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Ceramics & Glass at UCA

Turn on the television and the schedules are packed with programmes about specialist crafts and other making activities. If you're inspired to get involved, you can develop your passion for designing and making on our BA (Hons) Ceramics & Glass degree course.

The course is forward-thinking and dynamic in its approach to materials, but it’s also built on a strong tradition of craft practice in the World Craft Town of Farnham – meaning you get the best of both worlds when it comes to creating your own masterpieces.  

Facilities at UCA Farnham are world-class, so you’ll have everything you need to establish yourself and your craft identity with guidance from our team of expert staff – innovative practitioners in their own right – who bring extensive knowledge and experience.

Alongside making, you’ll explore the contextual background to your work, helping you gain a better understanding of the roles of ceramics and glass in history and wider society.  

If working with clay or experimenting with glass is calling to you, start your journey at UCA and experience the possibilities for yourself.  

 

Course entry options

Select from the options below to find out more about the different study options available for this course:

What you'll study

What you'll
study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

UCA’s Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your degree in the best possible way – with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and more.

You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

Find out more about the Integrated Foundation Year

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Foundation Year, based at UCA Farnham to bring students from around the world to one hub of creativity.

This year of preparatory study is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your degree in the best possible way – with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and the English speaking and writing skills you’ll need to succeed.

You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

Find out more about the Integrated International Foundation Year

Launch
For launch week we’ll introduce you to the term and year, review your summer project, undertake research visits, and undertake cross-programme activities with students on BA (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing.

Maker and materials
Become familiar and confident within the studio and workshop environment, undertake visual and contextual research and explore the act of making through materials and processes as a key skill.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 1
You’ll investigate the theme of ‘otherness and belonging’ to question histories and practices used within the crafts industries which privilege dominant cultural values. Engaging with themes of inclusivity and diversity situated in the context of global histories, cultures, and politics, you’ll explore and build an unbiased and progressive understanding of ethical approaches needed to challenge established industry principles.

2D CAD Cam
You’ll be introduced to 2D digital software, including Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, to give you a fundamental understanding of the role digital technology plays in the design and making process.

Opportunity
Your Opportunity week features an introduction to the term, research visits, inductions and cross-programme activities with Jewellery and Silversmithing students.

Form and Surface
You’ll be introduced to a range of production methods, including forming, mould-making, casting and surface application, as you learn the importance of being able to repeatedly reproduce components for design and making.

Professional Communication
Learn a range of professional communication methods used for self-promotion, identify categories of makers and making and understand how that relates to your subject and future ambitions.

3D CAD Cam
Extending your understanding for the potential of digital technology in the design and manufacturing process, this unit covers 3D computer aided design (CAD) application.

ATOM Activities
ATOM activities are small pieces of individual learning that facilitate interdisciplinary exposure across UCA, and offer a flexible, impactful learning experience. They expand your creative horizon by accessing learning topics that would not otherwise be scheduled on your course specific timetable.

PLE Digital Outcomes
The PLE Digital Outcome is a purposefully edited, self-directed record of your constructive, level 4 engagement with and presence on, digital media platforms across the year.

Launch
As we return after the summer break, we’ll go over the term ahead, review summer work, undertake project planning, begin planning for the placement unit and introduce you to peer groups, among other activities.

Body, Object, Space
You’ll investigate the inter-relationships between body, object and space (interior/exterior) as an impetus for developing your work. You will explore how location can positively inform creative practice.

The Conscious Practitioner
Engaging with themes of inclusivity and diversity situated in the context of global histories, cultures, and politics, you’ll explore and build an unbiased and progressive understanding of the ethical visual and textual language needed to challenge industry ideologies.

Sustainability
You’ll explore how materials and processes can be used and sourced sustainably, questioning and examining the ways in which we use and consume materials in designing and making, and the wider impact of our making choices.

Opportunity
Your Opportunity Week will include a term introduction, project planning session, a project briefing, a personalised learning session and cross-programme activities with Jewellery and Silversmithing students.

Audience and Context
You’ll further and develop your creative practice through research, designing and making, as you begin to define who you are as a ceramicist or glassmaker. You’ll work more independently as you progress, and the work you produce here will be used later in the year.

External Context
You’ll develop an understanding of your chosen industry by choosing either an industry placement or internship, or an industry-focused live project. For either option, you’ll be required to keep an online reflective journal, which documents and professionally presents your progress throughout the unit, relating to your chosen option and evaluating your experience.

Exhibiting
With the work you created in Audience and Context, you’ll work in teams to organise, curate and present a group exhibition. This is an exciting opportunity to generate and experience audience engagement and external feedback on your work in a public context.

ATOM Activities and PLE Digital Outcome
These units are a contination from your Year 1 ATOM Activities and PLE Digital Outcome units.

If you opt to complete a professional practice year, this will take place in year three. You will undertake a placement within the creative industries to further develop your skills and CV.

While on your Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee for that year. This fee will be determined using government funding regulations. Based on current regulations, we expect this to be a maximum of 20% of the tuition fee rate that you are charged for your second year of study. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during this year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this as you approach your Professional Practice Year.

Please note: If you are an international applicant, you will need to enrol onto the course ‘with Professional Practice Year’. It will not be possible to transfer onto the Professional Practice Year after enrolment

Launch
For your final year, we’ll start with Launch Week, which this year features a review of summer work, a project planning session, research visits, managing autonomous practice and an introduction to thinking professionally.

Minor project: Exploratory Research and Development
You’ll undertake an extensive body of exploratory research, as part of a negotiated period of work, including a written proposal that must clearly outline the scope of the project, paying particular attention to reflective and critical analysis of material testing and prototyping.

