How to Apply to UCA and What Portfolio Advice Is Available

You apply to UCA through the standard UK route — UCAS for undergraduate courses, or direct application for postgraduate and research degrees — and creative courses generally expect a portfolio, with UCA publishing dedicated portfolio advice and personal statement guidance to help you prepare. International applicants also need to check equivalent qualifications and English language requirements before applying. The steps below cover what to prepare, where to find UCA's guidance, and the common sticking points.

Before you start: what you need ready

• Course choice: UCA groups courses by subject (Animation, Architecture, Business & Management, Fashion & Textiles, Fine Art, Games, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Product Design and others) and by level (undergraduate, postgraduate, research degrees, integrated foundation year, integrated pre-masters, short courses, pre-sessional English). Confirm the exact course and level first, because entry requirements and application routes differ.
• Application route: undergraduate applicants apply via UCAS; postgraduate and research applicants should check the "How To Apply" section for the route that applies to them.
• Portfolio material: most creative arts courses ask for evidence of creative work. Start assembling this early rather than after submitting.
• Personal statement: UCA provides personal statement guidance, so draft against that rather than a generic template.
• English language evidence (international applicants): check UCA's English language requirements and the support options listed under International.

Step-by-step application

1. Shortlist your course using the Courses section, filtering by subject and level. Note the campus — UCA's campuses are Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and the Maidstone TV Studios — since location affects facilities and portfolio expectations for some subjects.
2. Check entry requirements for your course, including any integrated foundation year option if your qualifications don't yet meet the standard entry point.
3. Read the portfolio advice before you build your portfolio. UCA publishes portfolio guidance aimed at applicants; use it to decide what to include and how to present it.
4. Draft your personal statement using UCA's personal statement advice. Focus on why the subject, what you've made or explored, and how the course fits your direction.
5. Submit via the correct route — UCAS for undergraduate, or the route described in How To Apply for postgraduate and research.
6. Attend an open day, campus tour or virtual tour if you can. UCA lists upcoming open days (the page highlights an Open Day on 17 October), virtual tours, campus tours and webinars for future students. These are useful for confirming course fit and asking portfolio questions directly.
7. International applicants: work through the International section — country guides, equivalent qualifications, English language requirements, scholarships and fees, and visas and immigration — before or alongside your application.

Portfolio advice: what to expect and how to use UCA's guidance

UCA's portfolio advice sits alongside its How To Apply guidance and is the reference point for what to submit. Practical points to keep in mind:

• Show process, not just outcomes. Sketchbooks, development work and experiments usually matter as much as finished pieces, because tutors are assessing how you think.
• Curate rather than dump. A focused selection that shows range and depth is stronger than everything you've ever made.
• Match the course. A Games or Animation portfolio and a Fine Art portfolio should look different; check subject-specific expectations.
• Present clearly. Label work, note media and dimensions, and follow whatever format UCA specifies for your course.
• Use open days and webinars to test your portfolio direction — talking to staff or current students is the fastest way to resolve uncertainty.

Personal statement guidance

UCA provides personal statement advice for applicants. Use it to structure a statement that connects your creative interests to the specific course, shows evidence of independent work, and explains your reasons for choosing UCA and that campus. Avoid generic statements that could apply to any art school.

International entry requirements and English language

International applicants should check three things before applying:

Pre-sessional English courses are listed under Courses if you need to strengthen your English before starting a degree.

Common sticking points

• Leaving the portfolio until after you apply. Build it in parallel with your application; portfolio guidance is there to shape it, not to review it at the end.
• Applying to the wrong level. If your qualifications fall short, the integrated foundation year (or integrated pre-masters for postgraduate) may be the correct entry point.
• Ignoring campus differences. Facilities and course character vary across Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and the TV studios — check before you commit.
• Skipping the international checks. Qualification equivalence and English language evidence are the most frequent causes of delay for international applicants.

Where to verify details

Course lists, entry requirements, open day dates and portfolio and personal statement guidance are all published on uca.ac.uk under Courses, Open Days, Applying to UCA and International. Confirm current dates and requirements there before submitting, since open day schedules and entry requirements can change between cycles.