The kinetics and phase evolution of the TiC formation process by carbothermal reduction of ultrafine titania/carbon mixture were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and oxygen analysis. Titania (TiO2) first lowered its oxidation state to Ti3O5 via an unidentified phase (possibly one of the Magneli phases). Then Ti3O5 was further reduced to Ti2O3, followed by the formation of titanium oxycarbide (TiCxOy) phase and its purification toward high purity TiC thereafter. Ti2O3 was the oxide phase with the lowest oxidation state before forming TiCxOy phase. In the isothermal TGA trace, the formation of Ti3O5 showed a diffusion-controlled process; possibly carbon diffusion limited the solid state reaction. The formation of Ti2O3 and TiCxOy was interpreted to be associated with CO gas-assisted reduction reaction, based on constant reaction rate for each process. The activation energy for the formation of Ti2O3 (from Ti3O5) and TiCxOy (from Ti2O3) phase were calculated to be 415.6 and 264.3 kJ mol(-1), respectively. The TiC powder synthesized at 1550 degrees C for 4 h in flowing argon atmosphere showed fine particle size (0.3-0.6 mu m) with oxygen content of 0.7 wt% and lattice parameter of 0.4328 nm while interparticle agglomeration was moderate.