Ravensbourne

Ravensbourne

Age: 49

History: Born in 1962 out of a merger between Bromley, Beckenham and Sidcup schools of art. Changed its name from Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication to become simply Ravensbourne in February 2010.

Address: The college moved into a brand new campus at Greenwich Peninsula, right next to the o2 Arena, in September 2010.

Ambience: Lively and supportive community. Designed by Foreign Office architects, the RIBA Award-winning campus building breathes creativity. The interior space has been designed to encourage interaction between disciplines. There are open spaces and quiet corners, social spaces, technology hubs, design studios and production suites.

Vital statistics: A small independent design and broadcasting institution with around 1,400 students and around 140 members of staff. One in ten are from outside the EU. There’s an emphasis on vocational learning and digital technologies, with courses offered in fashion, television and broadcasting, interactive product design, architecture and environment design, graphic design, animation, moving image, music production for media and sound design. Degrees are validated by City Universitiy London.

Added value: It’s a National Centre of Excellence for broadcasting and is a Skillset Media Academy. It has strong industry links, with guest lecturers and work experience placements to enhance teaching. The focus of the new campus is on digital innovation, with its state-of-the-art facilities being testament to this. The new building houses a 600 sq metre space for lectures, exhibitions, showcases and conferences, featuring the latest digital audio, projection and presentation facilities, with seating for 400. There is also a large, six-channel HD TV studio and 'The Lab' – the college's research and development space where it delivers training and continuing professional development.

Easy to get into? Not too bad, as a variety of qualifications are excepted. Students will usaully have either a foundation diploma or two A-levels, and have at least five GCSEs, with a portfolio of work to get into a BA.

Glittering alumni: Fashion designers Maria Cornejo, Emma Hill and Bruce Oldfield OBE (fashion designer); directors Tim Pope and Peter James; Simon Hilton, multimedia creative; Russell Pinch, furniture designer; artists Brian Barnes MBE, Chris Orr and Jake & Dinos Chapman; Robert Hewison, writer. Stella McCartney also did her foundation at Ravensbourne.

Transport links: Excellent Tube, bus, DLR and train connections. North Greenwich is the nearest underground station..

Who's the boss? Professor Robin Baker OBE, who would probably come top of the 'Principals with Strange Hobbies' list as he has collected toothbrushes for the past 10 years.

Teaching: Scored 67 per cent in the National Student Survey.

Nightlife: It's right next to the o2 entertainment complex so there's a huge range of bars and restaurants, many of which offer student discount. The arena attracts some massive acts and there's also a cinema and the Proud2 nightclub. It's only a short trip to central London, where most tastes can be satisfied.

Any accommodation? Not of its own, but it works with the University of London's housing service to help students find rooms in the private sector and has reserved 100 rooms in the nearby Quantum Court halls, owned by Unite, a private landlord. En suite rooms at Quantum Court will set you back £175 per week but include internet and all utility bills.

Cheap to live there? Not greatly, but cheaper than central London.

Fees: £3,375 per year for full-time undergrads starting in 2011. The college's fee plans for 2012 are yet to be confirmed.

Bursaries: In 2011, a means-tested bursary of up to £300 per year was awarded. The bursary scheme for 2012 is yet to be confirmed.

Prospectus: 020 3040 3500 or www.rave.ac.uk

UCAS code: R06