Art and Design

Why Art and Design at Wolverhampton

University of Wolverhampton’s art school has shaped the city’s creative identity since the 1850s, when the first specialized art institution emerged. Today, the nine-story George Wallis building — opened in 1970 — houses the entire creative education. Alongside it stands the multimillion-pound Screen School, which provides media students with cutting-edge equipment. Together, these spaces form an infrastructure where experimentation isn’t constrained by resource limitations: specialized workshops, professional-grade technology, and dedicated studios support even the boldest creative ambitions.

Fashion Marketing and Branding

BA (Hons) Fashion Marketing and Branding treats fashion as business — one that requires digital tools, strategic thinking, and critical analysis. First year covers fundamentals: digital marketing, cultural trend analysis, and engaging with professional discourse about contemporary industry challenges. From there, the curriculum shifts toward live briefs, internships, and real client work. By third year, students develop “28 Days Later” — an employment strategy designed to launch careers immediately after graduation, whether in freelancing, agencies, or launching their own brands.

Fine Art with Foundation Year

BA (Hons) Fine Art with Foundation Year ranked 15th in the Guardian League Tables 2023, reflecting its open-ended approach to practice. Students work across painting, sculpture, printmaking, conceptual art, video, photography, performance, and installation — whatever their vision demands. Teaching comes from practicing artists who maintain their own projects, and assessment relies entirely on work produced rather than exams. Studio culture anchors everything here: observing, discussing, creating alongside professionals. The optional placement year significantly strengthens post-graduation prospects in galleries, cultural institutions, or freelance practice.

Graphic Design

Graphic Design at University of Wolverhampton placed 12th nationally in the Guardian 2026 rankings, and BA (Hons) Graphic Design centers on real-world practice rather than abstract exercises. Students work in professional studios equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud, Wacom tablets, Apple computers, risograph, laser cutting, and wide-format printing — an environment that mirrors creative agency workflows. Specialization options include branding, motion graphics, editorial, UX/UI, or experimental design. Portfolios develop through live client briefs and self-initiated projects, giving graduates competitive advantages when approaching agencies, studios, or freelance markets.

Photography at University of Wolverhampton

BA (Hons) Photography produces technically confident, critically minded photographers who understand how their images function across different contexts. Training covers analog and digital capture, complex studio and location lighting, advanced post-production, professional printing, and alternative techniques. Access to top-tier equipment — film and digital cameras, mobile lighting, darkrooms, editing suites — removes technical barriers to experimentation. Graduates build careers throughout creative industries: some become internationally recognized artists, others take managerial positions at Vice, Google, or Apple. Live briefs and competitions open professional pathways while students are still studying.