A world-class university, shaping the creative industries worldwide
Who we are
University of the Arts London (UAL) generates and inspires the creativity the world needs for a better future. Since 1842 our colleges have been defining creative education. With curiosity, imagination and intent we make work which creates lasting change for people and our planet.
London is core to who we are, a place where we meet and share ideas with people from different backgrounds and cultures. Our creative network influences learning, culture, industry and society on a global scale. Our academics and practitioners deliver creative education and inspire new ways of thinking through research and innovation. We work with students at every level from pre-degree and short courses to postgraduate and online learning, enabling them to build the careers they want.
As a University we are ranked second in the world for Art and Design. We are formed of 6 Colleges with unique histories and identities; Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. UAL also has 4 Institutes, 5 Research Centres, 1 Pre-Degree School and 2 subsidiary companies delivering specialist activities.
Together, we are a community of makers, thinkers, pioneers and storytellers redesigning the future. Because the world needs creativity.
Our roots
The origins of UAL lie in the 19th century with the foundation of the schools that became our 6 constituent 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.
These schools educated young people to prepare them for a world transformed by technological change. Students learned new skills for growing industries, like architecture, communication, fashion, design and performance. And their work brought beauty into people’s everyday lives.
In 1986, the 6 Colleges joined together as one. In 2003, they became a university: University of the Arts London (UAL). Though much has changed since the 19th century, our social purpose, “to change society through our knowledge and creativity”, remains unchanged. We remain rooted in London’s heritage of vocational education. And we are developing into a global force for change, advancing the case for creativity at the regional, national and international level.