The initial decisions for REF2028 have been published, but what might that mean for smaller and specialist institutions? Policy Manager Rachel Persad and Director of GuildHE Research Professor John Strachan share their thoughts on our research blog: ‘It’s REF, but not as you know it‘.
Central School of Ballet offers inspirational dance training in the heart of London. Students join the School from around the world to secure a BA (Hons) degree in Professional Dance and Performance, validated by the University of Kent. Central aims to nurture the passion and talent of our dancers into excellence with classical ballet training supplemented by classes in varied styles that prepare students for today’s dance industry. With graduates in renowned companies around the UK and the world, Central works with talented students to create futures in dance.
Central Film School offers students a practical education in fictional narrative and documentary filmmaking. We aim to give independent voices the skills and knowledge needed to tell their stories through film. We train aspiring filmmakers, actors and screenwriters to work in the industry as soon as they graduate, both in the UK and internationally. Founded in 2008, Central Film School has provided students from all over the world with the fundamental skills needed to become professionals in the film and TV industry.
Through our BA (Hons), MA and Short Courses, we give students a grounding in all aspects of filmmaking, screenwriting and acting, including both fiction and factual disciplines. Our approach is practical, aided by our small class sizes, student-centred approach to teaching & learning, ethos and community atmosphere. The school constantly develops its programmes, equipment and methods to ensure students are familiar with the most up-to-date industry practices.
Website: https://centralfilmschool.com/
In September 2007, BPP University made history by becoming the first publicly owned company in the UK to obtain degree awarding powers. BPP University’s unique approach is education that is academically rigorous but also grounded in practical application that is highly relevant to our students, stakeholders and industry.
In 2020, BPP University was granted indefinite taught degree awarding powers (TDAP) under the Office for Students (OfS) new regulatory framework. The award of indefinite TDAP, which came into force on 1st September 2020 acknowledges the University’s academic integrity as a mature higher education institution with rigorous standards and academic governance. It has around 21,000 students, studying across 13 centres, in eight locations across England and online around the world. 78% are full-time, over 83% are on postgraduate programmes.
Website: https://www.bpp.com/
Website: https://www.nscd.ac.uk/
As an award-winning music specialist HEI, Point Blank takes pride in teaching the creative process of making music at the highest level. With expert lecturers and state-of-the-art facilities, the School has a reputation for providing students with an industry-informed curriculum and the tools to succeed in their careers. Based in London and with campuses across the globe, Point Blank enjoys an international presence. The School is renowned for offering HE and professional programmes in disciplines such as Music Production & Sound Engineering, DJ Practice, Vocal Performance, Music Industry Management and Radio Production & Broadcasting. Consulting industry all the way from curriculum design to their expectations from our graduates, Point Blank practises high-quality teaching by industry professionals to a community of students who become highly employable and go on to forge great careers in the world of music, the creative arts and beyond.
Rambert School is leading the way in dance education. We are a place of innovation, excellence, and creativity. We deliver degree programmes within the higher education sector and attract the best in dance talent to our course. We nurture and develop thinking artists and our graduates go on to have outstanding careers as dancers, choreographers, and artistic leaders. Through our work we are both feeding the dance profession and influencing it.
The National Centre for Circus Arts is a registered charity and one of Europe’s leading providers of circus education. Our diverse range of work includes a BA Hons degree in Circus Arts, a structured progressive training programme for under 18s and professional development opportunities for aspiring and established performers. Adults and young people can take part in a range of recreational classes and we provide workshops and away days for the business community.
Small by design, New College of the Humanities (Northeastern University – London) offers a vibrant, collegiate community delivering broad and academically rigorous degree programmes, designed to equip graduates with the combination of skills and knowledge that are increasingly desired by organisations, employers and society.
Graduates from Escape Studios (dubbed Escapees) have worked on award-winning games, films and TV series, such as Stranger Things and Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with Oscar and BAFTA-winning films such as Dune, No Time to Die, 1917, Interstellar, Star Wars, Ex Machina, and bestselling games Assassin’s Creed, Uncharted 2 and Forza Horizon.
