Norwich University of the Arts

Summary

University Environment

NUA’s campus is comprised of seven buildings in and around the pedestrianised St. Georges Street, in the centre of Norwich. Each space has its own identity including the recently renovated Duke Street Building, which houses the library; the Monastery Media Lab, a world-class digital design centre; The Garth, a converted 13th century monastic remain and now the new centre for photography; the Guntons Design and Fashion studios; and St. Georges with the traditional high ceilings and huge windows making it the ideal studio space for Fine Art. The result is an extraordinary, inspirational and unique creative environment.

History

Norwich’s history can be traced back to 1845 when the Norwich School of Design is founded by the artists and followers of the Norwich School of Painters, the only provincial British group to establish an international reputation for landscape painting.

In 2008 it was granted the power to award degrees up to Masters level and re-named as Norwich University College of the Arts. In 2012 it was granted the title of University, becoming Norwich University of the Arts with its first Chancellor – the actor Sir John Hurt.

Academics

Courses

• Animation
• Architecture
• Design for Publishing
• Fashion
• Fashion Communication & Promotion
• Film & Moving Image Production
• Fine Art 
• Games Art & Design
• Games Development
• Graphic Communication
• Graphic Design
• Illustration
• Interaction Design
• Interior Design
• Photography
• Textile Design
• User Experience Design
• VFX

Research

The University works with universities, museums, galleries, and creative and cultural industries throughout the world to develop exciting and relevant research. The ethos of a specialist academic culture underpins NUA’s strategy for research, which focuses on generating new forms of creative practice informed by critical and cultural perspectives. In developing NUA’s research, staff and students have been publicly recognised for their work in the UK, Europe, the US, South America, North Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Asia.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, 55% of their research was classed as ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ and a further 40% of research was class as international recognised. 

International & Industrial Opportunities

At NUA students can take between three months and one year of their course in another university in Europe.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships & Bursaries

A number of individual scholarships depending on your course.

NUA has a bursary scheme which offers £1,000 per annum to new entrants whose household income is less than £25,000. There is also a bursary of £500 per annum to new entrants if their household income is assessed as between £25,001 to £42,875.

There are also a number of Foundations which specifically support students living and studying in Norwich and Norfolk. 

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The lIbrary is a specialist arts, design and media collection that serves as a resource to stimulate and support the research and creative practice of students and pedagogy of academic staff. It is located in a delightful nineteenth century former school building which also houses studios, the Student Union Office, a Lecture Theatre and seminar rooms. The Library team, in conjunction with the academic community, ensure that the collections are relevant to the needs of the enquiring minds of creative practitioners.

The Library houses 33,000 printed volumes and subscribes to over 400 journal titles. The bulk of the collection is devoted to arts, design and media. The Library collects a variety of media and subjects including exhibition catalogues, graphic design yearbooks, guides to computer applications, computer games, feature films including a collection of animated films, TV programmes recorded under licence, books on arts, architecture and design practitioners and artist’s books.

The Library has digital images in the form of online image banks which offer access to over 400,000 copyright-cleared images. There is a collection of over 2,500 DVDs that focus for the most part on arts, design and media. The Special Collections include a selection of artists books.

There is a computer room with 20 networked computers, and a further 20 computers in the Library reading and study areas, including facilities for disabled users. The Duke Street Building is wireless enabled so you are welcome to use your own laptop if you wish.

Workshops provide specialised resources and are staffed by experienced, enthusiastic professionals, including graduates and practising artists, committed to ensuring you can realise your own creative aspirations. Workshops include animation, digital 3D, digital design, digital video editing, drawing, etching, fashion, laser cutting, metal, photography, printed and constructed textiles, printmaking and photomedia, sound, and wood. 

The Gallery has a respected reputation for its annual programme of exhibitions and events. It is at the heart of the cultural life of the University and the city, while attracting a wide national and international audience. Not only is it an important touring venue that has hosted national and international exhibitions such as Colin Self, Marc Camille Chaimowicz, Jerwood Contemporary Painters and Jake & Dinos Chapman, it also provides students with Degree Show space and is a valuable resource for installation and curating experience. 

