Ceramics at UCA

Our Ceramics course thrives in the heart of a town with World Craft Town status, with UCA Farnham also home to the esteemed Craft Study Centre. Guided by world-leading practitioners and frequently hosting guest speakers from the ceramics industry, our MA/MFA Ceramics degree course offers you unmatched insights and extensive networking opportunities.  

What truly sets this course apart is the exceptional level of resources and facilities at your disposal. Our team of highly qualified technicians possesses expertise spanning traditional ceramics techniques, including throwing, plaster work, and mould making, as well as cutting-edge technologies such as ceramic 3D printing and emerging techniques. This comprehensive range of resources ensures that you are not only well-equipped but also encouraged to explore and innovate. 

You will have the opportunity to showcase your creations through exhibitions and participation in international craft fairs and events. This exposure not only builds your portfolio but also connects you with a global audience and potential collaborators. 

Furthermore, this course boasts an outstanding track record of graduate success, with numerous award-winning students and academics emerging from our ranks. Graduates also enjoy a high level of employability, thanks to our strong industry connections and a focus on practical, real-world skills that nurture talent and foster excellence.  

The MA is also available as an MFA route which offers a further enhanced opportunity for students wanting to develop their professional portfolio to the highest level, or to build a proposal for Doctoral level study, and pursue an academic research career path. Applicants can apply to undertake the full MFA, or undertake an MA and transfer to the MFA at the end of the MA period.  

 

Course entry options

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

Close

Ceramics
MA (full-time)

A one-year course of advanced study for furthering your research skills and specialising within your discipline. Also available part-time over two years. 

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
UCA Farnham
Start date(s)
September 2025
Duration
1 year full-time
Entry requirements

Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in the subject/related discipline
and/or
Relevant work experience

Close

Ceramics
MA (part-time)

The MA course is also available part-time over two years for student who do not require a visa to study in the UK.

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
UCA Farnham
Start date(s)
September 2025
Duration
2 years part-time
Entry requirements

Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in the subject/related discipline
and/or
Relevant work experience

Close

Ceramics
MA with Integrated Pre-Masters

This course includes a year-long preparatory course of study to ready you for your Masters course, developing your specialist knowledge, research skills and confidence in working alone.

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
UCA Farnham
Start date(s)
September 2025
Duration
2 years full-time
Entry requirements

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

Close

Ceramics
MFA

The MFA is a two-year course with a Summer break. You can apply to undertake the full MFA, or undertake an MA and transfer to the MFA at the end of the MA period.  

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
UCA Farnham
Start date(s)
September 2025
Duration
2 years full-time
Entry requirements

Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) in the subject/related discipline
and/or
Relevant work experience

Close

Ceramics

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
Start date(s)
Duration
Entry requirements
Close

Ceramics

Apply now Submit an enquiry
Campus
Start date(s)
Duration
Entry requirements
Jess Skelton, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Chi Wing Choi, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Ana Jácome, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Valeria McLean, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Tim Fluck, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Tzu Yuan Shen, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Chi Wing Choi, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Ana Maria Lopes, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Anda Albu, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Pat Small, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Lisa Ghiggini, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham Valeria McLean, MA Ceramics, UCA Farnham

Two minute stories


Discover the stories of our Crafts students
Emily Smith
Metalsmith wins Bronze Award for Polishing at the GC&DC Awards
Ben Pearey
The UCA graduate being featured alongside the greats of UK ceramicists
Stephen Webster
From MBE to MGK
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.

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 Masters course. 

Exploratory Practice 
This unit focuses upon the exploration of individual practice. You will develop your practice into a means of inquiry – investigating the potential of skills, techniques, ideas and themes to analyse and interrogate approaches to practice.  

Research Contexts 
Exploring the design, construction and expression of practice as a process of research, you will be introduced to critical research methodologies which you will employ in your independent research enquiries.  

