The University's History

The key dates below trace the history of the University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester.

Timeline

1866	The Farnham School of Art was founded
1867	The Maidstone College of Art was founded
1870	The Guildford School of Art was founded
1882	The Canterbury School of Art was founded
1886	The Medway College of Design was founded
1896	The Epsom & Ewell School of Art was founded
1948	The Canterbury School of Architecture was founded
1969	The Guildford School of Art and the Farnham School of Art merged to formed West Surrey College of Art and Design (WSCAD)
1970	To accommodate the rapidly growing West Surrey College of Art and Design, a new purpose-built campus is constructed in Falkner Road, Farnham.
1987	The Kent Institute of Art & Design was formed through the amalgamation of three art colleges in Kent (Maidstone College of Art, Medway College of Design and Canterbury Art College) and the Canterbury School of Architecture
1989	The Education Reform Act of 1988 is legislated and incorporated The West Surrey College of Art and Design along with the Kent Institute of Art & Design.
1992	The Kent Institute of Art & Design is granted accreditation by the University of Kent giving it the power to award its own degrees.
1992	The West Surrey College of Art and Design is granted accreditation by the Privy Council, giving it the power to award its own degrees.
1995	The newly merged West Surrey College of Art and Design changed its name to The Surrey Institute of Art & Design.
1999	In 1999, the Privy Council granted The Surrey Institute 'University' title, reflecting its taught degree awarding powers.
2001	RAE (Research Assessment Exercise): The Surrey Institute was awarded 3a for Art and Design having raised its quality rating by three grades – the most significant improvement of all submissions in Art and Design. The Kent Institute entered 22 research-active staff in the same exercise, also achieving an overall grade of 3a.
2003 (May)	The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) gave its highest judgement of confidence to The Surrey Institute on completion of an institutional audit. The judgement of 'broad confidence' indicated that the quality of the Institute's courses and the standard of its awards were extremely well managed. It confirmed the Institute's ability to secure and maintain this level of quality in the future.
2004 (Apr)	The Governors of the Kent Institute and The Surrey Institute give permission for both institutions to move towards merger through collaboration on a joint business plan.
2005 (Mar)	The Kent Institute received an outstanding rating for its Further Education (FE) provision in its Ofsted inspection report released. The official report placed the Kent Institute as the highest rated institution or university offering further education in art and design in England.
2005 (May)	The Kent and Surrey Institutes announce their decision to form a new single institution by signing a legal agreement to merge.
2005 (Aug)	The University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester was established through the merger of The Surrey Institute of Art & Design University and the Kent Institute of Art & Design (KIAD).
2008	The University for the Creative Arts becomes the UK's first creative arts university. After being granted university title by the Privy Council, the new name of University for the Creative Arts has been adopted.
2010	By 2010, the University will be the leading university for the creative arts, serving the needs of the creative industries in the South East. We will play a leading role in championing the development of Higher and Further Education in the Arts at national and international levels, enhancing the status of our subjects.

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