2027/28
Welcome
Welcome to Northbrook College, where ambition meets opportunity and individuality is celebrated. In this guide, you’ll discover what it means to be supported by expert teaching staff with real industry knowledge, helping you develop both the technical skills and creative confidence to shape your future.
Here, you’ll learn by doing, creating in professional environments that reflect real industry. Whether you’re designing props in our specialist 3D workshops, recording music in state-of-the-art studios or stage-managing productions in our theatre, you’ll gain practical experience that prepares you for the creative world beyond graduation. Our degrees are awarded by University of the Arts London (UAL), ranked second in the world for art and design*. This means you graduate with a degree that is globally recognised and is valued by employers across the creative industries.
Our commitment to excellence is also reflected in our national recognition for teaching quality, with a TEF Silver Award for both student experience and student outcomes. But what truly defines Northbrook is its creative community, a place where ideas are explored, individuality is encouraged, and innovation thrives.
Whether you’re continuing your studies, pursuing a passion, or preparing for the next stage of your career we are here to help you shape your future on your own terms.
Discover a bold approach to Higher Education –explore our guide and see the difference for yourself!
Helena Thomas, Strategic Lead for Higher Education
Kirste McCool, Director of Higher Education
*QS World University Rankings by subject 2025
At Northbrook College, our degrees are designed for real-world creative careers.
With smaller class sizes, flexible timetables and expert teaching from industry-active professionals, you’ll receive focused guidance that helps you develop both your technical skills and your creative identity. You won’t simply study your subject, you’ll live it, experiment with it and grow through it.
Why choose us?
Northbrook College, Creative Arts Degrees
Northbrook College offers a creative setting shaped by the spirit of the South Coast. Located in Worthing, the coastline’s calming energy inspires artists, performers and makers to experiment, explore and imagine without limits.
Students join us from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared ambition to imagine, innovate and create. Northbrook’s collaborative community encourages you to explore new ideas, challenge conventions and learn alongside people who inspire you. With degrees awarded by the prestigious University of the Arts London (UAL), ranked second in the world for art and design*, you’ll graduate with a qualification that stands out. It’s a mark of quality recognised across the creative industries.
Northbrook is a creative hub where ideas come alive and futures take shape. Whether you’re beginning a new journey or taking your next step, this is where you can grow your craft, expand your horizons and define your path on your own terms.
*Source: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
Your campus
Creative work needs space, time and the right tools. At Northbrook College, our facilities are built to support serious creative practice across music, performing and production arts, visual arts and design.
This is a campus designed for those who want to work hands-on, develop professional habits and spend real time refining their craft.
Get hands-on
Twenty four custom-designed music studios, from high-spec control rooms and live recording spaces to solo workstation rooms. Software includes Logic Pro, Pro Tools and Ableton, alongside professional hardware from SSL, TL Audio, Audient, Neve and Focusrite.
Tread the boards in our 160-seat theatre, with a fully operational prompt desk, radio communications and cue-light systems, allowing you to train using the same equipment found in professional venues. Our campus is also home to plenty of dance studios and rehearsal spaces.
Get hands-on in our 3D workshop supporting wood and metalwork, sculpting, moulding and casting, decorative finishes, model making, soft props and puppetry. Work with CAD software, laser cutters and 3D printers, gaining experience of contemporary production methods while maintaining a strong foundation in making.
Photography facilities include a large Infinity Curve studio, the Black Studio with flexible backdrops and LED lighting and traditional darkrooms. You'll have access to professional equipment including full-frame mirrorless and DSLR cameras, specialist lenses, analogue formats from 35mm to large format, remote sound-recording equipment, and experienced technical support.
You'll work in large, light-filled art and design studios, with dedicated individual workspace to develop your practice. Facilities include printmaking studios and specialist textile areas, with natural dye processes supported by dyes grown on campus. This combination of space, access and materials will allow you to develop as a confident artist.
Worthing sits between the coast and the South Downs, offering a balance of sea, countryside and creative life.
Northbrook College is set at the edge of town, surrounded by woodland and open landscapes. It’s a calm, spacious setting that gives you room to focus, think and create.
Worthing itself has a relaxed creative scene, with independent cafés, galleries and performance spaces woven into the town. Students often use the seafront, parks and public spaces as places to sketch, rehearse, write or take a break from studio work.
