Home > Education and Learning > Education > Universities > England > Greater London (South) > Wimbledon School of Art



Wimbledon School of Art

by Edward Smith

Wimbledon School of Art
Merton Hall Road
London
SW19 3QA
Tel: 020 8408 5000
Fax: 020 8408 5050
Email: info@wimbledon.ac.uk
Website: www.wimbledon.ac.uk
Student enquiries: Registrar.
Applications: UCAS (Routes A & B)

Overview

Broad study areas: Fine art (painting, sculpture & graphic media), theatre & set design, costume design & interpretation, technical arts.

Students: Total 900 (800 full-time, 100 part-time); male/female ratio 3:7. First degree students 500 (440 full-time, 60 part-time), of which 40 international, 200 mature on entry. Postgraduates 90. Teaching staff: 40 full-time, 50 part-time.

In Brief

A top specialist art college.

Location: South West London.

Drop-out rate: 9%.

State school entry: 100%.

Accommodation: Small number of first years housed.

Wimbledon School of Art - In Depth

by Edward Smith

Founded: 1890.

Site: Main site and annexe in Wimbledon, south west London.

How to get there: Train (from Waterloo or King's Cross) or tube (District Line) to Wimbledon station; Northern Line to South Wimbledon; Tramlink to Dundonald Road; buses (163, 164, 152) to Nelson Hospital.

Academic features: Degrees in fine art (painting, sculpture & graphic media), theatre design for performance, set design for stage & screen, costume design & costume interpretation, technical arts & special effects; all include mandatory history of art and contextual studies. Normally students must have completed Foundation course; selection is by interview.

Special features: Programme of visiting lectures by professional artists and designers. Also artists and designers of international standing in residence for 7 weeks/term. Awarding body: Surrey University.

Main undergraduate award: BA.

Length of courses: Most 3 years.

Library & information services: 29,000 books, 100 periodicals, 50 study places. Annual expenditure on information provision, £29 per (FTE) student. IT and library services converged. Ratio 1:30 workstations to students; 4 computers with access to library catalogue, 27 to internet. Purpose built IT centre, access 10 hours/weekdays; 3 support staff. New students have induction to both library and IT centre; sessions on dissertation skills.

Other learning facilities: Slide collection, video tapes. CD-Rom databases.

Study abroad: Erasmus exchange programmes with colleges in other European countries, opportunities for exchange in USA, Australia.

Careers: Departmental and specialist advice service.

Amenities: SU with common rooms, shop, canteen, etc; workshop theatre.

Student advice & services: Trained counsellor, welfare officer, support for students with disabilities and for international students, all in single centre; information held on all other services.

Accommodation: 35 hostel rooms for first year students; extensive network of private landlords and family stays. Most students live in privately owned accommodation, £70-£100 per week self-catering. 37% of first degree students live at home.

Living expenses budget: Minimum budget of £7000 pa (excluding tuition fees) recommended by School.

Term time work: School allows term-time work for full-time students (50%+ believed to work). Some work available on campus.

Financial help: £45,000 government funds for home students.

Tuition fees: Home students up to £1200 pa for first degrees (in 2005). International students pay £8000 pa.