University profile

University for the Creative Arts

Edition
2023/24 edition

About University for the Creative Arts

As one of the top three creative specialist universities in the UK (the Guardian 2023), the University for the Creative Arts is an ideal place to surround yourself with artistic inspiration.

Whether you’re looking to diversify your skills, boost momentum on an unfinished project, or carve a route to a career that aligns with your passions, joining our vibrant postgraduate community could help you take that next step.

We offer a variety of courses across the creative arts, business, and technology sectors. But with us you won’t just be limited to your specialist subject of choice. In fact, we strongly encourage opportunities to collaborate with other subjects, and all our dedicated workshops and facilities are open to you – to experiment, expand your skillset, and truly explore your creativity.

Specialist creative campuses

UCA has three campuses located across the South East of England, each home to a unique set of specialist creative subjects. These are based in idyllic locations to inspire your creativity – whether you seek the bustling historic city life that Canterbury can offer, Epsom’s friendly town atmosphere with natural spaces close-by, or the quaint and cosy surroundings found in the market town of Farnham.

Dedicated facilities

Our facilities have been designed with industry in-mind, to ensure you leave your course ready for the creative landscape. From traditional equipment and modern studios to soundstages and VR testing areas, you should find just about all you need to turn your creative ideas into reality – with support from our team of experienced technicians.

UCA is also home to a number of internationally recognised research centres, including the Centre for Sustainable Design, the Craft Study Centre, and the International Textile Research Centre. You’ll also find the Business School for the Creative Industries, based at our Epsom campus - the first of its kind in the UK.

You can discover more through a virtual tour of our campuses, or by booking on to one of our regular in-person campus tour visits.

A diverse, creative community

We welcome students from the UK and across the world who share one thing in common – a passion for creativity. Surrounded by industry experts and fellow creators, our degrees seek to draw out your creative identity in a friendly and inspiring environment. And we find that this close-knit community of students and tutors provides plenty of opportunities for support.

Throughout your time with us, you’ll have opportunities to exhibit and share your work within this community and beyond, and many students go on to win competitions and awards for the work they create.

With our academic staff being experts in their fields, their continued connection to the creative industries keeps their teaching and the course syllabus relevant to the newest skills emerging in industry. We're proud of the incredible things our graduates achieve, with big names such as artist Tracey Emin CBE, jewellery designer Stephen Webster MBE, animator and producer, Mark Baker (Peppa Pig), filmmaker Gareth Edwards, BAFTA-winning animator Grant Orchard (Hey Duggee), and designer, author, and film director, Arnold Schwartzman OBE among them.

A global research-focus

UCA was named the top creative specialist institution for world-leading research outputs in Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF 2021) – cementing our place at the forefront of creative research. We’re home to seven world-leading research centres, with our research degrees giving graduates an unparalleled opportunity to work alongside renowned creative experts.

Find out more

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to continuing your studies. That’s why you can find plenty of helpful guidance on topics like fees, scholarships, and accommodation at our website. You can also contact our enquiries team or chat to a current student through our Unibuddy system on our website.

We accept applications for our postgraduate courses all year but recommend applying before 31st March to leave time to prepare for your studies.

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