University for the Creative Arts

Undergraduate (UK applicants)

Applications for all undergraduate degrees, including those with an Integrated Foundation Year or Professional Practice Year, are made through UCAS (institution code C93; campus codes C Canterbury, E Epsom, F Farnham, M Maidstone TV Studios). Applicants applying only to UCA may use the direct application form on each course page. UCAS applications open in mid-September of the year before entry, and applications received by the equal consideration date (13 January 2027 for September 2027 entry) are guaranteed consideration; places are often still available afterwards. UCAS Extra runs from 25 February to 1 July 2027 and Clearing opens on 2 July 2027. Entry requirements are expressed in UCAS tariff points on each course page, sometimes with specific grades or subjects. UCA states that it does not use UCAS contextual data in making offer decisions.

Many courses require a portfolio or audition, with specific requirements sent after application. UK applicants are invited to an Applicant Day (January to March 2027) that may include a portfolio review, audition or meeting with the course team; portfolios can instead be submitted digitally. Offers are accepted through UCAS Hub or the UCA Applicant Portal.

Integrated Foundation Year

Standard entry is one of: 32 UCAS tariff points; a Pass in the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4); Pass, Pass, Pass in a BTEC (National) Extended Diploma; a Pass in the UAL Extended Diploma; 32 tariff points from an Access to HE Diploma; or 24 points in the International Baccalaureate, plus four GCSEs at grade 9-4/A*-C including English. Other Level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered individually.

International undergraduate entry

International applicants may apply through UCAS or directly to UCA; direct applications carry no application fee and are not bound by the UCAS equal consideration date. Key dates for September 2027 entry are an application deadline of 20 August 2027 and deposit and CAS request deadlines of 3 September 2027. UCA considers equivalent qualifications from each applicant's home country for Foundation, Bachelor's and Master's entry, with country-by-country guidance (for example, for Ghana, an SSSCE with five passes at grade C or above for the Integrated Foundation Year and a Ghana HND for top-up entry). Preparatory routes include the International Foundation in Creative Practices and Integrated Foundation Year.

English language requirements

• Undergraduate degrees: IELTS (UKVI or Academic) 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each component; TOEFL iBT 72; PTE Academic 59 in each component.
• Undergraduate with Integrated Foundation Year and Masters with Integrated Pre-Masters: IELTS 5.5 overall with 5.5 in each component.
• Master's degrees: IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5 in each component (6.0 for applicants from China from September 2026 entry); TOEFL iBT 79; PTE Academic 59.
• MPhil/PhD: IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and at least 6.5 in other components; TOEFL iBT 100; PTE Academic 65 with 65 in writing.

Below-degree courses requiring a Student Route visa need a Secure English Language Test (such as IELTS for UKVI or PTE Academic UKVI). On-campus and online Pre-sessional English courses of 6 to 15 weeks are available for applicants holding conditional offers.

Postgraduate taught

All applicants apply directly to UCA through the course page application links. A portfolio may be requested through the Applicant Portal, and some applicants are interviewed in person, online or by telephone. UK applicants may apply year-round, with applications encouraged by 31 March; international applicants for September 2027 face the 20 August 2027 application deadline and 3 September 2027 deposit and CAS deadlines. Master's entry usually requires a Bachelor's degree from a recognised university; the Integrated Pre-Masters (September or January start) requires a recognised bachelor's degree or three-year diploma with a strong portfolio or personal statement in a relevant subject.

Postgraduate research

MPhil/PhD applicants need a recognised Master's degree relevant to the proposed research, or an undergraduate degree usually at 2:1 or above with appropriate research or professional experience. Applications are made online and include a research proposal of up to 2,000 words, a portfolio where relevant, a personal statement (written, or a two-minute video) and a writing sample of up to 3,000 words. For 2026 entry the deadline for the scheduled interview blocks was 31 March 2026, with online interviews in February and April. Part-time study is not available to international students, and students on a student visa must attend campus in person regularly.

Visas and CAS

International students must accept an offer and request a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS). After firmly accepting an unconditional offer, applicants create a CAS Shield account to upload supporting documents, and a tuition deposit must be paid before the CAS is issued.

Applying to UCA | English language requirements | Equivalent qualifications

• UCA Farnham (Falkner Road, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DS): the largest campus and home of the Farnham School of Creative and Cultural Industries, teaching animation, film and TV, games, creative technology, music, performing arts, photography, graphic design, illustration, fine art and crafts at undergraduate, postgraduate and research level. Facilities include audio and broadcast studios, the Lumina Media Centre, motion capture, virtual production and XR studios, ceramic studios, Elemental Craftworks studios, the Crafts Study Centre, the James Hockey and Foyer galleries, a Sculpture Garden and the largest UCA library (55 iMac and 41 PC workstations). Accommodation is in an on-campus Student Village with blocks opened in September 2021.
• UCA Canterbury (New Dover Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 3AN): Canterbury School of Art, Architecture and Design, teaching architecture, body art, fine art, interior design, product design and visual communication, with a design studio and modelling workshop, digital fabrication, ArtMaker studios, photography and sound studios, print and fabrication studio, and the Herbert Read and Clocktower galleries. Ian Dury House is the on-campus hall, with a partnership at Riverside Student Quarter.
• UCA Epsom (Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5BE, plus The Wells at 3-13 Church Street, KT17 4PF): Epsom School of Creative Business, Fashion and Enterprise, teaching business and management, communication and media, fashion and textiles and marketing. Facilities include digital fashion and print studios, a fashion design atelier, sewing and fabrication workshop, letterpress studio and fashion photography IT suites; the two-floor library has 54 iMacs, 15 PCs and 24 loanable MacBook Pros. Halls include Wilberforce Court, Worple Road and Crossways House.
• Maidstone TV Studios (Vinters Park, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5NZ): BA Television Production in a working commercial studio complex, with 25 Apple editing suites, screening rooms, sound booth, kit room and library, an on-site technical tutor and a work-placement coordinator. There are no UCA halls in Maidstone; students may live in Canterbury halls and use a shuttle bus.
• Institute of Creativity and Innovation (ICI), Xiamen University, Zhangzhou campus, China: a 5,189 square metre facility with 15 seminar rooms, computer labs, photography studios, CNC and laser cutter rooms, a model-making workshop, a library of more than 7,000 specialist books and the ICI Open Museum.

Across the UK campuses the libraries hold 366,550 books in print and electronic formats, more than 19,000 DVDs and 45 subscription databases, together with archives and special collections (including the Bob Godfrey collection) and the national VADS image repository of 140,000 items. Campus Life hubs on each campus provide wellbeing, counselling, money advice and international student support.