Reflective Practice
This unit promotes rigorous self-critique and the subsequent progression of increasingly independent practice. You will begin to interrogate your research and practice in a far greater depth with a view to constructing your specific Major Project proposal. You will also consider modes of display, audience and the documentation of work in preparing you for the professional realisation of ideas.  

Professional Contexts 
Focused on professional development, you will engage with opportunities and projects developed with partner organisations. Through group work and individual research, you’ll establish and develop a sense of your position in relation to your identified subjects, interests and practice areas. This unit also includes the opportunity to develop a creative business plan, funding application, or pitch to professional audiences.  

Major Project 
To conclude your studies, you will undertake a sustained, in-depth and critically informed research inquiry. You will define your practice through your own work and an understanding of how it sits in relation to others — identified industries or professional contexts, collaborators and audiences. The major project will culminate in a substantial body of work.

Advance Practice
Should you choose to undertake the MFA route of this degree, you will spend this unit developing, extending and furthering your professional practice. Through advance research methods, this unit will require you to demonstrate the skills, knowledge, confidence and originality that you have developed as a practitioner and researcher. Through this unit you will be supported in preparing PhD applications, organising public events and seeking external platforms to work with professional contexts and engage audiences.

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

MA course:

  • 2025/26 (full-time): £10,500
  • 2025/26 (part-time): £5,250

MFA course:

  • 2025/26 (full-time, year 1): £7,000 

Tuition fees

MA course:

MFA course:

  • 2025/26 (year 1): £7,000  (see fee discount information)

Tuition fees

MA course:

  • 2025/26 (MA): £18,000
  • 2025/26 (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - Sept & Jan): £17,500
  • 2025/26 (Integrated International Pre-Masters course - May): £8,750

MFA course:

  • 2025/26 (MFA year 1): £11,700

Please note: the fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only. For more detailed information about our course fees please see our fees and finance pages. 

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of financial support information available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Current UCA students and alumni may be eligible for a tuition fee discount.

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 scholarships and fee discounts.

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 the Course Information Document for more details of the costs you may incur.

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

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 workshop, UCA Farnham

Ceramics throwing room, UCA Farnham

Glaze room, UCA Farnham

Ceramics throwing room

Throwing room, UCA Farnham

Kiln room at UCA Farnham

Kiln room, UCA Farnham

Career opportunities

As part of this course, you'll have access to well-established industry connections. These include:

  • Historical research, exhibition and curation with the Watts Gallery
  • Links with Froyle Tiles and Lambs Terracotta - providing an opportunity to research interior and exterior architecture, along with restoration and renovation projects
  • Local production of Dartington Pottery at the nearby Grayshott Pottery - beneficial to those researching surface and glaze
  • Farnham-based 318 Ceramics and the New Ashgate Gallery Trust

Our course will equip you with a host of valuable and transferable skills. Upon successful completion, you might decide to become a self-employed artist, or forge a career within the craft and design industries.

Recent graduates work as:

  • Artists
  • Designers
  • Makers
  • Arts administrators
  • Gallery curators
  • Teachers
  • Writers.

You may want to undertake further study or research to specialise even further.

Our Staff

Debra Allman staff profile picture

Debra Allman

Programme Director of Crafts
Ashley Howard

Ashley Howard

Senior Lecturer in Ceramics
Grant McCaig Profile Picture

Grant McCaig

Lecturer Silversmithing, Goldsmithing & Jewellery
Joshua Kerley 2021

Joshua Kerley

Senior Lecturer in Glass
Adrian Bland

Adrian Bland

Senior Lecturer in Critical and Contextual Studies
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."

Ros Perton

Entry & portfolio requirements

For this course we will need to see your portfolio for review. You can either submit a digital portfolio or request an in-person portfolio review with the course team. Further information will be provided once you have applied. View portfolio advice

 

Select your country to find the equivalent requirements

Apply now

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

Your next steps...


Apply Now Submit an Enquiry