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Arts University Bournemouth

Why choose Arts University Bournemouth?

Established in 1885 as a specialist institution, Arts University Bournemouth is a leading university offering high-quality specialist education in art, design, media ,and performance across creative industries.

Study at the UK’s top specialist art and design university outside of London- (The Guardian University Guide 2026)
# 1 Art and design specialist outside of London- (The Times Good University Guide 2026)
# 2 Art and design specialist in the country- (The Times Good University Guide and The Guardian University Guide 2026)
92 % of AUB graduates are in employment or further education- (Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025)

Reviews

Shiori
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

That was an irreplaceable experience for me!

I experienced both the Illustration and Animation courses as a BA student. Through the Illustration course in particular, I was able to broaden my perspective on art. In Japan, accuracy and technical skill are often considered the most important aspects of drawing, but at AUB I learned to value ideas, experimentation, and personal expression as well.

In the Animation course, I learned about flexible movement and Western animation culture. The drawing classes were especially inspiring and stimulating for me, and I really enjoyed the character design and concept art classes as well. Studying both Illustration and Animation was a truly valuable and irreplaceable experience for me.

All of the tutors were very kind and genuinely supportive. They always took the time to listen to my concerns and give me thoughtful advice.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or expressing your own ideas. At AUB, experimentation and individuality are valued, and the tutors are very supportive.
Pros
  • Diversity. You can learn with students from all over the world.
  • Creative freedom
  • Flexibility
Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My semester studying abroad at AUB was an utterly amazing, beautiful, and inspiring experience.

I studied abroad at AUB on the Costume and Performance Design Course. I'm from NY, USA, and am a double major in Dance and Sociology. I've always wanted to study abroad, and stumbled upon AUB completely by random chance – and I'm endlessly thankful that I did. I was studying something completely new, meeting the most amazing people every day, traveling to a multitude of different countries, and living in a vibrant, exciting town on the beautiful coast of England. The semester was a whirlwind of trying new things, exploring, and meeting new people. Generally speaking, there seems to be a pervasive culture of community and family among students living in Bournemouth. Bournemouth itself is such a fun town. There are tons of great shopping and restaurants, lovely gardens, and of course, the beautiful sea. It was wonderful to be able to just leave my room, walk through town and through the gardens, and reach the beach within 15 minutes.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Travel! Bournemouth was an absolutely incredible place to be for the semester because of the accessibility it provided for traveling. A bus into London takes only about 2.5 hours from Bournemouth, and from there, I was able to fly to a multitude of incredible places all over Europe. Over the course of the semester, I was lucky enough to visit eleven cities in nine different countries. I learned that I absolutely love traveling by myself. It gives you the chance to really absorb and appreciate a city, taking everything in.
Pros
  • I was living in dorms with six lovely flat mates who were also international students at AUB. We all had our own single rooms with bathrooms, and kitchen shared between the six of us.
  • The dorms at Madeira road were only a 5 minute walk into down town Bournemouth, and a 15 minute walk down to the beach.
  • Local buses- the bus ride to AUB is only about 10 minutes, and it's lovely to be riding a double decker bus with almost all other college students.
Andhika
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Grateful to have the opportunity to be part of the creative community at AUB

AUB feels like a creative community to me. The facilities are top and the lecturers were so helpful also they are very encouraging. It was truly a blessed three months of my life.

While studying at Arts University Bournemouth, I lived in AUB accommodation on Madeira Road. Everyone there was so nice, from the helpful receptionists to the students who lived there. Bournemouth is one of the best places to thrive as a student, especially if you are a student from another country and have never had any experience in the UK. The town is very welcoming to international students, and it is also very easy to get groceries or find an Asian shop in Bournemouth; it's everywhere.

Last but not least, thank you to the international office team for supporting all international students living in Bournemouth and the AUB Campus.

All the best for the future.

Hefa Nisrina Maliha
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Study abroad

It was pleasant experience to be able study at Arts University Bournemouth, the lecture and staff is very supportive and nice to you, they able to make me get better at Graphic Design.
I really recommend to anyone want to learn design from graphis design to fashion and photography, they have excellent facilities too if you want to experience with machine there or maybe computer there, free adobe too for those need it, its life changing to have that, bus also stop at the campus its very nice, not to mention the student union always have interesting event that everyone can join

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
My nerve racking moment is during one on one session, i prepare for the worst during that time but then they were very nice and able to not make me anxious during my one on one session
Pros
  • Good Facilities
  • Awesome lecture
  • Interesting events
Madoka
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

For me choosing Bournemouth and AUB has been the right decision.

About Classes
I’m taking first-year undergraduate classes to learn about design and software tools while working on projects like magazine and package design. The classes include both lectures and hands-on workshops, offering a good mix of theory and practice.

Life Outside of Classes
I live in the AUB dormitories, which are about a 15-minute bus ride from campus and just a 10-minute walk to the train station. There’s also a large supermarket nearby, so I’ve had no issues with daily life here. Personally, I’m really happy that there’s an Asian supermarket close by. It’s great to be able to buy seasonings and ingredients that are hard to find in regular British supermarkets!

About Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a quiet, small town by the sea, and I think it’s a relatively safe place to live. The university I attended in Japan was in Tokyo, where the campuses were spread across multiple locations. One of the reasons I chose AUB was because all its departments are located on one campus. This setup has allowed me to interact with students from other departments, even in the dorms, and experience things I couldn’t in Tokyo—like taking a casual walk to the beach on my days off. I’m really enjoying the unique student life that Bournemouth offers.

That said, there aren’t many museums or galleries here, so I don’t have as many opportunities to see exhibitions as I’d like. However, London is just about 2.5 hours away by train, and there’s also a direct long-distance bus service.

Pros
  • Safe town
  • One campus with creative community
  • International shops close to accommodation

Programs

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