Arts University Bournemouth

Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is a leading creative institution in the UK, widely recognised for its focus on art, design, media, and performance. The university was founded in 1883 and, with more than 140 years of academic heritage, has grown into a specialised institution that is renowned for its rigorous academics and hands-on, industry-focused learning experiences.

The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses across subject areas such as fine art, film production, animation, architecture, photography, and costume design. Each course is designed to encourage the individual skills and talents of each student, while placing a special emphasis on collaboration across disciplines.

AUB is located on a vibrant, purpose-built campus in Bournemouth, with close proximity to the English coastline and the New Forest National Park. The AUB student experience features a superb balance between a vibrant, supportive academic environment with access to some of the UK's most beautiful natural landscapes.

International students will find a diverse and multicultural community at AUB, with a global perspective on creativity that extends throughout the university. There is a dedicated support system for international students adjusting to life in the UK, making the university a nurturing place for aspiring creatives to realise their potential and develop their technical skills alongside their own artistic language.

AUB has also established strong ties with industry leaders, providing students with numerous opportunities to take part in internships, collaborative projects, and workshops with industry experts before completing their course.

Teaching at AUB is characterised by a practice-based approach that emphasises hands-on learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. The university's teaching staff are an enthusiastic and widely experienced group of professionals who teach with the success of their students as a top priority.

Teaching faculty are able to bring valuable professional insights and up-to-date practices into the classroom, and the university maintains small class sizes that result in more opportunities for one-to-one feedback, and a more personalised learning experience.

This highly interactive and supportive learning environment is often mentioned in student satisfaction surveys, with many student reviewers praising the university's dedication to fostering creativity and artistic expression. The university recently received a Silver award in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework, in recognition of their student-centred approach towards tuition.

Students at AUB are well-prepared for successful careers in the creative industries, being equipped with both the technical knowledge and adaptable problem-solving skills needed to thrive in the competitive creative industries.

The departmental structure at AUB is organised to provide specialised creative education while encouraging interdisciplinary learning across multiple fields.

The university delivers its courses across three academic faculties:

• The Faculty of Art and Design
• The Faculty of Media and Performance
• The Faculty of Architecture

Each faculty encompasses several departments, such as the School of Visual Arts, the School of Film and Animation, the School of Performance, and the brand new School of Arts, Media, and Creative Industries Management.

This approach allows students to receive targeted instruction within their chosen subject, taught by lecturers, mentors, and practitioners with a deep expertise in their respective fields.

Additionally, AUB's Innovation Studio serves as a hub for entrepreneurship, offering resources, workshops, and industry connections for students interested in starting their own business venture within the creative industries. This structured yet flexible approach enables students to build core skills in their chosen fields while also exploring collaborative opportunities across departments, enriching their academic experience, and giving them a head start on their professional development.

AUB offers many different undergraduate, postgraduate, and short courses across a variety of subject areas and, as such, entry requirements vary on a course-by-course basis.

Undergraduate applicants typically need two A-levels or an equivalent qualification, alongside a strong creative portfolio demonstrating relevant skills and artistic vision. AUB places special emphasis on portfolio quality, which should showcase a prospective student's most recent and relevant work. Students may be invited to an interview to talk through their work and for the university admissions teams to assess whether they'll be a good fit for their chosen programme at AUB.

For international applicants, English language proficiency is essential, and this can be demonstrated with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 overall and no band lower than 5.5, or equivalent assessments like TOEFL or Cambridge English tests.

Postgraduate applicants must hold a relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent, with some programs also requiring an interview or project proposal. Prospective students can visit AUB's website for country-specific entry guidelines.

AUB's creative facilities are second-to-none, and the university is continually investing in its campus to give students the best tools for hands-on learning and industry-relevant practice.

From production studios and digital labs to on-campus theatres and galleries, industry-standard film and media studios, and digital labs equipped with the latest software, the university is a hub of technical and creative resources that allow students to develop their artistic expression in an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

The university library offers extensive resources, housing over 50,000 books and thousands of digital resources and journals specifically curated for creative studies. Additionally, students have access to 24/7 studio spaces, ensuring that there's always somewhere quiet and calm to work.

AUB's award-winning Drawing Studio is designed by architect Sir Peter Cook, and is where students benefit from purpose-built workshops such as metalwork, ceramics, woodwork, and costume design, alongside dedicated spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Innovation Studio supporting entrepreneurial ventures and new business ideas for all students, and acts as a bridge between university studies and the professional world, enabling students to develop real-world skills in a supportive setting.

AUB is dedicated to supporting talented students through various scholarship and funding opportunities designed to ease financial burdens and reward academic merit. The university provides a wide range of funding opportunities, ensuring that all students have the resources to complete their studies in confidence.

International undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships are available, which provide financial aid based on recognise and support creative talent. Students may also qualify for subject-specific awards in programs like fine arts, film, and design.

AUB's financial support team is on hand to help students navigate external scholarships, loans, and grants for which they may be eligible, offering guidance on application procedures, criteria, and deadlines. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the university's fees and funding page to familiarise themselves with eligibility requirements as well as any key dates and deadlines.

AUB is continually enhancing its academic offerings and campus facilities, demonstrating a firm commitment to giving its students the best possible university experience and industry-relevant education.

In 2024, the university is expanding its portfolio of programmes and facilities by launching the new School of Arts, Media, and Creative Industries Management, along with eight brand new undergraduate courses.

Three courses—BA (Hons) Creative Direction, BA (Hons) Curation, Exhibition and Experience Design, and BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy, will form the core of the new school, which is intended to be a centre of innovation and change making within the creative industries.

Additionally, three courses are being added to the School of Design and Architecture, including BA (Hons) Design for Sustainable Futures, BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design for Health and Wellbeing, and BA (Hons) Creative Technologies. The School of Arts and Communication will gain a BA (Hons) in Games Art and Design. AUB's Bournemouth Film School will also launch an online version of its Creative Writing course.