About our students

Variety is the catalyst of creativity and the spice of life; and variety is something we positively encourage among our students.

At Falmouth you’re going to meet a very wide range of people. That’s because we relish diversity in the belief that richness and variety are inspirational. You’ll meet mature students and school leavers, part-time and full-time students. You’ll mix with international students, who have come from all over the world –from India to Iceland, Chile to China, and Jordan to Japan – to live and study in Falmouth. You’ll study and socialise with disabled students and parents young and older – in fact just about every type of student you can think of.

We have 2,200 students here. One in 12 students is from outside the UK. Nearly 70% of our UK students come from outside this region.

A third of our undergraduates are 21 or over and some are in their 50s and 60s. Nearly two-thirds of our postgraduates are 25 and over, and we have an active Mature Students’ Network run in association with our widening participation unit and the Students’ Union. Around 17% of our students have a disability; many of them are classed as dyslexic. Indeed, dyslexic students thrive and excel in Falmouth’s creative and supportive environment. We offer an excellent support system (both academic and pastoral),and all first-year students are offered dyslexia screening.

In general, our students have three things in common: they are bright, they are creative, and they’ve chosen a university experience that is, in itself, different. That difference is hard to pin down, but it probably lies in the fact that our courses are very user-friendly, and that neither campus feels crowded, which actually makes it easier to form a circle of friends. Students say it’s not a place where you are likely to feel anonymous or alienated. And of course, the location is very different: few universities enjoy such an uplifting environment.

In short, you should find settling in here pretty easy, because it’s made for someone like you.

Investing in your future

Variety is the catalyst of creativity and the spice of life; and variety is something we positively encourage among our students.So what do you get out of it? What’s your return? At Falmouth the return is that graduate employment rates are exceedingly high, ranging up to 99% on Broadcast Journalism. At Falmouth the return is that graduates enjoy increasingly successful pass rates, with 49% of students achieving 2:1s and 9% gaining first-class honours.

If you invest in Falmouth, you reap the rewards

James Stanton graduated in 1999, set up a graphic design consultancy, Brand Lab, in 2003 and now employs five full-timers and seven freelancers (all of whom are Falmouth graduates), and deals with six-figure contracts for international clients. Oliver Hatfield graduated from 3D Design and is now collaborating with Engineered Arts on designing and making a number of 3D commissions for The Eden Project. Dan Johnson graduated in Film Studies and, with award-winning films to his credit, now works on the production of some of the biggest films being made in the UK. But these are not the only success stories.

The list is truly endless. If you turn on your television to watch the news, you’ll see Falmouth graduates: political correspondent for ITN, Angus Walker, Sky News presenter, Lorna Dunkley, and BBC television reporters, Daniel Boettcher and Nick Bashford, to name but a few. Creative Advertising graduates have gone on to work at premier advertising agencies and to win accolades such as the industry Oscar, The Cannes Gold Lion. The Professional Writing course produces published authors. English with Media Studies graduate, Claire Harvey, is fulfilling her ambition teaching GCSE students. Fine Art graduate, Alisdair Lindsay, went on to win the overall second prize in the prestigious Hunting Art Prizes and is now a successful practising artist here in Cornwall. Whether in art, design or media, Falmouth graduates are right there, on the front line.

Supporting you

But just what is it that makes Falmouth graduates so successful? Hew Locke, renowned British sculptor and Falmouth Fine Art graduate, explains: “Yes, I was taught all the practical elements, but it was the support from the tutors, always there to talk to if you needed guidance, that allowed me to develop. And of course the business and professional elements were very significant – they made me realise that art was no wishy-washy career and that I had to see myself as a business – admin and all.” Television Production graduate, Gemma Coombes, expands: “Studying at Falmouth gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed to work in the television industry. Learning with likeminded people helped me to fulfil my potential both as an individual and as part of a team.”
A creative community inspired

So that’s why the College’s graduates achieve so highly year on year. They are inspired. Inspired by fellow students and lecturers at the top of their field who provide a level of knowledge and support that is hard to beat. They are inspired by the excellent facilities they have at their fingertips, from groundbreaking design equipment to the verybest television editing suites. And they are inspired by the place. Everyone who comes to Falmouth falls in love with it. “Where else can you study on the beach, surf after lectures or stomp across moorland to clear your head?” asks Broadcasting graduate, Katie Barton. “Cornwall has so much to offer: an influential creative community, international business links, and funding schemes. Coming to Falmouth gives you access to all that.”

And that’s it. In a nutshell the College really does put its money where its mouth is. You invest your time, your money and your trust and, in turn, Falmouth invests in you: by providing you with the best education it can offer to help you get the best possible results.