University of the Arts London
London, United Kingdom
- Cost of Living£ 26,592
- Tuition Fee From£ 7,870
- Country Rank#101
- Batch Strength16,937
- Global Diversity43.4%
- Gender Ratio24 : 75
Overview
About
The University of the Arts London is a public research university located in London, England. It was founded in 1986 and stands to be Europe’s largest public, specialist Arts and Design University. UAL is the largest arts and design university in Europe, and one of the largest in the world. The university has a strong reputation in the creative industries and its alumni include many well-known artists, designers, and fashion designers. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes like Ceramic Design, Furniture Design, Fine Arts and Fashion Marketing. There are 101 undergraduate programmes, 117 postgraduate programmes and 1,126 short courses offered by UAL. It is made up of six colleges:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Central Saint Martins
- Chelsea College of Arts
- London College of Communication
- London College of Fashion
- Wimbledon College of Arts
The university has several campuses located throughout London, including ones in Camden, Elephant and Castle, and King's Cross. Each campus has its own facilities, including state-of-the-art workshops, studios, and galleries. The university also has a number of libraries, which provide access to a wide range of resources for students.
UAL is known for its strong commitment to research and innovation. The university has several research centres and institutes, including the London College of Fashion's Centre for Sustainable Fashion, and the Centre for Transdisciplinary Imaging at Central Saint Martins.
Ranking
The University of the Arts London (UAL) is a prestigious institution specialising in art, design, fashion, and communication. Formed in 2004 through the merger of six renowned art colleges, UAL comprises multiple campuses across London, including Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, and Chelsea College of Arts. The university offers a wide range of creative courses, with top programmes in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Fine Art, Photography, and Animation. UAL is known for its world-class facilities, industry connections, and emphasis on nurturing creative talent. In recent rankings, UAL has shown consistent improvement. The Complete University Guide for 2025 places UAL 28th among UK universities, up from 29th in 2024 and 38th in 2023. The Guardian's 2024 ranking demonstrates even more significant progress, with UAL rising to 15th position, a notable improvement from 19th in 2023 and 26th in 2022. These rankings reflect UAL's growing reputation and its commitment to excellence in creative education.
University of the Arts London - The Guardian Ranking 2024
In The Guardian's 2024 ranking, the University of the Arts London is positioned 15th among UK universities, a notable rise from 19th in 2023 and 26th in 2022. This improvement reflects its advancing reputation in the sector.
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
University |
26 |
19 |
15 |
University of the Arts London - The Complete University Guide Ranking 2025
In The Complete University Guide ranking for 2025, the University of the Arts London is ranked 28th among UK universities, showing a slight improvement from 29th in 2024 and 38th in 2023.
|
Ranked by |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
UK University |
38 |
29 |
28 |
University of the Arts London - QS Ranking 2024
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Art and Design |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Communication and Media Studies |
- |
151 |
151 |
|
Performing Arts |
- |
101 |
- |
Learn More About: University of the Arts London Admissions
University of the Arts London - The Guardian Ranking 2024
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Architecture |
27 |
27 |
18 |
|
Business and Management |
82 |
69 |
58 |
|
Journalism |
51 |
37 |
30 |
|
Media and Film Studies |
51 |
39 |
47 |
University of the Arts London - The Complete University Guide Ranking 2025
|
Ranked by |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Architecture |
20 |
20 |
13 |
|
Art and Design |
32 |
24 |
23 |
|
Business and Management Studies UK |
43 |
35 |
40 |
|
Communication and Media Studies |
38 |
32 |
35 |
|
Computer Science |
84 |
77 |
81 |
Course Ranking
B.A.
|
Ranked by |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Art and Design |
32 |
24 |
23 |
B.Arch
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
The Guardian - Architecture |
27 |
27 |
18 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Architecture |
- |
20 |
20 |
B.E. / B.Tech
|
Ranked by |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Computer Science |
84 |
77 |
81 |
B.J.M.C.
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
The Guardian - Media and Film Studies |
51 |
39 |
47 |
|
The Guardian - Journalism |
51 |
37 |
30 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Communication and Media Studies |
- |
38 |
32 |
Learn More About: University of the Arts London Courses
BBA
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
The Guardian - Business and Management |
82 |
69 |
58 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Business and Management Studies UK |
- |
43 |
35 |
M.A.
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
QS - Communication and Media Studies |
- |
151 |
151 |
|
QS - Art and Design |
2 |
2 |
2 |
MFA
|
Ranked by |
2023 |
|
QS - Performing Arts |
101 |
Architecture & Planning
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
The Guardian - Architecture |
27 |
27 |
18 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Architecture |
- |
20 |
20 |
Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing )
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
QS - Performing Arts |
- |
101 |
- |
|
QS - Art and Design |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Art and Design |
- |
32 |
24 |
Business & Management Studies
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
The Guardian - Business and Management |
82 |
69 |
58 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Business and Management Studies UK |
- |
43 |
35 |
Mass Communication & Media
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
QS - Communication and Media Studies |
- |
151 |
151 |
|
The Guardian - Media and Film Studies |
51 |
39 |
47 |
|
The Guardian - Journalism |
51 |
37 |
30 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Communication and Media Studies |
- |
38 |
32 |
Science
|
Ranked by |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Computer Science |
84 |
77 |
81 |
Computer Science
|
Ranked by |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
The Complete University Guide - Computer Science |
84 |
77 |
81 |
Journalism
|
Ranked by |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
The Guardian - Journalism |
51 |
37 |
30 |
Year
QS Ranks
US News Ranks
2023
-
-
2022
-
-
2021
-
-
Facilities
The University of Arts London (UAL) is a decentralized institution with several campuses located throughout London. The facilities at these campuses are available to all students and staff, which include:
Libraries: UAL has six libraries across its campuses, which hold a wide range of books, journals, and other resources on art, design, fashion, communication, and performing arts. All of UAL’s libraries are open Monday to Friday from 9 am - 10 pm. There are 6 libraries in all its colleges and as a student of the University of Arts London, they have access to all of them.
