your course, you may need to create a portfolio of your work. Here are some tips (see page 50 for more):

Include 12-20 pieces of work, neatly presented

Lead with your show-stopping pieces

Show us how you thinkdocument your ideas in a sketchbook

You may be invited to an interview, where you’ll learn more about your course and meet the tutors.

5.

–

Present examples of your research that show idea development

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

For some Architecture & Design courses, we would love to see design projects and models, drawings, and written work.

Read your offer email carefully If your application is successful, you’ll receive an offer email from us that explains the full terms and conditions of your offer. You can also find details of your offer in your UCA Applicant Portal.

Accept your offer

For UCAS applications, accept by logging into UCAS Track

OR

For direct applications, accept using the task in your Applicant Portal.

International students: Pay your tuition fee deposit

Receive your CAS number

– Use your CAS number to apply for a visa

7.

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.

8.

Apply for a student loan

To apply, visit: gov.uk/student-finance

9.

Confirm your accommodation

For halls or local accommodation, make sure you’ve: Made your advance payment

– Confirmed your moving in date.

10.

Take your place at UCA Settle into your accommodation

Enrol on your course

– Meet your new friends

Enjoy your creative journey!

Portfolio advice

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.

Your portfolio is a collection of your best work; you might want to show us sketches and paintings, digital art and design, photography, fabric swatches or patterns, sound work, musical compositions, short films, or even essays and creative writing.

At our Applicant Days (or in an online interview if you submitted your portfolio digitally), we’ll get the opportunity to meet you and learn more about you as a person. They usually take place between December and March, and are a fun, informal next step in the application process.

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.

Portfolio tips

For all Architecture & Design courses, we’ll ask for 12-20 examples of your current work which shows off your experience, interests, aspirations and passion for the subject. Your portfolio is your opportunity to show us what you are currently working on or projects you have previously completed.

We know you have a creative, curious and ambitious mind – so show us in a way that catches our attention. This could comprise design or art projects presented with the necessary information including sketchbooks to describe the processes and tests that you undertook to develop the final outcome.

Don’t worry about producing new work for your portfolio. We are happy for you to bring work that demonstrates your skills and passion for creativity and design.

If you’re not currently studying art or design, don’t worry! You can include other material such as written work, photography or sketching to demonstrate your creative potential.

Where possible, it’d also be great if you could bring physical models of projects or concepts you have been working on, too. Our courses are “hands-on”, so showing an aptitude for making is a real bonus.

If it’s not practical to bring physical work then you can always photograph it, add it to a memory stick or upload it online. When uploading any work digitally, remember that if it’s a password protected site, we will need access. Try to use a platform that doesn’t require a login.

For Architecture, Industrial Design, and Product & Furniture Design, we would particularly like to see:

Design projects or models that you’ve made

Drawings and other design examples, for example collage, graphic design photography, and 3D models

– Short essays, stories, scenarios or other written work

More questions about your portfolio?

Scan to find out more.

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.

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

Integrated Foundation Year of a BA/BSc (Hons) degree:

A-level results adding up to 64 UCAS tariff points

Or a Diploma in Art & Design –Foundation Studies (Level 3 or 4) with a Pass

– Or a BTEC Extended Diploma/ BTEC National Extended Diploma with Merit | Pass | Pass

Or a UAL Extended Diploma with a Pass

Or a combination of accepted Level 3 qualifications adding up to 64 UCAS tariff points

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/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

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 Diploma in Art & Design –Foundation Studies (Level 3 or 4) 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 an IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 29-32 (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/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

Other BA/BSc (Hons) degrees

A-level results adding up to 112 UCAS tariff points

Or a Diploma in Art & Design –Foundation Studies (Level 3 or 4) 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 an Access to Higher Education Diploma

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

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/Key Skills Communication Level 2)

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.

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.

Open Days

Coming to an Open Day - whether virtually or in person - is a great way to find out more about UCA, the courses we offer, and whether this is the right place for you.

Whether you visit us in person or attend our online events, 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.

In-person Open Days

If you decide to come to an in-person open day, you’ll need to book a place on our website. It’s easy and free to do, and you’ll be able to register for any talks you’d like to go along to at the same time – from course-specific presentations to more general ones about life at UCA and funding your studies.

There will also be campus and accommodation tours, and a subject exhibition where you can meet lecturers and chat to our student ambassadors about what life here is really like.

Chat to a student: uca.ac.uk/chat

Explore our online talks: uca.ac.uk/ events/future-students

UCA Open Days

2022/23

Saturday 26th November 2022

– Wednesday 18th January 2023

Wednesday 26th April 2023

– Saturday 17th June 2023

Saturday 1st July 2023

Book your place

UCA FarnhamUCA Farnham

Heathrow Airport

London

Channel Tunnel

Maidstone Television Studios

UCA Canterbury Gatwick Airport

UCA Epsom

Heathrow Airport

CONNECT

Join us at #UCAlive

run live Q&A sessions where

Chat with our students

All

print.

is correct at time

visit uca.ac.uk

can ask us anything you like about what it’s like to live and study here at UCA. Visit our website and follow us on social media to find out about our next #UCAlive session.

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.

chat with a student in your subject area, visit: uca.ac.uk/chat