Our local area
Along the coast, Brighton adds a different energy. A short train journey connects you to one of the UK’s most active creative hubs, known for its music, theatre and arts scene. Events such as Brighton Fringe and The Great Escape Festival attract artists and audiences from across the world, offering inspiration and opportunities to connect with the wider creative industries. Direct rail links place London within easy reach, offering access to national creative, cultural and professional networks.
Outside of study, the area offers an easy balance between culture and nature. Coastal walks, sea swimming and beach evenings sit alongside access to the South Downs for hiking and open space. Whether you’re drawn to landscape, live events or independent culture, Northbrook College offers the best of both worlds.
Increase your career potential
Our strong employer partnerships play a big part in your future success. In the creative industries, careers are built through collaboration, reputation and real-world experience, not just qualifications.
At Northbrook College, industry connection is embedded into your course, giving you direct exposure to professional practice and the expectations of creative employers.
Whether you’re aiming to enter the industry, develop your freelance practice or progress within a creative role, our courses are designed to help you build confidence, credibility and a professional network. Through employer partnerships, live briefs, placements and industry-led activity, you’ll graduate with more than a degree, you’ll leave with experience, contacts and a clear sense of where your skills fit within the creative landscape.
Students regularly work on live projects and commissions with external partners. Recent examples include Propmaking and SFX students producing professional props, sculptures and installations for Glastonbury Festival, The National Trust, Worthing Theatres, Sky Atlantic, Morgan Films and The Royal Armouries, alongside work for film, theatre, festivals, museums and commercial clients.
Musical Theatre students have also worked to real-world briefs, including delivering a large-scale themed performance project at the Hilton Gatwick Airport for a corporate DHL event. Previous cohorts have additionally collaborated with The Ultimate Wedding Planner, gaining first-hand experience of professional broadcast environments.
How we equip you for career success
+ Learn from tutors with active industry experience
+ Work on live and industrycommissioned briefs
+ Gain practical experience through placements and project work
+ Use professional-standard facilities and equipment
+ Learn within creative environments that reflect industry practice
+ Receive personalised career guidance and progression support
Industries Week
Our commitment to industry collaboration comes to life through initiatives such as our annual Industries Week. This programme brings leading professionals onto campus to share insight, experience and honest perspectives on working in the creative industries.
Recent contributors include Nick Ferran, whose credits include Star Wars and Beetlejuice; Amelia Ferran-Hook, Head of Production at Chichester Festival Theatre; and Bridget Forster, Head of Wigs and Makeup at Glyndebourne. These sessions give students direct access to industry thinking, career pathways and professional expectations.
Meet the experts
Behind every degree are passionate teachers and technicians with real industry experience and a genuine commitment to their craft. Our staff bring professional insight, practical knowledge and a clear understanding of how creative careers are built.
Daniel Jenkins
Daniel has worked at Northbrook College for 25 years and has been a freelance professional maker since 1990. His industry work spans theatre, live performance, Live Action Role Play and the wider entertainment sector, creating everything from fantastical creatures, puppets and costumes to swords and armour for shows and immersive experiences.
Deeply committed to both making and teaching, Daniel thrives on creative problem-solving and believes education is the best place to pass that passion on. He finds it a privilege to support students as they grow from tentative beginners into confident artists and technicians over the course of the degree and takes pride in helping them develop the skills, confidence and mindset needed for a career in the industry.
Jo Loader
Jo has been part of Northbrook College for over 20 years and brings extensive professional theatre experience into her teaching. Before entering education, Jo began her career working on electrics before moving into stage management, building her expertise in repertory theatres across the UK.
Her final in-house role was as Stage Manager at Chichester Festival Theatre, alongside freelance work as an Opera Stage Manager touring internationally, including across Europe and New Zealand. Jo is passionate about stage management as a career that combines creativity, organisation and problemsolving, with skills that translate across the creative industries. With technicians and stage managers in high demand, she takes pride in seeing Northbrook graduates progress into theatres nationwide, the West End, television and live events.
Mike Pailthorpe
Mike has been part of Northbrook College since founding the Music Department in 1997 and has worked professionally in the music industry since 1990. He began his career at a residential recording studio, working with artists including Radiohead, The Verve and The Stranglers, while simultaneously running a record label and performing as a musician.
