Oscar-winning film makers and animators, world-renowned fashion designers, television presenters and Turner-Prize nominees are just some of UCA's high-profile graduates who have enriched the world with their creative talents. Taught and guided by our experienced, industry-connected academic staff, our students can now reap the benefits of studying in a top 25 UK university (see latest league table results below).
With more than 6,000 students studying over 110 creative courses across four campuses, we generate unique communities of artists, designers, makers, writers and researchers. As a specialist arts institution, we are 100% creative. Our distinctiveness against larger multi-disciplinary universities comes from focusing on provision through our creative campuses, which are not compromised by sharing facilities with other subjects or disciplines.
We are the highest placed creative university, the second highest modern university and are in the top 25 of all UK universities in The Guardian University Guide 2018. The Guardian also placed us in the top 10 for our Architecture, Fashion & Textiles and Film Production & Photography courses for 2018. We are ranked the top specialist university for the creative industries by the Complete University Guide 2018.
The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017 places us in the top 15 for teaching quality. We have been named as one of the top 30 best-performing universities across all three of the UK’s major league tables, after entering the 2018 Times Higher Education (THE) Table of Tables for the first time. We are also the only specialist creative arts university to be featured in the table. We were praised for our achievements at Graduate Fashion Week (GFW) 2017, with three student collections named among the ‘Best of GFW’, and Rochester graduate Yingi Goma winning the People’s Choice Award. Our Students’ Union, UCASU, was named the best specialist Students’ Union in the country at the 2016 National Union of Students (NUS) Awards.
UCASU was also named HE Students’ Union of the Year at the NUS Disabled Students Awards 2017.
The latest Research Exercise Framework (REF 2014) confirms our position as one of the top ten research communities in art and design, with 93% of our research designated as internationally recognised for quality, and 64% of our research submissions classed as world leading and internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and thoroughness.
From our beginnings in the Victorian era as a collection of public art and design colleges in Canterbury, Epsom, Guildford, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester, to being named in the top 25 of all UK universities this year (2017), UCA has dedicated itself to shaping and inspiring artists fit to work in the thriving creative industries for 150 years.
Starting as a number of smaller art schools which were spread across Southeast England, our Surrey origins began with the Farnham School of Art (1866), Guildford School of Art (1870) and Epsom & Ewell School of Art (1896). The three schools merged in 1969 to form the West Surrey College of Art & Design, which evolved into the Surrey Institute of Art & Design (SIAD) in 1995.
Our Kent founding schools were Maidstone College of Art (1867), Canterbury School of Art (1882), Medway College of Design (1886), and Canterbury School of Architecture (1948). The four schools joined together in 1987 to become the Kent Institute of Art & Design (KIAD).
More value is being placed on qualifications and higher education within the arts, particularly as demand for a highly skilled, creative workforce has increased for the thriving creative industries. We have developed and adapted the education we offer to meet the needs of industries as well as students.
In 2005, SIAD and KIAD came together to form the University College for the Creative Arts, and, in May 2008, we received full university status from the Privy Council, changing our name to University for the Creative Arts in September that year. In 2016, we evolved further when the Open College of the Arts (OCA) joined the fold, furthering the reach of creative education.
From our origins as a collection of humble art schools in the South East 150 years ago, UCA has grown into the UK’s top specialist university for the creative industries. Inspiring filmmakers, animators, artists, designers and architects to name but a few, UCA is educating a workforce fit to take the rapidly growing creative industries forward into the unknown.
Creativity is the energy that drives everyone here to invent, explore and collaborate. When you study at UCA, you'll get the opportunity to immerse yourself in an unrivalled creative vibe, find your own style and create the extraordinary. At UCA you'll be surrounded by people with the same passions as you. Our campuses offer cutting-edge creative environments, packed with the latest equipment and resources. Each one reflects the subject areas studied there, creating unique communities of artists, designers, makers, writers and researchers.
