University for the Creative Arts

University for the Creative Arts

Age: Three in its current form. 145 years in the making.

History: The University for the Creative Arts was born in 2008. It is the result of many mergers, the university was created when the Surrey Institute of Art and Design and the Kent Institute of Art and Design merged in 2005. Surrey's roots go back to Farnham School of Art (1866) and Guildford School of Art (1870), which merged to make West Surrey College of Art and Design. That merged with Epsom School of Art in 1994. Kent was the product of a merger between art colleges in Canterbury, Rochester and Maidstone, which date back to the middle of the 19th century.

Address: Five campuses: three in Kent (Canterbury, Maidstone and Rochester) and two in Surrey (Farnham and Epsom), 30 miles apart.

Ambience: Depends on the campus, although, given the nature of the university, there's a distinct trendy, artsy vibe. Farnham is the biggest site, housing about a third of the students. The university's campuses are set in the home counties, meaning both London and the countryside are not far away.

Vital statistics: With around 7,000 students, the university has strengths in fashion, graphics, animation, design, media, fine art and architecture. There are galleries, learning resources centres and further education provision on all five sites.

Added value: Opportunities for work experience and advice on setting up a business. Students both win industry awards and show off their work at national and international festivals. In 2009, the university won the coveted gold award at Graduate Fashion Week.

Easy to get into? Between 220 and 260 UCAS points (or equivalent), for undergraduate courses. The majority of applicants are interviewed. A portfolio will be required for some courses.

Glittering alumni: Those from the former institutions include Tracey Emin, artist; Karen Millen, Zandra Rhodes and Owen Gaster, fashion designers; Tony Hart, TV personality and artist; Suzie Templeton, Daniel Greaves and Michael Dudok de Wit, Oscar-winning animators; Martin Lambie-Nairn, graphic designer; Humphrey Ocean, photographer; Dick Powell, product designer and founder of Seymourpowell .

Transport links: London is 20 minutes by train to Epsom, 45 minutes from Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester, 90 minutes from Canterbury.

Who's the boss? Professor Elaine Thomas is the vice-chancellor

Teaching: 114th out of 116 in the Complete University Guide.

Research: 92nd out of 114 in the Research Assessment Exercise but in the top 10 for art and design.

Overall ranking: Came 79th out of 114 in the Complete University Guide.

Nightlife: The union bar at Farnham has regular club nights. Other campuses host freshers' balls and graduation balls.

Any accommodation? Yes – a wide range of options across all campuses. Prices range from £88 to £122 per week.

Cheap to live there? Not very – it's £90 per week for a room in a private flat.

Sports ranking: Came 140th in the BUCS league.

Fees: £3,375 for full-time foundation and honours degree students starting in September 2011. Fees for 2012 are yet to be announced.

Bursaries: The university offers a bursary of £600 for undergraduates in receipt of the full government maintenance grant. There are also a number of excellence-based and subject specific scholarships available. For more information, visit the university's fees and finance page.

Prospectus: 01252 892 883; www.ucreative.ac.uk

UCAS code: C93