Welcome to your student update

Welcome to your latest student update, featuring news and events from across UCA. 

 

Opportunities week 

Opportunities Week (2-6 November 2026) is just around the corner, and we’ve been busy putting the final touches to your schedule. 

We’re planning an exciting week of workshops, talks, competitions and live briefs providing opportunities for all students to engage with employers, industry professionals and alumni to develop employability skills, network and support with career readiness. Some opportunities will result in work experience or prizes! 

Opportunities Week takes place across all of our Schools, and sessions will be a mix of online and in-person.

Attendance will still be recorded during this period, and you are expected to attend any activities or sessions that are relevant to you. As such, you should continue to engage with the programme and participate in appropriate events throughout the week. All sessions delivered hybrid and online will be beneficial to all students unless stated.  

We’ll be in touch very soon with your Opportunities Week timetable. 

 

Library opening hours 

A reminder that during term time only, Library opening hours will be:    

Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm  

Saturday 10am – 4pm  

The Library will remain closed on Sundays as previously.   

Thank you again for your patience while we confirmed arrangements and ensured the right health and safety measures are in place. To access the Library and other non-residential University spaces outside the core hours when UCA staff routinely aren't present, you must read and ensure you are compliant with these health and safety measures.      

 

Library events 

You can find the latest event listings on both on the Student Portal and within the Student App. 

Relax & Create: Mondays 1 – 1.30pm 

Be inspired by Library resources to create, try new techniques and refresh ideas to generate new sources of inspiration. The events will be held in the Library and the focus is to just experiment, relax and have fun. 

Monday 26 October: Collage – inspired by performance art 

Monday 2 November: Exploring artists' approaches to the sky. 

Brew and Belong: Monday 9 November, 1 – 2pm 

A friendly drop-in for students who are young carers, experiencing estrangement, or care-experienced. Come along to The Nook between 1 - 2pm for a free drink and snacks, informal conversation and craft activities and the chance to build connections with others who may share similar experiences. 

 

Black History Month webinar 

October is Black History Month and students and staff are invited to join our online webinar Let’s Talk About Race: Honouring Our Communities on Tuesday 27 October, from noon - 1.30pm. You can access the webinar on the day at this link. 

This year’s theme is centred on ‘Honouring Our Communities’ – recognising the people, experiences, creativity, leadership and everyday contributions that shape, support and strengthen our communities. 

Led by Peter MacDonald Hall FIEDP, Head of Culture, Inclusion & Employee Experience, this interactive webinar will explore race, racism and race-based micro-inequities, the importance of psychological safety and employee voice, the impact of everyday behaviours on belonging and the practical role we can all play as allies and active upstanders.

 

Venice Architecture Biennale 2027 Fellowship Opportunity 

The Venice Architecture Biennale is the world’s largest architecture exhibition. Exploring key themes in contemporary architecture, it attracts half a million visitors per year. The 20th edition will run from May to November 2027, directed by celebrated Chinese architects Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu. 

We are delighted to announce that UCA is a British Council British Pavilion Partner for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2027, and are able to take part in its Venice Fellowship programme. The Venice Fellowships programme is an exceptional opportunity for creative individuals to spend a month in Venice during the world’s most important architecture biennial. 

Find out more about the Fellowship programme and how to apply on the Student Portal. 

 

TV Production students joined world’s largest student-led broadcast  

The world’s largest student-led broadcast, On Air, took place on Thursday 22 October and featured programmes produced by students studying at Maidstone Studios.  

Delivered by Media Talent Manifesto (MTM), On Air is a multi-channel global student broadcast that brings together students, educators and industry partners with channels dedicated to culture, news, sport, film and children’s content.  

Senior Lecturer in Television Production, Katarina Sengstaken, said: “This is practice-based learning at its best: real contributors, real stakes, real outcomes - and exactly the kind of experience that prepares students for freelance life in UK.” 

 

The Independent's New Voices competition 

Ever thought that you could write an opinion piece? To celebrate The Independent turning 40, they want to hear from you – if you’ve always wanted to write, now is your chance to submit an opinion piece for their award-winning Voices section. 

Prizes – including publication in The Independent – will go to the entries that stand out from the crowd and make them think differently. Send your piece of 600-800 words to newvoices@independent.co.uk by 23:59pm on 13 November 2026. The winner will also receive £500. 

Simply take a topic in the news and write about it with the intent to make people think differently. Your article can be funny, serious, observational, personal or political. You might be dissecting a trend no one is talking about or taking a familiar story somewhere fresh and original. A good entry will be timely, fair and forward-thinking, with plenty of strong opinion and independent thought. 

This is for new writers who have not previously been published elsewhere. We think everyone has a writer in them – you just need the chance to show it. 

Entry is free, and articles will be judged on the quality of writing and their ability to make us think differently. Get your entries in by the end of the day on 13 November. 

 

If you have any contributions for the next edition of the student update, please send these to studentnotices@uca.ac.uk  to be considered. 

If you would like to keep up to date on the latest from UCA, make sure you are following us on social media and also regularly check the Student Portal. 

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