Cambridge School of Art

Why study at Cambridge School of Art?

Three students outside Ruskin Building on ARU's Cambridge campus, with the Cambridge School of Art lettering on the wall behind them

History & reputation

We have a 160 year+ tradition of drawing and inspiring creativity at Cambridge School of Art, with many award-winning students and alumni.

Industry-standard facilities

You can access all of our creative industries facilities and receive training in them no matter which course you choose to study - including our new games development studio, the first stage in our ambitious Creative Quarter plans

Employability focus

Your employability is our priority: work placements and entrepreneurship modules are embedded in all our undergraduate courses. Our links with local and national creative organisations will give you opportunities to take part in live briefs, collaborative projects and events. Some of our courses also receive accreditation from industry, giving you an added assurance that you'll be well prepared for your future role. See where our students have worked after graduating.

Professionally-practising lecturers

Our lecturers' CVs are stuffed with industry experience, as well as research and teaching - you'll learn from people who have made a real impact in their chosen fields, including Klaus Flugge Prize-winner Kate Winter; former BBC director Cathy Elliot; Jim Butler, whose work has been exhibited across the Americas and Europe, and held in numerous collections including Tate, Art Insititute of Chicago, and The Hague's Meemanno Museum; Chanan Hanspal, who performed and recorded with the likes of Kylie Minogue and Jamiroquai; and musical actor/singer Pippa O'Brien, who appeared on stage in Only Fools & Horses The Musical and Maleficent, and on screen in Mid-Morning Matters with Alan Partridge and Pete vs Life.

Industry showcases

Build contacts and show your work to industry professionals at the dedicated VIP Industry Preview during our end-of-year Graduate Showcase and leading graduate shows in London, as well as finding regular opportunities to exhibit your work publicly throughout your course.

Collaborative and supportive community

Our lively, friendly and creative community at the heart of ARU’s Cambridge campus will help you make friends and find contacts for collaborative projects from every corner of the creative industries.

A city of creativity

Most of our courses are based in Cambridge, one of the UK’s top creative hotspots, home to a vibrant and welcoming student community and #1 for UK graduates, driven by the city’s nation-leading density of high-skilled job vacancies. (Edumentors report, 2026).

Nationally recognised courses

We score consistently highly in national rankings. In the Guardian League Table 2027 we scored:

  • 90% for Satisfied with Teaching (11th in UK) on our BA Computer Games Art, BA Computer Games Design, BA Computer Games Programming, and BA Fllm & Television Production
  • 91% for Satisfied with Feedback (7th in the UK) on our BA Film, BA Film & Media, BA Drama & Film and BA Writing and Film
  • 91% for Satisfied with Teaching and Satisfied with Feedback on our BA Creative Writing and BA Writing & English Literature

In the National Student Survey 2026 we scored:

  • 100% for Academic support and Organisation and management; 98% for The Teaching on my Course; 94% for Assessment and Feedback; 93% for Student Voice; 92% for Learning Opportunities; 90% for Learning Resources and Communication of University’s Mental Wellbeing Support on our BA Fashion Design
  • 100% for Academic Support; 97% for Organisation and Management and Student Voice; 96% for Learning Opportunities; 94% for The Teaching on my Course and Assessment & Feedback; 93% for Freedom to Express Opinions, Ideas and Beliefs; 90% for Learning Resources on our BA Illustration.
  • 98% for Learning Resources; 93% for Freedom to Express Opinions, Ideas and Beliefs; 90% for Student Voice on our BA Fine Art
  • 94% for Student Union Representation; 92% for Academic Support; 86% for Student Voice on our BA Graphic Design
  • 97% for Learning Resources and 96% for Academic Support on our BA Animation and Illustration
  • 90% for Freedom to Express Opinions, Ideas and Belief on our BA Digital Media Production