If you were to ask anyone what the best fashion school in London is, most (if not all!) will tell you that it's
Central Saint Martins. As one of the University of the Arts London's constituent colleges, it's the finest training ground for fashion's nest movers and shakers. The entire industry considers it as one of, or if not the ultimate fashion design school. It offers a treasure trove of courses and programs that relate to every single part of fashion, from design and business to everything in between. It also helps that some of the world's best-known British designers graduated from here too.
Source: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
History of Central Saint Martins
Though Central Saint Martins itself was only founded in 1989, the schools on which the institution is founded have been around for centuries. The design-centric college is a result of a partnership between the Central School of Art and Design and the Saint Martin's School of Art, founded in 1896 and 1854, respectively. Both schools were part of the London Institute, which is now the University of the Arts London. Hence, Central Saint Martins is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, one of the
top universities in London.
What Does Central Saint Martins Look Like?
Located on Granary Square in the
London Borough of Camden, the Central Saint Martins campus looks like a big warehouse. It's a fairly big building filled with studios, ateliers, standard classrooms, libraries, laboratories, and more. It has ample space for the college's extensive fashion and art courses, especially those related to design. Here, you can create the biggest and most outlandish fashions, with even more space to exhibit them to the public. What's notable is that it has a big outdoor space too, which the school makes proper use of with its exhibitions, shows, displays, and more.
Source: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
The Central Saint Martins Student Body
Central Saint Martins welcomes about 5,000 students per year, made up of both new enrollees and returning students for the new school year. While this may seem a lot, you're already extremely lucky if you get into the school. Central Saint Martins is notorious for being one of the hardest schools to get into, especially among the many
fashion schools in London. Every year, only 6% of applicants are accepted, further proving its exclusivity. Relatedly, only 21% of applicants are accepted into the University of the Arts London.
Central Saint Martins' Best Programs and Courses
It's most evident that fashion design is the best and most popular course in Central Saint Martins. Particularly, the Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, be it for womenswear or menswear. These are the exact programs that produced some of the most famous designers working in the industry today. At the same time, The school’s Masters of Arts in Fashion, Fashion Communication, Fashion Journalism, and Fashion Histories & Theories are also popular among professionals who want to further their studies in the field.
Source: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
Central Saint Martins' Prerequisites
A prestigious fashion school like Central Saint Martins will require strict prerequisites from its applicants. For example, applying to the schools BA in Fashion Design: Womenswear requires a level 3 or 4 Pass at Foundation Diploma and an APEL (Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning). For a program like the MA for Fashion Communication: Fashion Journalism, on the other hand, you'll need a first or upper second-class honors Bachelor of Arts degree in related fields. Not to mention a proper APEL and a level 7.0 proficiency in English.
How Much Does It Cost to Study in Central Saint Martins?
Naturally, Central Saint Martins is also among London's most expensive art schools. Its tuition fees range from a minimum of £9,000.00 to a maximum of £25,970.00 per year. If you plan to take a full undergraduate or postgraduate degree, expect to pay around £15,000.00 to £25,970.00 per year for your course. The more affordable programs are the short-term courses, which include pre-degree, online, and research courses. Don't forget that on top of all that, you still have to deal with the high
living costs in London too, which tend to range from £1,106.30 to £3,850.00 per month.
Source: University of the Arts London Facebook Page
Where is Central Saint Martins in The City?
As already mentioned, Central Saint Martins is located in Granary Square, which is at the center of the King’s Cross
neighborhood of London. A vibrant and regenerated area, this is also among the most desirable districts in the city. It's a lively and highly urban part of the Camden borough, best known for its fast-paced city life with lots of things to see and do. This is the kind of place you'll want to stay when you plan on living a cosmopolitan lifestyle in the British capital. Fortunately, the area also boasts many of the most
luxurious apartments in London to rent.
Central Saint Martins Famous Graduates
Name any of the best British fashion designers working in the industry today and there's a good chance they graduated from Central Saint Martins. Stella McCartney, for example, a pioneer in sustainable fashion, graduated from here. So did John Galliano, a controversial but prolific designer who held the creative director positions in mega-brands like Christian Dior and Martin Margiela. The late Alexander McQueen was among CSM's most revered graduates too, known for his boundless creativity and impeccable tailoring. And even Zac Posen, a well-known American designer known for his sculptural red-carpet gowns, also studied here.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
If you want to study fashion in the same place that produced some of the best designers in the world, enroll in the legendary Central Saint Martins now! To say that it's one of the best fashion schools in London is an understatement!
