Central St Martins

At Central Saint Martins, creativity is being regenerated by rethinking what an art and design college should focus on and how this might work. Throughout its history, it has had a reputation for change-making through creative practice. Today, across art, design and performance, the students and staff of Central Saint Martins create and practise ideas, materials and actions for a better future in a more-than-human world.

The College has a legacy of engaging with the global debate about the arts, performance and design, and their role in societal transformation. This is at the heart of what we do: we challenge what people think they know about the arts, performance, and design, and how it shapes and impacts us all.

To build on the College’s core spirit of interdisciplinarity as an art school, CSM has three Schools of Thought: C School [Culture], S School [Systems] and M School [Material]. The strategy emphasises the whole [C + S + M = CSM], champions the power of imagination and actively seeks collaboration across schools to break new ground within and beyond its disciplines. As such, the graduates are equipped to address the urgent global challenges facing society and the planet through art and design practice.

Central Saint Martin has over a century of pioneering practice in the past and proudly continues this tradition of provocation. As its community shifts, so do the disciplines they offer and the way they teach them.

It began as two colleges founded in the nineteenth century: St Martin’s School of Art and the Central School of Art and Crafts (which became the Central School for Art and Design in 1966). Both believed in the fundamental importance of learning through making and were known for their radical approach to art and design – values which remain at the core of our teaching today. In 1989, the two colleges merged to form Central Saint Martins. We welcomed Drama Centre London in 1999 and the Byam Shaw School of Art in 2003.

In 2011, it moved to the award-winning building in King’s Cross, where all of these elements now flourish and collide under one roof. It sits at the heart of a dynamic part of London and among its alumni shaping the world through creative action are Ashton?Attzs, Grace Wales Bonner, Osei Bonsu, Matty Bovan, Isamaya?Ffrench, Craig Green, Isaac Julien, Kim Jones, Ib Kamara, Rene Mati?, Stella McCartney, Morag Myerscough, Saul Nash, Sandy Powell, Heather Phillipson, Simone Rocha, Zineb?Sedira?and Yinka?Shonibare.

Central Saint Martins programmes share an approach of exploring the boundaries of their discipline. The students and staff are continually curious and restless in developing beyond the accepted norms of their subject, so the work emerging from Central Saint Martins is at the forefront of its area. The college inspires its students and staff to be alert to new approaches and ideas. The resulting journey can be challenging, but is never dull.

BA Fashion offers highly motivated students a nurturing environment which champions originality and innovation. Pathway structure: In BA Fashion, students can choose to study one of five pathways: Fashion Design - Menswear, Womenswear, Print, Knit and Communication. The course provides opportunities for collaboration with professionals and sponsors. Previously, these have included Christian Dior, L'Oréal Professionnel, Louis Vuitton, LVMH, Nike, Puma, Stone Island and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Students can take advantage of the course's excellent relationship with the International fashion community. 

MA Fashion has an international profile second to none. With extensive industry links, its graduates practice at the forefront of fashion. While holding a consistent track record for its entrepreneurial culture as one of the foremost incubators of emerging design talent worldwide, the MA Fashion also leads to research degrees and those pursuing careers in academia.? Project-based teaching is delivered through a combination of individual tutorials, workshops, seminars, group critiques  and peer reviews. 

Emphasis is placed on creativity, identity, and professional development, supporting authentic, sustainable solutions and accountability in design practice. Digital learning will also enable you to experiment with using emerging technologies for application in design development and communication, and wholly digital outcomes will be possible alternatives for project and unit assessments. 

Students can try for -:

• LVMH Scholarships MA Fashion
• Jane Rapley Scholarships
• L’Wren Scott Scholarship
• Sarabande Foundation Scholarship
• Alexander McQueen Scholarship
• Ports 1961 Scholarship
• Self-Portrait Scholarship
• The Honourable Daphne Guinness Scholarship
• UAL Home Postgraduate £7,000 Scholarships
• UAL International Postgraduate £50,000 Scholarships
• UAL International Postgraduate £7,000 Scholarships
• University Hardship Fund

Central School of Art and Design: The Central School of Art and Design was established as the Central School of Arts and Crafts in 1896 by London County Council. It grew directly from the Arts and Crafts movement of William Morris and John Ruskin. The first principal, from 1896 until 1911, was William Richard Lethaby; a blue plaque in his memory was erected in 1957. The school was at first housed in Morley Hall, rented from the Regent Street Polytechnic. It moved to purpose-built premises in Southampton Row, in the London Borough of Camden, in 1908. In the same year the Royal Female School of Art, established in 1842, was merged into the school. Central became part of the London Institute in 1986, and merged with Saint Martin’s in 1989.

