Ravensbourne University London

University in Greenwich, England

Ravensbourne University

Former name

| Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
Motto| Designed for industry.
Type| Public
Established| 1962[1]

Academic staff

| 140[2]
Students| 4,080 (2022/23)[3]
Undergraduates| 3,595 (2022/23)[3]
Postgraduates| 485 (2022/23)[3]
Location|

London

England

Website| ravensbourne.ac.uk

Ravensbourne University London is a public university on the Greenwich Peninsula in London, England. It is classified as a digital media and design university, with vocational courses in fashion, television and broadcasting, interactive product design, architecture and environment design, graphic design, animation, and music production for media and sound design.

Ravensbourne University London was established in 1962 by the amalgamation of Bromley School of Art, Sidcup School of Art and Beckenham School of Art. It was originally at Bromley Common and later at Chislehurst and on the Greenwich Peninsula in Inner London, where it opened a new campus in autumn 2010. The college is named after the River Ravensbourne, which flows from Bromley Common to Greenwich.[4] Initially established as a institution providing higher-level courses in art and design, it was given university status in 2018.

## History

[edit]

Bromley School of Art opened in 1878 in a new building in Tweedy Road, Bromley that later became Bromley Library;[4] after the Second World War it became Bromley College of Art.[5] In 1959 it became Bromley Technical College after a merger with the Department of Furniture Design of Beckenham School of Art, which dated to the turn of the century as a technical school, had become an art school in purpose-built accommodation in 1908, and had expanded after the war with crafts trades.[6] In July 1962, the remainder of Beckenham School of Art merged with Bromley College of Art and Sidcup School of Art (founded in 1898 and by then also known as Sidcup Art College) to form Ravensbourne College of Art and Design.[1] In 1965 the college moved to Rookery Lane, Bromley Common.[6] That site had originally housed the Rookery, an 18th-century house that had been burnt out while in military occupation in 1946. As the college expanded it was unable to develop that site any further, as it was in the Metropolitan Green Belt. In 1975 the college moved most of its operations to a purpose-built building designed after lengthy consultation on 18 acres (7.3 ha) of private parkland on Walden Road, Chislehurst (51°25′14″N 0°03′13″E﻿ / ﻿51.4205°N 0.0537°E﻿ / 51.4205; 0.0537).[1][4] The Rookery Lane site was redeveloped for the Bromley College of Further & Higher Education.

In 1983 the National Advisory Body for Local Authority Higher Education was set up by the Secretary of State for Education and Science, and demanded a 10 per cent cut in higher education spending across the sector. At Ravensbourne this was interpreted as requiring the closure of a department, with the communications and television broadcasting course at the College initially earmarked to be discontinued as it was on a separate campus and the closure would have allowed the College to consolidate its properties. This was later changed to a decision to cut the Fine Art course at the College on the grounds that there was a large number of similar courses offered elsewhere in the region, and this closure occurred later that year. [7] As a result, the college was renamed to Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication.[1] In 1991 the communications and television broadcasting course department was moved to the main Chislehurst campus from its Wharton Road, Bromley site, now occupied by St Timothy's Mews housing development.[8][9][10][11][12]

Ravensbourne has offered higher-level courses in design since the 1960s. It was amongst the earliest of institutions to be approved by the then CNAA to convert the traditional Diploma programmes in Art and Design into honours degrees during the 1970s. In April 1989 it became a Higher Education Corporation.[4] Following the demise of the CNAA in 1992, Ravensbourne entered into a validating partnership with the Royal College of Art, which agreed exceptionally to take this responsibility. This validation ceased when the Royal College of Art withdrew from offering collaborative provision. Ravensbourne was recognised as an affiliate College of the University of Sussex in 1996, and was re-recognised in 2002. Between 2009 and 2012 the institution's undergraduate and postgraduate provision was validated by City University, London. This relationship was maintained until May 2012. In June 2013 University of the Arts London became the validating partner. In August 2017, Ravensbourne was granted the right to award its own degrees, and in May 2018 it gained university status, becoming Ravensbourne University London.[1][13][14]

In 2019 Ravensbourne began validating courses at the City and Guilds of London Art School located in Kennington in central London.

