TEACHING
QUALITY
Arts University Bournemouth
59
th
NATIONAL
RANK
RANK
62.6%
FIRSTS
2:1s
2:1s
90.4%
COMPLETION
RATE
RATE
Key Stats
n/a
59th=
STUDENT
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
117th=
RESEARCH
QUALITY
QUALITY
61st
GRADUATE
PROSPECTS
PROSPECTS
Contact details
ADDRESS
Wallisdown, Poole, BH12 5HH View on map >
Telephone
Email
Website
Open days
October 11; November 1; December 6
University Profile
The new Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) made its debut in our league table last year ranked higher than any of the clutch of universities appearing for the first time and beaten by just two of the modern universities created since 1992.
It has fallen back a little this year, but it continues to perform well in the National Student Survey and offers good graduate job prospects, both areas of traditional weakness in institutions with a heavy arts bias. The combination – and the new title – is proving popular: a healthy increase in applications allowed the university to increase the size of the undergraduate intake by 18% in 2013. Awarded university status in 2012, the former Arts University College Bournemouth has about 3,000 students based on a single campus, Wallisdown, which straddles Bournemouth and Poole. It has operated as a specialist institution since 1885 and is now one of only 15 higher education institutions in the UK devoted primarily to the study of art, design and media. AUB is one of four
Industry liaison groups and visiting tutors keep the university abreast of developments in the creative industries, while alumni return regularly as lecturers. Students are encouraged to join the university’s European Exchange programme to study abroad. AUB was a university college for only three years, having been given degree awarding powers in 2008. It now boasts a Skillset Media Academy in partnership with Bournemouth University, offering eight accredited courses in animation, film and digital media production, photography, make-up for media and performance, graphic design and model-making. The two universities also bid successfully to become a Screen Academy, through which Skillset recognises excellence in film and the broader screen-based media, providing some students with access bursaries. The most recent audit of the university by the Quality Assurance Agency resulted in the highest possible grade, commending the academic standards and highlighting a number of features of good practice. The campus dates from the 1980s, although University House, opened in 2007 by the Princess Royal, is the flagship building. The Gallery showcases work by students and other contemporary artists, hosting talks, events and film nights to support the exhibition programme. There is also an Enterprise Pavilion (eP) on campus to develop, attract and retain new creative businesses in the South West. The purpose-built library has over 50,000 books covering a wide range of art, design, media and performance subjects, with a further collection of more than 45,000 e-books and over 300 specialist journal titles, many of which are available online. The Museum of Design in Plastics is located in the library and holds over 12,000 artefacts of predominantly 20th- and 21st-century mass-produced design and popular culture. The items are selected specifically to support the academic courses taught at the university. Laser cutting machinery and a 3D printer feature among the high-tech equipment available to students. The university has fewer than 200 places in its halls of residence and gives priority in their allocation to overseas students and those with disabilities or other medical conditions. There is plenty of privately rented accommodation in the area, for which the average rent in 2013–14 was £85 a week in a shared house. A register of approved housing is maintained by AUB which runs accommodation days in July and August for current and prospective students to find potential housemates. Bournemouth has a large and cosmopolitan student population and one of the most vibrant club scenes outside London.
