We’re celebrating our Creative Arts Summer Showcase Preview Evening which welcomed hundreds of friends, family and members of the public to celebrate UCW and Weston College students across multiple creative disciplines, giving them the chance to display their incredible work. Across the showcase, work has been displayed from Art & Design, Graphic Design, Film and Media, and Games & Animation …
We would like to invite you and your students to our showcase of experimental film, photography and media arts projects from students of University Centre Weston. Our students will be showing their short film, shot on location in Lille, Belgium, during their residential trip! We’ll also be showing a selection of short films from across our BA Film & Media …
HE Students from BA (Hons) Film & Media Arts Production and BA (Hons) Makeup, Wigs and Special Effects courses recently took part in an exciting residential project in Lille, France! The core focus of the trip had the students working on a short film, shot on location in the city, utilising famous locations that Lille is known for. Outside of filming and makeup, there was also time to explore the city, with …
Students on our BA (Hons) Art and Design and BA (Hons) Graphic Design courses are proud to be showing off their work at the annual SUSTAIN exhibition! The exhibition will be running from April 30th to May 7th, making it a great opportunity to see our student’s work over the bank holiday weekend. The SUSTAIN exhibition is a collection of works focussed on environmental and ecological concerns. These important themes reflect the ethos of our …
This International Women’s Day, we’re taking a moment to look back at some of the incredible women who have achieved incredible things while studying at UCW! These people have shown determination, talent and have made a real impact! Beth studied on our BA (Hons) Graphic Design course, using her time with us to experiment, refine her skills, and push the boundaries of her creative practice. One of …
BFI-funded organisation All Set West, in partnership with Super Culture, is bringing an evening of film, conversation, and industry insight to the Front Room Theatre, Weston-Super-Mare. The event will spotlight emerging talent across the West of England’s screen sector while showcasing progression routes for those aspiring to enter the industry. Opening the evening is a special screening of True Love and Wormholes, a BBC Writers-backed short …
Our Makeup, Wigs and Special Effects learners took part in an exciting, hands-on activity. Their task was to prepare the makeup, prosthetics, hair and costumes for a Viking battle photoshoot! Each learner put their own spin on the brief – making their model up to look like a Viking ready for battle. The models were then photographed by the photographers for the learner portfolios. The activity then headed …
Our Film and Media Arts Production Arts students enjoyed a range of trips recently, helping them in their coursework and developing their skills! Firstly, the course visited the Encounters Film Festival 2025 at the Watershed in Bristol. The class got the chance to see several exciting and thought-provoking independent films including There Will Come Soft Rains, Revert and Wild Dog. …
This past week Bath Spa University welcomed senior figures from longtime educational partner University Centre Weston (UCW). BSU’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Georgina Andrews and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Educational Partnerships Professor Simon Haslett joined colleagues as they celebrated their long-standing Educational Partnership with UCW. Vice-Chancellor of BSU, Georgina Andrews, said of the occasion: “We are delighted to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the …
BA (Hons) Graphic Design graduate Lucy recently completed a six-week internship at PointZeroGroup (PZG), a renowned creative agency, gaining valuable experience and confidence in her chosen career path. “Towards the end of uni I was applying for any position that I felt might be a good fit for me!” Lucy explained. “Originally, I applied for a role as an art …
UCW’s Dirigo Film Festival is returning for its 12th year! Organised by our talented Film and Media Arts Production students, it’s a fantastic opportunity for student filmmakers worldwide! Entries are open now! As an open festival with no set boundaries, the festival aims to inspire and showcase creativity in film making. The organisers actively encourage new styles, voices and direction! …
UCW BA (Hons) Art and Design graduates Hajnal and Ruth are celebrating a remarkable achievement as their artwork has been selected for the Royal West of England Academy’s (RWA) Annual Open Exhibition. For Hajnal this is the second year running, and for Ruth this is the third year in a row, making this truly impressive! We caught up with Hajnal …
University Centre Weston (UCW) held its 2025 graduation ceremony on Saturday the 20th of September. Students, staff, friends and family all came together to celebrate everyone’s hard work and achievements! After getting into their robes and donning their caps, graduands lined up for a procession through the Italian Gardens to the Winter Gardens Ballroom. Here they heard speeches from our …
Lecturer Craig, who teaches on our Game and Animation Production course is close to releasing his own game, Forsaken Realms: Vahrin’s Call through his own company Titan Roc! This game is an action RPG set in a whimsical world, with humorous fantasy and grounded combat mechanics. The game will be initially launching on PC through Epic and Steam, with plans …
