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University of the Arts London

London, United Kingdom · Public · Est. 1842 (roots of its oldest college)

Updated 28 Oct 2026

Talk to our counsellorCall usOfficial website (opens in a new tab)

Established

1842 (roots of its oldest college)

Type

Public

Location

London, United Kingdom

QS World University Rankings 2027

851–900 in the world

About the university

University of the Arts London (UAL) is a specialist university for art, design, fashion, communication and performance. It brings together six well-known London colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts, plus the UAL Creative Computing Institute.

UAL is known worldwide for fashion, graphic and communication design, fine art, film and creative business. It says it is ranked second in the world for Art and Design in the QS subject rankings (2024). Courses are studio-based and portfolio-led, and many students go on to work in fashion houses, agencies, studios and media in London.

Indian students choose UAL mainly for master's courses in user experience and interaction design, graphic and media design, design management, fashion marketing and fashion management, and for the London College of Fashion MBA. Most master's courses are now 12 months and cost £31,510 for 2027/28. UAL offers a £5,000 India Postgraduate Scholarship and up to 288 international postgraduate scholarships of £10,000.

All UAL colleges are in London, so you study in one of the world's leading creative cities. Living costs are the highest in the UK, and halls cost from about £166 to £429 a week.

Roots
UAL says its colleges have been teaching creative subjects since 1842
Type
Public university made up of six colleges and the Creative Computing Institute
Colleges
Camberwell, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon, all in London
Total students
Almost 23,000 from 130 countries (UAL); 20,350 in THE World University Rankings 2027 data
International students
59% (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
Student–staff ratio
10.3 to 1 (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
Intakes
Mostly September; a few master's courses start in October, November or January

Rankings

  • QS World University Rankings 2027

    851–900 in the world

  • THE World University Rankings 2027

    1401–1600 in the world

Popular courses with Indian students

View all 11 courses with filters

Fees for international students

Course fees
CourseDurationFee / year (GBP)Approx. in rupees
MA User Experience Design (LCC)12 months (full time)£31,510≈ ₹38.4 lakh
MA Graphic Media Design (LCC)12 months (full time)£31,510≈ ₹38.4 lakh
MA Design Management (LCC)12 months (full time)£31,510≈ ₹38.4 lakh
MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (LCF)12 months (full time)£31,510≈ ₹38.4 lakh
MSc Applied Machine Learning for Creatives (Creative Computing Institute)1 year (45 weeks)£31,510≈ ₹38.4 lakh
Master of Business Administration (MBA) (LCF)12 months (45 weeks, full time)£36,090≈ ₹44 lakh
MSc Strategic Fashion Management (LCF)12 months (full time)£31,510≈ ₹38.4 lakh
MA Fashion Design Management (LCF)12 months (full time)£31,510≈ ₹38.4 lakh

Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.

Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at University of the Arts London with similar universities in the UK.

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Scholarships

  • Selected postgraduate courses at Camberwell, CSM, LCC, LCF and CCI, 2027/28 entry

    UAL India £5,000 Postgraduate Scholarship

    Value: £5,000 off tuition fees

    Eligibility: Home address in India and an offer for a listed course. No separate application: UAL assesses eligibility from your course application. Places are limited, so apply early.

    Official page (opens in a new tab)
  • Taught master's (MA, MSc, MBA, MFA, MRes, MArch, Grad Dip), 2027/28 entry

    UAL International Postgraduate £10,000 Scholarships

    Value: £10,000 off tuition fees; up to 288 awards

    Eligibility: Overseas fee status, a 2:1 or equivalent (achieved or predicted) and a UAL offer. Apply with a personal statement by 23 March 2027 (round 1) or 18 May 2027 (round 2). Not for UAL Online courses or students who already hold a UK taught postgraduate degree.

    Official page (opens in a new tab)
  • Pre-degree and undergraduate

    UAL Foundation and Pre-degree £7,000 International Scholarship

    Value: £7,000 tuition fee waiver for the full duration of pre-degree and undergraduate study; up to 16 awards

    Eligibility: International students on eligible pre-degree courses. Check the scholarship page for conditions.

    Official page (opens in a new tab)
  • Postgraduate

    UAL Postgraduate Progression discount

    Value: 20% off postgraduate tuition fees

    Eligibility: Students who have already completed a UAL course. Can be combined with the India £5,000 scholarship.

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

Admission requirements

Undergraduate

  • UAL usually asks Indian students for a High School Diploma (Class XII) and, where the course needs it, a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
  • Selection is mainly by portfolio, and some courses also interview. For BA Graphic Communication Design at CSM, most successful applicants have done a Foundation Diploma.
  • UAL does not publish Class XII percentage cut-offs on its India page, so check the course page.
  • Apply through UCAS (for example, BA Graphic Communication Design is UCAS code W215).

Postgraduate

  • You usually need an honours degree in a related subject. Some courses, such as MA Design Management and the London College of Fashion business courses, ask for a 2:1 or equivalent.
  • Most applications need a personal statement, CV, portfolio and, on some courses, a study proposal or short video task. Some courses invite you to an online interview.
  • The LCF MBA asks for 3 years of work experience in a fashion-related sector.
  • Applicants without the usual qualifications may be considered through prior experiential learning on some courses.

Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
  • Degree certificate and transcripts (for master's)
  • English test result (IELTS for UKVI or another accepted SELT)
  • Portfolio (most courses)
  • Personal statement and CV
  • Study proposal or video task where the course asks for it
  • References

Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.

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English language requirements

English requirements
Test or routeTypical requirement
IELTS Academic for UKVIUsually 6.0 (5.5 in each skill) for BA courses and 6.5 or 7.0 overall for master's, with minimum skill scores set by each course. Student visa applicants must take IELTS for UKVI or another approved SELT; plain IELTS Academic is not accepted for visa students.
PTE Academic UKVIAccepted (not the online version). UAL's equivalence table lists 59 overall with 59 in each skill at IELTS 6.0 and 6.5 level, and 66 overall with 59 in each at IELTS 7.0 level.
LanguageCert Academic SELTAccepted. 65 overall (60 each) at IELTS 6.0 level, 70 (60 each) at 6.5 and 75 (65 each) at 7.0.
Degree taught in EnglishA degree equal to a UK bachelor's taught in English may exempt you for degree-level courses, if it meets UAL's conditions and is less than three years old. Confirm with admissions.
DuolingoNot listed among UAL's accepted tests.

Accommodation and living costs

UAL runs or partners with more than a dozen halls across London, including Town Hall Camberwell, Portland House and YourTRIBE Elephant & Castle. Contracts run from 38 to 50 weeks depending on the hall. Some halls have partially funded rooms at lower rents. Prices below are 2026/27 weekly rents from UAL's room types page; 2027/28 prices were not yet published.

Accommodation and living costs
ItemIn GBPApprox. in rupees
Twin room (shared), Portland House50-week contract£166–204per week≈ ₹20,252 – ₹24,888
Partially funded rooms (several halls)38 to 42 weeks; limited numbers£185–246per week≈ ₹22,582 – ₹30,012
Standard room with shared bathroom40 to 50 weeks£225–252per week≈ ₹27,389 – ₹30,683
Standard en suite room39 to 50 weeks£264–348per week≈ ₹32,147 – ₹42,456
Studio39 to 50 weeks£330–429per week≈ ₹40,260 – ₹52,338

Campus and location

UAL is not a single campus. Its six colleges and the Creative Computing Institute each have their own buildings across London, with studios, workshops and specialist facilities for their subjects.

  • Central Saint Martins is in King's Cross; London College of Communication is at Elephant and Castle; London College of Fashion has its main site in Stratford, East London.
  • Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon colleges cover fine art, design, and theatre and screen.
  • The Creative Computing Institute teaches computing, coding and machine learning for creative fields.
  • Students can use UAL libraries, archives and workshops across colleges.

Careers and graduate outcomes

UAL courses are built around portfolios, live briefs and industry projects, and London gives easy access to design studios, fashion brands, agencies and media companies. After graduating, international students can look at the UK Graduate visa; see our UK country guide for the current rules.

Graduate outcomes
WhatFigureSource
International students as a share of all students59%THE World University Rankings 2027 data
Countries students come from130UAL, About UAL

Studying in the UK

Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in the UK. Our country guide covers them in detail:

Other universities in the UK

Compare all universities in the UK

FAQs

How much does a master's at UAL cost?

Most 12-month master's courses are £31,510 for international students starting in 2027/28. Some courses are charged at a higher rate (£35,585), and the LCF MBA is £36,090.

Do I need a portfolio?

For most art, design and fashion courses, yes. Business-focused courses such as MSc Strategic Fashion Management still ask for a personal statement and CV, and some ask for a study proposal. Check the course page.

Are there scholarships for Indian students?

Yes. The UAL India £5,000 Postgraduate Scholarship is assessed automatically for listed 2027/28 courses, and up to 288 International Postgraduate £10,000 Scholarships need a separate application by 23 March or 18 May 2027.

Which English test should I take?

If you need a Student visa, take IELTS for UKVI (Academic) or another approved SELT such as PTE Academic UKVI or LanguageCert Academic SELT. Plain IELTS Academic is not accepted for visa students. UAL does not list Duolingo.

How expensive is accommodation?

UAL halls cost about £166 to £429 a week in 2026/27, depending on the hall and room type. Most contracts are 39 to 50 weeks.

Sources

  1. UAL: MA User Experience Design (LCC), 2027/28 (opens in a new tab)
  2. UAL: MA Strategic Fashion Marketing (LCF), 2027/28 (opens in a new tab)
  3. UAL: MBA (LCF), 2027/28 (opens in a new tab)
  4. UAL: BA (Hons) Graphic Communication Design (CSM) (opens in a new tab)
  5. UAL: postgraduate tuition fees (opens in a new tab)
  6. UAL: India country page (opens in a new tab)
  7. UAL: India £5,000 Postgraduate Scholarship (opens in a new tab)
  8. UAL: International Postgraduate £10,000 Scholarships (opens in a new tab)
  9. UAL: English language requirements (opens in a new tab)
  10. UAL: halls of residence room types and prices (opens in a new tab)
  11. UAL: About UAL (opens in a new tab)
  12. THE World University Rankings 2027: University of the Arts London (opens in a new tab)

Official website: www.arts.ac.uk (opens in a new tab)

Check the latest details

We researched this page on 28 Oct 2026. Fees, entry requirements and scholarships change every year, so confirm them on the university's website before you apply. Listing a university doesn't mean Admission Mantra represents it.

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