Oxford Business College is the oldest independent business school from Oxford. It has expanded from one campus in Oxford to four cities, numerous campuses and partnerships with multiple UK universities, including the University of West London, Buckinghamshire New University and University for the Creative Arts.
Christ the Redeemer College (CRC), London is an academic institution established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God and a provider of vocational and higher education located in Harrow, London. CRC has been established for over eighteen years and is a partner college of Newman University, Birmingham.
Website: https://christredeemer.ac.uk/
For over 25 years ACM has delivered specialist higher and further education programmes. The roots of the provider are within music however this has broadened over the last 5-years with ACM now delivering specialist, interdisciplinary programmes across the Creative Industries taught by industry professionals and academics from world-class facilities in London, Birmingham and Surrey. ACM is grouped with Metropolis Studios, Europe’s largest independent recording complex, and The Electric Theatre, a thriving arts venue in Surrey, ensuring that students get real-world connections and opportunities throughout their studies.
For over 25 years ACM has delivered specialist higher and further education programmes. The roots of the provider are within music however this has broadened over the last 5-years with ACM now delivering specialist, interdisciplinary programmes across the Creative Industries taught by industry professionals and academics from world-class facilities in London, Birmingham and Surrey. ACM is grouped with Metropolis Studios, Europe’s largest independent recording complex, and The Electric Theatre, a thriving arts venue in Surrey, ensuring that students get real-world connections and opportunities throughout their studies.
The Dyson Institute is an independent provider of higher education. Its mission is to build challenging and enriching educational experiences, which are free, student-centric and aligned with the needs of industry.
The Dyson Institute’s students are employed as Undergraduate Engineers within Dyson Technology’s Global Engineering team from day one. They contribute to live projects, while studying for their BEng (Hons) Engineering degree apprenticeship. With a competitive salary and no tuition fees to pay, they can graduate debt-free.
Website: www.dysoninstitute.com
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Buckinghamshire New University offers industry-focused degree programmes and professional qualifications across the creative and cultural industries, management and information management sectors, and the public sector. Through its School of Nursing & Allied Health, the University works with the NHS, private and independent sectors to produce dynamic graduates ready to enter the profession. The University has a range of industry-focused facilities used by professionals, including a Human Performance, Exercise & Wellbeing Centre, simulation suites for areas such as healthcare and aviation, and state-of-the-art film and television and audio and music production suites. It also owns the dedicated conference and events venue, Missenden Abbey.
Nelson College London is an independent provider of higher education with a career-focussed widening participation mission. Founded in 2009 and operating at two campuses in the London Borough of Redbridge, the College is registered with the Office for Students (OfS) as an approved fee cap provider. The College offers access to higher education to people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, enabling them to transform their lives and prosper through the acquisition of the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed in their chosen careers.
Nelson College London is an independent provider of higher education with a career-focussed widening participation mission. Founded in 2009 and operating at two campuses in the London Borough of Redbridge, the College is registered with the Office for Students (OfS) as an approved fee cap provider. The College offers access to higher education to people from the widest possible range of backgrounds, enabling them to transform their lives and prosper through the acquisition of the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed in their chosen careers.
At Regent College London, we have been delivering flexible and accessible education successfully for over 20 years, and are now in our tenth year of providing higher education courses.
We have built a reputation on well-qualified and experienced staff, small class sizes, and excellent student support and facilities. This allows our students to flourish and succeed – whether it is to build their careers or go on to further study. We have five campuses in Central London, Harrow, Kingsbury, Southall and Wembley.
We are dedicated to widening access to higher education for all prospective students and are recognised for our success in attracting applications from under-represented groups, those who are returning to education to gain new or higher level skills, and those with varying levels of past academic success.
We are able to work very effectively with students of all abilities to improve their prospects and carry them forward into achieving their academic aspirations, forge successful careers or start their own businesses.