UCA Students’ Union (UCASU) represents, supports and provides opportunities for every student at the University. The Union are independent of the university, but work together closely to promote student interests. The Library collections include a wide range of resources to help support you in your studies. Not only do we have an impressive selection of books, journals and DVDs, we also have special collections focused on animation, photography and arts activism, to name but a few. In each Library there is a Gateway Desk where you will find someone to help point you in the right direction.
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Applying to study at the UCA University Of Creative Arts in Farnham was brilliant an adventure that one can’t forget but also an experience that will stick with me to the end as I grow each day learning and being admired by every student who shared and carried the same passions and love for art as you do felt like being at home surrounded by like minded individuals who you can make friends with easily and be happy to show you around the campus and take you through the step by step processes of being a uni student and how to handle and prepare for your studies was welcoming I would say there needs more clear explanations of preparing adults for life outside education as once you finish your studies your on your own to figure out what to do next so I think advice and contacts people in the industry’s should be able to come down and offer tips on that next step in the big world so that your not having to carry that burden on your shoulders when it’s finished makes it easy for the student to get a idea of what and how to go about looking for employment afterwoulds. The teachers at Farnham UCA were amazing helpful and friendly Fantastic teaching brings out the best in you when it comes to the your future when you finish your courses for anyone into the arts or anything creative UCA is the place to go..
By Mason Brendan John Niall (Feb, 2018) |
My course was very versatile and pushed us to explore all sorts of crazy ideas. My experience was overall very positive and even though some of the skills I had acquired were totally irrelevant after graduating, I still managed to get a job within a few months :)
By Victoria Constantine (Dec, 2017) |
Everything is great with equipment and preparation of the course, my main concern is that there seems to be no coordination of a students union, with the abolishment of the bar a couple years ago and no signs of any sort of base room for students to just hang out it's just a little more about the work than a student community.
Communication throughout the courses needs to be improved too, collaborative projects between not just fashion and fashion photography but other courses too.
Step up guys...
By Brad Lowe (Mar, 2017) |
An amazing creative environment which felt like a family to me by the time I reached 3rd year. Fashion Atelier has helped me become a formidable designer and maker and I can't wait to progress on into the fashion insdustry!
By Bryony Selway (Feb, 2017) |
I loved living in Farnham and the student environment is great. However, when I moved to Epsom, there was no real student community and my course (Fashion Design) was not for me. I was nervous and got lost in the crowd of over-enthusiastic fashion peeps. I received very little constructive guidance and just felt confused all the time. I did the wrong course, it's true, but it was pretty horrible to hear, after accumulating massive debt through student loans, in my 3rd year of a course from a tutor who had only just learned my name that I should have done illustration...
By Ellie Bedford (Mar, 2016) |
UCA has lots of great courses and the tutors are all artists (of sorts) themselves which creates a better learning system with the students.Everyone is very nice and welcoming. Although the outside may look very '60s' inside is far more up to date and contemporary. The Herbert Read Gallery is a fantastic extra that gives students many opportunites to see some amazing fellow artists they may not otherwise see or know.
By Clare Chapman (Jul, 2015) |
Amazing facilities from workshops, standard technical equipment to all the stationary, Specialized tutors, great student services, each staff is highly devoted to work. Studying at UCA, Canterbury has benefited me at both academic as well as personal levels. Social life is great as it's a student town. Beautiful campus located in Canterbury, a heritage city.
By Bhagyashree Walunj (Sep, 2014) |
Going to uni in Farnham was brilliant however the course I was on needs more than just teaching the skill of weaving. It needs business and preparing young adults for life outside education. The teachers at Farnham UCA were good but the amount of essays we had to do were not. I did one of my essays on the 60's chair, what a waste of time in my option except for the skill of writing which we all need. For the fees that universities are charging today, should young people have a say in what is being taught? Who better to ask, what skills young people need, than people already in the working industry. Great teaching but no planning when it comes to the future.
By Stef C Dod (Aug, 2014) |
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The transformation I’ve witnessed in my child this year is truly remarkable, all thanks to the dedicated staff and a curriculum that inspires learning!
By S.L. (Jun, 2024) |