Distance Learning
You'll be joining a vibrant, supportive and friendly student community at Arts University Plymouth, and we’re proud to be located in a city that plays host to a wealth of creative, inventive independent businesses and forward-thinking cultural organisations.
“I chose to study illustration at Arts University Plymouth because the lecturers really encourage everyone’s own individual styles. I was drawn to the friendly and relaxed atmosphere, which really stood out from the other universities that I visited. This is a great environment to work surrounded by like-minded creatives from other disciplines.” - Heléna Doré, BA (Hons) Illustration graduate
Described by GQ as “the coolest little city by the sea”, Plymouth offers a balance of some of the UK’s most stunning natural spaces alongside the convenience of city life, with a community ready to welcome new creative ideas and share new experiences with.
Your time at university is so much more than learning new skills and laying the groundwork for your creative career; it’s a chance to meet new people, expand your horizons, and create unforgettable moments.
One of the benefits of our Distance Learning courses is that you will have already met online with many people from all around the world - now’s your chance to meet them in person!
To get you ready for joining us, we recommend you check out all the information about starting with us below.
You’ve been a student with us for a while now, and we want to give you the warmest introduction to our campus possible. Throughout your induction week, staff from all over our university will be on hand to show you the ropes and help you settle in.
You can view your Distance Learning Technical School Timetable below:
WEEK 1
Monday 12 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Campus Introduction & Staff Welcome
Tuesday 13 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Students' Union Welcome
Wednesday 14 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Learning Lab at AUP
Thursday 15 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Technical Workshops
Friday 16 September, Free Day | Flexible Time
WEEK 2
Monday 19 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Campus Introduction and Staff Welcome
Tuesday 20 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Students' Union Welcome
Wednesday 21 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Learning Lab at AUP
Thursday 22 September, 10:00 - 17:00 | Technical Workshops
Friday 23 September, Free Day | Flexible Time
We have recently sent all Arts University Plymouth offer holders a letter detailing our plans for the Autumn, including timetable information. You can find a copy of these letters below.
For an alternative format of this letter, please email hello@pca.ac.uk.
Monday
Extended studio practice*
Types of activities: Directed & self-initiated practice
Tuesday
On campus (10:00-13:00, 14:00-17:00)***
Types of activities: Practice-based teaching, making & experimentation
Wednesday
Extended studio practice*
Types of activities: Directed & self-initiated practice
Thursday
On campus (10:00-13:00,14:00-17:00)***
Types of activities: Practice-based teaching, making & experimentation
Friday
Extended studio practice**
Types of activities: Directed & self-initiated practice
*Extended studio practice may take place in studios and workspaces on campus.
**Some courses may have timetabled teaching on Fridays
***For Animation & Games Level 5, on campus days will be Monday and Friday, rather than Tuesday and Thursday
The Students' Union is here to represent you and make sure your voice is heard during your time as an Arts University Plymouth student. They support student-led clubs and societies and run events throughout the year too.
Find out more about their support and services on their website, and keep up to date with the Students' Union on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Tik Tok.
Student Discounts
TOTUM brings you over 200 UK student discounts and comes with 1-year FREE ISIC, unlocking over 42,000 international discounts. Get your TOTUM card now. You can choose from a range of cards that last either one, two or three years. Simply select "Arts University Plymouth Students' Union" when you sign up!
Freshers
Freshers is here to give you a massive welcome to the city and the university. We want to make sure you have the best start to Arts University Plymouth and we want to help you all settle in.
Our Student Union Student Ambassadors will be on-hand to help you move into Host accommodation, The Old Dairy and Frobisher House, and will be at all of our events to answer any questions you might have and help you meet people from all areas of the AUP community.
We want to be as inclusive as possible so we're planning events to suit everybody, from tours of the city to exciting bar nights in the Students' Union, as well as events for LGBTQ+ students, mature students and more. Our events are open to all incoming and returning students, meaning you can meet a great mix of people you’ll regularly see in the hallways.
We plan to have everything from paid trips at local attractions, to admission-free events both on campus and around the city, to help you get to know your new home.
Sign up for Freshers events! We also recommend checking out their blog for a guide for Doctors, Dentists and more.
Getting to know your new home
If you're new to Plymouth, getting to know different aspects of your new home is important! Check out our Discover Plymouth page to find out more about the best bits of our city.
Student Support have a broad reach regarding the level of guidance they can offer. Some of the areas include: Registering with a G.P, Wellbeing and Welfare, Mental Health Support, Ear Acupuncture and Mindfulness and Disability and Inclusivity.
We have spaces available for you to speak to councillors in private but also offer group sessions around wellbeing and mindfulness, we always encourage our students to reach out and access this support whenever needed, we are here to help.
Find out more about the support services we offer.