Range of career-focused courses:
Our range of fully accredited, industry-focused HND, Foundation Year degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees and Top-up degrees are designed with both professional and personal success in mind. All our courses are developed in close involvement with industry experts ensuring that you develop the knowledge and skills employers are looking for.
Academic partnerships
Each of the Foundation Year Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees and Top-Up Degrees offered at Regent College London is franchised and awarded by one of our partner institutions – Buckinghamshire New University, University of Bolton and the University of Northampton respectively.
At Regent College London, we have been delivering flexible and accessible education successfully for over 20 years, and are now in our tenth year of providing higher education courses.
We have built a reputation on well-qualified and experienced staff, small class sizes, and excellent student support and facilities. This allows our students to flourish and succeed – whether it is to build their careers or go on to further study. We have five campuses in Central London, Harrow, Kingsbury, Southall and Wembley.
We are dedicated to widening access to higher education for all prospective students and are recognised for our success in attracting applications from under-represented groups, those who are returning to education to gain new or higher level skills, and those with varying levels of past academic success.
We are able to work very effectively with students of all abilities to improve their prospects and carry them forward into achieving their academic aspirations, forge successful careers or start their own businesses.
Range of career-focused courses:
Our range of fully accredited, industry-focused HND, Foundation Year degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees and Top-up degrees are designed with both professional and personal success in mind. All our courses are developed in close involvement with industry experts ensuring that you develop the knowledge and skills employers are looking for.
Academic partnerships
Each of the Foundation Year Degrees, Bachelor’s Degrees and Top-Up Degrees offered at Regent College London is franchised and awarded by one of our partner institutions – Buckinghamshire New University, University of Bolton and the University of Northampton respectively.
Moorlands College is a Christian theological training college and has been training people since 1948. The college’s programmes are validated by the University of Gloucester, offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in applied theology, and has locations of study in Dorset, Torquay, Birmingham and Belfast.
RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) offers vocational training for actors, stage managers, designers and technical stage craft specialists. We pride ourselves on the exceptional standard of our teaching, productions and facilities, and the personalisation of our training tailored to the needs of each student. Our student population is a diverse community from all over the world, united by a shared passion for theatre-making.
We seek to train the most talented individuals and create opportunities for a wider community to engage with us through widening participation and outreach work, and short courses. Founded in 1904, we have an impressive track record of graduate achievement in theatre, film, television and radio, as award-winners and leading actors, directors, writers, producers, lighting, sound and costume designers, prop makers, scenic artists, stage managers and production managers.
RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) offers vocational training for actors, stage managers, designers and technical stage craft specialists. We pride ourselves on the exceptional standard of our teaching, productions and facilities, and the personalisation of our training tailored to the needs of each student. Our student population is a diverse community from all over the world, united by a shared passion for theatre-making.
We seek to train the most talented individuals and create opportunities for a wider community to engage with us through widening participation and outreach work, and short courses. Founded in 1904, we have an impressive track record of graduate achievement in theatre, film, television and radio, as award-winners and leading actors, directors, writers, producers, lighting, sound and costume designers, prop makers, scenic artists, stage managers and production managers.
University Academy 92 (UA92) is a new higher education institution based at a new campus in Old Trafford, Manchester. The UA92 experience is about much more than an academic qualification, it’s preparation for life. Students will embark on a personal development journey to forge their character, challenging and supporting them in equal measure, and preparing them to reach their full potential.
London Film School is a not-for-profit film school in London and is situated in a converted brewery in Covent Garden, London, neighbouring Soho, a hub of the UK film industry. LFS was founded in 1956 by Gilmore Roberts as the London School of Film.
University College of Estate Management (UCEM) is the leading provider of supported online education for the Built Environment, with over 95 years’ experience of providing the highest quality learning opportunities. UCEM has more than 3,500 students from more than 100 countries benefiting from its qualifications taught by tutors with extensive industry experience. The university college is the largest provider of Degree Apprenticeships within the Built Environment and works with more than 120 employers to deliver their apprenticeship training needs to more than 650 apprentices.
