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University of the Arts London

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The University of the Arts London is a public collegiate university in London, England, United Kingdom. It specialises in arts, design, fashion, and the performing arts.[4] The university is a federation of six arts colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, the London College of Communication, the London College of Fashion and the Wimbledon College of Arts.[5]: 263 

University of the Arts London
Coat of arms of the university
Former name
London Institute (1986–2004)
MottoPrimus inter artifices
Motto in English
First among artists
TypePublic
Established1986
Endowment£6.5 million (2023)[1]
Budget£419.3 million (2022/23)[1]
ChancellorClive Myrie
Vice-ChancellorKaren Stanton (interim)
Academic staff
2,740 (2022/23)[2]
Administrative staff
1,720 (2022/23)[2]
Students23,625 (2022/23)[3]
Undergraduates17,520 (2022/23)[3]
Postgraduates6,105 (2022/23)[3]
Other students
1,329 FE (2021/22)[1]
Location
London
,
United Kingdom

51°31′4″N 0°6′59″W / 51.51778°N 0.11639°W / 51.51778; -0.11639
Colours   
AffiliationsUniversities UK
Websitearts.ac.uk

The University of the Arts London was established as The London Institute in 1986, became a university in 2003, and took its present name in 2004. The university hosts one of the largest international student bodies out of all universities in the United Kingdom.

History

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Camberwell College of Arts
 
The King's Cross campus of Central Saint Martins

The university has its origins in seven previously independent art, design, fashion and media colleges, which were brought together for administrative purposes to form the London Institute in 1986.[6] They were: Saint Martin's School of Art; Chelsea School of Art; the London College of Printing; the Central School of Art and Design; Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts; the College for Distributive Trades; and the London College of Fashion.[7] The colleges were originally established between the mid-nineteenth and the early twentieth century.

Under the Education Reform Act of 1988, the London Institute became a single legal entity, and the first court of governors was instated in the following year, 1989. The first appointed rector was John McKenzie.[7] The institute was granted degree-awarding powers in 1993 by the Privy Council. Sir William Stubbs was appointed rector after the retirement of McKenzie in 1996. A coat of arms was granted to the institute in 1998.[7] Will Wyatt was appointed chairman of governors in 1999, and Lord Stevenson of Coddenham was installed as the first chancellor in 2000.[7]

On the retirement of Sir William Stubbs as rector in 2001, Sir Michael Bichard was appointed and he encouraged the London Institute to apply for university status. The London Institute originally chose not to apply because its individual colleges were internationally recognised in their own right.[8] In 2003, the London Institute received Privy Council approval for university status; it was renamed University of the Arts London in 2004.[9]

Wimbledon School of Art joined the university as a sixth college in 2006, and was renamed Wimbledon College of Arts. Sir John Tusa was appointed chairman, replacing Will Wyatt, in 2007.[7] Nigel Carrington was appointed rector in 2008, replacing Sir Michael Bichard.[7]

From 2008 to 2010, staff were made redundant and courses closed. At the London College of Communication, where 16 of the 19 courses were discontinued in 2009, staff resigned and students demonstrated and staged a sit-in in protest at the cuts in budget and staff numbers.[10][11]

Central Saint Martins moved to a purpose-built complex in King's Cross in June 2011.[12][13]

In 2015, Grayson Perry was appointed to succeed Kwame Kwei-Armah as chancellor of the university.[14][15]

James Purnell was appointed Vice Chancellor and President, replacing Sir Nigel Carrington (he had been knighted in 2019) from March 2021.[16]

Colleges

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The University of the Arts London has six constituent colleges:

Camberwell College of Arts

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Main article: Camberwell College of Arts

Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts was established by the Technical Education Board of the London County Council on 10 January 1898, in a building beside the South London Gallery, with the financial support of John Passmore Edwards and following advocacy by Edward Burne-Jones, Lord Leighton, Walter Crane and G. F. Watts. The subjects taught were mainly technical until a Fine Arts department was established between the Wars. The school became part of the London Institute in January 1986, and was renamed Camberwell College of Arts in 1989.[17]

Central Saint Martins

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Main article: Central Saint Martins

Central Saint Martins College was formed in 1989 by the merger of Saint Martin's School of Art, founded 1854, and the Central School of Art and Design, founded as the Central School of Arts and Crafts in 1896. Drama Centre London, founded in 1963, became part of Central Saint Martins in 1999,[18] and the Byam Shaw School of Art, founded in 1910, was merged into CSM in 2003.[7] The school was renamed Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in 2011.[7]

