Postgraduate Falmouth
Postgraduate students are an important part of what shapes the culture of Falmouth.
Individuals make the major and often life-changing commitment to study at postgraduate level for a whole variety of reasons, but one thing that you can be assured of is that Cornwall is a special place to realise that ambition. It attracts a special kind of person to study, to work and to live and the environment is vibrant, stimulating and beautiful. There is no doubt that our location profoundly influences the work of our staff and students.
Our graduating students have an excellent reputation in their chosen discipline and are highly sought after. This is a reflection of the quality of the learning experience at Falmouth with access to first class facilities and staff who are practitioners and recognised as being leaders in their chosen fields.
Our merger with Dartington College of Arts in 2008 added courses in music, theatre and choreography to our existing portfolio of art, design and media. Following relocation of the Dartington provision to Falmouth in 2010, our intention is to develop a new Arts University in Cornwall.
“Everyone brings something different to the postgraduate course because of where they’ve studied before,” explains Liz Matthews, who is currently enrolled on the television production course. “The mix of ages, cultures and backgrounds really lends itself to study, especially when a lot of what we do is team work – it’s good to get different perspectives on things.” People come from as far afield as Morocco, Japan, Mexico and India to study at Falmouth as well as straight from studying at higher education institutions across the UK – you couldn’t get a broader perspective if you tried.
2010 Postgraduate Prospectus (4.82 MB)
Entry requirements
We welcome applications from students with appropriate qualifications, equivalent qualifications, prior learning/experience and a demonstrable interest in their subject. We welcome students of all ages, from all countries, from all backgrounds and cultures, and from all walks of life.
These notes refer to different ‘level' qualifications - eg a ‘level 5' or ‘level 7' qualification and so on. For more information on the National Qualifications Framework, please go to http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/FHEQ/default.asp
Masters Degrees (Level 7 qualification)
The normal entry requirement through the university sector are level 5 or level 6 qualifications which include Honours Degrees, Foundation Degrees and HNDs in a subject relative to that you wish to study at Masters level.
If you have solid professional industry experience rather than academic achievement, this may be acceptable for entry to study at this level on assessment through a process called APEL (accreditation of prior experiential learning, which carries a fee of £25). Please contact Admissions for guidance notes on APEL and APL (accreditation of prior learning).
PG(H)CE (Level 7 qualification)
The entry qualifications for the Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma are the same as for the Masters above. In addition, PG(H)CE applicants have to be involved in at least 3 hours teaching per week at post-16 level. Applicants for the PG(H)CE are exempt from the ELQ ruling regarding fees.
Enquiries about all our postgraduate courses should be addressed to:
Email: admissions@falmouth.ac.uk
Telephone: 01326 213730
Address: Admissions, University College Falmouth, Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 4RH, UK
How to apply
Applications for taught postgraduate courses (MA) should be made direct to Admissions using the contact details above.
Application - postgraduate diploma/masters courses (393.27 KB)
Applications for Research degrees (MPhil/PhD) should be made direct to Admissions using the contact details above.
If you're an EU student from outside the UK wishing to study a course through distance learning, please contact Admissions as there may be funding implications that you need to be aware of.
If you wish to study for a qualification that is equal to or lower than a qualification you already hold (the ELQ rule), please contact Admissions as there may be funding implications that you need to be aware of.
We're also committed to widening access to our courses, as well as higher education in general, and are engaged in a number of outreach programmes to help achieve this. Applications for all postgraduate courses, including MPhil/PhD Research, can be submitted at any time - but you're advised to apply as early as possible as we allocate places as applications are received.
More information about how to apply can be found here.
Funding your study
A Master’s degree represents a significant investment in your future, and you will rightly be concerned about funding. Our student fees & funding section outlines fees for full and part time students and has guides to introduce you to ways of funding your course at Falmouth.
Creative Enterprise Cornwall
Put your skills to use in Cornwall's dynamic business environment on a paid placement project
Creative Enterprise Cornwall is a project offering financial support to postgraduate students who live in Cornwall during their studies. It is run by University College Falmouth and part-funded by the European Social Fund. The aim of the project is to promote graduate opportunities within Cornwall - develop new business skills if you are changing your career, or use the opportunity to strengthen the skills you already have. A maximum of £1250 is available.
The placement project must meet the following criteria:
- It must take place in Cornwall or benefit a Cornish company
- It must meet your course objectives (Course Leader must agree to the placement)
- Must be a minimum of one working week in duration (maximum 3 weeks) and be confirmed by the company
More information about the project can be found here
Returning from work
Diversity doesn’t end there. From publishing in Shanghai to city law in London, from the rock music industry to advertising, the wealth of people returning to education after time in the workplace offers yet another valuable element to the postgraduate community. “Having worked in publishing for four years I feel like I can offer practical experience that benefits everyone on the course,” says Luke Friend, book editor and co-owner of independent publishers Holy Water.“For me the fresh outlook that learning the craft of writing will afford is being enhanced by the people I am studying with – across the board everyone has something different to offer creatively, and that is an inspiring atmosphere to work in.”
Making the most of the rich mix of cultural, professional and personal backgrounds is a valuable part of postgraduate course study and many of the postgraduate courses in art, design and media feature group work to emphasise this. “Students here are endlessly inventive both on and off the postgraduate course,” explains Deborah Baker, MA Photography Course Leader, whose students last year independently produced Intervision, a group exhibition and book in conjunction with the Truman Brewery, London. “It was really hard work but as the whole group was motivated we achieved a great deal in a short time,” says Becky Joiner, one of the students involved. “When you’re studying with like-minded, forward-thinking people it makes it possible to seek out opportunities over and above your course, to make things happen.”
All work and no play...
Indeed, extra-curricular activities are plentiful in postgraduate Falmouth, with students on the MA Illustration: Authorial Practice course collaborating on a book, The Speckled Egg, and students from the MA 20th Century Art & Design course working together to produce an art criticism website to showcase their literary talents.
But if you think it is all work and no play, think again. Students on the postgraduate courses know all about the importance of the work/life balance. “Not only are there the social events, gigs, bars and art galleries that many university towns can boast, here you can meet up with fellow students for a surf, go swimming in the sea or just hang out on the beach,” says Creative Advertising student, Larry Jarrett-Kerr. “Because of its supreme location, Falmouth has a relaxed atmosphere that really lends itself to getting the most out of your postgraduate course. Because of the quality of your down time you come back to your work fresh and can tackle it with even more vigour. ”
So it’s all in the blend. Study and social life at Falmouth complement each other in such a way that you are guaranteed to get the most out of your time at college. “Not only did I make some good friends, I hooked up with people both on the course, and through course contacts that helped me move in to my chosen line of work once I graduated,” explains Dan Crockett, graduate from University College Falmouth's professional writing course. “Falmouth grounds your dreams in reality because it gives you the tools, the links and the means to pursue them, and that’s invaluable.”
Business Start-up services & facilities
There is business incubation space available as part of the Design Bureau in the Design Centre, University College Falmouth.
The business start-up facilities at our Tremough Campus consist of an open-plan office in the Design Centre; providing desk space, small lockable storage, telephone and a networked PC.
More information is available on our Business Start-up information and facilities page.
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