Overseas university spotlight: Norwich University of the Arts (UK)
I'm just going to come right out and say it; Norwich University of the Arts just might be my favorite art school in the UK I've visited yet.
With 11 unique buildings in the heart of a historical city, this university emphasizes learning through making.
And whether you're studying fashion, photography, architecture, design and more, it's easy to be inspired by the surroundings of Norwich, which has more medieval streets than anywhere in the country.
Here are some of the highlights from my trip to campus in February 2023!
Norwich University of the Arts - Campus
The city itself is essentially the campus; its buildings are set amongst the cafes, bars, galleries and shops of creative Norwich.
They literally are some of the most beautiful buildings, steeped in history and well-preserved and renovated with the best and modern amenities.
Boardman House was the first place I visited.
You'll notice each entryway displays a depiction of the building and description of where certain degrees are housed.
The atrium in this building is just stunning.
One of the coolest things is that whilst the university has preserved the historical aspects of its buildings, there are some quirky bits, too - such as staircases that lead to nowhere (just covered up with glass).
In restoring this building, architects were not able to close off this classroom by adding a wall, so it has since become known as the fishbowl teaching room.
Students do have to pay for materials they use within their degrees, but there are plenty of free scraps to encourage reuse and reduction of waste.
There is also a student shop conveniently located in the Duke Street Building (mostly a postgraduate student space) to pick up any necessary materials.
I've decided I would like to have the brickwork from this building in my own house!
In September 2021, Norwich opened a new building for acting and film, as well as the Duke Street Riverside residences, which is one of the most in-demand student halls.
It's close to the unofficial student bar, the Norwich Playhouse, which is also a venue for live theatre and music.
Just across the river from the Norwich Playhouse is the Guntons Building.
Around the corner from there, the photography building, which may be the most stunning of them all.
You just would never guess there would be modern, professional style studios and labs inside!
There are plenty of cafes within the Norwich facilities as well, offering fuel ups at student-friendly prices.
Academics
Norwich is a specialist arts university made up of 2,700 students, 9% of whom are international.
Because of this, students get the benefit of really getting to know their professors and classmates over the course of their degrees.
Admissions is test-blind and based on a portfolio of creative work, and all students are evaluated for scholarships automatically with the application.
Norwich offers a range of subjects, from acting to fashion to creative computing, UX design, illustration, interior design and more.
It's also the only university in the UK to offer a BA in Design for Publishing and has the biggest student-run magazine in the UK, Storehouse, for which students need to apply if they want to get involved with it.
And one of the key features of a Norwich degree is that the business and career-readiness elements are built in from the beginning.
I was fortunate to take a masterclass in textiles during my visit and learned the art of screenprinting.
I had only about 25 minutes to create a design, but I think it turned out OK!
Norwich
One of the common phrases you'll hear regularly about Norwich is that there is a church for every weekend and a pub for every day.
At its height in the medieval ages, there were 58 churches serving 15,000 people.
Nowadays, many have been converted, but there are still 31 churches, which is more than any other city in northern Europe.
Rated as one of the top 10 safest cities in the UK, Norwich was also known for its shoe production, with 23 shoe factories at its peak.
People still do come to Norwich for its shopping though.
There is quite a strong connection between Norwich and the U.S., too.
During World War II, many American forces were based here, as depicted in American Library within the larger Norwich public library.
And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the Norwich Castle, which peers down onto the city from above a hill.
It's currently being renovated to restore its five levels and is one of the largest heritage projects of its kind currently underway in the UK.
Once completed, people will be able to access the original dungeons, which was a prison for 500 years, and it will be the best place to study the Normans.
Another really cool area of the city is Elm Hill Road.
In 1508, a huge fire destroyed almost everything, including most of the thatched roofs.
After that, people were told they had to build their roofs out of tiles.
Norwich itself is quite alternative and artsy, and it seemed like everyone I met or overheard (people in coffee shops, students, academic staff) was in a band.
As usual, I went on a quest to find the best coffee shop, and I really liked the view at Artel.
Another interesting place is the Cinema City Cafe Bar, which used to be a 14th century merchant's house.
You can grab a drink and actually take it into the onsite cinema!
And if you're looking for a place to stay overnight, I highly recommend The Maids Head hotel.
It's the oldest hotel in the UK, dating back 800 years.
Some say it's even haunted, and I must admit, the first night I was there, my TV randomly turned on in the middle of the night - spooky!
Nevertheless, it has a great location across the road from the Norwich Cathedral grounds.
Lastly, I also recommend checking out the Belgian Monk pub and sampling the cherry beer.
Summary
I have nothing but positive thoughts about Norwich University of the Arts and the city of Norwich as a whole.
Norwich is a great option for someone wanting a specialist arts university and small community in a historical, inspiring city.
Here, students are encouraged to truly be themselves, and their differences are embraced.
Norwich's academic staff are established artists in their respective fields as well, and students are assessed through practical, project-based tasks - not exams.
Best of all, Norwich has its own airport with connections to mainland Europe, and it's easily accessible by just a 2-hour train from London.