Chelsea College of Arts

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Chelsea College of Art and Design
Main article: Chelsea College of Arts

The Chelsea School of Art originated as part of the South-Western Polytechnic, which opened in 1895 and in 1922 became the Chelsea Polytechnic. In 1957 the science department of the polytechnic was renamed Chelsea College of Science and Technology; the School of Art became independent from it at that time, and merged with the Regent Street Polytechnic School of Art to create the Chelsea School of Art in 1964. In 1975 Chelsea merged with Hammersmith College of Art and Building, founded in 1891 by Francis Hawke and taken over by the London County Council in 1904. The Chelsea School of Art became part of the London Institute in 1986 and was renamed Chelsea College of Art and Design in 1989.[19]

London College of Communication

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Main article: London College of Communication
 
The London College of Communication

The London College of Printing descends from the St Bride's Foundation Institute Printing School, which was established in November 1894 under the City of London Parochial Charities Act of 1883. The Guild and Technical School opened in Clerkenwell in the same year, but moved a year later to Bolt Court, and became the Bolt Court Technical School; it was later renamed the London County Council School of Photoengraving and Lithography. St Bride's came under the control of the London County Council in 1922 and was renamed the London School of Printing and Kindred Trades; in 1949 it was merged with the LCC School of Photoengraving and Lithography, forming the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts. In 1960 this was renamed the London College of Printing. The printing department of the North Western Polytechnic was merged into it in 1969. The London College of Printing became part of the London Institute in 1986.

The Westminster Day Continuation School opened in 1921, and was later renamed the College for Distributive Trades. It became part of the London Institute in 1986. In 1990 it merged with the London College of Printing to form the London College of Printing and Distributive Trades, which in 1996 was renamed the London College of Communication.[20]

London College of Fashion

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The London College of Fashion
Main article: London College of Fashion

The London College of Fashion derives from three trade schools for women, the Shoreditch Technical Institute Girls Trade School, founded in 1906, Barrett Street Trade School, founded in 1915, and Clapham Trade School, founded in 1927; all were established by the Technical Education board of the London County Council to train skilled workers for the clothing and hairdressing trades.[21] The Barrett Street school became a technical college after the Education Act 1944 and was renamed Barrett Street Technical College. Shoreditch also became a technical college; in 1955 it merged with Clapham Trade School to form Shoreditch College for the Garment Trades. In 1966 it was renamed Shoreditch College for the Clothing Industry and in 1967 merged with Barrett Street Technical College to become the London College for the Garment Trades, which in 1974 was renamed the London College of Fashion.[22][23] It became part of the London Institute in January 1986. In August 2000 it merged with Cordwainers College, founded as the Leather Trade School by the Leathersellers and Cordwainers Company in 1887 in Bethnal Green, and later renamed the Cordwainers Technical College and, in 1991, Cordwainers College.[24]

Wimbledon College of Arts

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Main article: Wimbledon College of Arts
 
Wimbledon College of Arts

The foundation of Wimbledon College of Arts goes back to 1890, when an art class for the Rutlish School for Boys was started. Between 1904 and 1920 this was housed in the Wimbledon Technical Institute in Gladstone Road. It became independent in 1930 and moved to Merton Hall Road in 1940. Theatre design was taught from 1932, and became a department in 1948. In 1993 the school, which previously had been controlled by the London Borough of Merton, was incorporated as an independent higher education institution. Wimbledon School of Art became part of University of the Arts London in 2006 and was renamed Wimbledon College of Arts.[25]

Organisation and administration

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The University is a higher education corporation established under Section 121 of the Education Reform Act 1988, and is an exempt charity under charity legislation.[26]

In the financial year to 31 July 2017, the university had a total income (including share of joint ventures) of £281.4 million and total expenditure of £264.0 million.[27] Sources of income included £214,624 million from tuition fees and education contracts, £28,400 million from Funding body grants, £1,439 million from research grants and contracts, £2,718 million from endowment and investment income and £34,227 million from other income.[27]

Academic profile

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Rankings
National rankings
Complete (2025)[28]29
Guardian (2025)[29]13
Times / Sunday Times (2025)[30]40=
 
University of the Arts London's national league table performance over the past ten years

Reputation and rankings

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In 2019 and again in 2021, the university was ranked number 2 for art and design in the QS World University Rankings.[31][32]

UAL received an overall ranking of 84 out of 124 in the 2019 Complete University Guide league tables, down from 48th place in 2013 and 59th in the 2012 ranking. It scored 56.5 out of 100 for graduate prospects, and 3.94 out of 5 for student satisfaction with teaching.[33] UAL was ranked 75th in the 2019 Guardian University Guide[34] and 21st out of 67 institutions in the Art subject table.[35]