Accommodation: UAL offers a range of accommodation options for students, including halls of residence and private rented accommodation. The hall has a variety of room styles, including regular, large, twin-bedroom, and studio rooms. All utility costs and Wi-Fi are included in the rent. Every hall is entirely safe, with a 24/7 available Residence Support Team and a Professional Residence Manager in each hall. Social Reps organise a variety of weekly events in the halls, such as movie evenings and fitness sessions.
Studios and Workshops: The university runs over 150 events and workshops every year. These include printmaking, photography, fashion, textiles, ceramics, and wood and metalworking. Booking for the same takes place on the university website.
Exhibition Spaces: UAL has seven galleries, from all over the world of renowned artists and designers. Some of these pieces are of their own students, staff, alumni and collaborative projects. Galleries also have a number of events, talks, lectures and performances. UAL’s galleries are free to visit and some of them are Camberwell Space, Lethaby Gallery, Chelsea space etc.
Notable Alumni
Courses
Admission
Acceptance Rate
University of the Arts London acceptance rate is 87% with Central St. Martins coming in at just 6%. This number is quite selective and students should make sure to achieve high grades to get in.
The table below highlights the variations observed throughout the years at the University of Arts, London. It is observed below that as the applications increased the acceptance rates fluctuated. Have a closer look at it for better analysis.
Learn More About: University of the Arts London Acceptance Rate
|
Year |
Applications |
Offers |
Acceptance Rate |
|
2022/23 |
76,100 |
22,500 |
29.6% |
|
2021/22 |
69,000 |
25,000 |
36.2% |
|
2020/21 |
61,000 |
31,300 |
51.3% |
|
2019/20 |
55,000 |
26,356 |
47.9% |
|
2018/19 |
50,000 |
25,211 |
50.4% |
Entry Requirements
The University of the Arts London (UAL) is considered a highly selective institution, and the admission process can be competitive. Factors such as a strong portfolio, relevant work experience, and a high level of talent and dedication can increase an applicant's chances of being accepted. Apart from this, the university also considers extracurriculars and volunteering activities at NGOs. Moving further in the case of specific documents, the University of Arts London’s entry requirements are as such:
|
Application Portal |
UG: UCAS PG: University website |
|
English Language Requirement |
IELTS: 5.0 - 7.5 PTE: 43 |
|
Additional Documents |
Transcripts 2-3 LORs SOP Financial Proof CAS Statement |
Fees
University of Arts London fees varies as per the multidisciplinary courses offered here. Given below are their details:
- M.B.A- £29,330 /Yr
- B.A Graphic Design - £25,970 /Yr
- M.A Psychology for Fashion Professionals - £29,330 /Yr
- M.A Art and Science - £29,330 /Yr
- M.A Arch: Architecture - £29,330 /Yr
Scholarship
The University of the Arts London offers a variety of financial assistance options for international students seeking support for postgraduate study. Student loans are disbursed in installments of 33%, 33%, and 34% for each year of the programme. Additionally, through the International Postgraduate Scholarship program, qualifying students at six UAL colleges can receive tuition waivers of up to £5,000 for full-time Master's study. The deadline for the winter entry scholarship is June 19th, while spring semester applicants must submit materials by October 16th.
Once approved for funding, Student Finance England issues letters with expected payment dates, though online accounts also display disbursement timelines. Beyond these channels, international candidates should explore external funding sources as well when planning to finance their UAL Master's degrees. Submitting scholarship applications well in advance can open doors to vital aid.
Finances
Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds to obtain a visa. While some may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the university. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!
Accommodation
There are several student accommodations in London near University of the Arts London that are fully equipped for your needs. Student accommodation near University of the Arts London offers a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, ensuites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.
UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from an array of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are inexpensive and fully furnished with 24/7 staff support.
Cost of Living
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom. It is located on the River Thames in southeastern England. With a population of over 8.7 million people, it is one of the most populous cities in Europe and the world. London is a major global cultural, financial, and political centre, and is often referred to as one of the world's leading "global cities." London, in recent years, has become the mecca of higher education studies and countries have recorded a surge in students flocking to this city to pursue their desired programmes. The cost of living may vary on the part of London you choose to reside in. It depends on factors such as location, lifestyle, and personal spending habits. It is important to note that these are just estimates and actual costs can vary widely.
|
Particulars |
Cost (Monthly) |
|
Off-Campus Accommodation |
£ 1,220 |
|
On-Campus Accommodation |
£ 1,200 |
|
Transportation |
£ 186 |
|
Food Cost |
£ 480 |
|
Entertainment |
£ 60 |
|
Groceries |
£ 200 |
|
Clothes |
£ 70 |
|
Total Cost of Living with Off Campus Accommodation |
£ 2,216 |
|
Total Cost of Living with On Campus Accommodation |
£ 2,196 |
|
Annual Cost of Living |
£ 26,592 |
The above data is sourced from Cost of Living in London on UniAcco.