University for the Creative Arts

The University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone & Rochester provides inspiring courses in art, design, architecture, media and communication.

Formed through the union of The Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College and the Kent Institute of Art & Design, we have an outstanding heritage spanning 150 years.

With around 6,500 students enrolled on more than 80 different courses, the University is one of the UK’s leading providers of specialist art and design education, offering strengths in art, design, architecture, media and communication.

UCA is a thriving and vibrant community of students, staff and researchers. It is home to several public art galleries, to the Crafts Study Centre and to research centres that include the Centre for Sustainable Design, the Animation Research Centre and the Public Art and Architecture (PARC) research centre.

As a specialist organisation, the University’s purpose-built facilities, its expanding programme of research and development, and its growing range of business and professional links are all focused on the promotion of the creative arts. The recent award of university enhances the reputation of further and higher education in the creative arts, driving forward research, and providing a gateway to the cultural industries.

Advantages, benefits and highlights for Irish graduates and professionals:

Courses prepare you for employment and self employment. See UCA Careers webpages for details of opportunities
Irish PG students will have access to the UK job market (as EU citizens).
UCA operates an excellent internship scheme
The creative industries form an important part of the UK economy:

‘Britain’s creative industries account for 6.4 per cent of gross value added, have been growing at 4 per cent a year, they provide 1.8 million jobs and they export services worth £16 billion per annum, which makes this the largest creative industries sector in the European Union.’
From The Times
September 23, 2009

Extra information about postgraduate study at UCA

Facilities include:

Industry standard Gerber Suite for fashion pattern cutting.
High-end computers loaded with the latest software for animation, architecture and digital design.
Extensive range of advanced digital photographic equipment housed within the Hasslebad Centre for High Resolution Digital Imaging research centre.
Traditional workshops for ceramics, glass, wood and metals.
Expansive studio spaces for painting, sculpture, fashion and filmmaking.

Specialist art and design

The University’s key strength lies in the breadth of specialist, academic disciplines that it offers. Providing students with a ladder of opportunity, the University enables talented individuals to progress from further education through to undergraduate and postgraduate study and on to employment and creative practice.

Many staff are creative practitioners as well as academics, and are actively involved in the cultural industries. In this way, they bring the workplace into the learning environment, enabling the University to drive forward research and to prepare its students for the world of work.

Research credentials

In the 2001 RAE (Research Assessment Exercise), the Kent Institute entered 22 research-active staff achieving an overall grade of 3a. The Surrey Institute was also awarded 3a for Art and Design in the same exercise, having raised its quality rating by three grades – the most significant improvement of all submissions in Art and Design.
Research Clusters
Research Clusters provide a supportive environment for research active staff and research students to engage with the wider research community:
MAKE: The Model as an Articulation of Knowledge and Experimentation

The Home Interaction Research Cluster

Centre for Spatial Analysis and Intervention

The Manipulated Moving Image Research Cluster

Photo-Video Research Cluster

The Book Room Research Cluster

Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Creativity

Surface Tensions

Art, Science & Culture Research Cluster

Nurturing success

The University counts many of the UK’s most successful designers, artists and communicators among its alumni, including such distinguished individuals as the Turner Prize nominee, Tracey Emin; TV personality, Tony Hart; fashion designers, Owen Gaster, Karen Millen, Zandra Rhodes and Nargess Gharani and Vanja Strok of Gharani Strok; graphic designer, Martin Lambie Nairn; artists, Humphrey Ocean and Tacita Dean; Oscar-winning animators, Daniel Greaves, Michael Dudok de Wit and Suzie Templeton; and textile designer, Roger Oates. Together these alumni demonstrate an ability to generate success, both nationally and internationally, and provide the University with a track record that speaks for itself.

Postgraduate courses at UCA