Created just for you

We’ve pulled together all the info we think you’ll find useful to explore what it’s like to be a student at UCA. 


Farnham Accommodation

Accommodation

Students posing for a photo with some colourful streamers at the Freshers' Fair

Campus life

Photography studios, UCA Epsom

Careers

Product Design Studios, UCA Canterbury

Student support

Sophie Whyte, BA (Hons) Illustration, UCA Farnham

Our illustration degree

Everything on our Illustration course happens in the studio. Within minutes of arriving at UCA Farnham, you're working. No lecture halls, no dissertation – just you, your portfolio, and the formidable set of skills you’re acquiring through extensive practice.

You'll work on live briefs from wildly diverse companies like Toyota, Hallmark, Netflix, and Huawei, and have the chance to enter competitions including the Penguin Design Awards, Folio Society, and Macmillan Prize. Creative agents from big names like Grand Matter and Heart Agency review final-year portfolios and help you find your place in the illustration industry.

Illustration BA (Hons)

Farnham Library

Our Farnham campus

You'll be taught at our Farnham campus in Surrey.

Purpose-built studios, workshops and production spaces give you the freedom to experiment and collaborate in a vibrant creative community.

Book a tour Life in Farnham

Graduate Showcase

Each year, we’re privileged to be able to share our graduates’ incredible work with the world. And now’s your chance to take a look.

Illustration facilities & equipment

There are dedicated illustration studios with natural lighting for workshops, independent and group working.

On campus, there are digital media suites programmed with design software for high-quality print production; printmaking studio with relief and block printing, plate or stone lithography, intaglio, letterpress, photopolymer plate printing and screen-printing.

Our modern library has a wealth of books, journals, special collections and online resources.

Illustration Studios, UCA Farnham

Illustration Base Rooms

Equipment hung up in the Farnham Print Room

Print Workshop & Letterpress Area

The Print Workshop contains:

  • Four screenprinting tables
  • Manual etching press
  • Electric etching press
  • Columbian relief press
  • Albion relief press
  • Three direct litho presses
  • Western 4c letterpress
  • Two intaglio hot plates
  • Glass-topped workstations with inks and relevant equipment (eg rollers and palette knives)
  • Small darkroom with exposure and developing areas
  • Acid room

In the Letterpress Area you'll find:

  • 100 drawers of lead and wood type
  • Typesetting area
  • Relief/letterpress
  • Photopolymer
  • Plate maker
Interior of the Digital Print Studio

Digital Print Studio (Farnham)

This room contains:

  • R53/51 Duplex Printer
  • Vinyl cutting plotter
  • Epson sure colour P5000
  • Epson sure colour P8000
  • Epson sure colour T5200
  • Epson P 800
  • Epson 3880
  • Canon pro 1000
Interior of the Laser Cutting Studio

Laser Cutting Studio

This room contains:

  • Two universal laser machines (X660)
  • Four ultimaker 2D/3D printers
  • Two Roland MDX 540 mil CNC routers
  • Eligo Mars 2 pro resin printer
  • Lisa X sintering 3-D printer
Student in UCA Farnham library

Farnham Library

This is our largest library space, which includes:

  • 55 iMac workstations
  • 41 PC workstations
  • 4 study pods with electrical connections and monitor
  • 2 study pods without monitor
  • 5 DSA Loanable laptops (students can borrow from the library only if approved by our Disability staff on DDA grounds, for an agreed period)
  • Large collection of LGBTQ+, Fashion, Feminist, Photography, Mental Health and Illustration Zines
  • Archives

Your next steps

Student at the SU spring market

See UCA for yourself

Explore UCA at an Open Day or join one of our campus tours.

View upcoming Open Days

Student working in an architecture studio

Check the entry requirements

We always consider the strength of your portfolio as well as your grades.

Select a course to view requirements

Ceramic art by Sofia Thompson

Prepare your portfolio

Read our guides and watch our top tips on how to put together your best work.

Review our portfolio advice

Farnham Students on Campus

Speak to current students

As a creative-only university, you’re surrounded by people just like you. You won’t just fit in at UCA, you’ll belong from day one.

Chat to UCA students

Farnham Library

Download a full prospectus

Want to read more details? Get yourself a copy of our full undergraduate prospectus.

Download your copy

Visual Communications Studios, Rochester House, Canterbury

Integrated foundation year

Nervous about taking the step into higher education? Joining a foundation year will prepare you for degree-level study.

Integrated Foundation

More subject areas


Want to explore more of what UCA has to offer? Select another subject from the list below to see more degrees at UCA.

Animation Architecture Business Management Communications & Media Computer Arts Crafts Fashion Film Fine Art Games Graphic Design Illustration Interior Design Marketing Music Performing Arts Photography Product Design TV