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.[36] Cordwainers College of London College of Fashion was awarded the prize for its continued excellence in shoe and accessory design, development and teaching practice in 2008.[37] The University of the Arts London was among the twenty winners of the prize in 2013, for its "industrial and product design".[38]

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.[39]

Chelsea College of Arts and the London College of Fashion share the "Creative Learning in Practice Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning". The centre is funded by the British government in recognition of the two colleges' results in developing student learning.[40]

Admissions

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UCAS Admission Statistics
2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
Applications[α][41] 33,270 33,735 26,270 27,355 27,100
Accepted[α][41] 5,110 5,240 4,510 5,295 4,650
Applications/Accepted Ratio[α] 6.5 6.4 5.8 5.2 5.8
Offer Rate (%)[β][42] 44.8 43.2 43.8 45.5 41.9
Average Entry Tariff[43] — — 150 135 137
  1. ^ a b c Main scheme applications, International and UK
  2. ^ UK domiciled applicants
HESA Student Body Composition (2022)
Domicile[44] and Ethnicity[45] Total
International Non-EU 43% 43
 
British White 31% 31
 
British Ethnic Minorities[a] 16% 16
 
International EU 10% 10
 
Undergraduate Widening Participation Indicators[46][47]
Female 76% 76
 
Private School 8% 8
 
Low Participation Areas[b] 8% 8
 

The university gave offers of admission to 43.2% of its undergraduate applicants in 2022, the 10th lowest offer rate across the country.[48]

Research

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The 2001 Research Assessment Exercise published results by subject area on a point scale from 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4, 5 to 5*, the University achieved a 5 rating. In 2006–07, this rating equated to a QR grant of £8.6 million.[49] In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise the Times Higher Education's RAE league tables placed the university 44th out of 132 universities in the institution-wide table. In the "Art and Design" subject tables it was placed 22nd out of 72 submissions (for "submission A" – the majority of the constituent colleges) and 23rd out of 72 submissions (for "submission B" – Wimbledon College of Art alone).[50] The university had the largest number of researchers in the arts and design subject area (237.89 full-time equivalent staff); it was followed by Glasgow School of Art with 76.85 equivalent staff. More than half the university's research was rated as "world leading" or "internationally excellent", and 77.5 per cent as internationally significant.[51][52] An open-access collection of its research outputs, including text and multi-media items, was developed in 2009 by the Kultur project of the Joint Information Systems Committee[53]

Student life

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The University of the Arts London Students' Union (stylised as Arts Students' Union or Arts SU) offers various services to students, including running student-led sports clubs and societies. They also operate arts-based opportunities to students,[54] represent students through six elected Sabbatical Officers, and offer independent advice to members.[55] [56]

The university has 13 halls of residence in various parts of London.[57] It is fourth among United Kingdom institutions by number of international students.[58]

Notes

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  1. ^ Includes those who indicate that they identify as Asian, Black, Mixed Heritage, Arab or any other ethnicity except White.
  2. ^ Calculated from the Polar4 measure, using Quintile1, in England and Wales. Calculated from the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) measure, using SIMD20, in Scotland.

