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University of the Arts London Summer Program

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University of the Arts London Summer Program

Program Overview

UNLEASH CREATIVITY

During this three-week session in July, spark creativity and build skills at one of the world’s most prestigious art schools. UAL has a rich legacy spanning 150+ years and a reputation for some of the UK’s best creative instruction. Here, you’ll gain insight and skill from talented artists and professionals with close industry ties. Colleges include:

Camberwell: Illustration, drawing, painting, graphic design
Chelsea: Design, fine art
Central Saint Martins: Highly ranked fashion* design, architecture, performance
London College of Communication: Film/screen, media, game design
Wimbledon: Film, television, theater

Outside of class, London has endless museums, galleries, markets, and landmarks to explore. And we’ll help you maximize your stay with IFSA activities that give you deeper cultural insights, with no extra fees.

Interested in fashion business or design? Learn more about University of Arts London: London College of Fashion Summer.

Details at a Glance

Application deadline

Summer: March 15

Minimum GPA

3.00

Credit load

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Instruction language

English

Language prerequisites

None

Visa required?

Not in most cases. Learn more.

Apply Now

Academics

CHART Your Course
Find the classes you need fast with CHART. Our easy-to-use tool shows you classes recently taken by IFSA students.

To view available courses at University of the Arts London, visit the university’s summer catalog. Scroll down for a list of summer courses and click on the subject of your choice to see course options and the college where each is offered.

IFSA offers the three-week courses in Session One (July). Students will not be able to take classes in Session Two (late July-early August). If a course has two sets of dates listed on the UAL website, plan to attend the first session.

Camberwell College of Arts

Illustration

Central Saint Martins

Architecture
Art History, Criticism and Communication
Contemporary Fine Art Practice
Experimental Fashion Knitwear
Fashion Communication
Fashion Design
Fashion Design Menswear
Graphic Communication Design
Interior Design
Product and Industrial Design
Textile Design
Visual Merchandising

Chelsea College of Arts

Interior and Spatial Design

London College of Communication

Animation
Communication, PR and Advertising
Contemporary Photography Practice
Design Management
Digital Photography Portfolio
Filmmaking
Media, Culture and Communications

Wimbledon College of Arts

Theatre and Screen Design

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

Students must choose one course at one college to study. Please note that IFSA does not offer the second summer session at UAL, so classes offered outside the first session are not available.

New country, new way of learning!

Here’s what to expect at the University of the Arts London:

More emphasis on independent learning. The university recommends completing 10 hours of independent study for each academic credit you seek.
More advanced instruction and work than you’d find in a class at the same level in the United States. Because most English university degrees are three-year programs, students gain specialized knowledge faster here.
Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members.
Grades are often based on a single final exam or final paper, or on just a few assignments.
Choose classes from one department to avoid scheduling conflicts. Local students usually specialize in one department for classes, which means different departments don’t schedule classes with other departments in mind.
Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including an assigned advisor for academic support. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
You must have completed at least one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the term.
Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letter
Your application to this program will require one (1) academic letter of recommendation.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.

Excursions

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.

London’s Southbank Walk and Borough Market: Wander the River Thames then nosh on fish and chips, Thai curry, and more—there are hundreds of produce and street food stalls to choose from. Soak up some history as you refuel—food markets have stood here since the Middle Ages.
The Great British Bake Off Experience: Step into the famous white tent and don your apron for this immersive baking experience. Perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll work in pairs and bake a dessert against the clock that will be judged by the head baker. You’ll even be able to take home your creation at the end!
Buckingham Palace: On the bucket list for countless UK visitors, here’s your chance to see the majestic London home of British monarchs since Queen Victoria in 1837. (Look for the Royal Standard’s yellow, red and blue squares that signify the king is in residence.)
Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre: London is famous for its diverse, creative and unexpected theater landscape. During the warmer summer months, students can enjoy all the London theater scene has to offer in the stunning surroundings of a royal park.
Independence Day BBQ: You may be in the UK, but you can still celebrate the fabulous U.S. Independence Day with a festive get-together and meal.

Housing and Meals

Housing

Apartment/Flat, Single Room Option

Meals

Self-Catering

Details

Students live in UAL residences or in flats (apartments) provided by IFSA.

Housing in UAL residences

Explore Costume Store (a UAL residence named as a nod to its previous life as storage for the BBC costume collection) to see what your London home might be like:

Location: North Acton in West London
Commute: North Acton Tube station is across the street. It’s a 60-minute ride to the College of Fashion site, with easy connections to other UAL sites.
Furnished flats: Designed for four to nine students, with single bedrooms, some with private bathrooms, some with shared bathrooms. Shared living space and kitchen with refrigerator, freezer, microwave, oven, and kettle. Sheets and towels not included.
Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals.
Additional details: Student art gallery. On-site laundry, coffee shop, and small supermarket. Receptionist on staff.
Nearby: Shepherd’s Bush, BBC Television Centre, Wembley Stadium; easy access to all of London via Tube

Housing in IFSA flats (apartments)

Students live in furnished flats (apartments) selected by IFSA, with IFSA students as flatmates.

Living space: Each flat contains single bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom.
- Bedrooms include bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and light for each student.
- Comfortable space to cook, eat, socialize, and study either in your flat or in convenient common areas.
- Linens, except towels, are typically provided.
Meals: There is no meal plan. Students cook or purchase their own meals. Some flats have private kitchens, others include shared kitchens. Most are fully equipped; if not, kitchenware is easy to purchase nearby. Flatmates say cooking and eating together is a fun, social part of their day.
Commute: Varies by location. Expect a 40- to 50-minute trip via local train services, the Tube (the London subway), or bus.

Sample housing

Explore Vita Lewisham, one housing option, to see what your London home might be like:

Location: Lewisham, an area in southeast London undergoing substantial regeneration, particularly following its tenure as London Borough of Culture in 2022. Lewisham Shopping Centre, a five-minute walk away, is home to over 70 stores. Across the street is Glass Mill Leisure Centre, with gym, pool, sauna, and steam room. Two-minute walk to Lewisham train station.
Commute: 30 minutes by train to Camberwell campus; 45 minutes by train to Central Saint Martins campus; 45 minutes by bus to the London College of Communication campus; 45 minutes by train/Tube to Chelsea College of the Arts campus; 60 minutes by train to Wimbledon College of the Arts campus.
Single rooms: Rooms include one double bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and TV. Bed linens provided. Studio rooms include private kitchen with oven, stove, refrigerator, and microwave. Other rooms are part of cluster flats: six single rooms with private bathrooms, a shared kitchen, and living space. Kitchenware provided.
Meals: No meal plan. Students purchase meals or prepare food in shared kitchens. Breakfast available in the reception area on weekday mornings. Free coffee 24/7.
Common spaces: Three private dining rooms, a bar, study spaces, a gym with dance studio, and a games room.
Other details: Unlimited Wi-Fi, staff and security on site 24/7. Laundry facilities on-site. Cleaning provided every two weeks. The residence runs a full social calendar.
Nearby: The bustling Greenwich area, home to Greenwich Market, renowned museums, and Greenwich Park (where the Eastern and Western Hemispheres meet)—five minutes away via Docklands Light Railway. (Watch for celebrities: Greenwich frequently stands in as London and occasionally Paris in film and television productions.) Central London is 15 minutes away via train, so it’s easy to get to London Bridge and Charing Cross, the historic center of London.