The Moussavi building used a metal cladding using mathematical patterning in a spiral

### Rave on Air

[edit]

In 1971 the Broadcasting Department instituted Rave on Air, an annual student-run broadcasting event.[15][16]

## Campus

[edit]

The university moved its entire operations to its current campus on the Greenwich Peninsula, which opened in autumn 2010. The campus was designed by Farshid Moussavi and won a British Construction Industry Award and the RIBA education and community award.[17][18][19][20]

## Curriculum and reputation

[edit]

RankingsNational rankings

Complete (2025)[21]| 131 (of 131)
Times / Sunday Times (2025)[22]| 131 (of 131)

Ravensbourne offers undergraduate, postgraduate and further education programmes taught in a single faculty with two main clusters of courses, the Design School and the Screen School.

At undergraduate level, there are Foundation degrees, honours degree level top-up years (for those having completed foundation degrees or equivalent), and Bachelor's degrees. The available postgraduate provision consists of Master's level courses, each of which can be studied to MA, MDes or MSc (dependent on subject). A range of subject areas are offered within the main disciplines of fashion, design and broadcasting.

Within the area of Further Education, Ravensbourne offers the Diploma in Foundation Studies for both Art & Design and Media, as well as the BTEC National Certificate in Art and Design.

## Notable alumni

[edit]

* Ray Atkins, artist
* Brian Barnes, artist[23]
* Deirdre Borlase, artist[24]
* David Bowie, pop star[2][25]
* Joshua "Zerkaa" Bradley, YouTuber[26]
* Dinos Chapman, artist[27]
* Maria Cornejo, fashion designer[28]
* Beryl Dean, embroiderer[29]
* Mary Farmer (Beckenham School of Art), textile artist and former Tapestry Course Director, Royal College of Art[30][31]
* Rose Finn-Kelcey, artist[32]
* Nazaneen Ghaffar, weather presenter, Sky News[33]
* Will "Wilbur Soot" Gold, YouTuber and musician[34]
* Robert Hewison, literary scholar[35]
* Peter James, writer and film producer[36][37]
* Andrew Kötting, Artist film maker[38]
* John Leckie, record producer[39]
* Anthony McCall, artist[40]
* Stella McCartney, fashion designer[2][25]
* Jasper Morrison, product designer[41][42]
* Bruce Oldfield, fashion designer[25][43]
* Chris Orr, artist[44]
* Jay Osgerby, product and furniture designer[2][45]
* Andi Osho, comedian[46]
* Tim Pope, film director[47]
* Bruce Pennington, artist
* Carol Tulloch, Professor of Dress, Diaspora and Transnationalism[48]
* Gareth Unwin, film producer[2]
* Alison Wilding, sculptor[49]
* Clare Waight Keller, fashion designer.[50]

## Notable faculty

[edit]

* Jeremy Gardiner
* Armin Medosch

## See also

[edit]

* Armorial of UK universities
* List of art universities and colleges in Europe
* List of universities in the UK
* Visual arts education

