Arts University Bournemouth: Courses, Fees & Admissions

University profile

About Arts University Bournemouth

Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) is a specialist university for art, design, media and performance on the south coast of England. It is one of only 15 higher education institutions in the UK devoted solely to the study of art, design and media, and has offered specialist creative education since 1880. AUB is a compact, single-campus university with over 3,000 students, and students and staff come from more than 60 countries.

The campus sits at Wallisdown in Poole, Dorset, between the towns of Bournemouth and Poole and next door to Bournemouth University. Halls of residence are on campus and in the Lansdowne area of Bournemouth town centre. The University also owns the Palace Court Theatre, a 1930s Art Deco theatre in Bournemouth town centre, and runs film studios at Elliott Road, not far from campus.

More than 30 undergraduate courses are taught across three schools:

Art, Design and Architecture: courses include Architecture (RIBA/ARB Part 1), Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Architecture and Design, Games Art and Design, Modelmaking, Photography and Textiles Design.
Bournemouth Film School: Film Production, Animation Production, Acting, Acting for Screen, Costume, Makeup, Hair and Prosthetics, Creative Writing, and Music and Sound for Film, TV and Games.
Fashion and Creative Industries Management: Fashion, Fashion Communication, Fashion Management and Strategy, Creative Direction, Media, Marketing and Advertising, and Arts, Media and Creative Industries Management.

Postgraduate study includes on-campus MAs in subjects such as Animation Production, Film, Fine Art, Painting, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, Historical Costume, Fashion Innovation and Visual Effects, a Master of Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2), online MAs and PGCerts, and MPhil/PhD research degrees validated by the University of the Arts London. AUB also runs a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, an Integrated Foundation Year, a Modelmaking degree apprenticeship and short courses.

Notable facilities include the Drawing Studio designed by alumnus Professor Sir Peter Cook and opened in 2016, the Museum of Design in Plastics (MoDiP), the only accredited museum in the UK focused on plastics, TheGallery for contemporary art and design, and the Thorp Architectural Modelmaking Archive. Courses build in live briefs, Industry Patrons and an optional placement year. All students belong to the Students' Union (AUBSU), and first-year students can live in University halls with the AUB ResLife programme.

AUB is a higher education corporation established under the Education Reform Act 1988 and an exempt charity under the Charities Act 2011. It gained taught degree awarding powers in 2008 and full university status in 2012. International students are supported by a dedicated International team and free English for Academic Purposes tuition.

University information

Tuition fees 2027/28

Undergraduate: Home and Channel Islands/Isle of Man £10,050 per year; International/EU £19,950 per year (fixed for the course); Integrated Foundation Year at the same rates; optional placement year £2,010. FdA (Home) £7,950.
Postgraduate taught (full-time): Home £10,050; International/EU £19,950 plus a £500 registration fee. MA Visual Effects and Photorealistic Computer Graphics: Home £14,000, International £22,000. Master of Architecture: Home £10,050, International £19,950.
Foundation Diploma: Home students under 19 with GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 pay no tuition fee (£300 materials fee); Home 19+ £5,421 plus £160 registration fee; International/EU £15,000 plus £160 registration fee.
MPhil/PhD: Home full-time £6,000, part-time £3,000; International full-time £19,950, part-time £8,750; writing-up fee £990.

Bursaries for Home undergraduates

Under AUB's Access and Participation Plan, students with a full Student Finance England maintenance loan and household income of £25,000 or less may receive: an Accommodation Bursary of £1,000 for first-years living in AUB halls (paid automatically); a £200 travel payment in Years 2 and 3; and the AUB Employability Bursary, a one-off award of up to £300 for interviews, internships, equipment and similar costs. Care-experienced, estranged and young adult carer students can receive £2,000 a year (not means-tested), and AUB pays the £200 DSA laptop contribution for disabled students. The AUB Applicant Access Bursary gives up to £75 towards travel to Open Days or Offer Holder Days. Details are on the undergraduate fees page.

Postgraduate and research discounts

AUB graduates of 2027 who start full-time postgraduate study in September 2027 receive a £1,995 tuition fee discount. AUB alumni progressing to research study within two years receive a 20% discount per year. Home students may be eligible for the UK Government Postgraduate Loan or Doctoral Loan.

International scholarships

International Undergraduate Scholarship: up to £5,000 (first year only) for overseas fee payers offered a 2027/28 place.
International Postgraduate Scholarship: up to £3,000 for January or September 2027 starts.
Postgraduate Scholarships for EU Nationals: up to £9,975 for EU passport holders living in the EU.
Creative Start Foundation Diploma Scholarship: £2,000.
Progression Bursaries: £3,000 a year from the AUB Foundation Diploma to a degree; £5,000 a year from an AUB degree to an on-campus MA (£1,995 for online MAs); £2,000 for summer school or study abroad students progressing to a degree.
International Early Payment Fee Waiver: £1,500 a year, applied automatically when full annual fees are paid by 1 August 2027, for students without another award.

The scholarship application form is emailed after an offer is made and must be returned by the stated deadline. Awards are first come, first served, apply to on-campus courses only and cannot be combined. External funding for postgraduates includes the Chevening Scholarship. AUB is authorised to certify US Federal Direct Loans, and Norwegian and Icelandic students can use their national loan funds. See International Scholarships.

