Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is a specialist arts university offering courses in art, design, media and performance. Located in the beach town of Bournemouth, the university is particularly proud of its state-of-the-art campus, its creative community and its excellent teaching. The University is now ranked as a top 50 UK university, having risen 12 places in the last Complete University Guide league table rankings.
While studying at AUB, students have plenty of industry-standard facilities at hand to help aid their creativity, including a drawing studio, dance studios, a printmaking room, an innovation studio and for inspiration - an onsite gallery showcasing the work by artists and designers from around the world.
Working isn’t the only thing you will be doing at the university though. Over at the Students' Union, you will have the opportunity to get involved in a wide range of clubs and societies, ranging from volunteering opportunities to hobby-specific meetings.
And what’s not to like about studying by the sea? Students benefit from being close to the beach – an idea place to relax with your friends after class and during the weekends. Bournemouth also has a brilliant nightlife - thanks to its huge student population, as well as a thriving arts scene and great transport links to London.
AUB students have excellent job prospects after graduating, with 98% of graduates finding work or going into further study within six months of leaving the university*.
As well as benefiting from excellent teachers and practical lessons, students have the support of the Careers and Employability Service, who offer advice and guidance on all things job related throughout your time studying. Services include helping to writing a CV and cover letter, while online there’s guidance on developing your skills to stand out from the crowd.
You can also book to see a careers advisor to talk in detail about your career goals and discuss an action plan to make them become a reality.
*2017 DLHE survey of 2015/16 graduates’ activities
AUB offers a wide range of full and part-time courses, as well as weekend and evening classes, allowing for you to study at a time and pace that suits you, and levels range from Foundation to Postgraduate.
You will be taught by experienced staff with a knowledge and passion for their subject. The University has recently been awarded Gold by the Teaching Excellence Framework which recognises the excellent quality of their teaching.
Assessments vary depending on your chosen course, but will include, essays, coursework, group work and presentations. You will attend lectures and work on projects both in groups and independently and will be taught the skills needed to produce work of a professional standard so you can stand out to employers. Collaboration is highly encouraged. No creative subject stands alone at AUB and the best work happens when different disciplines come together.
The Students' Union at AUB is made up of two full-time sabbatical officers and a number of full and part-time staff who work at ensuring that everything runs smoothly. The team hold regular meetings together to voice your concerns and discuss ways in which they can improve life at the university for everyone. There are also plenty of activities run by the Student Union with football to surfing, and anime to life drawing, and they work closely with the team at Bestival to arrange end of year on-campus parties.
AUB offers a range of different halls for students to choose from in their first year, in a variety of locations, from the busy town centre to quieter residential streets. Accommodation types range from self-contained studio flats to flat shares with en-suite bathrooms, and the hall options are:
Facilities vary depending on the halls, but all include common rooms, Wi-Fi, on-site laundry facilities, bike storage and 24-hour security.
You must have firmly accepted an offer to study at AUB before you are able to apply for a room in halls of residence.
For those wishing to live with friends in their first year or live in a particular part of town, rented accommodation is also an option, and the university has a specialist house-hunting website called StudentPad to help with the search and to make sure that all landlords are accredited. Popular areas for students include Bournemouth town centre, Winton, Charminster and Ensbury Park. AUB also holds accommodation days so students can meet, form house-sharing groups and view private rented accommodation together.
The University offers excellent industry-standard learning facilities, including a well-stocked library with a wide range of print and online collections, as well as viewing rooms, a silent reading room and study spaces for independent and group learning. You can also borrow Mac books to help aid with your learning.
There’s also an award-winning drawing studio, designed by Sir Peter Cook, IT suites, industry standard printers, dance studios, a theatre, a printmaking room, and an onsite gallery showcasing the work of artists and designers from around the world. AUB’s campus also holds the Museum of Design in Plastics, the only accredited museum in the UK with a focus on plastics.
When you are on your break and looking for somewhere to relax or eat, there are a number of food and drink outlets, including a Starbucks, Costa, on-site shop and an Arts Bar, a popular place for students to head to with their friends once class is over for the day. Students also have access to the facilities at Bournemouth University, including a sports centre, Students’ Union shop and a bank.
Bournemouth has a lot to offer students, with its sandy beaches making it especially desirable. Bournemouth’s seven-mile stretch of beautiful beach has been named the best in the UK by the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. While studying at AUB, you'll have easy access to one of the UK's most outstanding coastlines.
There is plenty to do and see in your spare time when you head out into town, which is home to everything from theatres and a cinema to galleries and museums. The town also has plenty to keep you entertained in the evening, with many clubs and bars with student nights most days of the week. There is something to suit all tastes, from alternative music venues to cheese room classics that are guaranteed to get everyone up on the dance floor.
There are also all your favourite high street shops and department stores in the town, as well as Castlepoint – one of the largest shopping parks in the UK.
What's more, Bournemouth is just two hours away from London, making it easy to head out on a day trip to explore the capital on weekends.
Students at the university are encouraged to get involved in the many clubs and societies on offer, as they’re an excellent way to make new friends as well as gaining new skills to add onto your CV.
Clubs on offer include Dance, Film, Photography and Fencing, and you can also get involved in the creation of a Podcast or a Zine – ideal for any budding journalists.
The university wants to make sure that everyone has a great time during their studies and offers help to anyone who needs it. Recent reviews from students particularly praised the level of care from their tutors, who were always there to offer feedback and advice.
Help available includes a confidential counselling service, medical care, extra support for disabled students, and a study skills centre to help you brush up on anything you’re not confident with.
Discretionary Support Fund
Support such as bicycle and bus vouchers, food vouchers and sometimes hardship grants or loans are eligible for students from under-represented groups who have a household income below £25,000.
Level 6 Bursary
£200 is awarded to students who have enrolled in 2018/19 and who successfully progress to Level 6 study at the university in 2020/21. Who are in receipt of a full maintenance loan.
Care Leavers
£2,000 per year is awarded as a grant to students who are from a care background.
Disabled Students
£200 is awarded to students with a disability to help pay for a laptop.
Illustration
98% of students find work or go onto further study within six months of completing the Illustration BA at the university.
Students benefit from working in creative studio spaces with access to specialist print areas workshops and lecture theatres.
Many students who have studied on the course have gone on to achieve prestigious prizes for their work, including the Macmillan Prize 2016 and The Book Illustration Competition. Graduates have also gone on to work on illustrations for the Great British Bake Off.
Costume and Performance Design
The BA Costume and Performance Design course was named as a centre of excellence by The Queen's Anniversary Prize 2017, with students going on to gain high profile prizes such as winning the Costume Society award and the Best Costume at the Prime Cuts Festival.
Students have gone on to work on the costumes for blockbuster films such as Cinderella, as well as working with celebrities including Jamie Oliver.
You will learn the technical skills to make costumes, as well as how to interpret your designs according to the concept and brief at hand.
For a place on any of the courses at AUB, you will be looking at achieving a minimum of 5 GCSE passes at C or above, including English and Maths, as well as BBB at A-level excluding General Studies or the equivalent of 120 UCAS Tariff points. One of these qualifications should be in a creative subject. You will also be asked to show your portfolio at an interview, to showcase your specific skills related to your course, undertake an audition or take part in a applicants’ day.
For more information about the different programmes available to study at the university, see here.
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