Leeds Arts University College, University in Woodhouse, Leeds

Reviews

1. Phillip J Clay ★★☆☆☆

   I want to do an art degree Okay fill out the application form Yes okay, do you want to look at my artwork? No we just want to know what qualifications you have I have done the application and paid £30 for the privilege Yes thanks for that sadly you can't come onto the course Right okay I will apply for the foundation course Yes do that Do you want to look at my artwork at any point? No just put your qualifications down in a list Okay I've done that Sorry again you don't have enough qualifications to do the foundation course set up for people who don't have qualifications to get on to a degree So what is the point of the foundation? It's just another course for people with qualifications to get more qualifications Brilliant thanks Yes but we have sent you an email with some courses you won't be able to get on as you don't have enough qualifications Thanks again

   almost 6 months ago
2. Kerry Hodgson ★★★★★

   Fab location. Amazing student ambassadors who are extremely knowledgeable and professional and proud to be studying there. Smaller than most universities but has a 'family feel'.

   almost 9 months ago
3. Olivia J ★★☆☆☆

   Comic and concept art course Is not worth the money. Only know 1/2 alumni in the industry and only a few in art relevant jobs, even after 4 years graduation, class size of 50-70. There are simply not enough jobs in these fields to justify the debt. There were a lot of problems with the course and unfulfilled promises from both them and the uni itself. Tutors were lovely but you’re genuinely not taught much, rather left to your own devices. Almost all classes are either a brief or a critique. Classes cost £100+ Per hour. In our final year we only had 30 mins of class - which was critique - per week. Never had an end of year show. Tutors promised a year book but never made it. No reimbursement during covid. Silence once you graduate. Career wise it’s a near impossible course for employability. They have no industry links and so cannot get you jobs, experience, or placements. Comics doesn’t even really have a jobs market, it’s the kind of thing you have create yourself. I can only think of 1-2 people who are selling their short comics at pop ups, not their job, but a hobby. And concept art has a lot of people for a very very small pool of jobs. You have to be very competitive and driven to even get your foot in the door. Almost all jobs in concept art (at least near Leeds) is for games. And the industry infamously isn’t the best for graduates, while also currently struggling with general layoffs for years now. They lack long term skilled professionals (hence why you’ll see many jobs are for lead/senior/ or ask for a few years exp) not grads. Most jobs you’ll find are for character/environ artist which require 3D proficiency. Which we only had a few classes on Zbrush. You’re not taught much 3D at all, certainly not enough for a 3D related job. I believe there’s only one person out of my entire year and all lower years working as a concept artist even this many years on. Another one is a visual development artist. And that’s it. No one else. This course did have its fun moments. But you’re being sold a course in which you have to wait years to get a job. You may find a better path to your goals than this course. Or at least make it your life mission to apply for every internship you want possible (one of the best perks of uni you may brush over. Esp for concept art. They make almost no attempt to collect up and coming internships and tell you about them, so do look into it yourself) I just found while we did this course you’d often hear complaints. Things like: at one point the whole class complained about a certain tutor, actually kicking him from the course. Because it was that irrelevant what we were doing. May have improved since as it’s been 4 years since grad for me. But, In terms of 3yrs & £30,000+ (your loan incurs interest from the first day you take it out, meaning it is much much more than that £9k a year they tell you) The course isn’t worth that cost - this course gets you into debt for a hobby - with little to no employability. You have a 98% chance of paying off the loan with a non relevant job. (Look forward to being a: Barista, teaching assistant, supermarket worker, office worker, unemployed. Which is what real people from this course do, despite trying to do this course to try avoid that). If and when you do get something, it’ll only be from your own hard work, connections, merit, talent, and persistance, so good luck. With this course you’ll struggle to get a job that’s anything to do with art or design, let alone do comic or concept art. I couldn’t in good conscience recommend it to anyone.

   almost 10 months ago

1. Jordan Bell ★★★★★

   I only saw the building from outside . Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and I think Damien Hurst studied here.

   almost 2 years ago
2. Z B K ★★★★★

   Had a lovely evening at the end of year graduation exhibition. Well organised. This work particularly caught my eye. This was an end of year project for a fashion communication and branding student.

   almost 4 years ago
3. Nikita Spires ★★★★☆

   Good university, but was a real shame with missing out so much with covid lockdowns. You do have to pay for your own materials unlike college, cafe food is mainly vegetarian/vegan and slightly overpriced, only one or two society’s, but you can join Leeds university union for more choice of society’s. Also don’t expect to be taught anything about technical aspects of painting/drawing, you are left to your own ways, lots of job opportunities come up and career aspects, teachers are very knowledgable, especially the technician Joanne. Overall I have enjoyed my time at LAU.

   almost 4 years ago

1. Rebekah Gorman ★☆☆☆☆

   If you are a disabled student, don't bother attending LAU; especially if you are Autistic. None of the staff are brave enough to help suffering students & they have weak ethics. I've spent the last 2 years recovering from attending & being a student at Leeds Arts University & thankfully, I didn't kill myself cause of their awful treatment; how embarrassing would that have been.

   almost 4 years ago
2. Chris “Vibblez” Jones ★★★★☆

   Had a tour alongside some other students, the facilities looked amazing, the building itself is in really good shape, location is really well connected to the city centre, and the staff seemed really friendly/helpful

   almost 4 years ago
3. Scott Stevens ★★★★★

   Wide selection of art books. Quiet, spacious and modern.

   more 6 years ago

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