Boasting an international reputation as one of the best art and design institutions on the planet, the University of the Arts London (UAL) welcomes students from all over the world.
In the QS World University Rankings in 2017, UAL was proudly named the world’s sixth best university for Art and Design. This is thanks to its extensive range of courses in Art, Design, Fashion, Communication and Performing Arts, with graduates going on to work in, and shape the futures of creative industries worldwide.
The university draws together six renowned colleges – Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, the London College of Communication, the London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts – each with its own world-class reputation.
UAL has more than 100 cutting-edge programmes and courses in arts and design which are overseen by teaching staff made up of professional artists, practitioners, designers, critics and theorists.
Courses range from Fashion Media and Fine Art right through to 3D animation, Graphic Design and Drama. These are delivered from state-of-the-art facilities including workshops with letterpress machinery, studio theatres, gallery space as well as libraries and archives for research into hundreds of years of the greatest artists and designers.
The university originates from the formation of the London Institute in 1986 and was incorporated as a higher education body in 1991, with academic degree awarding powers being granted in 1993. A coat of arms was granted to the London Institute in 1998, with Lord Stevenson being appointed its very first chancellor in 2000. Three years later, the London Institute received Privy Council approval for university status and was renamed University of the Arts London in 2004.
Wimbledon School of Art joined the university as a sixth college in 2006, and was renamed Wimbledon College of Art.
If you've been made an offer for a place at the university then have a look at some of our centrally located student accommodation in London below:
SE16 2XG - Zone 2
SE5 8UB - Zone 2
NW1 8NP - Zone 1
SW3 6NA - Zone 1
E15 2TJ - Zone 2
W10 5BN - Zone 2
KT3 4NN - Surrey
WC1E 6AA - Zone 1
Many honours and awards have been received by students, staff and alumni of the six colleges. These include the BAFTA Award, BP Portrait Prize, British Fashion Designer of the Year, D&AD Student Award, Fujifilm Award, Jerwood Drawing Prize, Prince Philip Designers Prize, Saatchi Scholarship, Sunday Times Award, Academy Award and the Turner Prize.
A Queen’s Anniversary Prize was awarded to Camberwell College of Arts for the conservation of ‘works of art on paper’ in 1996. The prize was also awarded to Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design for its contributions to the British fashion industry, and for nurturing the creativity of students, in 1998.
Central Saint Martins and the London College of Communication have been awarded Skillset Media Academy status, recognising the achievements in the area of media, interactive design and film respectively.
It has big plans for the future and has launched an ambitious seven-year strategy (2015-2022) with four key strategic areas: transformative education, world-leading research and enterprise, communication and collaboration and building an inspirational environment.
Notable alumni include Samantha Cameron (former creative director of luxury stationers, Smythson and wife of David Cameron), designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, film and stage actor Ralph Fiennes, actor Pierce Brosnan and television presenter Kate Thornton.