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Student creating something out of clay

Art Support Hub

Deciding what to study after school can be tricky. If you enjoy practical activities and using your imagination, have you considered a creative subject?

At Birmingham City University International College (BCUIC), we offer foundation entry onto specialist degrees in Architecture, Art and Design, Fashion, Jewellery and Media.

Get ahead of your peers and start developing your skills at home with the help of our online taster sessions.

Develop your creative skills

Students walking past some street art in Birmingham

Creative Experts

When it comes to art and design, we know what we’re talking about. Birmingham City University (BCU) ranks in the UK Top 30 for a range of creative subjects, including:

  • 1st for Film Production and Photography (The Guardian 2025)
  • 22nd for Interior Design (The Guardian 2025)
  • 26th for Architecture (The Times 2025)
  • 27th for Product Design (The Guardian 2025)
  • 29th for Graphic Design (The Guardian 2025)

Art and Design at BCUIC

Lots of choice

BCUIC is the international college of BCU and provides foundation programmes that lead onto 20 different creative degrees at the University.

Unique degrees

Some of the degrees at BCU are one-of-a-kind, such as BSc (Hons) Gemmology (the science of gemstones) and BA (Hons) Horology (the study and art of measuring time).

Industry-standard facilities

BCU is home to dedicated workshops for wood, metal, plaster, ceramics, digital media, print and photography, as well as TV and radio studios that are regularly used by industry.

City-centre location

Based in the heart of Birmingham (the UK’s second city), you are surrounded by creative inspiration - including a mix of traditional and modern architecture, multiple art galleries, and a working Jewellery Quarter.

Successful alumni

Many former BCUIC students are now specialists in their field, working in roles such as Interior Designer, Jewellery Designer, and Interior Architect.

Expert tutor

BCUIC's Art, Design and Media foundation programmes are led by Bhavik Sharma – lead Art Tutor, with 10 years' industry experience.

Bhavik Sharma, Lead Art Tutor

Bhavik teaches the art and design modules at BCUIC and is passionate about helping students to harness their creativity. Having worked for over 10 years in the creative industries as Designer and Creative Manager, Bhavik is here to support you with creating a strong portfolio.

“My aim is to support you and help you enjoy the creative journey!”

 

BCUIC Art Exhibition

At BCUIC, we love to celebrate and showcase our students’ incredible work by hosting an exhibition at the end of each semester. If you need some inspiration, check out what our most recent students created for our April 2025 Exhibition!

Portfolio Guidance

If you’d like to apply to study Architecture, Art and Design, Fashion, Jewellery or Media, you may need to submit a portfolio as part of your application. Check out our guidance on what’s required, and then you can start getting creative!

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