Course overview

Be inspired and create extraordinary ceramic pieces on UCA's MA Ceramics course, based in the World Craft Town of Farnham.

On this project-led and studio-based course, you'll have the opportunity to create a range of objects, experiment with different materials and processes, delve into your research interests and develop your individual style.

The course supports a wide range of ceramic techniques, including historical, traditional and contemporary practices, and encourages innovation in ceramics design and technology.

We'll guide you in maximising your talent and creative ability, further developing your skills for future engagement with the arts, crafts and design industries.

This course benefits from a cohort of expert staff that includes the nationally and internationally acclaimed ceramicist Professor Magdalene Odundo OBE and Nicholas Lees, as well as a number of visiting artists such as Steve Brown and Clare Twomey.

Our Farnham campus boasts first-rate facilities, with extensive workshops and equipment to support your studies. It's also home to our Crafts Study Centre - a purpose-built museum, research centre and gallery dedicated to crafts. The Crafts Study Centre possesses the world's most coherent collection of Leach pottery and a stunning collection of work by Lucie Rie, as well as pieces by contemporary makers such as Edmund de Waal. 

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.

For our students coming from a non-UK educational background, UCA has launched an Integrated International Pre-Masters year. On this course you’ll prepare for postgraduate study with a mix of online and face-to-face learning that will give you the study skills required to complete a Master’s, and you’ll also improve your English for academic study.

You'll be introduced to the University and the technical workshops and facilities available to you. The first term includes a range of lectures and seminars and you’ll start to explore your creative practice.

Theory and Analysis
This unit focuses on challenging and reflecting upon your practice. You'll achieve this through the development of critical reading, observation, handling and thinking deeply about products, craft artifacts and contextual research associated with your work and its field of enquiry.

Exploratory Practice
This unit focuses on developing your practice into a form of enquiry; a questioning, analytical and interrogative approach to your work that will enable you to become a reflective practitioner.

During term two you begin developing your MA project, evaluating and testing out the aims of your proposal over a sustained period of self-directed study.

Reflective Practice
This is one of the most important concepts for a creative practitioner. Reflective practice enables you to become critically aware and allows you to develop and progress your practice independently. The work undertaken in this unit should begin to address the research questions you explored in the Exploratory Practice unit. Work completed for this unit should be considerably more resolved and establish a clear line of enquiry through selected materials, concepts and a clearly articulated context. You'll also have the opportunity to complete a period of professional practice during this unit.

In the third term of the course, you'll apply the knowledge gained through your research to create a final body of work.

Major Project
This is the culmination of your studies and will form an exposition of the central ideas and concepts developed throughout the course. Its aim is to demonstrate the resolution of previous project units through evidence of advanced conceptual, theoretical and technical capability over an extended period of self-directed study.

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 & financial support

Fees &
financial support

Tuition fees - 2024 entry

UK students:

  • MA course - £10,500

EU students:

International students:

  • Integrated International Pre-Masters course (30 weeks) - £17,500
  • Integrated International Pre-Masters course (15 weeks) - £8,750
  • MA course - £18,000

Further information
The fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees and any financial support you may be entitled to please see our fees and finance pages. 

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

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.

You'll find everything you need to know for your level of study on our scholarships page.

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

Our Farnham campus provides first-rate facilities with extensive workshops and equipment to support your study. This includes, a throwing room with wet and dry stores, hand building studio space and plaster workshop, glaze room with application equipment and Kiln room for gas, electric and reduction firing. It's also home to our Crafts Study Centre - a purpose-built museum, research centre and gallery dedicated to crafts.

View 360 virtual tour

Ceramics throwing room, UCA Farnham

Glaze room, UCA Farnham

Throwing room, UCA Farnham

Kiln room, UCA Farnham

Explore our gradshow

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.

Visit the online showcase
Ros Perton
Ros Perton

"My time at UCA was really great; the diversity of expertise amongst both staff and students was very thought-provoking and encouraged experimentation, which the fantastic facilities made possible."

Entry & portfolio requirements

Entry & portfolio
requirements

MA course

  • A good honours degree or equivalent qualification in a related discipline

and/or

  • Relevant work experience, demonstrating your ability to study at postgraduate level.

Consideration will also be given to applicants who can make a strong case for admission in relation to a particular project and can demonstrate their potential to satisfactorily complete the course.

Portfolio requirements

For this course we will 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.

More portfolio advice

MA course

The entry requirements for this course 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

For this course we will 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.


MA course with Integrated International Pre-Masters course

  • A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject.

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

For this course we will 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.


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 chcek 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:

Apply now

Please use the following fields to help select the right application link for you:

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