The Arts University Bournemouth

Summary

History

The first arts school in Bournemouth was founded in 1880. The Bournemouth Government School of Art, began to also teach the Sciences from 1884. Six years later, however, the school was forced to close and its students were transferred to the Bournemouth West School of Science and Art. In 1913, the Bournemouth West School merged with the Bournemouth East School to become the Bournemouth Municipal College. All arts subjects were taught in the college’s School of Art, which later became Bournemouth and the Poole College of Art, following a merger with the Poole college of Art.

In 1998 the college became the Arts Institute at Bournemouth, and in 2001, the Institute became a higher education institution, one of the only ones in the country to focus exclusively on creative subjects.

In 2008, the Institute was given degree awarding powers and became the Arts University College at Bournemouth. In 2012, the government announced that in order to become a University, an institution need only have 1,000 higher education students, as opposed to the previous threshold of 4,000. This meant that Bournemouth qualified, and could now become the Arts University Bournemouth.

University Environment

The majority of the Arts University’s buildings is located on one self-contained campus, a few miles north of the city centre. The campus directly adjoins that of the University of Bournemouth, which means that students can also make use of their facilities including their sports centre. On the University’s own campus, there is a library, a gallery, a museum and a number of specialist facilities such as a printing room and drawing studio. There are also a range of food and drink outlets and a printing and art supplies shop.

Recently, AUB has invested millions in its campus facilities. The new Drawing Studio, designed and completed by renowned architect, AUB alumnus and Honorary Fellow, Professor Sir Peter Cook RA and his office CRAB (Cook Robotham Architectural Bureau), and was officially opened on 3rd March 2016 by the world famous architect Dame Zaha Hadid. Not only is it the first purpose-built drawing studio to be constructed at an art school for more than a century, it is also Sir Peter’s first building to be built in the UK. The building is accessible to students from all courses across the University enabling all creative artists, working in any genre, to be in the same space together, from costume designers to architects, animators to etchers.

AUB is currently developing a new Innovation Studio on campus to support early stage start-ups. Designed by CRAB, the Innovation Studio will be opening its doors for Summer 2019.

Academics

Faculties & Schools

Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture

• Architecture
• Interiors & Model Making
• Fine Art & Illustration
• Graphics & Communications
• Fashion & Textiles

Faculty of Media & Performance

• Animation
• Film
• Performing Arts
• Performance Design
• Photography

Research

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF),the Arts University Bournemouth submitted research in only one unit, Art and Design: History, Theory and Practice. However, 50% of its research was considered to be 'world leading' or 'internationally excellent', as opposed to only 10% in the previous Research Assessment Exercise. Furthermore, 84% of their research was nationally recognised.

International & Industrial Opportunities

Bournemouth offers many opportunities for student and staff exchange and they have partner institutions in 14 countries. The minimum exchange period for students is three months (or one term) and the maximum for AUB students is usually five months. A student exchange is generally undertaken by second year students (or by third year students on BA (Hons) Architecture). The University’s exchange programmes are primarily conducted through Erasmus+, the European Commission-led programme for increasing student mobility throughout Europe. However, Bournemouth also has its own international exchange programmes with partner Universities in America, Taiwan, India and Japan.  All students on a full-time undergraduate course can partake in the University’s exchange programme.

A number of Bournemouth’s courses also offer students the chance to spend time working in a related industry. Students can work in the UK or abroad, through Erasmus+. Depending on the course, students may be able to spend a year in a placement or a few hours a week, through one of the ‘working in the arts modules’. See the descriptions of each course on the University’s website to find out more.

Fees & Finance

Scholarships

AUB Students who enrol in the current year and progress successfully to Level 6 study at the University and who are in receipt of a full maintenance loan will receive a Progression Scholarship of £200 on enrolment for their Level 6 study, to support the additional costs of their final year projects.

Bursaries

The University has a Discretionary Support Fund for those with a household income of less than £25,000. This money may be used for bicycle vouchers, support for educational visits and, in exceptional circumstances, hardship grants or loans.

AUB provides an annual grant of £2,000 to support any student joining the University from a care background and who meet the criteria for the grant. This support aims to work towards breaking down the barriers that prevent young people from care entering higher education. It is awarded for each year of academic study at the University.

A discretionary fund is available to support applications from students with a disability to meet the £200 contribution for a laptop previously provided through Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA).

Facilities

Learning Facilities

The Library at AUB has over 50,000 books covering a huge range of art, design, media and performance subjects, as well as over 300 specialist journal titles on the shelves. In addition, they have a collection of e-journals and more than 120,000 e-books. All of the library’s physical resources can be searched for in the Library Catalogue and online resources can be found and accessed through Library Search.

The Library also has a large collection of audio-visual material from CDs of traditional and contemporary music, sound effects, speech training for actors, to a large collection of feature films, animation and documentaries as well as programmes recorded from the television on DVD and online.

The Library is Wi-Fi enabled and facilities include: 144 group study spaces where you can work as a team: 63 individual study spaces where you can work on your own: 36 silent study spaces where you can work quietly; 36 Mac and 18 PC study spaces where you can work online or using the Adobe creative suite, and a TV/DVD viewing room for up to six students. In addition, all lecture theatres and seminar rooms are fitted with the latest technology such as projectors or LED TVs.

The University also offers a range of more specialist facilities. These include: the new Drawing Studio, designed by architect, professor Sir Peter Cook; a gallery situated in the heart of the campus, exhibiting the work of students, staff and alumni, as well as exhibitions from the area’s leading artists; and the Museum of Design in Plastics, located in the library, comprising over 12,500 artefacts of predominantly 20th and 21st century mass produced design. Both of these cultural centres are used to support the academic courses at the University.

Other facilities used to support learning include the Bournemouth Film School, the University’s state of the art Studio Theatre and the print making room, which houses a number of traditional printing presses.

