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University for the Creative Arts

Farnham, United Kingdom

  • Cost of Living£ 17,352
  • Tuition Fee From£ 11,700
  • Country Rank#141
  • Batch Strength5,119
  • Global Diversity12.6%
  • Gender Ratio35:63

Overview

About

Located in Farnham, south of England, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) specialises in art and design. When the Kent Institute of Art and Design merged with the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, which already had degree-granting status, it was created in 2005 as University College for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone, and Rochester. Both constituent schools were created by joining the local art schools in Kent and Surrey, respectively. In 2008, it received university status, and the current name was adopted. It united with the Open College of the Arts in 2016. UCA Epsom is home to the first Business School for Creative Industries in the UK.

 

UCA is the second-largest supplier of creative arts education in the UK and provides degrees in a huge variety of architecture, art, design, fashion, media, and performing arts areas. Pre-degree, post-secondary, undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels of education all provide courses for students to pick from. The Business School, Canterbury School of Architecture, Crafts & Design, Fashion & Textiles, Film, Media & Performing Arts, Fine Art, Photography and Visual Communication, and Further Education make up the university's seven academic schools. It has five research centres, which are the Center for Digital Scholarship, the Center for Sustainable Design, the Center for Crafts Study, the Center for Fine Art & Photography Research, and the International Textile Research Center.

 

In addition to having campuses in Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, and Rochester, UCA also maintains educational facilities at The Royal School of Needlework, The Maidstone Studios, and Folkestone Creative Quarter. It once had a campus in Maidstone, but that location was shut down in 2014. Other educational institutions and arts organizations in the UK and abroad that the university collaborates with to conduct courses include Farnham Maltings, Laine Theatre Arts, London School of Design & Marketing, Millennium Performing Arts, Turner Contemporary, and the MIT Institute of Design. The Open College of the Arts joined UCA on November 1st, 2016. This was built upon a near-functional connection made in 2010.

Ranking

The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) is a specialised institution dedicated to arts education, boasting multiple campuses across South East England in Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, and Rochester. Renowned for its diverse array of creative programmes, UCA excels in fields such as Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Fine Art, Photography, Animation, Film Production, and Architecture. The university's emphasis on practical learning and strong industry connections prepares students for successful careers in creative industries. Looking at recent rankings, UCA's position has fluctuated. In the Complete University Guide for 2025, UCA ranks 85th among UK universities, showing a slight improvement from its 87th position in 2024. However, this represents a decline from its 74th place in 2023. Similarly, The Guardian's 2024 ranking places UCA at 71st, marking a significant drop from its 49th position in 2023 and 32nd in 2022. Despite these ranking changes, UCA continues to be recognised for its specialised focus on creative arts education.

 

University For The Creative Arts - The Guardian Ranking 2024

In The Guardian's 2024 ranking, the University for the Creative Arts is positioned 71st among UK universities, a decline from 49th in 2023 and 32nd in 2022.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

University

32

49

71

 

University For The Creative Arts - The Complete University Guide Ranking 2025

In the Complete University Guide ranking for 2025, the University for the Creative Arts is ranked 85th among UK universities, improving slightly from 87th in 2024 but down from 74th in 2023.

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

UK University

74

87

85

 

University For The Creative Arts - QS Ranking 2024

Ranked by

2022

2024

Art and Design

151

101

 

Learn More About: University For The Creative Arts’s Admission

 

University For The Creative Arts - The Guardian Ranking 2024

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

Architecture

7

15

36

Business and Management

8

13

23

Journalism

5

4

-

Media and Film Studies

48

-

-

 

University For The Creative Arts - The Complete University Guide Ranking 2025

Ranked by

2023

2024

2025

Architecture

25

48

42

Art and Design

59

64

67

Business and Management Studies UK

53

54

58

Communication and Media Studies

40

76

-

Computer Science

-

104

116

 

Course Rankings

B.A.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Complete University Guide - Art and Design

63

59

64

 

B.Arch

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Architecture

7

15

36

The Complete University Guide - Architecture

33

25

48

 

B.E. / B.Tech

Ranked by

2024

The Complete University Guide - Computer Science

104

 

Learn More About: University For The Creative Arts’s Courses

B.J.M.C.

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Media and Film Studies

48

-

-

The Guardian - Journalism

5

4

-

The Complete University Guide - Communication and Media Studies

58

40

76

 

BBA

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Business and Management

8

13

23

The Complete University Guide - Business and Management Studies UK

85

53

54

 

M.A.

Ranked by

2022

2024

QS - Art and Design

151

101

 

Architecture & Planning

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Architecture

7

15

36

The Complete University Guide - Architecture

33

25

48

 

Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing )

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

QS - Art and Design

151

-

101

The Complete University Guide - Art and Design

63

59

64

 

Business & Management Studies

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Business and Management

8

13

23

The Complete University Guide - Business and Management Studies UK

85

53

54

 

Mass Communication & Media

Ranked by

2022

2023

2024

The Guardian - Media and Film Studies

48

-

-

The Guardian - Journalism

5

4

-

The Complete University Guide - Communication and Media Studies

58

40

76

 

Science

Ranked by

2024

The Complete University Guide - Computer Science

104

 

Computer Science

Ranked by

2024

The Complete University Guide - Computer Science

104

 