Maria Stasakova’s journey at University Centre Weston is a testament to her dedication, passion, and perseverance. As a BA (Hons) Art and Design student, Maria has impressed her tutors with her commitment to creativity and personal growth, all while balancing the responsibilities of being a mother. Her tutors describe her as hardworking, enthusiastic, and an absolute pleasure to teach. Maria …
Beth Jones, a BA (Hons) Graphic Design student at University Centre Weston, has demonstrated exceptional growth, creativity, and resilience throughout her academic journey. Transitioning from a UAL Level 3 Graphic Design course to the UCW/BSU Graphic Design programme, Beth faced challenges but persevered, developing confidence in her abilities and significantly impacting her field. At the UCW Awards 2025, Beth won …
The results are in, and UCW has received brilliant feedback in the National Student Survey for 2025! UCW is now above the national average in all nine areas of the survey! This is a reflection of the incredible amount of work put in by our academic and support staff. UCW’s academic support continues to stand out as a key highlight …
Today we’re celebrating one of our BA (Hons) Graphic Design students, Ryan who has recently gone to work at Walt Disney World in Florida after studying at UCW! Ryan started on a level 2 course at Weston College before progressing to level 3 and working his way up to a degree level course. He showed outstanding skill when his logo …
From starting as a quiet and uncertain Level 2 Media student at Weston College to becoming one of the most sought-after Directors of Photography on the BA Film and Media Arts Production course, Alfie Walsh’s journey is nothing short of inspiring. Alfie has played a key role in numerous student productions, including the award-winning The Quiet Artist, filmed on location …
Last night, our Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub came together to produce a fantastic preview evening of the Summer Showcase which exhibited the work of our University Centre Weston (UCW) and Weston College Creative Arts students, giving them the chance to display their incredible work, not only to their peers and lecturers, but also to their friends, family, members of the …
Discover the impressive work of our Film and Media Production Arts students! This year these students have put in incredible amounts of work, creating the best projects that they can. Now it’s time for them to show it off, in a series of showcases which you can come along to! First up is the Photography Exhibition. See impressive composition and …
This Thursday (1st of May) was a night for celebration at the UCW Awards! Hosted at the Winter Gardens, it was a chance to look back on and celebrate the amazing achievements of our students, staff and partners! The evening began with a speech from our Vice Principal for Higher Education, Sadie Skellon, welcoming everyone to the evening and celebrating …
Students on a variety of courses worked together to put together an exciting project! Coordinating it all was Professional Music Performance and Production student Rich, who organised this as part of his industry engagement project. Rich’s vision required a band with a substantial following, so he secured “One Night Stand”, a band with approximately 12,000 Facebook followers. The video …
Students from across creative disciplines at University Centre Weston (UCW) have joined forces to bring the film Barrow’s Curse to life in a dynamic cross-course collaboration. Directed by Film and Media Production Arts student Serena who previously previously worked on the exciting Estuary Photography project through her photography pathway, the shoot had students working closely with Acting students from the …
Film and Media Production Arts students recently had professional photographer Tom Ham visit to deliver a workshop for our photography students which explored how he does a shoot including camera settings and how he guides subjects. Tom’s job is Tour Photography. He tours with bands and artists to document their tour life. He covers the live shows as well as …
You’ve got the chance to visit an exciting exhibition of our student’s work! ‘Sustain’ is a collection of works made by students on the BA (Hons) Art & Design and BA (Hons) Graphic Design course at University Centre Weston. This exhibition reflects the ethos of our courses with environmental and ecological concerns at the heart of what we do. Students …
UCW is very proud to launch our brand-new prospectus for 2026! Our prospectus is the best place to find out about our courses, with sections for all of our subject areas including Art, Media and Design, Business and Professional Services, Computing and Digital Technologies, Counselling and Healthcare, Education, Inclusive Practice and Criminology, Engineering and Construction, Performance and Production Arts and …
Former UCW student Josh was recognised for his incredible work photographing traditional willow farms and the work they do in growing and using these trees. Josh’s work ‘Somerset Willow Farmers’ highlights the work of Musgrove Willows in Westonzoyland. Josh took care to capture the skills and expertise of the willow farmers. Josh chose this project as he wanted to …
UCW is proud to announce that the Dirigo Film Festival is returning for its 11th year! Entries are now open for filmmakers to submit their films. Films must be a maximum of length of 15 minutes and must’ve been completed while you are studying in an educational institution. Every genre is welcome! Submit your film by clicking here! We would …
