Home Making your Shortlist How to Apply Money Matters Freshers Survival Guide Gap Years News & Events

University Name:

See all universities

See all Universities

Wimbledon College of Art

UCAS Code: U65

Location: South-west London Show on Map

Site: Main site near Wimbledon town centre

Add to Shortlist Print this Page

Overview
Profile
Courses
Colleges
Student View
Applying
Open Days
Gallery
Contact

A top specialist art college, part of Arts London.

Student Population

Total Students:	1,770
Undergraduates:	35%
Postgraduates:	5%
FE Students:	60%

Undergraduates

Total undergraduates:	640
Male:	20%
Female:	80%
Full Time:	90%
Mature on Entry:	28%
UK Students:	85%
State school entry:	92%

Teaching Staff

40 full-time, 50 part-time

Broad study areas

Fine art (painting, sculpture, print & digital media, time-based media, gallery studies), theatre design (set design for stage & screen, costume design & interpretation, technical arts & special effects, design for performance, lighting design & practice, multi-cultural theatre practice).

Freshers

Admission Information:	Students will normally have completed a foundation course; selection is by interview and portfolio.
Points on Entry (Mean):	322
Drop Out Rate:	7%
Accommodation:	Some first years housed

Institution

Founded:	1890
Structural features:	Constituent college of Arts London (from 2006).
Site:	Main site and annexe in Wimbledon, south-west London.
How to get there:	Train (from Waterloo or King's Cross) or tube (District Line) to Wimbledon station; Northern Line to South Wimbledon; Tramlink to Dundonald Road; buses (163, 164, 152) to Nelson Hospital.
Special features:	Programme of visiting lectures by professional artists and designers. Artists and designers of international standing in residence for 7 weeks/term.

Student services & facilities

Student advice & services:	Easy access to university's central student services; see Arts London. College has its own trained counsellor, welfare officer, support for students with disabilities and for international students.
Amenities:	SU with common rooms, shop, canteen, etc; workshop theatre.
Accommodation:	Some students in university's halls of residence, £92−£240 per week, contracts 42−51 weeks (see Arts London). University accommodation service helps find privately-rented accommodation (and extensive local network of private landlords and family stays), rents £75−£100 per week self-catering.

Study opportunities & careers

Library & information services:	29,000 books, 100 periodicals, 50 study places. IT and library services converged. Ratio 1:30 workstations to students; 3 computers with access to library catalogue, 25 to internet. Purpose-built IT centre, access 10 hours/weekdays; 2 support staff. New students have induction to both library and IT centre; sessions on dissertation skills. Also access to facilities of the university's central Learning Zone.
Other learning resources:	Slide collection, video tapes, CD-Rom databases.
Study abroad:	Erasmus exchange programmes with colleges in other European countries, opportunities for exchange in USA, Australia
Careers:	Departmental and specialist advice service.

Money

Living expenses budget:	Minimum budget of £6000−£10,000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by College.
Term-time work:	College allows term-time work for full-time students (50+% believed to work). Some work available on campus
Financial help:	See Arts London
University tuition fees:	Home students pay £9000 pa for first degrees(less in placement year). International students pay £13,300 pa.

Courses

Academic features:

Degrees in various aspects of fine art and theatre design; all include mandatory history of art and contextual studies. Most courses full-time, but also part-time fine art degree. Foundation degree in lighting design & practice.

Awarding body:

University of the Arts London.

Main undergraduate awards:

BA, FdA

Length of courses:

Most 3 years (2 years for FdA, 6 years part-time BA fine art).

Main subjects offered:

Art
Costume Design
Film Studies
Painting
Printmaking
Sculpture
Theatre Design
Theatre Studies
TV Studies
Video

Student view

Living

The sixth college to join Arts London, so has access to everything the university has to offer. Main building complex (on Merton Hall Road) and the Terry Bruen Building (Palmerston Road) are in quiet tree-lined residential areas, about 10 mins' walk from town centre. Wimbledon is well served by overground and underground stations, with quick access to central London, by Tramlink to Croydon (nearest stop Dundonald Road Station) and buses run frequently in the area. College is a friendly and vibrant environment in which to work. Good relations with helpful and committed staff. History of art and contextual studies (HACS) syllabus complements the studio practice well; workload is not overbearing. Good facilities; studios, film & video, bar and canteen in relatively new building. Learning resources centre has an IT centre with 30+ terminals with permanent internet access, colour print facilities and latest software. Canteen, open all day, serves snacks and full lunch menu (including salads at reasonable prices). Students from many backgrounds and countries; and opportunities for students to take part in the Erasmus scheme. SU is apolitical, part of university students' union, and its main activity is organising social functions in/out of college. It has many clubs and societies for whatever your interests, with access to any of the other university bars and facilities. College has a bar (with pool table and sound system), which is open in the evenings and used for parties and film club. New students tend to lodge locally, moving to shared accommodation once they've found their feet. College has its own small hostel for very few. Jobs are relatively plentiful in the area. Past students of the school have won Oscars, the Turner Prize and an Olivier Award.

Summary

Housing: Ask housing officer. Eats: Canteen; vegetarian café; Greek, Italian, Chinese, Indian and McDonald's locally. Drink: SU bar, Leather Bottle and Prince of Wales. Nightlife: SU comedy nights, pool nights, film soc, and parties; theatre and cinema in Wimbledon; central London 10 min. Sports: YMCA. Jobs: Restaurants and summer bar work in Wimbledon if you can get it.

Past Students

Louise Belson (freelance designer with RSC), Rolf Langenfass (designer, Vienna Opera), Iona McLeish (freelance designer, Pal Joey), James Acheson (costume designer), Raymond Briggs (author and illustrator).