One of the seven specialist arts universities in our league table, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) puts creativity into the commuter belt. Its courses range from fine art to virtual and immersive reality, interior design to silversmithing and, as of this autumn, a degree in body art.
UCA was formed in 2005 by the merging of a number of small arts schools in Kent and Surrey whose alumni include Tracey Emin and Zandra Rhodes, UCA’s chancellor emerita. It gained university status in 2008.
Highly specialist facilities support students to further their creative education, such as those at UCA’s Canterbury School of Architecture — one of only two British architecture faculties remaining within a specialist art and design institution — or on set at Maidstone Television Studios, where TV production students experience hands-on learning.
What is the University for the Creative Arts’ reputation?
UCA’s performance in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) far outdid its results in the previous national assessment in 2014, triggering a 57-place rise in our research quality index to 55th. The submission included entries relating to sculpture, ceramics, photographic collections, films, essays and books. Overall, 78 per cent of the work was rated world-leading or internationally excellent.
Only six years ago UCA was in the top 30 of our academic rankings, a height it has not reached since, and a 40-place tumble this year ranks it 127th in our main league table. Declining rates of student satisfaction have contributed to its decline: it has fallen to 120= from 98th for teaching quality and to 127th from 125th for the wider student experience, according to our analysis of the National Student Survey.
UCA achieved silver overall in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023), down from gold in the previous assessment in 2017, along with silvers for the student experience and student outcomes. The TEF assessors praised UCA for its use of “scholarship, professional practice and engagement with external professional networks to contribute to a very high-quality academic experience”.
What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?
There is a new course in body art at the Canterbury campus.
What are the University for the Creative Arts’ entry requirements — and my chances of getting in?
Exam results are only part of the picture for winning a place at UCA, which celebrates creativity, ingenuity and personality; portfolios and auditions also play a key role. Standard requirements vary between 32 Ucas tariff points for entry to integrated foundation-year courses to 128 points for architecture. About 4 per cent of entrants gained their place through clearing in 2024.
What are the graduate prospects?
A concerted effort to boost employability — a recognised issue in the creative industries — means all undergraduates have a guarantee of work placements lasting from a fortnight to a year. Industry links proliferate, such as a partnership with the National Theatre and an acting course that is accredited by Spotlight and Equity UK. TV production students have the opportunity to study “on set” at Maidstone Television Studios. But despite these efforts, UCA is at the bottom of our graduate prospects index, with 56.8 per cent of former students in highly skilled work or postgraduate study within 15 months of finishing their degree.
What is the University for the Creative Arts’ campus like?
Farnham has plenty of market-town charm and student-friendly pubs. It is home to the new School of Communications and the School of Games and Creative Technology, bringing together courses in journalism, graphic design, illustration and user-experience design. Facilities include a virtual production studio, a green screen and filming studios, and a stop-motion animation studio, which consolidate the university’s strong reputation in the industry; graduates of the film production degree have worked on Harry Potter and Mission: Impossible films.
The Epsom campus is the closest to London of all the sites and has more of the city buzz about it, while historic Canterbury has a large student population (including those of neighbouring Kent and Canterbury Christ Church universities). Its School of Architecture promotes collaboration between student architects, designers and fine artists. The Canterbury campus also hosts degree courses — with studio spaces — in fine art, interior design, graphic design, and illustration and animation.
When can I visit?
uca.ac.uk
Everything you need to know about the University for the Creative Arts’ student life and wellbeing support
UCA is packed with arts and cultural facilities, from workshops and studios to its public galleries.
There are clubs and societies at the students’ union, including cheerleading, football and rugby (though there are no sports facilities), and opportunities for students to sell their work.
A 24/7 service offering “in the moment” help via WhatsApp and an online Report + Support platform, where students can anonymously report incidents and request help, are available, as well as a wellbeing check-in, from which students can access services including UCA’s counsellors and external help.
What do the students say?
“Each campus has a strong identity and close-knit community where you can fully embed yourself in a friendly, inclusive environment. UCA champions diversity and encourages people to be their most authentic selves. We welcome the weird, the wonderful, and everything in between.”
Cassie DeSt-Croix, students’ union president, illustration and animation student
What about student accommodation at the University for the Creative Arts?
There are 1,238 beds across its three campuses — not quite sufficient for it to guarantee accommodation to all first-years, but students who apply before the deadline should expect to secure a place.
How diverse and inclusive is the University for the Creative Arts?
The university has a network of industry professionals and creative workshop tutors who run activities for schools and colleges. UCA is in the top ten for recruitment of mature students (70.6 per cent, 7th). It ranks 8= overall for social inclusion, up from 12th last year. Help with travel and equipment is available for students.
Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at the University for the Creative Arts
One student on each course is picked to win the UK Excellence Scholarship, which is worth £1,500 off the first year’s tuition fees. Further financial support includes the Grenfell Tower Scholarship, offering a full fee waiver to survivors of the 2017 fire in London. The UCA Ones to Watch scholarship is a competition for those studying animation or film production degrees. Students with experience of being in care are eligible for a bursary of £1,000 a year.