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "Freedom of Information: Who we are". Ravensbourne. 1 January 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
2. ^ a b c d e "Discover". Ravensbourne. Archived from the original on 5 September 2016.
3. ^ a b c "Where do HE students study?". Higher Education Statistics Agency. Retrieved 23 September 2024.
4. ^ a b c d Rich Salter. "History". DegreeShow95 (alumni publication for 1995 graduates of the Visual Communication Design degree course at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication). Retrieved 25 November 2021.
5. ^ "Peskett, Eric. National Life Story Collection: Artists' Lives" (sound recording abstract). The British Library. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016.
6. ^ a b Geoff Hassell. "Schools: Ravensbourne". Artist Biographies. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
7. ^ Hansard Parliamentary Papers, HC Deb 29 July 1983 vol 46 cc1429-36
8. ^ Bromley. "Bromley - Tel: 0208 464 3333". searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
9. ^ Bromley. "Bromley - Tel: 0208 464 3333". searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
10. ^ Bromley. "Bromley - Tel: 0208 464 3333". searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
11. ^ Bromley. "Bromley - Tel: 0208 464 3333". searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
12. ^ "GraphicDesign& Everything". www.graphicdesignand.com. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
13. ^ "University of the Arts London and Ravensbourne Collaborative Provision Partnership" (PDF). University of the Arts. 14 March 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
14. ^ "Ravensbourne becomes 'Ravensbourne University London' after being awarded university status | Ravensbourne University London". www.ravensbourne.ac.uk. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
15. ^ "Rave on Air—Breaking new ground" (PDF). Raview. Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication. July 2006. p. 9.
16. ^ "Rave on Air Uncovered" (event announcement). Royal Television Society. April 2009.
17. ^ "Ravensbourne by Foreign Office Architects". Bustler. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
18. ^ "Winners 2011". BCI Awards. 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
19. ^ "Building". Ravensbourne. 10 November 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
20. ^ Zaynab D. Ziari (13 September 2010). "Ravensbourne College by Foreign Office Architects". Dezeen. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
21. ^ "Complete University Guide 2025". The Complete University Guide. 14 May 2024.
22. ^ "Good University Guide 2025". The Times. 20 September 2024.
23. ^ "Brian Barnes". 1000 Londoners. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
24. ^ David Buckman (2006). Artists in Britain Since 1945. Vol. 1\. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0-953260-95-X.
25. ^ a b c Lucy Hodges (13 December 2007). "The shape of the future: Ravensbourne College". The Independent.
26. ^ @ZerkaaHD (7 May 2011). "@TheTrout91 Yeah it was Harrow campus, umm theres lots of Media/Art College/Unis. Im going Ravensbourne (next to 02 Arena)" (Tweet). Retrieved 26 June 2021 - via Twitter.
27. ^ "Jake and Dinos Chapman". British Council. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014.
28. ^ David Livingstone (28 March 2012). "Fashion: Michelle Obama, Holt Renfrew among designer Maria Cornejo's big fans". Toronto Star.
29. ^ Willem. "Dean, Beryl (1911-2001)". trc-leiden.nl. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
30. ^ "Mary Farmer".
31. ^ "Mary Farmer | CAS".
32. ^ Brett, Guy (24 February 2014). "Rose Finn-Kelcey obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
33. ^ "Nazaneen Ghaffar". LinkedIn. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
34. ^ Gold, William. "Will Gold". LinkedIn. Retrieved 16 July 2022. [self-published source]
35. ^ Robert Hewison (4 May 2019) [18 November 2014]. "How I first discovered Ruskin". The Victorian Web. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
36. ^ "Career". Peterjames.com. 29 November 2004. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
37. ^ "Peter James". Book Series in Order. 22 August 1948. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
38. ^ "Andrew Kötting". Art on the Underground. Transport for London. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
39. ^ Mark Cunningham (May 1997). "John Leckie: True Brit". Sound on Sound (interview). Retrieved 25 November 2021.
40. ^ "This is Tomorrow". Anthony McCall: VERTICAL WORKS. 14 March 2011.
41. ^ "Jasper Morrison | Timeline". jaspermorrison.com. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
42. ^ "Intents & Purposes — A Conversation with Jasper Morrison". www.norseprojects.com. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
43. ^ The FMD (14 July 1950). "Bruce Oldfield – Fashion Designer | The FMD". Fashionmodeldirectory.com. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
44. ^ Chris Orr RA. "Chris Orr". Royal Academy of Arts. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
45. ^ "Barber and Osgerby". Design Museum. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
46. ^ "Andi Osho: Performer & Director". Aesthetica Short Film Festival. November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
47. ^ "Biography". TimPope.TV. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
48. ^ "About". Professor Carol Tulloch.com.
49. ^ "Alison Wilding". Tate Etc. 10 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
50. ^ "Clare Waight Keller". Business of Fashion. 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2019.

## External links

[edit]

* Higher Education website
* Students' Union website

* v
* t
* e

Art schools in the United Kingdom

* Art school
* List of art schools

England|

| London|

* City and Guilds of London Art School
* Fine Arts College
* University of London
* Courtauld Institute of Art
* Goldsmiths, University of London
* Heatherley School of Fine Art
* Putney School of Art and Design
* Ravensbourne University London
* Royal Academy Schools
* Royal College of Art
* Royal Drawing School
* UCL Slade School of Fine Art
* University of the Arts London
* Camberwell College of Arts
* Central Saint Martins
* Chelsea College of Arts
* Wimbledon College of Arts

|

Other|

* Arts University Bournemouth
* Bath School of Art and Design
* Birmingham City University
* Coventry School of Art and Design
* Falmouth University
* Hastings School of Art
* Hereford College of Arts
* John Lennon Art and Design Building
* Leeds Arts University
* Lincoln College of Art
* Manchester School of Art
* Northern School of Art
* Norwich University of the Arts
* Nottingham Trent University, School of Art and Design
* Open College of the Arts
* Arts University Plymouth
* Ruskin School of Art
* University for the Creative Arts
* Winchester School of Art

Scotland|

* Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
* Edinburgh College of Art
* Glasgow School of Art
* Gray's School of Art
* Leith School of Art

Wales|

* Cardiff School of Art & Design

Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

People|

* ISIL: GB-UkLoR

51°30′6″N 0°0′20″E﻿ / ﻿51.50167°N 0.00556°E﻿ / 51.50167; 0.00556
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