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022/23" (PDF). University of the Arts, London. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Who's working in HE?". www.hesa.ac.uk. Higher Education Statistics Agency.
  3. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study? | HESA". hesa.ac.uk. Higher Education Statistics Agency.
  4. ^ [s.n.] (4 June 2013). University guide 2015: University of the Arts London. The Guardian. Accessed April 2015.
  5. ^ Joanne Lee (2013). 'Without a Master':Learning Art through an Open Curriculum. In: Matthew Charles Potter (editor) (2013). The Concept of the 'Master' in Art Education in Britain and Ireland, 1770 to the Present. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 9781409435556, pages 251–266.
  6. ^ Rebecca Smithers and Polly Curtis (15 July 2003). "Art world welcomes Institute change". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "A Brief History - Revised September 2014" (PDF). University of the Arts London. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Times Online University Profile". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 27 November 2008.
  9. ^ Veronica Lee (8 May 2004). "State of the arts". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  10. ^ Melanie Newman (5 November 2009). PR lecturer resigns in protest over lack of staff. Times Higher Education. Archived 3 February 2014.
  11. ^ Charles Fox, Will Harmon (11 November 2009). Protests at LCC widen. Arts London News. Archived 13 November 2009.
  12. ^ Alex Needham (22 June 2011). "A change of scene for Central Saint Martins". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  13. ^ "Central Saint Martins fashion college bids farewell to Charing Cross Road". The Telegraph. London. 24 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
  14. ^ Grayson Perry announced as Trustee of the British Museum Archived 9 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine. British Museum. Accessed April 2015.
  15. ^ Grayson Perry announced as new UAL Chancellor Archived 10 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. University of the Arts London. Accessed April 2015.
  16. ^ UAL (23 October 2020). "James Purnell joins UAL as President & Vice-Chancellor". UAL. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  17. ^ Julie Tancell (2002). Camberwell College of Arts Archived 5 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  18. ^ Julie Tancell (2002). Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design Archived 14 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  19. ^ Julie Tancell (2002). Chelsea College of Art & Design Archived 6 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  20. ^ Robert Baxter (2001). GB 1574: London College of Printing Archive Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  21. ^ Julie Tancell (2002). GB 2159 London College of Fashion Archived 3 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  22. ^ Julie Tancell (2002). GB 2159: Barrett Street Technical College Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  23. ^ Julie Tancell (2002). GB 2159: Shoreditch College for the Garment Trades Archived 3 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  24. ^ Julie Tancell (2002). GB 2159: Cordwainers College Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed August 2013.
  25. ^ Wimbledon School of Art, May 2004: Institutional audit. Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. p. 4. Accessed August 2013.
  26. ^ "Report and Financial Statement for the year ended 31 July 17" (PDF). University of the Arts London. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  27. ^ a b Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 July 2017 Archived 28 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. University of the Arts London. Accessed July 2018.
  28. ^ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
  29. ^ "Guardian University Guide 2025". The Guardian. 7 September 2024.
  30. ^ "Good University Guide 2025". The Times. 20 September 2024.
  31. ^ QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019: Art & Design Archived 6 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine. QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Accessed August 2021.
  32. ^ QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Art & Design Archived 22 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine. QS Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Accessed August 2021.
  33. ^ "University of the Arts London (UAL)". The Complete University Guide. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  34. ^ "University League Tables 2019". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  35. ^ "University League Tables 2019: Art". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  36. ^ "A Brief History". University of the Arts London. Archived from the original on 19 November 2008.
  37. ^ "Cordwainers – Queen Anniversary Prize". Queen's Anniversary Prize online statistics. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  38. ^ [s.n.] (22 November 2013). Winners of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes announced Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. The Royal Anniversary Trust. Accessed December 2013.
  39. ^ "Skillset Academy Status". Skillset online statistics. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  40. ^ "University of the Arts London Success". CLIP CETL online statistics. Archived from the original on 3 August 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  41. ^ a b "UCAS Undergraduate Sector-Level End of Cycle Data Resources 2023". ucas.com. UCAS. December 2023. Show me... Domicile by Provider. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  42. ^ "2023 entry UCAS Undergraduate reports by sex, area background, and ethnic group". UCAS. 30 April 2024. Archived from the original on 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  43. ^ "University League Tables entry standards 2024". The Complete University Guide. Archived from the original on 25 January 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  44. ^ "Where do HE students study?: Students by HE provider". HESA. HE student enrolments by HE provider. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  45. ^ "Who's studying in HE?: Personal characteristics". HESA. 31 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  46. ^ "Widening participation: UK Performance Indicators: Table T2a - Participation of under-represented groups in higher education". Higher Education Statistics Authority. hesa.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  47. ^ "Good University Guide: Social Inclusion Ranking". The Times. 16 September 2022. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
  48. ^ "Cambridge to scrap 'unjust' state school targets". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  49. ^ "University of the Arts London RAE". RAE online statistics. Archived from the original on 5 October 2009. Retrieved 30 July 2008.
  50. ^ "Times Higher Education RAE results – see the main institution-wide table and the subsection on "Art and Design"" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  51. ^ RAE results for University of Arts, from official RAE website
  52. ^ "All RAE results for 'Art and Design' subject area, from official RAE website". Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2010.
  53. ^ UAL Research Online. Registry of Open Access Repositories. Archived 7 February 2015. http://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/ Archived 23 May 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  54. ^ madeinartslondon.com
  55. ^ arts-su.com/support
  56. ^ Students' Union Archived 16 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine. University of the Arts London. Accessed April 2015.
  57. ^ Halls of Residence Archived 13 September 2024 at the Wayback Machine. University of the Arts London. Accessed August 2018.
  58. ^ Where they study Archived 5 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. The Complete University Guide. Accessed May 2017.
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