Arts University Plymouth
Arts University Plymouth is the UK’s newest specialist arts university. Our vision is for a new kind of arts university for the 21st century, where creative thinking, practical skills and research can help address the complex challenges of a changing world.
Our 2030 strategy focuses on sustainable growth, solution-focused teaching and research, and a commitment to social justice and ecological change through our people, culture and place.
For postgraduate students, this means an opportunity to develop your practice, challenge your thinking and explore new ideas within a specialist arts university. You’ll work across disciplines and have access to a wide range of studios, workshops, labs and digital facilities, alongside teaching and research shaped by practitioners and industry partners.
- ARTS UNIVERSITY OF THE YEAR 2027 – Daily Mail University Guide 2027
- 6TH IN THE UK FOR STUDENT SATISFACTION – Complete University Guide 2027
- 1ST IN THE SOUTH WEST FOR FACILITIES – Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026
- 1ST IN THE SOUTH WEST FOR STUDENT SUPPORT – Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026
- 2ND IN THE SOUTH WEST FOR LECTURERS & TEACHING QUALITY – Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2026
WHAT'S ON AT Arts University Plymouth
From Open days and online events to research symposiums and international exhibitions in our on-site gallery
Our BA (Hons) Photography course explores the creative and professional possibilities of photography across the creative industries. You’ll explore contemporary photography through fashion, editorial, heritage, culture and commercial production, developing your creative ideas alongside strong technical and professional skills.
Using industry-standard equipment and resources, you’ll develop your skills in studio and location photography, including lighting, styling, creative direction, retouching and post-production. You’ll also explore emerging technologies such as AI and consider how they are shaping the future of photography and the wider creative industries.
You’ll be encouraged to develop your own visual style while exploring photography as a way of telling stories and responding to ideas around identity, culture, social justice and climate change. Through live briefs, industry placements and opportunities to meet industry professionals, you’ll build your confidence and prepare for a career across photography, creative agencies, brands, publishers and cultural organisations.
If you love creating digital content, from filming and editing to photography, audio and sharing stories, our BA (Hons) Content Creation course will help you turn your passion into a career. You’ll develop the creative, technical and professional skills to create content for different audiences and platforms, whether you want to build your own brand, work freelance or join a creative agency or organisation.
Using industry-standard equipment, software and emerging technologies, you’ll explore moving image, photography, audio, animation and written communication. You’ll also develop your understanding of marketing, branding and audience engagement, learning how to plan and produce content that connects with people.
Through live briefs, collaborative projects and real-world experiences, you’ll gain an insight into commercial production and working with clients. You’ll also explore new technologies including AI, immersive media and interactive design, while considering the social and ethical impact of the content you create.
Our Integrated Foundation Year is designed to help you develop the creative skills, knowledge and confidence needed to progress to an undergraduate degree at Arts University Plymouth. It can be a good route if you are returning to education, changing direction or don’t have the formal qualifications normally required for degree-level study.
During this intensive and practical year, you’ll explore art, design and media through experimentation, making and discovery. You’ll work with a range of materials, processes and digital methods, while developing your skills in drawing, visual research, contextual studies and creative problem-solving.
Through workshops, lectures, studio sessions, seminars and tutorials, you’ll have the freedom to take creative risks, develop ideas and discover your own strengths and interests. You’ll build a body of work that reflects your developing creative identity, while gaining the academic and practical skills needed for the next stage of your degree.