Celebrating 120 Years
A montage of images from throughout Falmouth University's 120 year history. All images have a blue overlay and the Falmouth University 120 logo.
In 1902 Falmouth School of Art opened as an evolution of The Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, which aimed to 'promote the useful and fine arts, to encourage industry and to elicit the ingenuity of a community distinguished for its mechanical skill.’
The School started as we mean to go on - harnessing creativity to forge the future of industry. To celebrate this anniversary, we delved into the archives and quizzed our community to unearth the stories that have shaped us.
Our timeline: The moments that made us
Journey through our timeline to discover the moments that made us; from the inception of Falmouth School of Art in 1902 and the installation of our Chancellor Dawn French in 2015, to welcoming our new Vice-Chancellor Professor Emma Hunt in 2022 (and the triumphs and challenges faced along the way).
The evolution of our prospectus
Explore how our prospectus front page has developed from the mid 1900s to the present day, and hear from the people that help bring them to life.
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Stories from our community
In 2022, we quizzed former and current students, staff and friends of the University about their experience at Falmouth and what it meant to them. Read about the careers launched and connections made, below.
Hear from inspiring alumni
Meet just a few of our outstanding alumni and discover where it all started.
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Looking ahead: Friends of Falmouth cast their minds forward
15 December 2022
Emma Rice, Rob Da Bank, Philip Marden and Sir Tim Smit KBE imagine the future of Falmouth University...
Lifelong connections made at Falmouth
15 December 2022
Hear from former students who’ve formed lifelong connections with friends they met at Falmouth.
In conversation with Professor Alan Livingston CBE (Part 1)
16 December 2022
Our Vice Chancellor talks to the former University College Falmouth principal about the challenges a...
Meet the creative team now based in the original Falmouth School of Art building
15 December 2022
We visit Kingdom & Sparrow, the creative team now based in the building where it all began.
All stories
Prosthetic Effects graduand wins global award for World of Warcraft creations
17 September 2026
For MA Prosthetic Effects graduand Emma Nolan, two characters created for an assessment have taken h...
Mark Jenkin curates 35mm film season at Truro Plaza and performs live score nationally
16 September 2026
BAFTA-winning filmmaker and Falmouth Distinguished Professor of Film Practice Mark Jenkin has curate...
MA Illustration alumna on her upcoming art exhibition in Falmouth
16 September 2026
After studying a foundation in art at Falmouth in 1989, Victoria Gillow continued her creative journ...
Graphic Design graduate on using design for positive change
10 September 2026
From working on a live brief for marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), a projec...
Returning to study at 55 to develop award-winning train documentary
10 September 2026
For filmmaker Chris Kirk, making films has been a lifelong pursuit. But it was the growing recogniti...
MA Film & Television alumnus on founding film production company
09 September 2026
494 Films, a production company founded by MA Film & Television alumnus Simon Jenner and based in Co...
Animation students recognised at The Rookies 2026
09 September 2026
Three entries from Falmouth's School of Film & Television have been recognised at the Rookie Awards ...
Future Creatives Collective and Creative Competition return for 2027
08 September 2026
Falmouth University has launched its 2027 Future Creatives Collective and Creative Competition, brin...
Turning a cinema into a communal living space on the Interior Architecture course | Degree Show Stories
04 September 2026
BA(Hons) Interior Architecture graduate Hannah Schmidt reimagined an old art deco cinema in Plymouth...
Designing micro-living apartments to help tackle homelessness | Degree Show Stories
04 September 2026
BA(Hons) Interior Architecture graduate Sholto Ross has spent the past year working on his final pro...
