Study at University of the Arts London

Why study at University of the Arts London

Teaching centres on studio practice, workshops and professional projects across art, design, fashion, communication, media and performance. UAL states on its website that it is ranked second in the world for Art and Design. Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion are noted for fashion, while strengths across the colleges include fine art, graphic and communication design, photography, film and theatre and screen performance.

Location and student life

UAL has no single campus; its six colleges occupy sites across London, including the former Granary Building at King's Cross that houses Central Saint Martins. Each college keeps its own studios, workshops and identity, so students choose a course and college rather than one central site. London's Tube, bus and rail networks link the sites, and each sits in a distinct neighbourhood with its own galleries, shops and venues. Living in the capital gives students direct access to museums, exhibitions, fashion houses, design studios and theatres, alongside student venues and societies across the university.

Courses and subjects

The six colleges span fine art, fashion, textiles, graphic and communication design, illustration, photography, film and animation, media and journalism, theatre and performance, and creative computing through the UAL Creative Computing Institute. Examples of provision include BA Fine Art, Graduate Diploma Illustration, MA User Experience Design and MA/MSc Computing in the Creative Industries. Courses run from foundation and pre-degree level through undergraduate and taught postgraduate study to MPhil/PhD research. Check the official course pages, as not every subject is available at every college.

Entry requirements for international students

Entry requirements vary by course, so always check the relevant course page for academic requirements and any creative task. For English, UAL expresses requirements as overall IELTS scores between 5.0 and 7.5. Many undergraduate courses ask for IELTS 6.0 with at least 5.5 in each skill, many taught master's courses ask for 6.5, and research degrees can require 7.0. If you fall short of the grade for your course, check the UAL Language Centre pages for accepted alternative tests and the English support available.

Accommodation

UAL runs a network of halls of residence across London, and its Accommodation Services team also advises on private renting. International students joining a full-time course for the first time are guaranteed a place in halls if they complete their room booking by the published deadline. Halls suit different budgets and include options such as Sketch House for short tenancies. Because the colleges are spread across the city, check travel times from any hall to your college before booking.

Scholarships and funding

Named international awards published by UAL include the UAL International Postgraduate £10,000 Scholarships, which give a £10,000 tuition fee waiver for a full-time or part-time taught master's course, and the UAL Foundation and Pre-degree £7,000 International Scholarship. There are also country-specific awards, such as postgraduate scholarships for students from India and the US, and postgraduate applicants can explore external awards such as Chevening Scholarships. The number and value of awards change each year, so check the UAL scholarships pages for current details and deadlines.