About this University

The University of Gloucestershire has its students at the heart of everything that it does. It is home to 12,000 students and has three campuses across Cheltenham and Gloucester.

The University sits within the top 25 for course satisfaction in the UK, according to the Guardian 2020. It is also ranked 3rd globally for personal tutor support and 7th globally for quality of lectures according to the recent International Student Barometer results in 2021.

The university offers a vast array of programmes for students to choose from across its seven schools, including sandwich courses offering a year in industry and fast-track undergraduate degrees. There are also options to complete final year undergraduate study via a range of level six top up degrees, and also complete a postgraduate master’s course via a master’s degree stage award.

The University of Gloucestershire considers all types of qualifications, and students can apply to enter at various points during the degree programme so long as they have enough credit from an approved course in the same field.

Outside of classrooms, students can take part in outdoor sports such as skiing, mountain climbing, water sports, and much more through participation in the numerous student clubs and societies. Students are well represented with the student union acting as the voice of the student body and supports the student community.

The Growth Hub based at Oxstalls Campus in Gloucester is a collaboration between the university and Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership that supports numerous regional high-growth businesses. Recently, the university also supported the opening of a Growth Hub in Indonesia.

The university enjoys links with international leading employers such as Kodak, Google, BAFTA and BBC TV and Radio, to name just a few.

Graduate outcomes

The university provides career services to students by providing support, information and opportunities to gain work experience, develop their skills and manage their career. According to the most recent Graduate Outcomes Survey, 92 per cent of Gloucestershire graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months of completing their course (Graduate Outcomes Survey published June 2021 based on 2018/19 leavers).

Placements

Most of the courses include placement modules which allow students to gain relevant experience working in a professional environment, locally, nationally, or internationally. In any one year, there are typically over 4,000 placements.

Internships

The university’s internship programme is open to all students on every course and offers them the chance to grow in confidence, as well as discover and develop their skills, with support from a dedicated team from start to finish.

Volunteering

There are a wealth of volunteering opportunities for students. A recent survey of the UK’s leading businesses found 75 per cent of employers prefer to recruit people with volunteering experience.

Career management

The university’s team of professional careers advisers offer sessions within chosen academic programmes, as well as one-to-one advice, guidance and information to help students decide on what career they want to pursue after graduation.

Students are encouraged to explore their potential and career ideas, develop their skills and prepare with confidence for the next step after graduation.

Paid work

The Students’ Union advertises part-time paid work via its JobShop, which students can fit around their studies.

Student ambassadors

Students can become student ambassadors and be paid to represent the university in a variety of ways, from supporting open events to working with the international team delivering tours to overseas guests and supporting marketing campaigns.

What's new

In March 2021, University of Gloucestershire announced it had bought Gloucester’s Debenhams building. The aim: to enable its ambitious plans for growth and to work with partners to create a new future for Gloucester city centre.

This iconic building will be brought back to life as a vibrant City Campus – a modern centre for teaching, learning and community partnerships.

Many of the university’s courses are crucial to the health, quality of life and economic success of our region, including Nursing and Education. The new city campus will provide facilities to train these professionals, providing new opportunities for the people who live here, but also attracting new talent to come and study in the region

International Student Barometer Results

The university’s work is recognized globally and recently the institution took part in the annual International Student Barometer (ISB) in 2021/22, along with over 100 Universities around the world. The ISB has been in place for over ten years and is the only survey that specifically targets international student experience. Highlights include:

• Ranked 8th Globally for Employability support
• Ranked 8th globally for Expert Lecturers and 7th for Quality of Lectures
• Ranked 7th globally for our Virtual Learning Environment
• Ranked 3rd Globally for Personal Tutors

All these factors and more show the quality of the experience for International students and the global outlook that we demonstrate.

Finances

How much will it cost? Average tuition fees per year

Rs. 16,35,659 Undergraduate

Rs. 16,87,984 Postgraduate

Living costs

Rs. 4,84,496 Living costs

Rs. 3,37,209 To live on campus

Scholarships & funding

The university has a range of scholarships and fee discounts available to help students manage the cost of their studies. Some of these are funded by the university but many are also funded by donors including alumni of the university.

The criteria for scholarships will vary, with some open to all applicants and others only available to students from selected backgrounds or on specific courses. Selection criteria for those awarded the financial grants will sometimes be based on academic performance, whilst others will be provided to those most in financial need.

International students are also able to take advantage of these scholarships, with all courses eligible except for pre-sessional English. For the 2021/22 academic year, there were 300 scholarships offered to international students that discounted tuition fees by up to GBP 6,000. Full details of the financial awards available and the qualifying criteria are available on the university’s website.

