Arts University Plymouth is a new kind of arts university for the 21st century, preparing graduates who are uniquely placed to provide creative solutions to the complex problems faced by modern society, spanning everything from the acceleration of new technologies to the global challenges facing healthcare, sustainability and the climate emergency.
Arts University Plymouth was voted by students as the top arts university in the UK for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey (NSS) 2022 and in the NSS 2023 was the highest-scoring arts university in the UK in five of the seven NSS categories when compared against the UK’s seven other well-respected arts universities*. The University was voted by students as best Small or Specialist Institution at the annual Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2022 and voted second place in the same category at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. Arts University Plymouth has been awarded a TEF Silver rating by the Office for Students in 2023 (for four years), was ranked as a Top 10 university for Arts, Drama & Music League Table 2024 in the Complete University Guide, and as the sixth top university in the UK for studying Interior Design in the Guardian University Guide 2024. The University was shortlisted for Company of the Year in the National Sustainability Awards 2022.
Founded in 1856 as Plymouth Drawing School and most recently known as Plymouth College of Art (before achieving its University Title in May 2022), Arts University Plymouth offers a range of Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Pre-Degree studies across Art, Design and Digital Media – combining over 160 years of history with up-to-the-minute thinking and cutting-edge facilities. Our two city centre campuses are home to MIRROR, Fab Lab Plymouth and Plymouth Arts Cinema and we offer a programme of Young Arts activities including our decades-old Saturday Arts Club and strong affiliation with the National Saturday Club. In 2023 the University opened Arts University Plymouth’s Workroom, a creative business incubation space in Eat Work Art’s Light Studios that supports graduates to develop and grow the next generation of creative business start-ups.
More than 1,500 students study at our campuses in the heart of Plymouth. Expert tutors share their expertise, while encouraging students to develop their own creative strengths. We continue to invest heavily in specialist resources and facilities – for digital media and technology, as well as fine art and handcrafted traditions. Our university has strong links with the creative industries and wider community ensuring our students are connected with a range of artists, designers and potential employers from day one.