After relocating to Worthing, Mike established his own studio, producing music across a wide range of genres and developing a specialism in copyright, contracts and the financial realities of working in music. Alongside roles as a producer, engineer, performer and negotiator, he remains actively involved in live music and festival production. Mike is passionate about helping students build sustainable careers, drawing on both his successes and the hard-earned lessons that mean students can avoid common industry pitfalls.
A world-class education
University of the Arts London (UAL) is one of the world’s leading institutions for art, design, fashion, media and performance.
Made up of six internationally recognised colleges, including Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion and Camberwell College of Arts, UAL has a global reputation for shaping creative practice and setting standards across the creative industries.
Having UAL as your awarding body means your degree is backed by an institution recognised worldwide for academic rigour and creative excellence. While you study within the supportive, studio-focused environment of Northbrook College, your qualification carries the credibility of a top-ranked art and design university, signalling to employers and industry professionals that you are trained to a professional, industry-ready standard.
Showcase your success
Northbrook’s end-of-year shows are the highlight of our creative calendar. A vibrant celebration of student talent, imagination and hard work.
Each summer, our campuses transform into dynamic exhibition spaces filled with fashion collections, performances, media work, installations, music sets and innovative designs. It’s a moment where students step into the spotlight, sharing their ideas with industry professionals, family, friends and the wider community.
These shows mark the culmination of each creative journey, showcasing not just finished work but the ambition and vision behind it. Surrounded by energy, colour and excitement, it’s a truly unforgettable finale to the academic year.
This year, we partnered with MCM Comic Con to bring creative education directly into the heart of the convention.
Across the weekend, our students and alumni delivered live workshops, hosted panels featuring tutors, alumni and current students, and showcased work from across our degrees.
Visitors were able to see techniques in action, ask questions about progression routes and careers, and understand how skills developed for cosplay and fan projects can translate into professional work in film, TV, theatre and live events. It was an opportunity to demonstrate our students' expertise in a live industry environment, in front of thousands of attendees.
Beyond classroomthe
Being at MCM Comic Con just made sense. The people there are exactly the kind of creatives Northbrook is for. It was great to share what we do, and through the workshops we hope people left feeling inspired and excited about where their creativity could lead.
Saphron Morgan Northbrook Alumna Winner of BBC Glow Up 2023
Your experience. Your voice.
Your time at college should feel like yours and that’s where the Students’ Union (SU) comes in.
Representing learners across the Chichester College Group, the SU is a student-powered team making sure voices are heard at every level at Northbrook College.
From shaping day-to-day student life to influencing decisions around learning, wellbeing and campus culture, the SU puts students at the heart of what happens here.
At Northbrook, the SU champions an inclusive, student-led community through representation, events, societies and enrichment activities. Whether you’re keen to express yourself creatively, connect socially or build skills for the future, there are countless opportunities to get involved, meet people who share your interests and grow your confidence beyond the classroom.
Travel the world with Xtra and unlock unforgettable experiences beyond the classroom. Each year, the SU offers once-in-a-lifetime trips to incredible destinations, from supporting community projects in Kenya, to exploring the bright lights of New York City, to discovering the magic of Disneyland Paris, and so much more. These adventures are designed to broaden horizons, build confidence and create memories that will stay with you long after graduation. Whether you’re travelling for culture, volunteering, or fun, Xtra trips give you the chance to make friends, experience new places and be part of something truly extraordinary.
Studying at Northbrook College has been a fantastic experience. The community is warm and welcoming, and being part of the Student Union gives me a real sense of purpose and the opportunity to create meaningful change for my peers and future students.
Layla Brooker Student President
Our degrees
A student-centred, industry-facing acting course. You’ll be trained to think and work as an actor, performer, director, activist, producer and screen artist.
The course provides rigorous technical training in acting technique, rehearsal practice and character development. Diverse traditional and emerging acting approaches will help develop vocal and movement skills responding to contemporary and classical text, physical and applied theatre and screen media. You will learn to adapt your acting practice for different performance contexts, styles and demands.
Alongside this technical foundation, you are encouraged to explore your own artistic interests and identities, enabling you to question, contribute to and help shape today’s cultural landscape.
You’ll work alongside students from theatre design, make-up, props, music and technical theatre, reflecting the interdisciplinary relationships that drive the creative industries.
Modules cover text work, devising, acting as activism, directing, acting for film and other media, and designing your own projects.