Over half-term UCW again hosted the award-winning Children’s University! This is a programme that aims to take education outside of the normal school day allowing for new and exciting hands-on skills to be learned. The first session this half-term was a photography workshop, which allowed the children to discover the world of visual arts. The group explored Photoshop, using various …
Film and Media Arts Production student Serena, on the photography pathway has been working on a project called Estuary which will be exhibited at the Gallery in Weston-super-Mare from November 9th. Part of Photo Weston & Bristol Photography Festival, the project was a community focussed collaboration between many photographers aiming to explore personal connections to the Severn Estuary. Serena shared: …
Over Halloween, Puxton Park hosted their annual scare fest to haunt and spook the public. This year’s event, ‘Phobia’, was not only a great opening to the spooky season, but it also allowed Weston College and UCW students to practice their skills and develop their confidence. Phobia featured multiple attractions tailored to create a thrilling and immersive horror experience, with …
Today we’re celebrating BA (Hons) Film and Media Arts Production student Star, who’s short film is being screened at BFI Southbank National Film Theatre for NAHEMI’s “EAT OUR SHORTS” event on November 8th 2024! We spoke to Star about this exciting opportunity, and what it means to her. Star’s film is a comedy about an “AA” style meeting for overly …
This month, our Art and Design & Graphic Design students have been busy with three different trips to help expand their knowledge outside the classroom and immerse themselves in different art environments. The term began with a visit to the Royal West of England Academy’s (RWA) annual open exhibition in Bristol. Students saw a familiar piece by UCW alumnus …
We are excited to announce that one of our impressive BA (hons) Art & Design alumni Hajnal has had her work accepted to the RWA Annual Open! We spoke to Hajnal about this achievement, and what it meant to her. Hajnal’s submitted art is a boat-shaped sculpture. This piece reflects her connection to nature and her belief in the Wabi …
Our BA Film and Media Arts Production students showcased their talents at a sold-out screening event at Cineworld, Weston-Super-Mare, on Tuesday. The event, a terrific success, featured a superb range of films including comedy, drama, documentary, and music videos, highlighting the incredible hard work of the students. The showcase, named “Emergence,” celebrates the journey of UCW’s final-year students as they …
Georgia, a Film and Media Arts Production Student at UCW is set to debut her short film, “Tides Reign,” at the Cineworld in Weston-super-Mare as part of the UCW Film Showcase, Emergence. The film explores the adventures of four young adults solving petty alien crimes in the UK. “Tides Reign” focuses on Aleah, a 16-year-old girl with mind-reading abilities, who …
Poppy, a student at UCW, has offered a glimpse into her journey through the Hair, Makeup, and Prosthetics for Production course in a recent interview. Poppy emphasised the significant role UCW has played in fostering her growth both professionally and creatively. She highlighted the university’s approach, which initially provides structure in the first years of study but gradually allows students …
A film by a group of students on the BA Hons Film and Media course, ‘The Quiet Artist’ has been awarded a craft award in Sound at the esteemed RTS West of England Student Awards. A big congratulations to sound designer on the film, Alistair Cameron-Kettle for this outstanding achievement! “The Quiet Artist” stood out not only for its exceptional …
Every year, our BA Hons Photography & Visual Cultures students hold a photography competition, open to entries both in an international ‘open call’ and to entries from Weston College students. This year’s theme for photos to follow was around ‘Embrace’. This photography award is produced and organised with support from Royal Photographic Society. The awards were presented alongside the Dirigo International Student …
A UCW student has created a logo, chosen by North Somerset Council to symbolise Knife Angel’s visit to Weston-super-Mare this spring. Graphic design student Ryan created the winning design. He is currently studying for a BA (Hons) in Graphic Design from UCW. His cohort, along with Weston College Level 3 graphic design students, were tasked with designing a logo and brand …
Dirigo is an International Student Film Festival directed and produced by BA (Hons) Film & Media Arts Production students from University Centre Weston. This festival aims to inspire and showcase the creativity of student filmmakers worldwide. It is an open festival with no set boundaries; we actively encourage new styles, voices and direction. DIRIGO 10th International Student Film Festival RETURNS to the …
University Centre Weston (UCW) student, Kam, was successfully named the Association of College’s (AoC) Higher Education Student of the Year winner this week, in front of a packed crowd at the ICC, Birmingham. The annual AoC Student of the Year Awards celebrate students who stand out from the crowd, and have gone above and beyond, whether in college or their …
Following the success of last year’s ‘Phobia’ Halloween event collaboration at Puxton Park, Further and Higher Education learners from Weston College and University Centre Weston (UCW) have collaborated with the Park to design and apply makeup to the 40 learner actors per night! The event ran from 21st – 28th October 2023, and had many haunted attractions including a Haunted Tractor Ride, Dolls House, …
