NCUK University Partner
University for the Creative Arts
University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is the creative university for the south east of England, with Schools across Surrey and Kent and a partner site at Maidstone Television Studios. It has been welcoming creators for nearly 170 years, and its academic staff and technicians bring expert knowledge, practical skills and professional experience into every course, with industry connections spanning the creative industries.
The Canterbury School of Art, Architecture and Design sits on the edge of the city near the Cathedral and covers architecture, design, fine art and visual communications. The Epsom School of Creative Business, Fashion and Enterprise is on the edge of Epsom town centre, about an hour from London by train, and focuses on creative business and fashion. The Farnham School of Creative and Cultural Industries, in a market town, covers film, performing arts, fine art, photography, animation, crafts, graphic design, illustration, creative technology and games. Maidstone Television Studios, a partner organisation about 30 miles from London and 25 miles from Canterbury, is described as the UK's largest independent TV studio facility and hosts television production study.
UCA's approach is built around the idea that a creative choice is a career choice, with live industry briefs, competitions, placements and internships woven into courses, and a dedicated Creative Careers and Employability team supporting students from day one through to after graduation.
Sustainability runs through the university's operations and curriculum, with a Sustainability Strategy Group, Education for Sustainability built into courses, and the Centre for Sustainable Design, which has carried out research since 1995. UCA has committed to reaching net zero carbon from its energy use by 2030.
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specialist art and design university for world-leading research outputs (Research Excellence Framework 2021)
UCA Creative Development Scholarships
£3,000 fee deduction for the first year on all full-time courses, awarded automatically to international applicants who meet the criteria. No application needed.
Full Fee Payment Discount
£1,000 fee reduction for international (non-EU) applicants on full-time courses, including PhD, who pay full tuition (after scholarships) before or at CAS issuance.
UCA Creative Europe Scholarship
Fee reduction to the home-student fee equivalent for the course duration, for EU nationals resident in the EU or UK, on all full-time courses excluding the International Foundation in Creative Practices, awarded automatically if criteria are met.
Student life and careers
A Students' Union runs clubs and societies covering interests from K-Pop dance and cheerleading to sport and culture, and students can sell their own work at the Winter and Spring Markets.
The Creative Careers and Employability team offers online resources, workshops, events, networking advice and one-to-one sessions, including support that continues after graduation.
Student support
The Campus Life team advises on wellbeing, disability, money matters and course administration, with specialist immigration support for international students. Students can book a wellbeing check-in, which can lead to a counselling referral, alongside other wellbeing tools and events.
Accommodation
At Canterbury, students can live in Ian Dury House on campus or the Riverside Student Quarter, about 20 minutes’ walk away. At Epsom, four blocks (Bradford House, Wilberforce Court, Crossways House and Worple Road) sit next to campus or about 10 minutes’ walk away. At Farnham, the Student Village and University Walk are on campus, with further rooms at Polden Studios in Aldershot through a private provider agreement. Maidstone has no UCA accommodation of its own; first-year students there can apply for accommodation in Canterbury and use a shuttle bus between the two sites. Help with private accommodation is also available at every campus.
Facilities
Each campus has its own specialist facilities: Canterbury has a machine workshop and motion capture studio, Epsom has a fashion atelier and make-up salon, Farnham has film soundstages, games facilities and VR studios, and Maidstone offers live galleries and editing suites.
Veritas Pathways students on the International Foundation Year may progress to University for the Creative Arts, subject to meeting its academic, English language, attendance and non-academic entry requirements.