News & Announcements

Farnham Student Update: 5 March 2026

Welcome to your latest student update featuring news and events from across UCA. We would like to wish a happy Holi to those celebrating this week!

Have you heard the news? As a current UCA student, you could get up to 50% off your postgraduate fees if you stay with us to continue your studies. 60 seconds, it's all it takes! Simply log into myRecords, select 'UG2PG Progression', and choose the course you'd like to apply for. It really is that simple, to take your skills and portfolio to the next level. Don't miss out on this opportunity to stand out in the creative industry.

The National Student Survey

Complete the National Student Survey (NSS) – most final year students are eligible to take part.

Feedback on your experience at UCA – what has worked well and should be continued, as well as your suggestions for making the University an even better place to learn, live and create.

Support for our students

In light of the challenging global landscape, we recognise that many of our students may be experiencing feelings of anxiety or concern. We stand in solidarity with all members of our community, particularly those who have connections to countries facing difficult circumstances.

If you would like to talk to someone, contact your Campus Life Hub:

Online support

You can access online wellbeing resources and support via UCA's wellbeing tools.

Essential updates

  • A reminder that to support staff and students observing Ramadan (Tuesday 17 February - Wednesday 18 March), room G160c has been designated as a quiet space for prayer and reflection. This space is open to anyone who may need a quiet moment during the day - please be respectful of others using it.
  • Our subscription to LinkedIn Learning will end on Monday 6 April. If you are currently taking any courses, please complete them before this date. Certificates already earned can be added to your LinkedIn profile and also be downloaded. If you have any questions, please email Learning and Development.
  • The next Black Box gallery exhibition at UCA Farnham is Cleaners, a solo show by artist Enej Gala, who lives and works between London, Venice and Nova Gorica, Slovenia. Cleaners is an ongoing project concerned with maintenance, not as an end point but as a condition, situating acts of cleaning and extraction within a wider ecology of human presence, regulation, and material flow, and is open weekdays until Friday 27 March.
  • Campus Life will be marking University Mental Health Day on Thursday 12 March with a visit from Em’s Friendly Farm in the Sculpture Park between 11.30am - 2.30pm. There will also be guests from Source and Catalyst between 12pm - 2pm.

Kickstart your business idea with Creative Careers Launchpad

Got a creative business idea? Join Creative Careers’ support sessions and build a clear action plan for your chance to win cash prizes! See their full event listings here and book onto our sessions in advance.

Coming up next in March...

Making your business work

Session 1: Defining your vision and understanding your audience

Tuesday 17 March, 1-1.30pm

Lay the foundation for your business by clarifying what you want to create and who it’s for. You’ll learn how to:

  • Clarify your business purpose and long term vision
  • Identify your core value proposition
  • Describe your target audiences and what motivates them
  • Recognise problems your product or service solves.

Session 2: Turn your vision into a workable business model

Wednesday 18 March, 1-1.30pm

Identify your customers, understand what they value, and map out the key processes that make your business run. You’ll learn how to:

  • Identify your customer groups and understand their needs
  • Map the processes that shape your day-to-day operations
  • Build the relationships essential to delivering your product or service
  • Explore finance options to support your start-up journey.

Session 3: Launching, marketing and sustaining your business

Thursday 19 March, 1-1.30pm

Move from planning into action. You’ll learn how to:

  • Develop a simple launch plan and timeline
  • Understand essential marketing channels and strategies
  • Price your work sustainably and track basic finances
  • Set goals and measure progress after launch.

Aardman’s Merlin Crossingham at Farnham Literary Festival

As part of the Farnham Literary Festival, UCA is hosting a very special evening with Merlin Crossingham, the BAFTA‑winning Director renowned for his work at Aardman Animations.

On Monday 9 March, Merlin will take the audience behind the scenes of one of the world’s most celebrated animation studios, sharing his creative journey, the realities of collaborative filmmaking, and what it takes to build iconic animated worlds.

Ideal for animators, artists, filmmakers, and anyone curious about creativity. Come and hear insights from one of the UK’s leading voices in animation.

Use the code STUDENT4 at checkout to receive £4 off, reducing the ticket price to £6 + booking fee (£6.95).

Film students visit the British Society of Cinematographers Expo

A group of students from BA(Hons) Film Production and MA Filmmaking visited the British Society of Cinematographers Expo in February. The BSC Expo is an annual trade fair and is considered to be the number 1 industry event for anyone interested in filmmaking technology. The students loved the experience and the opportunity to make contacts with companies and professionals working in the film industry.

UCA in the news