Superb facilities dot the capital belonging to the University of the Arts London (UAL). A university since 2003, UAL comprises six distinct colleges each with its own identity: Camberwell College of Arts, Central St Martins College of Art and Design, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, Wimbledon College of Arts and London College of Fashion (LCF), now based at the East Bank of London cultural quarter in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Here, the college rubs shoulders with the dance theatre Sadler’s Wells East, and BBC Music Studios.

UAL has developed a site in Lime Grove in Shepherd’s Bush, west London for its pre-degree and foundation programmes in art, media, design and fashion. The new facility has freed up space within the colleges, allowing UAL to accommodate 3,000 more students and respond to demand from young creatives from the UK and beyond. A doctoral school in High Holborn is a new development for postgraduate research.

In their prime London locations, the colleges of UAL offer students unequalled access to the capital’s cultural life, from galleries, shopping and street food to bars and nightclubs. 

What is UAL’s reputation? 

Innovation across the creative fields is long established at UAL, which has produced many nominees for the Turner prize, including the latest (2023) winner, Jesse Darling, who graduated from Central St Martins in 2010, and the university’s former chancellor, Sir Grayson Perry. He has been replaced in the role by the BBC news anchor Clive Myrie. 

On a global scale, UAL is second for art and design in the QS World University Rankings 2024 for the sixth year running, behind only the Royal College of Art, a postgraduate institution. UAL made by far the largest submission for art and design in the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021) — eclipsing the next-largest contribution by the Royal College of Art — to rank 47th in our research quality index. Eighty-five per cent of its work was judged world-leading or internationally excellent.

However, UAL slipped from silver to bronze overall in the latest national Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF 2023). The student experience was graded bronze, although the panel noted “some very high quality features”, including “research in relevant disciplines, innovation, scholarship, professional practice and employer engagement that contributes to a very high quality academic experience for students”. Student outcomes were graded silver and UAL was praised for its “effective support for students to succeed” and “very high rates of continuation and completion”.

The TEF bronze rating is reflected in tepid feedback from undergraduates in the National Student Survey. In our previous edition, UAL placed outside the top 100 for teaching quality (101) and the broad experience (126), and this year it fails to break through that barrier again, in 104th and 113th position respectively.  

Most courses have some sort of online element to them, though UAL stops short of calling them “hybrid”. Students are not permitted to submit work for assessment that has been generated by a chatbot or AI tool but the use of AI is approved as part of the learning and development process.

What degree courses have been discontinued and what new courses are available?

Two courses have been withdrawn: BA degrees in service design, and design for climate justice. No additions are scheduled for 2024 or 2025. 

What are UAL’s entry requirements – and my chances of getting in?

UAL asks for a minimum of 80 Ucas tariff points to 136. In 2023 the university had more than 33,000 applicants and over 5,000 were accepted onto courses, just 3 per cent via clearing. UAL’s contextual admissions process identifies eligible students and flags their application so their personal circumstances are considered. 

What are the graduate prospects?

A relative lack of jobs in the creative industries won’t come as a shock for students finishing their degree but it puts UAL towards the bottom of our analysis of the proportion of graduates in highly skilled work or further study after 15 months. In our analysis of the Graduate Outcomes survey it has fallen nine places to 124th, having rallied a little in our previous edition to reach 115th place. UAL is working hard to shift the dial on employment rates for creative graduates. Links with global brands are built into the curriculum via live briefs, work placements or other project-based work. There are about 130 consultancy projects running with companies such as Microsoft, Levi’s and Unilever. UAL’s recruitment service, Arts Temps, teams up with employers to find temporary jobs for UAL students in the creative and non-creative sectors. There are incubator spaces across UAL sites too, and the university takes pride in the high numbers of entrepreneurs it produces.

What is UAL’s campus like?

Students are based at the six colleges across London, including the £200 million Central St Martins campus at King’s Cross, plus Lime Grove for pre-degree studies. Degrees within the Creative Computing Institute are based at the Greencoat Building in Camberwell, south London. There are also institutes of Decolonising Arts; Fashion, Textiles and Technology; and Storytelling — although these do not offer undergraduate programmes.

Everything you need to know about UAL’s student life and wellbeing support

Halls Active provides UAL students with 200 low-cost hours of fitness, wellbeing and mindfulness activities including yoga and Pilates at locations near the halls of residence. The students’ union runs weekly clubs that cater for traditional competitive sports as well as non-competitive activities.

In-person and online counselling sessions are available and students can request appointments with professionals from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. There is also a 24-hour mental health support line, and urgent care for emergencies. “Tell someone” is UAL’s reporting service, for students who encounter racism, bullying, harassment or sexual violence.

What do the students say?  

“London is constantly fuelling our creativity: There are always new people to meet, places to explore, and exhibitions or plays to see. And due to UAL’s many workshops, tools, and creative spaces, there’s always a way to put our imagination into action. UAL thrives through community, as provided by the ArtsSU, the experienced and attentive lecturers, as well as our diverse student body.”
Eva Zirker, Women Students Intern at Arts SU, MA Publishing, London College of Communication

What about student accommodation at UAL?

First-year international students on a full-time course are guaranteed accommodation, while under-18s and disabled students are prioritised. All others are allocated on a first come, first served basis. High London rents require students to dig deep: the cheapest accommodation is a twin room at Portland House at £166 a week. At the other end of the scale are 14 premium studios at Wigram House, at £481.50 a week.

How diverse and inclusive is UAL?

Insights, UAL’s outreach programme, targets London students aged 16 and above from disadvantaged backgrounds and offers Saturday clubs for year 10 students, helping it to maintain its spot in our top 50 for social inclusion.

Everything you need to know about scholarships and bursaries at UAL

The UAL bursary —  £1,300 per year of study — is awarded to all UK students who get a full maintenance grant. There is also a range of donor-funded scholarships linked to particular courses or entry pathways.

The UAL Hardship Fund supports UK-based and international students with payments of £500 to £5,000-plus.