AUB International Undergraduate Scholarship →

Creative Start – AUB Foundation Diploma Scholarship →

AUB Postgraduate Scholarship for EU Nationals →

AUB Scholarship for British Nationals Residing Overseas →

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Undergraduate entry (UK applicants)

Applicants from the UK and Channel Islands apply through UCAS. The equal consideration (on-time) UCAS deadline for September 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. AUB looks for Level 3 qualifications, normally including at least one creative subject, and between 104 and 120 UCAS Tariff points. Standard offers include:

A Levels at BBB (or equivalent results achieving 120 UCAS Tariff points)
A recognised Foundation Diploma with a Pass
BTEC Level 3 Diploma at D*D*, or BTEC/OCR Extended Diploma at DMM
T Level with a minimum grade of Merit
RSL/UAL Extended Diploma at Merit
Scottish Highers: five passes at Grade C or above
International Baccalaureate Diploma: normally 104 to 120 UCAS Tariff points; IBCP considered

Decisions take account of the personal statement, reference and, where appropriate, a portfolio or audition, so applicants below these grades are still encouraged to apply. Most courses ask for a link to an online portfolio or showreel after application, normally within 30 days of the request. BA (Hons) Acting and Acting for Screen are the only courses with auditions, with at least 10 working days' notice (recorded auditions for those outside the UK). AUB makes contextual offers under Section 6 of its Admissions Policy. Mature applicants (over 21) without standard qualifications are considered on experience. Entry to Year 2 or 3 is possible on selected courses via UCAS or direct application.

International undergraduate entry

International applicants can apply through UCAS, directly to AUB, through an educational agent or through The Common Application (for overseas fee payers not applying via UCAS). Country-specific equivalents are set out for more than 60 countries; examples include India, 65% or above in Standard 12; Nigeria and Pakistan, a recognised foundation course or one year of degree-level study; Kenya, A-level grades BBB; and the USA, a high school diploma with GPA 3.0 or higher (with or without SAT, ACT or AP results). Students without a direct-entry qualification can take AUB's Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, applied for directly rather than through UCAS.

English language requirements

Bachelor's degrees and on-campus Master's (MA, M.Arch): IELTS 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each band; TOEFL iBT 80 (minimum 18 in writing, listening and reading, 19 in speaking); PTE Academic 64 with at least 59 in each section; LanguageCert Academic SELT 65 with 60 in each section; Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency grade C.
Foundation Diploma: IELTS 5.0 with at least 4.5 in each band; PTE Academic 43 in each section. Visa applicants must take a UKVI SELT completed within two years of the course start, without which no CAS can be issued.
Online postgraduate courses (January/February 2027): IELTS 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each band; PTE Academic 70.
MPhil/PhD: IELTS 7.0 overall with 7.0 in writing and 6.5 in other bands; TOEFL iBT 100; PTE Academic 74 with at least 64 in each section.

Tests normally need to have been taken within three years of application, and a school letter confirming English proficiency is not accepted. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries may use English studied in high school. Pre-sessional English courses of 6 to 16 weeks, delivered with Oxford International Digital Institute, are available for applicants who fall short of the required score.

Postgraduate taught entry

Applications go directly to AUB through the online application form or an educational agent. On-campus courses usually require a BA (Hons) at 2:1 or above, or an equivalent UK or international qualification, in a related subject; online courses usually require a 2:2 or above. Applicants with other qualifications or relevant work experience are considered, and a portfolio is requested from those without a directly related degree.

Research degrees

MPhil/PhD applicants normally need an upper second class honours degree (2:1). Applications are made directly to AUB, and a draft proposal of no more than 1,000 words covering the research topic, reasons for study and background is sent to the Research Office for an initial assessment. Admission also depends on supervisor availability, and students register first for MPhil before confirmation to PhD.

Visas

Students on Foundation, BA or MA courses apply for a Student visa, supported by a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from AUB; short courses and Study Abroad of under six months use a Standard Visitor visa or ETA. After graduating, Student visa holders who complete a degree can apply for the Graduate Route, which allows them to stay in the UK to work for up to 18 months.

Main campus, Wallisdown, Poole (BH12 5HH): the single teaching campus for all three schools, with studios and workshops, the purpose-built Library, the Drawing Studio, TheGallery, MoDiP, a black box Studio Theatre seating up to 100, three dance studios with sprung floors, VectorPrint (printing and art supplies), food and drink outlets, and Campus Halls (299 rooms in three blocks).
Elliott Road Studios, near campus: three film studios with green screen and cyclorama, cinema cameras and lighting, used mainly by BA (Hons) Film Production students, together with stop motion studios for Animation Production, a scenic workshop, costume and prop stores and makeup facilities.
Palace Court Theatre, Bournemouth town centre: a 1930s Art Deco theatre owned by AUB since 2021 and being refurbished as a civic venue for AUB theatre productions, education and cultural events.
Halls of residence: Campus Halls on the main campus; Madeira Road Halls, within a five-minute walk of Bournemouth town centre; and Home Park Halls of Residence, which include a gym and cinema. Halls are for first-year students, are staffed 24/7 and have bills included in the rent apart from a TV licence.

The Library has print, online and special collections (including artists' books, a Materials Library and the Visionaire Collection), loanable MacBooks and laptops, group and silent study space. University Music is run jointly with Bournemouth University. Student Services works with a local GP surgery, and students are encouraged to register with a doctor on arrival. Dance teaching runs in partnership with Pavilion Dance South West, and the Lighthouse in Poole is used for performances and exhibitions.

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