Students struggling academically can find help and support through the Students Union and the Art of Studying programme, which holds regular drop in sessions on topics like report writing and making the transition from college to university.

Sporting Facilities

AUB  does not run any of its own sporting facilities. However, students can take advantage of the facilities at the nearby University of Bournemouth. Their centre, Sport BU, has a recently renovated gym, which is available to AUB students at discounted rates. Furthermore, the BH Live programme, gives students access to four sports centres throughout the city. There are also a number of sports clubs and teams that are run by the AUB Students' Union that you can join.

Students’ Union

The AUB Students’ Union (SU) provides advice and support to students on a range of issues from academic and financial support to helping students find a house or advising on the best nights out. The Union is run by two elected sabbatical officers, the president and the vice-president, and an elected committee of 12 other officers, each with their own individual responsibility such as racial equality or event management. This committee is supported by two Course Reps from each year in each course, who are elected to represent their course mates.

AUBSU can help students to find volunteering opportunities in the local area. They also run their own volunteering events such as RAG (Raise and Giving), a fun, exciting programme organised to raise money for charity.

AUBSU runs the University’s student led multi-media publication, BUMF. It was created as an antidote to the generic student media of other universities and aims to showcase the work of students, e.g. illustration, film-making, design, etc.

Student Support

Religion & Spirituality

AUB’s Chaplaincy service is shared with Bournemouth University. The Chaplaincy is located on Bournemouth University’s campus and facilities include a quiet room and an Islamic prayer room. The Chaplaincy is inclusive and welcomes people of all faiths or none. The chaplains are there to listen, offer spiritual support, prayer and advice. They organise social events and lectures and can also put students in touch with advisors from other religions and faiths.

Health & Wellbeing

There is no dedicated student medical centre at AUB. However, Student Services work closely with the local village surgery and can arrange appointments for students.

AUB Student Wellbeing Officer role is to promote the wellbeing of all students and to provide particular support to those with mental health difficulties. They focus on identifying practical strategies for managing any difficulties you may be experiencing. This may involve helping with time management and motivation, coping strategies for managing your studies, or guidance on benefits and accessing community services.

There is a dedicated Student Counselling service at AUB, with a team of professional counsellors. They offer various levels of support ranging from regular weekly sessions or occasional support to just a ‘one-off’ consultation or support session. The Counselling Service at the University is confidential and only in very exceptional circumstances will this confidentiality be broken- usually if there is an immediate risk to an individual’s safety or that of others.

AUB Disability and Wellbeing team is there if you have a specific learning difficulty, physical or medical condition, or mental health difficulties. The Disability Officer can help with any reasonable adjustments to ensure that any disability, medical condition or specific learning difficulty doesn’t unduly impact on your studies. Whether you need a sign language interpretor, personal support worker, or adjustments to teaching or assessment, the Disability Officer will work in partnership with you, and any external agencies, to agree a suitable range of support. They can arrange free car parking permits if your disability affects your mobility.

Career Facilities

The Careers Service at Arts University Bournemouth is based in Student Services. It offers careers advice and guidance to students and recent graduates. Students can either arrange an appointment or come along to one of the service’s weekly drop in sessions. Advisors can help students with a range of related issues such as CVs and applications, interviews, becoming your own boss and going onto further study. They also put on various presentations about different careers throughout the year.

AUB degree programmes are very careers focused. The course teams ensure employability is embedded in your curriculum. On some courses, students are encouraged to carry out work placements for a few hours a week or even a whole year. Students in every course work with the most up-to-date technology and gain practical experience, which means that they are well prepared and have the practical skills needed for the world of work.

The University has its own job board to help students and recent graduates of AUB to find vacancies that may be of interest to them. Vacancies include student jobs, graduate vacancies, volunteering and work experience.

The Arts University Bournemouth has five halls of residence: Bath Road, Hurn House, Madeira Road, Winton Halls and George close. The first three halls of residence are located in the Lansdowne area of the town, approximately 2.5miles away from the campus. It takes about 15 minutes by bus or bike. The Unibus service provides regular direct buses to the campus.

Winton Halls,  situated 1 mile away from the AUB campus, takes approximately 15 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by bike to the campus, while George Close is situated in a residential area of Ensbury Park, approximately 1.5 miles from the campus, and takes approximately 20 minutes on foot or 10 minutes by bike.

Typically accommodation consists of single ensuite rooms in cluster flats with a shared kitchen /lounge or as single, double or large double self-contained studios with their own kitchen facilities. All rooms and studios have fully wired and WiFi internet access. There are on-site laundry, bicycle storage and lockable mailboxes facilities. At Winton Halls, reception /security staff are on site 24 hours a day.

Prices for en suite rooms range between £125 and £145 a week and prices for studio range between £160 and £175 a week.

International

English Language Requirements

Students who do not speak English as a first language must have an IELTS score of at least 6.0 (with 5.5 in each band), or an equivalent qualification, to apply for a BA at the Arts University Bournemouth.

International Support

The are currently students from over 60 countries studying at Bournemouth.

The two weeks prior to the beginning of term at AUB is freshers' fortnight. During this time there are a number of social events, a fair to sign up to societies and and an academic orientation programme. This gives international students the chance to get to know their surroundings, settle in a bit and meet people.

Throughout their time at the University, international students are supported by a range of different teams. The International Office provides general guidance on admissions, progression, visa advice and related matters to prospective and enrolled overseas students and support with welfare issues. The University’s Student Services team are also available to help both international and home students with a variety of personal issues that might arise during their studies including accommodation advice, medical care, career planning, job-hunting, student welfare and counselling.

A range of English language support available free of charge to international students at AUB. Support is available in one-to-one sessions, group tutorials and workshops.