Discover scholarships

University for the Creative Arts provides scholarship for students enrolling for the courses offered by them
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Eligibility

Entry requirements

The entry requirements to study at UCA will vary depending on the chosen course and country of origin.

Academic requirements

If students do not have UK qualifications, UCA will consider equivalent qualifications from their home country for entry onto their Foundation, Bachelor’s, and master’s courses. International students can learn more about equivalent qualifications on the university’s website.

As UCA is a creative university, a lot of the degrees don’t just rely on qualifications for acceptance criteria. Students may be asked to provide a portfolio of their work or attend an interview or audition for a place on their course. Details of specific entry requirements can be found on the website and course web pages.

English language requirements

A good level of English language proficiency is necessary for admission to UCA. This can be shown through an English language test. Full details of UCA’s English language requirements can be found on the website.

For students whose language skills need improving, the university also offers pre-sessional English courses that aim to prepare international students for degree programmes, develop their English language proficiency and facilitate acceptance onto degrees where a certain level of English language ability is a pre-condition.

Visas

Students can apply for a student visa to study in the UK when they have received acceptance from UCA. International students can find out more about visas and immigration on the university’s website.

Department and Faculty

Teaching Quality

To provide the highest quality creative education, the University for the Creative Arts works with the best experts who have a wide range of experience and industry connections in the creative sector which informs their teaching.

Courses are tailored to provide a great mix of hands-on practical learning and theory, weaving career strategy throughout the degree so that students are fully prepared to step into their field of work upon completion of their studies.

Rankings

The Times/Sunday Times Good University Guide ranks the university as number one for teaching quality of their courses in communications & media and in business and management, while architecture courses are ranked third.

Furthermore, the university stands out for its research excellence. UCA was voted the top specialist art and design university for world-leading research outputs in the UK, according to the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021).

Alumni

UCA alumni spans across all creative industries. Graduates have won numerous awards of national and international repute including Oscar Awards, BAFTA Awards, Turner Prize, and Stirling Prize.

Notable alumni include Arnold Schwartzman (Film director), Zandra Rhodes (Fashion designer), William McGregor (Screenwriter), and Tracey Emin (Artist).

Department structure

UCA offers a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as an integrated international foundation year.

There are approximately 130 courses available to study at UCA and these are grouped together into 21 different subject areas:

• Advertising – including digital marketing, global marketing, and brand management
• Animation – including visual effects, augmented reality, and games animation
• Architecture – including interior design and interior architecture
• Business & Management – including various business courses by creative discipline
• Communication & Media – including television & media production, and graphic design
• Computer Arts – including comic art, games design, and games development
• Crafts – including ceramics, jewellery, and textiles courses
• Fashion – including fashion photography, fashion design, and fashion branding
• Film – including acting & performance, screen studies, and film production
• Fine Art & Digital Art – including fine art, art theory, and contemporary culture
• Games – including studio practice and games design
• Graphic Design – including visual communication and graphic design
• Illustration – including concept art and illustration
• Interior Design – including product & furniture design and design for theatre & screen
• Marketing – including various marketing courses by creative discipline
• Music – including composition for screen and international music management
• Performing Arts – including writing for screen, screen acting, and design
• Photography – including photography and fashion photography
• Product Design – including silversmithing and industrial design
• TV – including television production and acting & performance
• Textiles – including printed fashion textiles for fashion and interiors

Facilities

Being a specialist creative university, UCA provides access to innovative, high-tech, and quality facilities and resources. These include animation suites, photography studios, digital media suites, darkrooms, soundstages, and so much more.

Students are able to learn and express themselves using the latest tools and equipment, preparing them for a career working with state-of-the-art technologies and techniques. Skilled technicians dedicated to each area of study are available to support and guide students with their work.

Students can also use the university's extensive indoor and outdoor sports facilities, which include dance/fitness studios, artificial pitches, and tennis courts.

Library

With over 280,000 print and e-books and exhibition catalogues, 500m of archival material and a wide range of broadcast materials, UCA’s libraries hold a wealth of information that will enhance student’s studies. The largest library, located on the Farnham campus, includes comfortable study pods and socialising space for group study. 

Campus

Each campus has a diverse range of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and nightlife, ensuring that students have easy access to everything they need.

Student bars can be found on the Farnham and Canterbury campuses. All campuses have exhibition spaces displaying work by students and external artists.

There are numerous clubs and societies available to students, covering a wide range of interests from K-pop dance and yoga to animation and martial arts, meaning there is something for everyone.

Accommodation

Halls of residence are available on each of the university’s campuses. Some are on campus, while others are just a short walk away. University accommodation is guaranteed for all new international students who apply before the deadline.

Private accommodation is also an option, and there is plenty of it in and around each campus area. If students wish to rent privately, UCA’s housing staff will gladly provide them with relevant contacts and information.