How to apply for art and design at Canterbury Christ Church University: three-year Graphic Design, Games Design and Photography degrees at 112 UCAS points with a portfolio to show your suitability, an automatic £1,500-a-year international scholarship, portfolio requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) is in Canterbury, Kent, in south-east England. Its art and design courses are taught in the Daphne Oram Creative Arts Building, which has print studios, photography studios and darkrooms, and a games design studio. This guide covers September 2027 entry using CCCU's own website, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Which courses you can apply for

CCCU's Art and Design subject page (titled Creative Design) covers games design, graphic design and photography. All three are full-time, three-year BA (Hons) degrees at the Canterbury campus, starting September 2027:

• Graphic Design (UCAS code W212): typography, branding, digital design and printmaking, with a client project or innovation challenge in Year 2.
• Games Design (I600): the final project can focus on games art, games design or games technology.
• Photography (W640): the course page says it is assessed entirely by coursework.

• Placement year: all three course pages say you can add a placement year between Years 2 and 3, chosen after you join.
• Foundation year: each course has a version with a foundation year (typically 64 UCAS points), where Year 0 includes modules such as Creative Foundations: Design.
• International Foundation Programme: CCCU also runs an International Foundation Programme for international students.

We found no separate Fine Art, Illustration or Fashion degree in CCCU's course listing.

2. Portfolio

All three course pages say the same thing under entry requirements: you will have the opportunity to show your suitability through a portfolio of relevant practical work.

• The number of pieces, format and how to submit are not published. Watch for emails after you apply, or ask the Course Enquiry Team.
• The course pages do not mention an interview.

3. Entry requirements

Typical offer: 112 UCAS points (A-Level BBC) for all three courses, or 64 points for the foundation-year versions. The pages say points can come from two or more A-Levels, BTEC, T Level, an Access to HE Diploma and other combinations, and that the IB is accepted, but no IB score is listed (not published).

Students from China (China country page; CCCU says this is a guide and course pages may differ):

• Year 1: National High School Graduation Certificate with an average of at least 70%. The page does not say how the Gaokao is used for Year 1.
• Year 2: a two-year vocational diploma (Zhong Zhuan) or the first two years of a recognised degree, averaging 70%; the syllabus may be assessed.
• Year 3: a three-year higher diploma (Da Zhuan) or the first three years of a recognised degree, averaging 70%; the syllabus may be assessed.
• International Foundation Programme: at least 60% in English and Maths in the Senior Secondary School Certificate or the Gaokao.

Students from Canada (Canada country page, also a guide):

• The page has a table matching A-Level grades to provincial results. 112 points equals A-Level BBC, and the BBC row reads: BC: BBBBB in Grade 12 courses; Alberta and other provinces: 70% in five Grade 12 courses; Ontario: 70% in six Grade 12 U/M courses; Quebec: 70% overall in the DEC.
• One completed year of a college or university program with a GPA of 2.8 is also accepted for Year 1.
• A two- or three-year college diploma can lead to Year 2.

English: standard undergraduate courses need IELTS 6.0 with no element below 5.5; PTE 59 with 59 in each part; or TOEFL iBT (tests from 21 January 2026) of 60 overall on the old scale (Reading 8, Listening 7, Speaking 16, Writing 18) or 4 overall on the new scale (4 in each). The English page says some countries and qualifications are exempt, but the Canada page does not say whether Canadian students are (not published); ask undergraduate admissions at ugadmissions@canterbury.ac.uk.

4. How and when to apply

• UCAS: institution code C10 plus the course code. The course pages say that if you apply by the 14 January deadline you will hear back by early May at the latest; no year is given, so check UCAS for the 2027-entry deadline.
• The pages also mention UCAS Extra (add a choice from 26 February to 4 July) and Clearing (opens 5 July), again without a year, and give the 2026 UCAS fee as £28.95 for up to five choices.
• International students: undergraduates can apply through UCAS or an agent; CCCU also has a recruitment partner, InUni, to help with international applications (its site is third-party and was not checked for this guide).

5. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: all three course pages say 2027/28 fees are not yet finalised. The scholarship page gives the standard international fee as £17,000 a year for 2026/27 entrants (£15,500 for 2024/25 and 2025/26 entrants); check the website for 2027 entry.
• Payment: the China page says international students pay a deposit of 50% of the year's fee before starting, and get a 5% discount if they pay the full year in advance.
• International Student Scholarship: full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students paying the standard international fee get £1,500 off their fees each year. There is no need to apply; it is deducted automatically.

6. Transfer students

• Students from China who have completed two or three years at a recognised university (70% average) can apply for Year 2 or 3, and the syllabus may be assessed.
• Canadian college diploma holders (two or three years) can apply for Year 2.
• The course pages do not say which years of Graphic Design, Games Design or Photography you can join (not published); ask the Course Enquiry Team.

7. Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• High school graduation certificate averaging at least 70%, plus IELTS 6.0 (5.5 in each band) or equivalent
• Prepare a portfolio showing your design, games or photography work, and wait for CCCU's instructions on submission
• Apply through UCAS (institution code C10) or an agent

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• BC: BBBBB in Grade 12 courses (equivalent to BBC); other provinces as in the Canada page's table
• Ask CCCU whether you need an English test

Transfer students:

• Send your transcripts and module descriptions, and ask whether you can join Year 2 or 3

Sources: Canterbury Christ Church University, Art and Design subject area (Creative Design); BA Graphic Design; BA Games Design; BA Photography; Entry requirements for China; Entry requirements for Canada; English language requirements; International Student Scholarship. Course details are for September 2027 entry; 2027/28 fees have not been published yet. Check CCCU's website for the latest information.