Falmouth University: What it's really like
Learn about a creative university in a unique location
If you want a dynamic, creative degree, Falmouth might be the university for you!
Falmouth at a glance:
| Founded | Achieved university status in 2012, though founded as Falmouth School of Art in 1902. |
| Locations | Falmouth and Penryn, Cornwall |
| Length | 3 years for a standard undergraduate degree, with some 2 year accelerated or 4 year placement options |
| Courses | Courses are divided into eight categories: Photography; English, Writing, and Journalism; Games and Computing; Animation, Film, and Television; Performance, Theatre, and Music; Art and Design; and Fashion. |
| Students | c.5,500 |
| Great for | Students looking to study creative subjects in a modern, progressive setting, or technical subjects through a creative lens |
| Not for | Students who want to pursue maths, sciences, medicine or other courses not on offer |
Sarah Tompkins, Head of School and College Partnerships, explains what makes Falmouth an exciting place to study - and how to put together a strong application.
What is Falmouth?
Falmouth is a specialist, industry-focused uni with creativity at its heart. We offer courses in the more traditional creative arts alongside technological, entrepreneurial courses with a creative spin, from creative advertising to video game development. With Dawn French as Chancellor, there’s a clear connection to the arts sewn through study and life here.
Based across two sites in Cornwall, Falmouth offers a different campus experience – think beaches and palm trees in the UK!
Why apply to Falmouth?
Falmouth's environment fosters creativity, giving you time and space to discover yourself and the way you work. It’s more than just time to practice, though: there are strong industry links and opportunities to prepare to enter the world of work.
For example, there's a bulletin board in the Students’ Union where you can promote your projects and seek help - for example, film students seeking actors, or business students seeking animators. You can build a network of future collaborators, studying with the people who are the future of the creative sector.
The uni also runs workshop festivals, so you can try out different specialisms in different subjects, even ones you aren’t studying. If you’re a dance student who wants to give sculpting a go, you can!
Plus, Falmouth itself is a beautiful place to study. Though a smaller town than some uni cities, it provides tons of opportunities artistically and the chance to live in a really unusual landscape in the UK. Cornwall is known for its open mic nights, artistic festivals, and creative opportunities as well.
Who isn’t the right fit for Falmouth?
Falmouth is focused on modern, creative subjects reflecting the skills employers need. If you’re looking to be a mathematician or a scientist you won’t find those courses here. That said, take a look at the website - there are some courses you may not expect!
Any application tips?
Most applicants to Falmouth do an interview - but don’t panic! It’s not a test of knowledge as much as a way to get to know you, how you think, and what your creative processes and goals are. It’s as much for you to figure out if Falmouth is the right fit for you, too. The only real preparation you need is to bring a piece of work or, depending on your chosen course, a pitch for an idea which you then discuss in the interview.
Get advice from your teachers, as they’ll have experience helping to prepare portfolios or whatever form of work sample you need. Falmouth runs lots of webinars and preparatory seminars too, so you can hear straight from our admissions team about how to make a strong application!