Kingston School of Art has long been recognised as one of the best art and design schools in teaching and research, which is shown through our performance, achievements in industry and student awards, and the leading brands and institutions who work with us. We are top in the GLT for Design and Crafts and in The Times top 20 nationally for Art and Design.
KSA students experience a transformative art school education which encourages collaboration between the different disciplines. As part of a multi-disciplinary University, students can collaborate with the sciences, healthcare, and business, as well as with the creative disciplines. Through collaborative working and critical practice, students understand teamwork and multidisciplinary making,
All courses at Kingston School of Art have practice and problem-based learning at their heart. We encourage and enable experimentation and skills development, and dialogue as to the critical role of our past, and how we expand our collective and creative potential through combining innovative and academic ideas and practices.
Our reputation attracts the best academics and technicians, many of whom are practising professionals, bringing research-informed expertise across a wide range of specialisms, while our refurbished art, dance and drama studios and workshops provide access to the best facilities.
KSA spans three campuses at Kingston. At Knights Park, where our architecture, art, design and creative industries courses are taught, the industry-standard workshops and studios allow opportunities for students and staff to work together and to share ideas, whether they are studying or researching. The Design Museum describes our workshops and studios as ‘world class’, and all our students have access to all facilities, regardless of their chosen discipline. Its riverside site is also home to the Stanley Picker Gallery, and brings together an active and creative community that is lively and always changing. At Penrhyn Road, where Philosophy, Journalism, Media, Publishing, Creative Writing, English, Dance and Drama are taught, the campus is a hive of activity, with social activities, Student Union events and guest lectures taking place alongside teaching. Music is taught at Kingston Hill campus, where students practice, produce, record and perform music in our dedicated facilities.
We work closely with businesses, with communities and with the creative and cultural industries internationally. All our students have opportunities to work on live industry briefs for a wide range of clients and communities, which are facilitated through our own creative agency ‘Studio KT1’, and to experience work placements and artistic residences that encourage discussion and debate with industry, designed to develop their expertise and to stimulate entrepreneurial careers and creative business networks.
We prepare our students to be the leaders of the creative industries of the future, offering students opportunities to explore, take risks and find their unique signature.