Study at Arts University Plymouth

Why study at Arts University Plymouth

Study is studio-based across more than 13,000 square metres of workshops, labs and making spaces on a city-centre campus. Courses span fine art, illustration, photography, fashion, textiles, film, games and graphic design. The campus also hosts the public gallery MIRROR, Fab Lab Plymouth and the Plymouth Arts Cinema, giving students contact with exhibitions, digital fabrication and independent film alongside their courses.

Location and student life

Its campuses sit in the centre of Plymouth, in the city's Cultural Quarter around Tavistock Place, with further sites on Regent Street for postgraduate study and at Palace Studios and Palace Court for pre-degree courses. Plymouth, often called Britain's Ocean City, is a coastal city in Devon between Dartmoor and the sea, with a waterfront, shops and nightlife close to the university. The city is served by Great Western Railway trains from London Paddington and CrossCountry services to the Midlands and beyond, and students can use discounted bus and rail cards.

Courses and subjects

The university organises its degrees into areas including crafts and making, fashion and textiles, photography and film, fine art, drawing and painting, visual communication and design, and games and media. Undergraduate courses include fine art, painting, drawing and printmaking, illustration, graphic design, photography, film and screen arts, fashion design, fashion media and marketing, textile design, interior design and styling, game arts and animation, content creation, costume production and craft and material practices. Postgraduate options include MA Design, MA Fine Art, MA Glass, MA Immersive Media, MA Museum Studies and MA Craft and Material Practices. Pre-degree routes include the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, extended diplomas and an Integrated Foundation Year.

Entry requirements for international students

International applicants apply with school-leaving or prior qualifications comparable to UK requirements, plus a portfolio for most creative courses; exact requirements vary by course and country, so applicants should check the relevant course page. For 2025/26 entry the university asks for IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component for undergraduate study, 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component for postgraduate study, and 5.5 with at least 5.0 in each component for pre-degree courses. Five- and ten-week pre-sessional English courses run with Anglo Continental for offer holders just below the required level.

Accommodation

The university does not own halls and instead works with approved accommodation partners, with Homes for Students as its recommended provider. Students choose from halls, studios and shared houses across Plymouth, many within walking distance of the Tavistock Place campus. Selected options include bills, with no deposit or extra fees, and recommended accommodation is endorsed by the Students' Union. Some halls offer No Place, No Pay and No Visa, No Pay terms for international students whose place or visa is not confirmed.

Scholarships and funding

International entrants in their first year may be considered for fee-reduction awards. Creative Scholarships worth up to £2,000 are awarded on merit by panel, with undergraduate and postgraduate applicants who submit a portfolio considered automatically. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor's Creative Excellence Award offers £2,500 for a first-year full-time BA student (two awards), and the Vice-Chancellor's Excellence Award offers £3,500 for a one-year MA student, both by competitive application with a portfolio. Criteria and deadlines change each year, so applicants should check the university's international funding page before applying.