Who Are We?
The University College is a creative community where staff and students share a passion for and a commitment to the disciplines of art, design, media and performance. Course leaders, lecturers and technicians all enjoy a wealth of practical experience in their subject area and the majority remain actively engaged in their own work through research, practice or both activities. This work is used to inform their approach to your learning. Industry Liaison Groups and Visiting Tutors from art, design, media and performance companies also help ensure that our staff and students are informed of current working practices and technological developments within these areas. Importantly, we offer a specialist environment which reflects the way in which individuals and communities work together in the creative industries and where we can give you the professional skills, knowledge and confidence to realise your ambitions and to succeed in your chosen career.
We are committed to your needs: our course recruitment is kept to a level which allows a good student:tutor ratio, hence more individually focused teaching from staff who will know you and your work. Our facilities include well-equipped studios, workshops and the relevant tools and equipment to allow you to experiment and learn required industry skills. We encourage your input: each course has a representational system allowing you a collective voice in the development and shaping of our community and ensures that the quality of each course remains strong and its content relevant. Students are also invited to nominate members to all key University College committees and to sit on interview panels for academic staff recruitment.
Our reputation is underpinned by consistently good reports from the body which monitors us, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Their most recent audit gave the University College the highest possible grade; awarding 'broad confidence' in the management of the quality of our courses. The report also commended the academic standards on offer and highlighted many features of good practice, including the contribution of technician tutors to students’ learning and the provision of library services.
Importantly, our strengths are also recognised by our students. The results of the 2008 National Student Survey placed the University College 22nd out of 129 universities and colleges overall, with joint 4th position for our student advice and support and joint 6th position for the enthusiasm of our teaching staff. Of the 95 of these offering arts and design courses, we were placed in joint 10th position overall and joint 2nd position for our library provision.
We are proud of our achievements and are committed to ensuring that the University College and its courses continue to offer a learning experience of the highest quality and real relevance. Students who are successful in securing a place with us will join our exciting and developing community and will in turn, we hope, become influential members of the creative industries.