We’d like to offer a huge congratulations to photography student Zoe who recently won Silver in Analog Sparks Photobook awards! Zoe’s photobook ONISM was the silver winner in Zines and Photo Book/Street. ONISM explores complex themes, with Analog Sparks stating that the photobook “explores the ideas of disassociation and the realisation that we will only experience a small portion of …
We’d like to offer a big congratulations to one of our UCW alumni Liz who recently won the Clifford Moss Memorial Prize! This award recognises the most important contribution to the technical element of MA Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking and is an incredible achievement. Liz started at Weston College back in 2016, studying part time on an Art Diploma. From there she …
In a remarkable achievement, University Centre Weston (UCW) student Kam, has been shortlisted for the prestigious Higher Education Student of the Year Nominee Sponsored by Advanced HE, at the AoC Student of the Year Awards 2023/24. Kam’s dedication to academic excellence and his commitment to personal and professional development have set him apart as a truly exceptional student. Throughout his …
Join us in person or online for an unforgettable performance… Andy Warhol’s ‘Exploding Plastic Inevitable’, also known as EPI’’ was a series of multimedia events organised by the artist in 1966 and 1967, featuring musical performances by The Velvet Underground and Nico, screenings of Warhol’s films, and dancing and performances by regulars of Warhol’s Factory including his muses Edie Sedgwick …
Recently we caught up with Georgia, an outstanding UCW student embarking on her journey in Film and Media Arts for Production. From a young age, Georgia found joy in creating and writing TV shows, even enlisting her friends to participate. It was her love for screenwriting that ultimately led her to choose the programme at University Centre Weston, as the …
University Centre Weston (UCW) is proud to announce the resounding success of the Print and Book Fair organised by our exceptional Photography and Visual Cultures Degree students. The three-day event, held at the local We Are Super space in the Sovereign Centre from Thursday 15th June to Saturday 17th June, showcased the immense creativity and talent of these emerging artists. …
This week our Photography, Art and Graphic Design students spent a day in London visiting the Design Museum , The Photographers’ Gallery and Royal Academy of Arts as well as doing some street photography and taking in the atmospheric Oxford Street lights. Highlights included the William Kentridge show at the RA, Chris Killip ‘Retrrospective’ at the Photographers’ Gallery and …
The other week our BA Photography and Visual Cultures students took a trip to St Nick’s market in Bristol to practice their street photography skills. Their activities consisted of three day trips, visiting and familiarising themselves with the cultural venues of Bristol such as Arnolfini, RPS Gallery, M-Shed and Watershed. The idea behind their trip St. Nicholas Market was to …
Interested in pursuing a career in Hair and Makeup but not sure what kind of opportunities and prospects are available? Well, Look no further! Our Hair, Makeup and Prosthetics for Production degree programme offers a multitude of opportunities and experiences to enhance our learners’ skills and industry networks. Ran by hair and makeup professionals, this course has fantastic links …
With the summer holidays well underway, students with offers from universities are eagerly awaiting those all important college exam results. The question we always get over the summer break though is… “Is it too late to apply”?! To that we say: Not at all! We can consider applications throughout the summer for most of our courses through the process called …
Recently we were fortunate enough to catch up with Weston College Level 3 Photography and UCW Photography alumni, Jacob Dear, to find out all about life at University Centre Weston (UCW), working as a Photographer and where his creative journey has taken him so far. Jacob, who came from King Alfred School, began his journey studying creative arts at Weston, …
Nine Graduating 3rd year BA Graphic Design learners recently presented an exhibition of their work at ‘New Designers’ at Business Design centre in London. The ‘New Designers’ event invites 2500 hand-picked graduate design talents from around the UK to present their work at the longest running and leading design showcase over a period of two weeks. UCW’s learners had the …
This week welcomed some familiar faces back to UCW! We love speaking with past students. Hearing about their amazing achievements and progression since graduating really brings home the amazing successes higher education enables. UCW alumni Mari Kerrigan, Dan Swan, Jack Kimmins and Josh Shapland visited The Winter Gardens Campus to pass on their words of wisdom to Weston College Sixth …
Education and isn’t a “one size fits all” situation. People learn and thrive in different learning scenarios. Those who perhaps struggled in a traditional learning system can really thrive when focusing on a single subject, working alongside like-minded people in smaller classes and having more creative freedom. Since graduating from the Graphic Design BA (hons) in 2021, UCW alumni Dan …