Solent University is a dynamic and distinctive new university dedicated to academic excellence, social justice and the integration of theory and practice. ‘Real world’ experience is built into an exciting range of innovative courses, whether in business, technology, art and design, media production, maritime, the creative industries, or sport.Solent University is based in Southampton, and was previously called Southampton Solent University.
Solent University is a dynamic and distinctive new university dedicated to academic excellence, social justice and the integration of theory and practice. ‘Real world’ experience is built into an exciting range of innovative courses, whether in business, technology, art and design, media production, maritime, the creative industries, or sport.Solent University is based in Southampton, and was previously called Southampton Solent University.
Delivering creative media courses since 1976. SAE Institute offers courses in Sound / Audio Engineering, Music Production, Digital Filmmaking, Web Development, 3D Interactive Animation and Games Programming.
Delivering creative media courses since 1976. SAE Institute offers courses in Sound / Audio Engineering, Music Production, Digital Filmmaking, Web Development, 3D Interactive Animation and Games Programming.
Central’s mission is to place students at the centre of its work. Central develops practitioners and researchers who shape the future of theatre and performance across the UK and beyond.
Central’s mission is to place students at the centre of its work. Central develops practitioners and researchers who shape the future of theatre and performance across the UK and beyond.
The undergraduate and postgraduate courses help students to achieve their future dreams in the agricultural, land, business management, food, equine and property industries.
The undergraduate and postgraduate courses help students to achieve their future dreams in the agricultural, land, business management, food, equine and property industries.
NUA is dedicated to providing vocational, practice based courses which allow students to enter an exciting and challenging community of artists, designers and makers who share their passions and interests. Whilst the institution’s history can be traced back to 1845, it is contemporary and forward thinking with industry standard facilities in its city centre campus.
Today NUA continues to thrive as an established University sector institution, with a national reputation for excellence and a strong ethos as a creative academic community.
NUA is dedicated to providing vocational, practice based courses which allow students to enter an exciting and challenging community of artists, designers and makers who share their passions and interests. Whilst the institution’s history can be traced back to 1845, it is contemporary and forward thinking with industry standard facilities in its city centre campus.
Today NUA continues to thrive as an established University sector institution, with a national reputation for excellence and a strong ethos as a creative academic community.
Founded in 1968 as a teacher training college, Newman has now grown to offer a variety of degree level courses across a number of different fields, whilst still upholding a fantastic reputation for teacher training.
The teaching at Newman takes places on its single campus on the outskirts of South-west Birmingham, welcoming students and staff of all ethnicities, cultures, faiths and social backgrounds.
Students are taught primarily in small collaborative groups rather than big lectures and are encouraged to be an active participant in their own learning.
Newman University consistently has excellent levels of graduate employment; this is a testament to the relevance of work placement opportunities available to students through the extensive Newman University partners and the skills students develop throughout their studies.
Founded in 1968 as a teacher training college, Newman has now grown to offer a variety of degree level courses across a number of different fields, whilst still upholding a fantastic reputation for teacher training.
The teaching at Newman takes places on its single campus on the outskirts of South-west Birmingham, welcoming students and staff of all ethnicities, cultures, faiths and social backgrounds.
Students are taught primarily in small collaborative groups rather than big lectures and are encouraged to be an active participant in their own learning.
Newman University consistently has excellent levels of graduate employment; this is a testament to the relevance of work placement opportunities available to students through the extensive Newman University partners and the skills students develop throughout their studies.
New College of the Humanities (NCH) is a university-level college in the heart of London. Small by design, NCH offers a broad liberal arts-inspired curriculum with highly personalised teaching, including a one-to-one tutorial system. The College admitted its first students in 2012.
Founded in 2006, Mont Rose College has created a reputable brand for higher education, offering an exceptional learning environment, situated in Ilford, London. Mont Rose College has earned its reputation by providing quality teaching and tailored student support. The College received TEF Silver second consecutive year and is registered with the Office of Student (OFS) since April 2019.