It has fallen back a little this year, but it continues to perform well in the National Student Survey and offers good graduate job prospects, both areas of traditional weakness in institutions with a heavy arts bias. The combination – and the new title – is proving popular: a healthy increase in applications allowed the university to increase the size of the undergraduate intake by 18% in 2013. Awarded university status in 2012, the former Arts University College Bournemouth has about 3,000 students based on a single campus, Wallisdown, which straddles Bournemouth and Poole. It has operated as a specialist institution since 1885 and is now one of only 15 higher education institutions in the UK devoted primarily to the study of art, design and media. AUB is one of four
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arts universities in our table (alongside the University of the Arts London, Falmouth University and the University of the Creative Arts) because it offers a sufficiently diverse portfolio of courses to qualify for inclusion. There are degrees in acting, architecture, dance, event management and film production, as well as art and design subjects. More than a third of the undergraduates are from working-class homes and 96% attended state schools or colleges – both figures close to the national average for AUB’s subjects and entry qualifications. The low dropout rate is a point of particular pride – at only 5%, it is less than half the university’s benchmark figure and contributes to the university’s high ranking in our table. Students and staff work in partnership on an innovative programme of professional practice and research, with different disciplines encouraged to work together. The academics include many with experience in, and continuing engagement with, the creative industries, while the careers service provides students with subject-specific and generic advice on future employment.Industry liaison groups and visiting tutors keep the university abreast of developments in the creative industries, while alumni return regularly as lecturers. Students are encouraged to join the university’s European Exchange programme to study abroad. AUB was a university college for only three years, having been given degree awarding powers in 2008. It now boasts a Skillset Media Academy in partnership with Bournemouth University, offering eight accredited courses in animation, film and digital media production, photography, make-up for media and performance, graphic design and model-making. The two universities also bid successfully to become a Screen Academy, through which Skillset recognises excellence in film and the broader screen-based media, providing some students with access bursaries. The most recent audit of the university by the Quality Assurance Agency resulted in the highest possible grade, commending the academic standards and highlighting a number of features of good practice. The campus dates from the 1980s, although University House, opened in 2007 by the Princess Royal, is the flagship building. The Gallery showcases work by students and other contemporary artists, hosting talks, events and film nights to support the exhibition programme. There is also an Enterprise Pavilion (eP) on campus to develop, attract and retain new creative businesses in the South West. The purpose-built library has over 50,000 books covering a wide range of art, design, media and performance subjects, with a further collection of more than 45,000 e-books and over 300 specialist journal titles, many of which are available online. The Museum of Design in Plastics is located in the library and holds over 12,000 artefacts of predominantly 20th- and 21st-century mass-produced design and popular culture. The items are selected specifically to support the academic courses taught at the university. Laser cutting machinery and a 3D printer feature among the high-tech equipment available to students. The university has fewer than 200 places in its halls of residence and gives priority in their allocation to overseas students and those with disabilities or other medical conditions. There is plenty of privately rented accommodation in the area, for which the average rent in 2013–14 was £85 a week in a shared house. A register of approved housing is maintained by AUB which runs accommodation days in July and August for current and prospective students to find potential housemates. Bournemouth has a large and cosmopolitan student population and one of the most vibrant club scenes outside London.
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Detailed Statistics
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE
CATEGORY
SCORE
RANK
Ranking
-
59 (52=)
Student experience
82.3
59th=
Research quality
0.3
117th=
Ucas entry points
331
68th
Graduate prospects
66.2
61st
Firsts and 2:1s
62.6
86th
Completion rate
90.4
37th=
Student-staff ratio
14.9:1
27th=
Services/facilities spend (£)
640
120th
VITAL STATISTICS
Undergraduates
(Full-time)
2,750
Undergraduates
(Part-time)
40
Postgraduates
(Full-time)
45
Postgraduates
(Part-time)
30
Applications/places
5,535/1,060
Applications/places ratio
5.2:1
STUDENT CITIES
Ben Musitano, students’ union president
It’s a dynamic creative hub, and with roughly 4,000 students it’s easy to collaborate.
The amount of space available, but I think that can be said of all arts institutions.
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Cost of living
Nightlife
Transport
Culture
ACCOMMODATION
FEES
UK/EU fees
£9,000
Fees (overseas year)
£1,000
Fees (international)
£12,510
Finance website
Graduate salaries
£16,882
BURSARIES/SCHOLARSHIPS
>
Course material fee waived for all students.
>
Household income below £25K, £200 progression scholarship at Level 6.
SPORT
Sport website
Student satisfaction
84.8%
82.7%