UCW students have shown fantastic fundraising efforts. UCW students have donated and purchased items from the amazing Weston College learner led pop-up shop over at Loxton Campus in order to raise money for those in need in Ukraine. The products in the shop were amazing handmade, bespoke items with proceeds going to charities helping those who are suffering from the war …
As part of their module around documentaries, 1st year Photography students have published their own magazine! The documentary and editorial magazine titled “The Unfamiliar” features work from nine degree students studying Photography and Visual Cultures, BA (Hons) Students were tasked with focusing on photographing something which may feel unfamiliar. This could be different angles of something seen everyday or a …
At the time of writing this article, we’re getting ready to witness the amazing hard work on display at tonight’s Dirigo Film Festival (Wednesday 26th February) Dirigo is an International Student Film Festival directed and produced by Film and Media Arts Production, students from University Centre Weston. This festival aims to inspire and showcase the creativity of student filmmakers worldwide. It is an …
We are excited to announce the winners and runners up of the UCW Photography Competition 2021. This student operated competition is aimed at non-professional photographers, supporting career growth and recognition, for local creatives. This year saw some fantastic entries in both age categories, all under the theme of ‘What got you through?’. A huge thank-you and well done to our winners, …
After graduating from our Photography degree course in 2020, UCW alumni Joe Kirkman has just opened his very own gallery on the Isle of Lewis: Garenin Gallery. Joe began his journey on the Level 3 Photography course at Weston College, progressing to the Photography degree programme in 2020, gaining a strong 1st class degree. We caught up with Joe to find …
As a result of a research project taking place over the last 7 years, HE Photography lecturer Jamie Dormer-Durling is raising money to help publish his book: ‘Dragons & Snakestones’. The upcoming title is a is a photobook celebrating the life and work of the fossil hunter and palaeontologist Mary Anning. Jamie continues: “In the spring of 2014, whilst walking on …
We are excited to be hosting an exciting competition, open to local residents! This student organised competition is aimed at non-professional photographers, split into two age categories (16-18 / 19+). We’re keen to help support your career growth and recognition, providing exposure to the community and the chance for your submissions to be reviewed by our panel expert photographers on …
Art and Design BA (Hons) OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyArt and Design BA (Hons) Title goes hereArt and Design BA (Hons) Title goes hereArt and Design BA (Hons) Art and Design BA (Hons)OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyOverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersApplyIt’s still not too late to join us this year!Need Help Applying? Apply today and join us in …
Film and Media Arts Production, BA (Hons) OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyFilm and Media Arts Production, BA (Hons) Title goes hereFilm and Media Arts Production, BA (Hons) Title goes hereFilm and Media Arts Production, BA (Hons) Film and Media Arts Production, BA (Hons)OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyOverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersApplyIt’s still not too late to join us …
Games and Animation Production, BA (Hons) OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyGames and Animation Production, BA (Hons) Title goes hereGames and Animation Production, BA (Hons) Title goes hereGames and Animation Production, BA (Hons) Games and Animation Production, BA (Hons)OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyOverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersApplyIt’s still not too late to join us this year!Need Help Applying? Apply …
Graphic Design BA (Hons) OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyGraphic Design BA (Hons) Title goes hereGraphic Design BA (Hons) Title goes hereGraphic Design BA (Hons) Graphic Design BA (Hons)OverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersStudent SpotlightApplyOverviewCourse DetailCareer ProspectsMeet the TeamPartnersApplyIt’s still not too late to join us this year!Need Help Applying? Apply today and join us in 2022Find out how to apply …
University Centre Weston graduate Anna Palmer, a 30-year-old who lives in Clevedon, was a national finalist for the Return to Learning Award at the Festival of Learning Awards 2020 last night (Tuesday 3rd November). The awards celebrated learning and showcased the wide-ranging impacts adult learning has on individuals and their families. Anna was nominated for this award as she turned …
Students starting the Photography in Practice degree at University Centre Weston (UCW) this month will benefit from its brilliant links with the Royal Photography Society (RPS). The students will gain personal membership of the country’s biggest photography organisation at no extra charge, meaning they will join a community of more than 11,000 people who share their passion for all things …
UCW student Joseph Kirkman is to set up a photography gallery on the Isle of Lewis when he completes his degree in Lens-based Media this summer. Joseph’s plans have been disrupted by the coronavirus crisis, but he has family connections to the Outer Hebrides and hopes the business, which will sell his own photographs and also work by other islanders, …