The College operates through three campuses based in Redbridge, London, offering HND and Pearson’s DET qualifications in the following subject areas.
HND in Business (Marketing)
HND in Hospitality Management
HND in Accounting and Finance
HND in Health & Care Practice (Health Care Management)
Diploma in Education and Training (DET)
Mont Rose College is also working in partnership with Buckinghamshire New University to offer the following courses;
BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance (L6 entry ‘Top Up’)
B.A. (Hons) Business Management (L6 entry ‘Top Up’)
B.A. (Hons) International Hospitality Management (L6 entry ‘Top Up’)
B.A. (Hons) Integrated Health & Social Care (L6 entry ‘Top Up’)
Foundation
B.A. (Hons) Business Management
BSc (Hons) Accounting and Finance
BSc (Hons) Computing
IMBA
As a provider of Higher Education, Mont Rose College is committed to lifelong learning, working with a diverse range of students from adult learners to school leavers seeking higher education in colleges in London.
Based in the City of London since 1879, The London Institute of Banking & Finance advance banking and finance by providing outstanding education tailored to the needs of business and individuals.
Our undergraduate, postgraduate and apprenticeship degrees in banking and finance are specific to role requirements and delivered by respected industry practitioners. As a result our students graduate with a recognised professional status and are prepared to advance the sector.
Today we are the only specialist provider of dedicated personal finance qualifications for children and young people and play a leading role in the development of financial understanding in the wider community.
We work with banking and finance sector experts to develop our professional qualifications in banking, regulated advice and international trade finance. Our aim is to help both individuals and organisations to preform better. All of our qualifications are therefore providing clear career paths to match industry need and professional recognition and can lead to Chartered Associateship status.
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts was set up to combine performance, technical innovation, understanding and business awareness for youngsters intent on sustained careers in the arts and entertainment economy. The LIPA cost some £20m to create. Spearheading its creation were Sir Paul McCartney (Lead Patron) and Mark Featherstone-Witty (Founding Principal/CEO). The curriculum is holistic. Whatever each student chose as their specialism, the extension of this skill is supplemented by allied performing arts skills, as well as business skills and intellectual development.
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts was set up to combine performance, technical innovation, understanding and business awareness for youngsters intent on sustained careers in the arts and entertainment economy. The LIPA cost some £20m to create. Spearheading its creation were Sir Paul McCartney (Lead Patron) and Mark Featherstone-Witty (Founding Principal/CEO). The curriculum is holistic. Whatever each student chose as their specialism, the extension of this skill is supplemented by allied performing arts skills, as well as business skills and intellectual development.
Leeds Conservatoire is a leading European conservatoire and the largest in the United Kingdom. The conservatoire provides music education to a community of over 1,900 musicians through a variety of programs, including undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses, numerous short courses for all ages, and a Saturday Music School for young musicians aged nine–18.
The conservatoire opened in 1965 as Leeds Music Centre, providing a light music course with a significant focus on jazz. In 1993, Leeds Conservatoire launched the first jazz degree in Europe and went on to become the first U.K. conservatoire to offer popular music, music production, and, later, music business. Now, 50 years since its inception, the conservatoire’s undergraduate program includes degrees in popular music, classical music, jazz, music production, music business, film music, songwriting, and folk, and the postgraduate study option, entitled MMus/PGDip Creative Musician, offers the opportunity to collaborate with leading composers, performers, producers, and songwriters, and develop skills as a professional-level musician.
Hereford College of Arts is a dedicated arts college with a specialist focus on art, media, design, popular music and performing arts. We offer eleven undergraduate degrees alongside a range of pre-degree and short course programmes for students of all ages from twelve. Our Mission: ‘To provide outstanding education and employability in the creative arts.’
Established in 1902 as Falmouth School of Art, it has grown over a century to become a digital innovation hub. Today, its portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses represents the breadth of the Creative Industries, the fastest growing sector in the UK economy.