Saint Martin’s School of Art: Saint Martin’s School of Art was founded in 1854 by Henry Mackenzie, vicar of the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields. It became independent from the church in 1859. Frank Martin became head of the sculpture department in 1952; he brought in young sculptors and recent graduates of the department as teachers. Among these, Anthony Caro was particularly influential. The group around him came to be known as the New Generation of British sculptors and the sculpture department of Saint Martin’s became, in the words of Tim Scott: “the most famous in the art world”. Saint Martin’s became part of the London Institute in 1986, and merged with Central in 1989.

Drama Centre London: The Drama Centre London was founded in 1963 by a breakaway group of teachers and students from the Central School of Speech and Drama, led by John Blatchley, Yat Malmgren and Christopher Fettes. The school is a member of Drama UK and its undergraduate Acting course is accredited by Drama UK. The Drama Centre London merged with Central Saint Martins in 1999.

Byam Shaw School of Art: Byam Shaw School of Art was founded by the artists John Byam Shaw and Rex Vicat Cole in 1910 as a school of drawing and painting. It was originally located in Campden Street, Kensington, and moved to larger premises in Archway in 1990. It was subsumed by Central Saint Martins in 2003.

Awards and assessment-:

In 1998 the London Institute received a Queen's Anniversary Prize for the contribution of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design to the growth of the fashion industry in Britain. The University of the Arts London received a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2013, for the contribution of CSM industrial and product design graduates to commerce, industry and design. In 2018 it was placed 83rd out of 129 universities, with a rank of 125 for student satisfaction.

At University of The Arts London, of which Central sAINT martins is a part,  the Careers and Employability team empower students and graduates to make a living doing what they love. UAL has a track record for launching and furthering careers. Their graduates can be found in every part of the creative and cultural sectors, from heads of global businesses to self-employed practitioners, and on shortlists for awards ranging from the Turner Prize to the Oscars. 89 percent of their recent graduates are undertaking further study or are working; over a quarter are freelance or have their own business.

Among the alumni of the school are the Turner Prize winner Laure Prouvost, the musician Jarvis Cocker, and iconic fashion designers including John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen and Riccardo Tisci. In 2022 Rathna Ramanathan became head of the college, succeeding Jeremy Till who had been in the post since 2012.

1.  UAL appoints Dr Rathna Ramanathan Pro Vice-Chancellor. University of the Arts London.
2.  Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design. Bloomberg BusinessWeek. .
3.  Best British Art Schools. The Times. 
4. A change of scene for Central Saint Martins. The Guardian.
5. University of the Arts London (formerly The London Institute) A Brief History. University of the Arts London. 
6. Lethaby, William Richard (1857–1931): Plaque erected in 1957 by London County Council English Heritage. 
7. Central School of Art and Design 
8. History Lessons Archived Frieze Issue 142
9. Overview: St Martin's School of Art. Oxford Reference.
10. Frank Martin: Visionary teacher who inspired a generation of great British sculptors (obituary). The Guardian. 
11. "Drama UK Member Schools". Drama UK. 
12. "Drama Centre London". Drama UK. 
13. Drama school to close after review reveals courses 'pushed students to the edge'. Arts Professional. 
14. Drama Centre London to close following damning review. The Stage. 
15. The London Institute The Royal Anniversary Trust. 
16. University of the Arts London. The Independent. 
17. University League Table 2014. Complete University Guide.
18. University League Table 2018. Complete University Guide.
19. Our Programmes. University of the Arts London: Central Saint Martins.
20. Locations and Map. University of the Arts London: Central Saint Martins. 
21. Fashion week: Why does Central Saint Martins produce so many designers?. BBC News.
22. Jeremy Till - Professor of Architecture. University of the Arts London: Central Saint Martins.