University for the Creative Arts
University for the Creative Arts is a specialist art and design university formed in 2005 by the merger of the Kent and Surrey institutes of art and design, which took university title in 2008, and takes undergraduate applications through UCAS.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. University for the Creative Arts is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is University for the Creative Arts?
University for the Creative Arts is a specialist university in art and design in Farnham. It teaches on four campuses in the south-east of England and offers no engineering or medicine, and it is on the Home Office register of student sponsors.
UCA is a specialist institution rather than a multi-faculty university. The four campuses sit at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham and Rochester, each with its own workshops, studios and library.
02
Which subjects stand out at University for the Creative Arts?
The subjects University for the Creative Arts is known for are fashion, graphic design and illustration, animation, film and photography, architecture and interior design, fine art and crafts and games and creative computing. Each of the four campuses carries its own workshops, studios and library.
fashion
fashion design, textiles and fashion business
graphic design and illustration
studio-led design programmes
animation, film and photography
moving image and photographic programmes
architecture and interior design
design programmes at undergraduate level
fine art and crafts
fine art, ceramics and glass
games and creative computing
game arts and creative technology
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at University for the Creative Arts?
University for the Creative Arts admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.0 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at University for the Creative Arts?
University for the Creative Arts publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in Farnham?
UCA's campuses are spread across four towns in the south-east of England: Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham and Rochester. Each holds its own workshops, studios and library rather than sharing one central site, and the city centre is a short journey away.
Accommodation at Canterbury includes Ian Dury House, with prices by room type published on the institution's own accommodation pages. All four towns are within reach of London by train.
06
How is an application to University for the Creative Arts made?
Undergraduate applications to University for the Creative Arts go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to University for the Creative Arts directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.0 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does University for the Creative Arts issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. University for the Creative Arts appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- University for the Creative Arts — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- University for the Creative Arts — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