The University has recently experienced a period of rapid growth, its on-campus student population tripling in size since 2001 to nearly 5300 students today. These students study on two campuses in Falmouth and Penryn. As well as the courses that are delivered on-campus in Cornwall, Falmouth also provides groundbreaking online distance learning and exciting collaborative partnerships with industry-leading bodies including the Academy of Contemporary Music and the Fashion Retail Academy in London.
Falmouth’s research programmes are built on the principle of open innovation – the idea that the grand challenges of our age can be addressed most effectively when tackled collaboratively across disciplinary boundaries. They focus on delivering impact for lives and economies through the development of new knowledge, solutions, services and products.
Falmouth University acts as an anchor institution in Cornwall, partnering with public and private sector organisations to support the county’s economic, skills and enterprise agendas. Its 2030 strategic plan is aligned with the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly LEP 2030 plan and Cornwall Council’s long term strategic vision. The creative industries are key to the Cornwall economic strategy as the sector is not only currently the third largest employer in the region but also the likely source of future high growth companies and higher value jobs
Established in 1902 as Falmouth School of Art, it has grown over a century to become a digital innovation hub. Today, its portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate courses represents the breadth of the Creative Industries, the fastest growing sector in the UK economy.
The University has recently experienced a period of rapid growth, its on-campus student population tripling in size since 2001 to nearly 5300 students today. These students study on two campuses in Falmouth and Penryn. As well as the courses that are delivered on-campus in Cornwall, Falmouth also provides groundbreaking online distance learning and exciting collaborative partnerships with industry-leading bodies including the Academy of Contemporary Music and the Fashion Retail Academy in London.
Falmouth’s research programmes are built on the principle of open innovation – the idea that the grand challenges of our age can be addressed most effectively when tackled collaboratively across disciplinary boundaries. They focus on delivering impact for lives and economies through the development of new knowledge, solutions, services and products.
Falmouth University acts as an anchor institution in Cornwall, partnering with public and private sector organisations to support the county’s economic, skills and enterprise agendas. Its 2030 strategic plan is aligned with the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly LEP 2030 plan and Cornwall Council’s long term strategic vision. The creative industries are key to the Cornwall economic strategy as the sector is not only currently the third largest employer in the region but also the likely source of future high growth companies and higher value jobs
Northern School of Art is a specialist Art and Design college, with campuses in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.
Northern School of Art is a specialist Art and Design college, with campuses in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.
We offer a broad range of Higher and Further Education music courses – including BA Honours Degrees, nationally accredited Diplomas and Postgraduate Teaching Certificates. Our professional highly vocational and real-world courses include studies in guitar, bass, drums, vocals, songwriting, music production, music business, music journalism and event management.
We offer a broad range of Higher and Further Education music courses – including BA Honours Degrees, nationally accredited Diplomas and Postgraduate Teaching Certificates. Our professional highly vocational and real-world courses include studies in guitar, bass, drums, vocals, songwriting, music production, music business, music journalism and event management.
Bradford College has been delivering quality education and training for over 180 years. Each year we deliver hundreds of courses to over 23,000 learners, from across the globe. The College is the fourth largest in the country and the largest provider of higher education outside of the university sector in England.
Bradford College has been delivering quality education and training for over 180 years. Each year we deliver hundreds of courses to over 23,000 learners, from across the globe. The College is the fourth largest in the country and the largest provider of higher education outside of the university sector in England.
The University has been named by Which? as one of the top five creative universities in the UK, with around 7,000 students and 1,000 staff. Over 94 per cent of graduates are in work or further study within six months of graduating, and many are successful freelancers, entrepreneurs or are employed in different companies across many sectors.
The University has been named by Which? as one of the top five creative universities in the UK, with around 7,000 students and 1,000 staff. Over 94 per cent of graduates are in work or further study within six months of graduating, and many are successful freelancers, entrepreneurs or are employed in different companies across many sectors.
