Skip navigation

Arts University Plymouth

Plymouth

  • Location: Seaside, City

About us

CREATIVE EDUCATION FOR A CHANGING WORLD

Arts University Plymouth is a new kind of Arts University for the 21st century, preparing graduates who are uniquely placed to provide creative solutions to the complex global challenges of our times.

Founded in 1856 as the Plymouth Drawing School, we are proud to be the Arts University in Plymouth, Britain’s Ocean City. The University offers a comprehensive spectrum of specialist undergraduate, postgraduate and pre-degree study in art, design, craft and digital media programmes to a dynamic community of around 1,500 UK and international students – combining 170 years of creativity with contemporary thinking and cutting-edge, industry standard resources.

Our university is widely regarded as a catalyst for individual, societal and ecological transformation, delivering innovative and distinctive learning, teaching and research through our interdisciplinary ecosystem of materials, processes, technologies and knowledge exchange.

Receive details on what it is like at Arts University Plymouth.

Study at Arts University Plymouth

Explore our specialist facilities, vibrant student community, and thriving arts scene in Plymouth, Britain's Ocean City.

What makes us different

Our 13,000 sq metres of studios and workshops are filled with professional workspaces, studios and state-of-the-art facilities. Our city-centre campus is home to our public gallery MIRROR, Fab Lab South West, our creative business incubation programme Workroom Grow & Plymouth Arts Cinema. Our campus is situated in the heart of a vibrant cultural quarter of Plymouth, adjacent to The Box & numerous other creative spaces. 

Our creative degrees provide you with the skills & knowledge to thrive at the forefront of the creative industries. Whatever you wish to do, we can support you during your studies & help you to fulfil your long-term career aspirations.

Arts University Plymouth is the top-scoring specialist arts university in the UK in the National Student Survey for four consecutive years (2022–2025), University of the Year for South West England (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024 & 2025), and ranked 5th in the UK for Student Satisfaction in the Complete University Guide 2026.

Find out more about the courses on offer at Arts University Plymouth.
Visit Arts University Plymouth to see what life is like on campus.

Open days

Course locations

Main Site

Tavistock Place, Plymouth, PL4 8AT