Helping your students apply

We appreciate that navigating the process of applying to university can be a daunting time for students.

At Arts University Bournemouth we’re here for you every step of the way. Alongside the expertise of our outreach staff and admissions professionals, we offer a range of tailored provision to support students in making a well-informed, successful application to a creative degree programme.

Researching Higher Education

Before making an application to a university, research and reflection play an important part in students identifying courses and universities which would be a good fit for them. For students to be happy and successful throughout their time in Higher Education, we appreciate the complexity of the decision-making process.

To support this, our Schools and Colleges Team offer a range of activity in this area. Our Schools presentations are designed to equip students with the tools they'll need to decide on the best university and degree for them and to guide them through the application process.

Discover our on-campus activities Explore our in-schools presentations

Our foundation degree programme in Art, Design and Media gives students the chance to explore different creative areas before choosing a specific subject to study as an undergraduate.

It's the perfect way to find students to find their creative voice and to boost their existing skills and portfolio if they’re not quite ready for progression to an undergraduate degree.

This course is geared towards the preparation of a portfolio of work to support students’ application to a Higher Education course. Throughout the course, the practical work in the studio is supported by a programme of contextual studies in art and design.

Find out more about our Foundation Diploma

At AUB we believe that all those with the potential to benefit from higher education, no matter their background, deserve the opportunity to do so. The work of our Admissions team is an important part of making that happen.

You may have queries about the suitability of qualifications for particular courses, or perhaps you’re re-entering education after a break and wondering whether you could be offered a place based on your existing qualifications. If so, our Admissions team are here to help.

If you have an admissions related question you can email our Admissions team.

Find out more about applying to AUB

Writing an effective personal statement is an instrumental part of the university application process. For some universities it could be the deciding element in whether a student is offered a place on a course. At Arts University Bournemouth it forms the basis of whether we would see a student’s portfolio, or perhaps offer them an interview.

As a specialist arts institution, our personal statement support is tailored specifically toward applications to creative subjects. Drawing on decades of experience in helping students make successful applications to arts-based degree programmes, we offer specialist advice and guidance in this area.

Find out more on personal statement support

Students having a portfolio which demonstrates their skill, technique and creative process forms a fundamental part of a successful application to AUB.

For many of our courses, we invite students to attend an interview and ask for them to bring their portfolio as part of the application process.

Portfolios should show examples of students work – both finished and work in progress – that demonstrate their artistic interests and skill.

However, sometimes knowing where to start when it comes to putting together a great portfolio can be a little daunting. At AUB we’ve created specific guidelines for each of our courses which ask for a portfolio as part of the application process, so you know exactly what we’re looking for.

Explore our portfolio guidelines Learn about our Portfolio Days