We have different types of scholarships and bursaries for exceptional students and for students in need of assistance, based on their circumstances, portfolio or audition. For more information please contact our admissions team.
Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts
About
Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA) is a dedicated arts and performance school in the centre of Cambridge. We offer diploma, foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses across art & design, fashion, music and performing arts.
Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA) is a dedicated creative and performing arts school with campuses in the centre of Cambridge and London. We offer Diploma, Foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate courses across Art & Design, Fashion, Music and Performing Arts.
Your Creative Space
As a student at CSVPA you will have your own space to design, create, rehearse or practice
All of our studios are designed to look, feel and operate like those you would work in during your professional career. We make sure you are adept at using all the latest equipment, processes and programmes that the creative industries use.
Our approach to teaching focuses on helping our students to become the creative they want to be. We develop our student’s creativity, critical thinking, approach to research, contextual understanding and trend analysis of various teaching philosophies. Alongside developing their network within the UK creative industries and practical skill set through industry projects.
Our Approach
Our approach to teaching focuses on helping our students to become the creative they want to be. We develop our student’s creativity, critical thinking, approach to research, contextual understanding and trend analysis of various, teaching philosophies. Alongside developing their network within the UK creative industries and practical skill set through industry projects.
- 91% - overall satisfaction rate in the 2023 National Student Survey (NSS), compared to the 79.7% UK average
- 100% - of students said the teaching staff are good at explaining things, when surveyed in the 2023 National Student Survey (NSS)
- 100% - of students said of students said of the course is intellectually stimulating when surveyed in the 2023 National Student Survey (NSS)
Life AT CSVPA
All of our students are part of the CSVPA family, a vibrant, multicultural community of highly creative people who share common dreams and ambitions. At CSVPA, you will make friends across courses and years, sharing ideas and experiences that elevate your work and inspire you to explore your own creativity.
The wellbeing of our students is incredibly important to us and we want every student to have the best experience they can at CSVPA. Visit our Welfare Page to find out more about our commitment to our students.
What to expect at CSVPA
Each year, CSVPA welcomes students from all over the world and it is important to us that you feel comfortable in this new country. We understand that a positive student experience is a combination of your classes, how you spend your time in and out of the studio, your meals and where you live. Here, students are supported to find and use their voices, to grow in confidence both as creatives and as people.
Your Creative Future
How we teach is not only focused on the time you spend studying with us but also prepares you for your future career.
Over recent years the creative arts industry in the UK has contributed £286 billion to the wider UK economy. With employment in the arts industries growing four times faster than other sectors, studying a creative arts course is a gateway for some of the most exciting, innovative, and well-paid careers.
Our BA Fashion students received national press coverage for their final collections. Our MA students have gone on to work for global brands such as Vivienne Westwood and Esquire magazine and our Extended Diploma and Foundation graduates have been accepted into some of the top Universities and Conservatories, including progression to Parsons School of Design, New York, Central Saint Martins, Kingston University, Trinity Laban Conservatoire, RADA, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of Westminster and many more.
CSVPA Bridge House Cambridge
Our main Campus building is located in the centre of Cambridge, opposite the historic Round Church, and less than five minutes’ walk from King’s College. Bridge House is the perfect environment for students to grow in their creativity and offers numerous specialised studio spaces for graphics, illustration, fine art, fashion and design along with a dark room and spaces for experimental study. Bridge House also houses our student services team and a large canteen and dining room space for students.
CSVPA Sturton Street
The Sturton Street Campus has been created as a tailored environment for the Performing Arts, also hosting the Extended Diploma students in the Creative Arts. It is conveniently located a brief distance from Cambridge Centre, and comprises of 14 individual studios, seven of which possess Harlequin flooring – a specialist type of flooring designed for performance. The theatre area is spacious, covering an area of more than 1800 sq ft and able to accommodate seating for approximately 100 people, along with a stage. Additionally, each studio has an integrated sound system to facilitate excellent music provision. Recently renovated in early 2023, the building features a bright, open café and communal areas for students to relax during their leisure time.
CSVPA Graduate Centre
The CSVPA Graduate Studio is a dedicated space for students studying MA, Graduate Diploma and Pre-Masters courses. Located in Friar House, a unique building in the heart of Cambridge, students benefit from multiple studios and other workspaces, iMac workstations, Gaming PCs, a photography studio, a stop-motion animation resource, and a student lounge. Graduate School students also have access to fabrication workshops, a fashion atelier, performance studios, music rehearsal rooms and recording studio, printmaking facilities and a life drawing studio, located across other CSVPA buildings.
Cambridge Accommodation
At CSVPA we provide student accommodation for all years of study allowing you to focus on the important things, discovering Cambridge, making friends and getting the most out of your studies. We provide a selection of accommodation options for students aged both under and over 18 with a range of catering plans.
Facilities and Added Extras
Across all our halls of residence, we provide you the personal living space and everything you need to make the space feel like your own. All of our accommodation provides you with a single occupancy living space with an ensuite private bathroom. Rooms are designed to give you ample storage space and a canvas to personalise with those little reminders and touches from home. Free Wi-Fi is also provided throughout.
All rooms are furnished with:
- Comfortable single bed
- Duvet and pillows
- Bedside cabinet
- Desk and chair
- Desk lamp
- Wardrobe
- Personal safe
- Pin board
- Under-bed storage
All premium rooms come with:
- Set of towels and bathmat
- Welcome bathroom amenities
- Mini fridge
- Hair dryer
- Wireless phone charger
- Travel adaptor
- Hanging shoe storage
- Wooden hanger
- Reusable water bottle
- Laundry basket
Your Living Space
Most of our accommodation is organised into clusters, where between 6 and 8 rooms in a cluster share a common kitchen/dining area, where you can prepare food, socialise with fellow students and generally relax. The kitchens provide cooking and washing up facilities, as well as fridges / freezers and other food storage areas. Most of our residences also have a central shared common room for students to come together socialise and forge lifelong friendships.
The residences are monitored 24 hours a day to maintain security, and a 24 hour hotline service is available in the event of an emergency.
Bedding and Laundry
Bed linen is provided for all our catered students, so unless you are staying with us on a self-catered basis all you will need to bring with you is your own towel! Our catered students also benefit from having their rooms cleaned on a regular basis as well as fresh linen provided every week. If you have opted for self-catering, your room will be serviced once a month. The residences all contain washing machines for students to use free of charge, and washing powder and detergent are also provided free.
Catering
All our under-18 year olds must stay on our catered accommodation service, whereby breakfast, lunch and dinner are all provided conveniently at both our campuses at Sturton Street and Bridge House. Students over the age of 18 who have joined CSVPA on a self-catered basis can also purchase meals at both campuses. Students can enjoy a hot breakfast and for both lunch and dinner, they are presented with a variety of hot meal options, as well as a salad bar,
soup and dessert. We aim to provide a varied and interesting range of food to suit, as far as is possible, our broad range of nationalities.
Students aged over 18 have the choice of staying with us on a catered or self-catered basis.
Both the campus at Sturton Street and at Bridge House offer a café where students can enjoy freshly made sandwiches, hot and cold snacks, confectionary and a range of hot and cold drinks.
