Program Reviews

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.

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.

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

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.

I have been on the Fine Art program at AUB and it has been a great experience. The immediate difference I noticed at AUB is how the faculty encourage students to do things out of the box, which I feel was much needed for me. Secondly, being a specialist art university means that everyone around you is an artist/creator and that itself is a unique experience. They have very talented technicians across a range of workshops and printmaking facilities. Overall the time at AUB has really helped me grow.

I studied with the 1st year students in BA (Hons) Fine at AUB for about 10 months. Because it was my first time to academically study art abroad after my career change, I was really nervous in the beginning. However, everyone I met at AUB was very supportive and friendly. The course encouraged students to engage creative practice in the studio and to try various media and themes. I was easily able to communicate with lecturers and tutors when I had a question. The more I studied, the more I became enthusiastic especially about painting. I had an access to some workshops. Printing room was also my favourite place which enabled me to cultivate my potential apart from the course project. As for my assignment support, I often booked a tutorial of English for Academic Purpose (EAP) in Student Service. I was able to talk about difficulties and the solutions to study in English as my second language. In my student accommodation, I had amazing flat mates in the student hall who celebrated every occasions, such as someone's birthday and seasonal events. I often cooked with them in the shared kitchen. The whole community had such an inclusive atmosphere which helped me feel comfortable. This was really important point for me to study there as an international student being away from home country. I think I was able to meet everything and everyone I needed for my art studies. It was a really valuable experience.

As a first-time student studying far from home, I had many worries and concerns about adjusting to a new environment. Glad AUB has a welcoming community, especially for international students. The campus and dormitory staff are very helpful and always ready to assist students with their needs and concerns. The student services and dormitory units offer programs to help students settle in, addressing their academic needs and even the homesickness that some may experience during their stay. You can also find various events organized by the Talbot House for AUB and BU international students to help you connect with a wider group of people.

Each course, particularly mine was so resourceful and modern which greatly benefits students for their project work. The tutors and academic staff are dedicated to ensuring that no student falls behind, providing direct support throughout the learning process. What I appreciate most is the variety of student communities and events that represent diverse backgrounds on campus. This greatly enhances the sense of belonging and diversity within the community.

During my three months of the IISMA 2024 program at Arts University Bournemouth, I gained much new knowledge and experience. From an academic perspective, I learned many new art methods and techniques, as well as ways to design something. There were many workshops and seminars for the students to attend. Those workshops were always interesting because there was always something new they taught us. The lecturers were helpful and patient and always found a way to support their students until their problems were resolved. I would love to study here again.

I enjoy the campus; it's nice, clean, and easy to get around. My favourite thing is the moss ecosystems that grow on the rooftops. My course tutors also created a welcoming environment. Being an international student, this was comforting. I'm so far from home, so having this community was super important for me to find and has helped me adjust to living in England. My first impression of the course was that our tutors were knowledgeable in what they were teaching; I love that they're also passionate about design. On the BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy course, one of the topics we've been focusing on is typography, which I've enjoyed. My creative process has changed drastically during my two months at AUB; I still don't have a solid process because I'm trying different methods to find it. However, one fundamental part has changed, and that is research. Research has always been part of my creative process, but learning more about good research and its project requirements has helped me.

I love art, design, and crafting, so I have a million different hobbies. One of these is embroidery – I've been working on embroidering words, which has turned out to be helpful on my course because it ties in with typography. While embroidering, I look at the anatomy of different fonts and how the pieces work together to build a whole font, which has helped me appreciate type more. I recommend AUB to any creative- learning from passionate people makes your passion grow.

Overall, this study abroad experience has been informative and has expanded my art practice.

The painting workshop early in the term with the course leader provided me with an opportunity to talk and connect with other students.I also loved the freedom in the workshop and how exploratory it was.

Certain materials being provided for free in the different workshops and other costs covered such as metal and wood cutting are greatly appreciated. Back home, these things are charged for.

One of the best things is that there is more freedom at AUB to explore your practice, work autonomously, and be encouraged to try new things in new ways with less focus on outcome and more focus on process and discovery is amazing.

The printmaking and binding workshop were my favorite.

If you are a creative person or an artist, AUB is a worthy destination for you!