Individual studio space is provided for all full-time students in the Faculties of Art and Design, while students in the Faculty of Media have extensive access to digital media workstations.

The University’s hardware and software is professionally relevant and suitable for its diverse range of academic opportunities. IT resources can be accessed in the workshops, library, computer-teaching rooms, seminar rooms, and at numerous terminals available throughout the campus. 

Portable equipment for location filming including lighting sets, dolly kits, film and digital video and audio recording kits with relevant accessories are available to hire. 

Sporting Facilities

The Sportspark complex housing an Olympic-sized swimming pool, running track, racket courts, climbing wall and gym is a short bus or cycle ride from campus. Student membership deals make it an affordable way to keep fit.

Norwich University of the Arts Rugby Club was established in 2009 and has entered, and in some cases won, many tournaments on tour such as in Cardiff, Somerset and Southwold.

Students' Union

Students’ Union

There are plenty of ways in which students can get involved at NUA, for example the student magazine, Storehouse, is designed, funded and distributed by students and showcases student work. Storehouse is released termly and all students can get involved. The vibrant Events Committee helps organise events for students such as the End of Year Ball and termly theme nights in various locations in the city. There are also opportunities to be involved in the campaigning to help raise awareness for issues that affect students.

NUA has its own art materials shop, open daily, which sells a wide range of basic and specialist art supplies at discounted prices.

Student Support

Health & Wellbeing

The Student Support office offers a dedicated service providing information and advice on disabilities including assistance with applying for funding support through the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

There is no student health centre at the University but a list of NHS doctors and dentists is available by telephoning NHS 111.

The Counselling Service offers direct access to a range of professional counsellors through the Centre and referral to welfare, medical and other services and agencies. The service is free to students of NUA and is fully confidential.

Career Facilities

The Careers Centre provides support for all students as well as graduates for up to three years after graduation, including personal advice sessions, workshops and in course training throughout your time in the University. They deal with interview skills, speculative applications, CV writing, application forms, networking, post-graduation courses, personality assessment, work experience, internships, volunteering and self-employment. 

The service can also help you find a part-time job whilst you are a student. 

Business and professional skills are integrated within the course units of every undergraduate course at NUA and are relevant to a range of contexts including creative practice and employability. You will develop skills in creative practice, business and professional studies, contextual understanding and planning and development, in order to help you prepare for employment, professional practice or continuing education. 

The University has a range of local and national links with the creative industries and guest lecturers from industry contribute to individual courses. In addition, academic staff are engaged in professional practice.

Accommodation

NUA offers students a range of accommodation options to suit all requirements and budgets. From the University’s high specification halls of residence at All Saints Green in central Norwich, to its budget-friendly halls at Beechcroft just a short bus ride from the campus, NUA students are extremely well catered for.

All Saints Green Halls are new high quality halls of residence situated in the city centre, near the bus station and less than a 10-minute walk from the NUA campus. A total of 228 rooms are offered in self-contained cluster flats varying in size from 4 en-suite bedrooms per communal kitchen and lounge up to 11 en-suite study bedrooms. There are also some self-contained studios. Shared coin operated laundry facilities and secure bicycle parking are available.

A more traditional halls of residence, Beechcroft is set in landscaped gardens just a short bus ride north of the University. Beechcroft provides a selection of rooms, some en-suite and all with their own hand basin. The 12 bedrooms leading off each corridor share fully fitted kitchen, dining and bathroom facilities. The weekly rent includes all white goods, wifi, bicycle shelters and parking.

Harvard Court consists of small groups of high quality furnished houses, each with between four and six en suite bedrooms (or private bathrooms). Patio doors open on to fully maintained landscaped gardens. The weekly rent includes all white goods, wifi, bicycle shelters and parking. 

International

International Facilities

The University provides a dedicated support service including advice on visas, working in the UK and registering with police, doctors and banks as well as support on cultural differences. Student Support, which is responsible for the personal welfare of all students studying at the University, can also help with any welfare issues.

All international students at NUA are eligible to receive up to four hours of English language support each term week free of charge.