Professional Practice
As you prepare for a working life beyond university, you’ll learn about the range of issues and tasks that will be important in planning your future, establishing aims and understanding elements of self-promotion and employment, self-employment or further study.

Opportunity
For your final Opportunity Week, you’ll be introduced to your final term, undertake project reflection, project planning and research weeks.

Major Project: Realisation
You’ll frame your individual Ceramics/Glass practice and realise a self-initiated, major project, which reflects individual potential. It should have a professional impact suitable for public exhibition and/or industry focus, and will have an emphasis on contextual and critical analysis and evaluation on the positioning of your work.

This course is designed to offer you (if eligible) the opportunity to study part of your degree aboard at a UCA partner university, while still earning credits towards your UCA degree.

For more information please visit the Study Abroad section

Industry placement
offer

Preparing graduates for successful careers underpins everything we do, and all students on this course may be offered support to identify and prepare for an industry placement according to their individual needs. We’ll draw on our wide range of contacts within the creative industries to help provide you with opportunities that align with your interests and future career aspirations.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Fees & funding

Fees & financial support

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
  • BA course: £9,250

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry

  • Integrated International Foundation Year: £9,250 (see fee discount information)
  • BA course: £9,250 (see fee discount information)

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £1,850. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Tuition fees - 2024/25 entry

  • Integrated International Foundation Year: £16,950
  • BA course: £17,500

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2024 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £3,390. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Please note: The fees listed on this webpage are correct for the stated academic year only, for details of previous years please see the full fee schedules.

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of your Course Information for details of the costs you may incur.

Facilities

We have state-of-the-art workshops and machinery for a wide range of ceramics and glass processes, including traditional and emerging digital techniques, including clay 3D printers and a CNC mill for plaster. We have both hot-glass and kiln-glass facilities, including; a hotshop for glass blowing, dedicated kilns for glass fusing and casting, and facilities for grinding, engraving and polishing. For ceramics we have a dedicated hand building area, throwing room, glaze room, plaster room for mould making, and a kiln room.

View 360 virtual tour

Glass hot shop, UCA Farnham

Ceramics throwing room, UCA Farnham

Glass hot shop, UCA Farnham

Ceramics throwing room, UCA Farnham

What’s it like being a student at UCA?

That’s a big question. Get some answers from people who are studying right here, right now.

Chat to a student

Heidi Nicholson

"We have fantastic facilities and a great sense of community within our course. I always feel I’m being challenged creatively, and the support and knowledge of the tutors and technicians help me to produce work I am really proud of."

Heidi Nicholson

Entry & portfolio requirements

Entry & portfolio
requirements

BA (Hons) course
BA (Hons) course with Professional Practice Year

The standard entry requirements* for these courses are one of the following:

  • 112 UCAS tariff points, see accepted qualifications
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Distinction, Merit, Merit at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
  • Merit at UAL Extended Diploma
  • 112 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
  • 27-30 total points in the International Baccalaureate Diploma with at least 15 IB points at Higher level, see more information about IB entry requirements.

And four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2).

Other relevant and equivalent Level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered on an individual basis, and we encourage students from diverse educational backgrounds to apply.  

Portfolio requirements

For these courses, we’ll need to see your portfolio for review. We’ll invite you to attend an Applicant Day so you can have your portfolio review in person, meet the course team and learn more about your course. Further information will be provided once you have applied. View more portfolio advice

 


BA (Hons) course with Integrated Foundation Year
BA (Hons) course with Integrated Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year

The standard entry requirements* for these courses are one of the following:

  • 32 UCAS tariff points, see accepted qualifications
  • Pass at Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (Level 3 or 4)
  • Pass, Pass, Pass at BTEC Extended Diploma / BTEC National Extended Diploma
  • Pass at UAL Extended Diploma
  • 32 UCAS tariff points from an accredited Access to Higher Education Diploma in appropriate subject
  • 24 points from the International Baccalaureate, see more information about IB entry requirements.

And four GCSE passes at grade 9-4/A*-C including English (or Functional Skills English/Key Skills Communication Level 2).

Other relevant and equivalent Level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered on an individual basis, and we encourage students from diverse educational backgrounds to apply. 

Portfolio requirements

For these courses, we’ll need to see your portfolio for review. We’ll invite you to attend an Applicant Day so you can have your portfolio review in person, meet the course team and learn more about your course. Further information will be provided once you have applied. View more portfolio advice

 


*We occasionally make offers which are lower than the standard entry criteria, to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance and who were expected to achieve higher results. We consider the strength of our applicants’ portfolios, as well as their grades -  in these cases, a strong portfolio is especially important.

BA (Hons) course
BA (Hons) course with Professional Practice Year

The entry requirements for these courses will depend on the country your qualifications are from, please check the equivalent qualifications for your country:

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

You will be required to submit a portfolio for review. Further information on specific portfolio requirements and how to submit your portfolio will be sent to you after we have reviewed your application. View more portfolio advice

 


BA (Hons) course with Integrated International Foundation Year
BA (Hons) course with Integrated International Foundation Year and Professional Practice Year

For these courses you need to have completed 12 years of schooling (with good grades) and show strong evidence of your ability to successfully complete the programme and progress onto your chosen degree.

Any additional entry requirements listed in the UK requirements section, e.g., subject requirements, work experience or professional qualifications, also apply to international applicants applying with equivalent qualifications.

Portfolio requirements

These courses don't require a portfolio.

 


English language requirements

To study at UCA, you'll need to have a certain level of English language skill. And so, to make sure you meet the requirements of your course, we ask for evidence of your English language ability, please check the level of English language required:

Don't meet the international entry requirements or English language requirements?

You may be able to enter the course through the following entry pathways:

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