Journalism

Ranked by

2022

2023

The Guardian - Journalism

5

4

Year

QS Ranks

US News Ranks

2024

-

-

2023

-

-

2022

-

-

2021

-

-

Facilities

At UCA, they’re committed to assisting students in bringing their imaginative ideas to life; through both skilled instruction and the substantial facilities and resources to which students have full access. At the university, students can learn more about what each of the campuses has to offer, from Rochester's cutting-edge Gerber suites to Farnham's traditional craft workshops. Additionally, students also get a chance to discover details about libraries and other services that will support them while they're a student at UCA. The campuses of UCA are bursting with all the resources a student requires to help them with their work, from modern computer equipment and roomy studios to age-old craft stores and dyeing facilities. There are also stocked art stores and equipment rentals on every campus. Here are some of the University for the Creative Arts facilities - 

 

Libraries

The four campus libraries at UCA offer much more than just book checkout services. They serve as peaceful study spaces away from residences, resource centres for the university’s student support services, and locations to find historical information, rare broadcasts, and literature. Each of the campuses has a library that is fully stocked with everything students could possibly need for both their academic work and everyday university living. Students can conduct research for their studies or for their own personal interests in a variety of methods. Here are the various resources the university has at their libraries -

 

  • Academic Support 
  • Archives and Special Collections 
  • Artists' books 
  • Books Databases 
  • Dissertations and Theses 
  • Images Journals 
  • Moving images 
  • VADS 
  • UCARO

 

Student Services:

At UCA, students will never feel alone. Whether they need aid with moving in, academic support, counselling, or even financial guidance, the student services department is always there to lend a helping hand. Students can find information on upcoming events, connections to the more specialised support services that may be relevant to them, and all of the contact information on the university’s website. During their time at the university, there are several ways that student services may support them, whether it's with their schoolwork or other life difficulties through services such as -

 

  • Counselling
  • Report + Support
  • Campus buddy scheme
  • PAL (Peer Assisted Learning)
  • Peer mentoring
  • Academic support
  • Advice & Finance
  • Wellbeing
  • Faith and Religion
  • Specialist Support Services

 

Faith Services:

UCA is a fantastic place to study, work, or visit because of the wide diversity of faiths, views, and cultures represented in the student body. Students observe and learn that the university values the contributions that individuals with other faiths, ideologies, and cultural backgrounds make more than just tolerance or even respect. The university is more interested in an individual's character and aspirations than in what they are.

Notable Alumni

Zandra Rhodes
Zandra Rhodes
Fashion Designer
PJ Liguori
PJ Liguori
YouTuber
Michaël Dudok de Wit
Michaël Dudok de Wit
Dutch Animator

Courses

Admission

Acceptance Rate

The University of the Creative Arts acceptance rate is 77%. This indicates that the university accepts 77 students out of 100 applicants. Students applying here have to present good grades and needed documents to get in.

 

 Entry Requirements

The student body at UCA is multicultural and international. Both the university's application portal and the UCAS portal are available to applicants. Students who are just applying to UCA or to a postgraduate programme must submit an online application directly to the university. For students applying through the UCAS application, they must pay an application fee of GBP 24. Applications should be submitted as soon as possible by students. The deadline for UCAS's equal consideration programme is in January. The following University for the Creative Arts entry requirements will be required at the time of admission -


 

Application Portal

UG: UCAS

PG: University website

Acceptance Rate

77%

English Language Requirement

IELTS:  6.0 for undergraduate programmes and 6.5 for postgraduate programmes

 

Duolingo: Minimum score of 105 for undergraduate programmes and 115 for postgraduate programmes.

Additional Documents

  • Transcripts
  • 2-3 LORs
  • SOP

 

Fees

At the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, UCA offers more than 120 courses. The university also collaborates on a wide range of academic projects with academic institutions throughout the globe, including the MIT School of Design and the London School of Marketing and Design. The university charges an average annual tuition of £16,950. Here is the University for the Creative Arts fees -

 

  • Animation & Design: £13,740 - £17,500
  • Architecture & Real Estate: £16,250 - £17,500
  • Law & Legal Studies: £11,700 - £17,500
  • Psychology: £17,500 

 

Placements

Within six months of graduation, 96.9% of UCA graduates find employment. Graduates make an average of GBP 18,000 per year. Students can access career services from the university three years after they graduate. Companies including Michael Kors, Pandora, L'Oreal, Urban Outfitters, and Burberry have approached the university about hiring alumni from its business school. The University for Creative Arts Placement, Career and Employability office assists students by scheduling appointments, arranging attendance at lectures, workshops, and events, posting about open positions, etc.

Scholarship

These are the scholarships available for students at the University for the Creative Arts: 

 

Name Of The Scholarship

Grant

Sir Ray Tindle Scholarship

1,000 GBP

Elfriede Windsor Scholarship

5,000 GBP

Nick Jack Scholarship

5,000 GBP

Finances

Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the University For The Creative Arts (UCA) . For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!

Accommodation

There are several student accommodations in Farnham near University for the Creative Arts that are fully equipped for your needs. Student accommodation near University For The Creative Arts offers a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.

UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from an array of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are inexpensive and fully furnished with 24/7 staff support.

Cost of Living

The University for the Creative Arts is located in Surrey. Living in Surrey is fairly cheaper compared to other cities in the UK. Let us see the breakdown of costs in the table below!

 

Particulars

Cost (Monthly)

Off-Campus Accommodation 

£ 800

On-Campus Accommodation

£ 660

Transportation

£ 100

Food Cost

£ 360

Entertainment

£ 36

Groceries

£ 48

Clothes

£ 102

Total Cost of Living with Off Campus Accommodation 

£ 1446

Total Cost of Living with On Campus Accommodation 

£ 1306

Annual Cost of Living

£ 17352

FAQs