Arts University Plymouth

Arts University Plymouth is the UK’s newest specialist arts university and a national leader in creative education. Named University of the Year for South West England in both 2024 and 2025 at the Whatuni Student Choice Awards, and ranked second in the UK for student satisfaction by Times Higher Education in 2024, we are proud to be consistently rated the top-scoring arts university in the UK in the National Student Survey since 2022-2025.

At the heart of our work is Creative Education for a Changing World, our 2030 strategy that foregrounds sustainability, social justice and solution-focused learning. Our curriculum, shaped by practitioners and industry partners, equips students to address global challenges through material expertise, critical thinking and creative action.

We are an independent, artist-led university built on the values of authenticity, fulfilment and kindness. Our Tavistock Place campus houses Fab Lab South West, Plymouth Arts Cinema, and MIRROR, our public gallery for contemporary visual art. We also host Making Futures™, a globally recognised research platform exploring craft, sustainability and material thinking.

Whether through award-winning student support, national teaching accolades, or pioneering creative research, Arts University Plymouth is redefining what it means to study and work as a creative in the 21st century.

Founded in 1856 as the Plymouth Drawing School, we’ve evolved over 170 years to become an award-winning hub of creative innovation and interdisciplinary practice. Our city-centre campuses offer over 13,000 square metres of professional studios and workshops, with open access to specialist facilities spanning materials, media and digital technologies.