1. Apply

Wherever you're from, UCA is ready to welcome you and we have a dedicated admissions team to help you with your application journey.

All students should apply directly to UCA for our postgraduate courses, the links area available in the green Start your application panel below or there are links for the direct application forms on our course pages.

If you are an International student, before you applying, please visit our visas and immigration page for more information about applying to study in the UK and check our equivalent qualifications page to discover if we can accept your non-UK qualifications.

Start your application

2. Your application

Once you've applied we’ll send you an email with your login details for the applicant portal. This is where you'll access all the information you'll need through your applicant journey.

Disability and wellbeing support
If you have a disability or additional learning need please tell us when you apply. It’s really important that we know what support you may need from the outset, whether it’s assistance with your application, help with funding or helping you settle in when you start with us.

3.  Create a portfolio

Your course might require a portfolio – we’ll send you specific requirements through the applicant portal after you’ve applied.

If you do need to provide a portfolio we will ask you to upload a portfolio of work using the 'portfolio upload task' on the applicant portal.

There is detailed information about what we would like to see in your portfolio in our portfolio advice section.

Our key tips for your portfolio are:

  • Lead with your show-stopping pieces
  • Show us how you think – document your ideas in a sketchbook
  • Present examples of your research that show idea development
  • Let your personality shine through and tell us what or who inspires you

4. Attend an interview

We may invite you to an interview, but we don’t interview all applicants - we may decide to offer you a place based on the strength of your application.

If you are invited to an interview, this could be an in-person, online or telephone interview.

5.  Your offer

If your application is successful, you’ll receive an offer email from us that explains the full terms and conditions of your offer, you’ll also be able to find this on the UCA Applicant Portal.

If your offer is conditional, you’ll need to provide evidence of meeting the conditions before you join. We’ll let you know how to do this.

You will need to accept you offer using the task in your UCA Applicant Portal.

6. Apply for a student visa

If you are an International student you will need to apply for a student visa.

Before you can apply for your student visa, you will need to request a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from us. This is proof that you have been accepted to study a course at UCA and you will need to enter your CAS number on your visa application. You will not be able to submit your visa application without a CAS number.

Once you have received and firmly accepted your unconditional offer, you will be invited to create your account on CAS Shield. You will be able to upload copies of all supporting documents required to CAS shield, before we can assign a CAS for you.

There is more detailed information about applying for a student visa on our Visa and Immigration pages

7. Apply for accommodation

As soon as you can apply for accommodation, we’ll contact you to let you know.

This is usually in March for courses starting in September.

For more information about the options available, please see our accommodation pages

Application deadlines

The deadline to make your application will depend on if you are a UK or an international student:

UK students

We accept direct applications throughout the year and there is no set deadline but we encourage you to apply by 31 March, so you have enough time to prepare for your studies and arrange funding, should you need it.

International students

The key application dates for September 2027 are:

  • 20 August 2027 - Application deadline
  • 3 September 2027 - Deposit deadline
  • 3 September 2027 - CAS request deadline

Contact admissions

If you have any questions about the admissions process or your application, please contact the relevant admissions team:

UK students

International students