Painting (Art) postgraduate degrees in Southern England

The campus is absolutely gorgeous! A wonderful mix of old and new, castles and modern buildings. Reserving rooms encourages students to get out of their rooms and study anywhere on campus, from the top of the castle tower, to the communal "pods" at Commons. The Student Union building has a bar and a small shop, and activities going on almost every day. Karaoke every other Saturday is one of my favourites. Close enough to the city of Bath for easy access, while still having the feeling of a university town. Lots of student discounts and student bars/clubs in town, as the University of Bath is also nearby. Interesting classes, lovely lecturers and guest lecturers, and proper assessments. Few, if not none, tests, allowing for those who do not thrive with simple memorization to show off how they learn. The diversity of students encourages the broadening of your own world view. A wide range of courses, allowing for study into incredibly specific topics. The main issue with the university is the wait time for wellbeing appointments, as it can take up to four months to even get a foot in the door. This means that if you do need help, it is very difficult to achieve. Also, while it isn't the university's fault, it is important to know that the First Bus system is not very reliable, so if you have a job in town, it is quite nerve-wracking.

As a final year student, reflecting I can confidently say this course has been a great place to study and grow both professionally and personally. I love the course and I have made some of my closest friends here in Bournemouth, which has created a supportive and collaborative environment throughout my time studying. The teaching staff are highly knowledgeable and have had so much experience in the industry to share, they are approachable and genuinely invested in our toolkit. One of the strongest aspects of the course is the opportunity to collaborate with the Bournemouth Film School. This has been an invaluable experience, allowing me to work on graduate films, understand professional screen practice, and begin building industry connections before graduating. Overall, this course has been an extremely positive and formative experience, and I would highly recommend it to any student looking to develop their craft! Go for it!

Worst is the limited contact time with professors. It feels really rushed which is unfortunate because there is so much to discover here and it becomes stressful when we feel like cattle who must be rushed in and out. The university itself is fantastic though. It’s incredibly inspiring to walk through the workshops, lecture halls, and library- it feels like you’re in the center of the world. Everything is state of the art and the staff is phenomenal. I just wish they cut less corners in terms of students’ ability to engage with it all.