University for the Creative Arts (UCA)

University for the Creative Arts is a specialist art and design University. It is a large art and design institution, by UK standards, with around 7,000 students, and offers courses in a very wide range of art, design, fashion, moving image and architecture subjects. These are at non-degree further education such as diploma and BTEC, degree and doctorate level.

Oscar-winning film makers, world-renowned fashion designers, television presenters, celebrity jewellers and Turner Prize nominees are just some of the high-profile graduates from the University for the Creative Arts.

The University prides itself on its industry-standard facilities. The campuses are home to workshops for ceramics, glass, wood and metals where students can experiment under the supervision of technicians with extensive industry experience in their field. There is extensive studio space in painting, sculpture, fashion and film-making; radio and TV facilities for trainee journalists; stop motion equipment for animators; and an industry-standard Gerber suite for fashion pattern cutting.

It is not surprising that this specialist learning environment has produced graduates who go on to lead in their chosen industry. The University's alumni include, Karen Millen and Zandra Rhodes in the world of fashion; jeweller, Stephen Webster; Oscar winning animators, Michael Dudok de Wit and Suzie Templeton; artists, Humphrey Ocean and Tacita Dean; and, textile designer Roger Oates.

The founder colleges in Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester opened their doors in Victorian times. Each of these colleges made it their mission to serve local people in the communities in which they were based and to offer education irrespective of social class. The curriculum and buildings may have changed since then but the passion for creativity and education remains and influences everything till nowadays. After a series of mergers, the University for the Creative Arts achieved full university title in 2008. This was wonderful news for staff, students and alumni alike, as the creation of a specialist creative arts university acknowledged the growing importance of the taught subjects. The appointment of Zandra Rhodes as the first Chancellor in May 2010 completed this process.

The subject areas are:

• Animation
• Design Business Institute
• Film
• Journalism
• Photography
• Architecture & Interior Design
• Digital & Media
• Fine Art
• Learning & Teaching
• Three Dimensional & Product Design
• Crafts & Design
• Fashion & Textiles
• Graphic Design & Illustration
• Marketing, Management & Promotion
• International Pathway

The University has 6 main campuses: Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Rochester, at The Maidstone Studios and at The Royal School of Needlework.

UCA Canterburry

UCA Canterbury offers courses in Architecture, Fine Art or Graphic Design and also has a vibrant further education department which runs the popular Foundation Diploma, Extended Diploma and Access courses. The campus is a short walk from Canterbury city centre and provides purpose-built studios, workshops and lecture theatres. It also has an on-campus halls of residence, the Herbert Read art gallery, specialist library, an art shop, café and newly refurbished bar.

UCA Epsom

UCA Epsom offers specialist degree course in Fashion, Fashion Promotion, Fashion Management, Fashion Journalism, Graphics and Music Journalism as well as providing dedicated studios for a range of postgraduate courses including the UKs first MBA in Creative Business Management. The campus is also home to a range of further education courses such as the popular Foundation Diploma and a Level 3 Diploma in Art & Design which is suitable for post GCSE students.

UCA Farnham

A hub of creativity, UCA Farnham has over 2,000 students studying a wide range of creative arts subjects including Fine Art, Photography, Textiles, Crafts, Film, Graphics, Journalism and Advertising.

UCA Rochester

UCA Rochester houses industry-standard facilities to support the courses offered at the campus including extensive fashion and pattern cutting studios; photography studios and darkrooms; jewellery and product design workshops; computer suites for digital animation and photo editing. The UCA campus itself is one of Rochester's cultural venues, hosting important exhibitions and contemporary art and design events throughout the year.

UCA at The Maidstone Studios

The Maidstone Studios are the UK's largest independent TV studio facility. The Universyty's Television Production and new Media Business Management and Interactive Media Production degree courses are based at the studios and this gives you an unique opportunity to study in a professional environment with access to industry-standard equipment.

UCA at The Royal School of Needlework

The Royal School of Needlework offers the only specialist Hand Embroidery degree course in Europe which is accredited by UCA. The Degree programme, as part of the wider Royal School of Needlework (RSN) founded in 1872, is in the unique position to draw upon the organisation's history, experience of technical teaching of hand embroidery and its vast Collection of over 60,000 objects including embroidery, business archives and photographs.