Registering with a doctor
In terms of doctors – sign up and stock up! If you are moving away from home to come to Arts University Plymouth, you can register at most general practitioner surgeries in Plymouth by searching the NHS Choices website.
Contact the nearest surgery to your new home and register prior to arrival if possible.
Try to stock up on any of your regular medication before you leave home.
Have your usual remedies to hand, such as cold and flu relief.
More information for International students can be found here.
Please note that student visa applications are currently taking on average 5 weeks to process. The UK Visa and Immigrations service is working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard. Find out more.
At Arts University Plymouth, we use a host of technologies to support your learning and creative development. While you are with us, you will have access to a collection of Google productivity, collaboration and sharing tools collectively known as “G Suite”, but commonly referred to as “Google Apps”.
Below you will find descriptions of commonly used apps in the Google Suite. We recommend viewing the videos and reading the guides prior to your arrival as you will be using some of the programmes in your first few days with us.
Google Classroom - Classroom is our online learning environment where you will be able to access your teaching material such as module briefs, course information and updates from your lecturers. It also has a built-in chat forum so that you can communicate with your peers and tutors. Download the Google Classrooms app on Google Play or the App Store.
Google Meet - Google Meet is used for video conferencing. You can have quick meetings on a 1 to 1 basis with your peers/tutors or attend a group video call, allowing for open discussions and debate.
Google Calendar - A fully integrated Calendar to keep track of your tutorials, lectures and 1 to 1 sessions. Get notifications and reminders of events - ensuring you don't miss a thing.
Gmail - Gmail is our email system. Access your emails anywhere on your computer or mobile device.
Google Drive - Google Drive is a cloud-based storage system that allows you to work, access and share your documents online... anywhere, anytime.
Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets - These are the basic programmes to support you with your studies and operate in a similar way to that of their Microsoft equivalent e.g. Word, Powerpoint and Excel.
If you need any further help and support with any of these apps then please contact our Learning Technologist, Adam Levi via email at alevi@pca.ac.uk.
Library
The Library is a treasure trove of information and resources, with over 25,000 items comprising physical and digital resources including books and journals (both print and online), DVDs, computer games, a digital video collection and subscriptions to over 130 renowned print publications, our team have you covered. We are on hand to offer you support and advice, online and in-person, at our help-desk on topics such as researching, finding books, referencing, digital literacy and academic practice.
Study Guides and Reading Lists - the Library study guides have all of the resources you will need to succeed on your course, as well as your reading lists, all in one place.
Journals - On this page you will find a list of all the journals that the library subscribes to, plus online access where available.
Academic Skills
Our friendly and experienced Academic Skills team delivers a range of advice, guidance and skills development to support you with your studies. They offer one to one or group support with things like time management and procrastination, essay writing, dissertations, creative writing, referencing, confidence and presentation skills. The team also offer help for students with Dyslexia and can work with other academic staff members to ensure you are fully supported and have confidence in your writing.
Re-framing learning as a creative process in itself, our range of short courses not only provide students with the opportunity to build essential skills and confidence, but also ask participants to reflect on their relationship with these practices and develop approaches and processes that feel authentic, empowering and exciting.
The Art of Writing
The Art of Research
The Art of Time Management
The Art of Presenting
The Art of Learning
Students can find course dates, content information and book their place via Smarthub under ‘Workshops’. Email Rachel Gippetti at rgippetti@pca.ac.uk for more information.
Careers & Employability
The Careers team are here to help you strengthen your employability skills and help you discover more about your chosen creative industry. The team can help you with CV's and cover letters, applications, industry experience, work placements and business advice.
Plymouth is among the top 20 safest cities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with one recent study ranking Plymouth as the safest major city in England and Wales. Overall Devon and Cornwall remain one of the safest areas in the UK according to crime statistics, making Plymouth an excellent place to study and enjoy everything the city has to offer safely!
Have a question? Check out our FAQ's below.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for just click the 'Ask Us Anything' button.
Welcome to the creative community at Arts University Plymouth. We are delighted you have chosen to study with us and look forward to working with you.
There are lots of ways you can stay in touch with your creativity over the summer - why not have a look at our launchpad for creative inspiration below. (Password: AUP)
If you are out and about over the summer, making creative work, taking photographs, or visiting exhibitions and events, we would love to see what you have been up to. You can share your work and ideas on social media with us using the hashtag #KeepCreating and by tagging us @artsuniplym
Don’t worry! You won’t be assessed on any of this as part of your degree, we just wanted to start sharing some inspirational resources with you as you start your journey with us.
Please note, the password for the below padlet is AUP, and this works best viewed on desktop browsers.
Click here to see the AUP Launchpad
Find out about life at our independent arts university from the people who know us best — our real students. From finding the best cafes in Plymouth to course content and employability, our approachable student ambassadors are available to answer your questions on live chat.