You will specialise in areas such as writing, directing, producing, film, trans-media or comedy, allowing you to develop a broad, adaptable skillset for today’s creative landscape.
You’ll take part in live performances and commissioned projects throughout your training, including opportunities at Fringe Festivals, external venues, and in our 160-seat on campus theatre. Visiting practitioners and specialist workshops will challenge you to perform boldly and create work that inspires.
Graduates go on to careers in theatre, film, television and comedy, as well as in directing, producing and arts leadership, with many also progressing to postgraduate study.
@northbrooktheatre
Acting BA(Hons)
UCAS codes
Course W410
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Transform your ideas into unforgettable costumes that shape the future of theatre, film, television, dance and live events. On this specialist degree you’ll develop design, making and wardrobe supervision skills, combining bold creativity with time-honoured techniques informed by historical, political and social contexts, storytelling and visual communication within global creative industries today.
In our specialist workshop facilities, you’ll explore character development and narrative-led communication through costume, supported by illustration, design development and historical research. You’ll build strong technical skills in pattern cutting, corsetry, tailoring, millinery, fabric manipulation and costume prop making. Collaboration is central to the course, with opportunities to work alongside actors, directors, make-up artists and set designers on productions, showcases and exhibitions.
With a strong focus on employability, you’ll take your designs from concept to production, gaining experience across theatre, screen and live events while expanding your professional network. Industryled workshops, live projects and regular showcases will support you to develop a distinctive portfolio, with real-world experience gained through internal productions and external commissions supported by industry-active professionals.
@costumenorthbrook
UCAS codes
Course W451
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Costume Design for Performance & Film
This course offers rigorous, industry-informed training across ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and urban dance practices. With an emphasis on technical excellence, creative development and choreographic enquiry. You will engage in movement research, improvisation and performance practice, equipping you with the adaptability and artistic voice required for a sustainable career in the performing arts industry.
The course is shaped by four complementary, interlocking strands of dance pedagogy: technique, performance, creation and context.
Regular practical classes build technical strength, physical confidence and performance presence, supported by individual feedback and clear progress reviews that help you understand how to develop. Performance sits at the heart of the course, with workshops and opportunities to present your work in studio settings, our professionally equipped theatre and external venues.
You will develop teaching and communication skills, preparing you to lead with an emphasis on safety, adaptability and inclusive practice.
Excellent facilities support the development of specialist skills, while cross-course collaboration places you at the centre of the Northbrook Theatre, working alongside actors, designers and technicians to create original work.
Throughout the course, you’ll shape projects around your interests, whether you aim to pursue performance, choreography or teaching, developing a professional practice that carries your individual voice into the wider industry.
@northbrook_dance
UCAS codes
Course W540
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Dance & Professional Practice BA(Hons)
A course for designers with creativity and conscience. This degree is for those who care as much about how things are made as how they look. You’ll develop skills in illustration, pattern cutting, garment construction and printed textiles, moving confidently between 2D sketches and 3D forms. Taking your ideas from first concept to final collection and show.
You will be encouraged to make responsible, sustainable design decisions, learning to select materials and methods that respect people, place and the future of fashion.
Studio practice focuses on tailoring, garment construction and textiles innovation, while you become a confident user of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) to develop, present and refine your ideas.
In year two, you will step into industry through a work placement, often collaborating with professional designers, discovering how creativity meets real-world deadlines.
Design modules include live industry projects and competitions with high-profile brands, preparing you for your final year project where you’ll produce a full collection. Regular showcases at internal and external fashion events will help you build a professional portfolio.
Previous students have won prestigious awards including the River Island Womenswear Award and the Zandra Rhodes Catwalk Textiles Award, highlighting the course’s strong industry connections and creative impact.
@northbrook_ba_fashion.ual
Fashion Design
UCAS codes
Course W232
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Fashion and Textiles students from Northbrook College took to the runway as part of Slow Fashion Week, a Brighton-based celebration of sustainable design, creativity, and community action led by the Brighton Fashion Collective.
Showcasing cruelty-free and environmentally conscious work, students presented collections ranging from cactus leather garments developed with Desserto to upcycled fashion created in partnership with Oxfam, supported by Hair and Makeup students from across the college.
The programme culminated in a flagship showcase at the Brighton Dome, where students shared their work with the public alongside industry creatives. For many, the experience offered a rare opportunity to present professional-level designs in a realworld setting, connecting sustainable practice with collaboration, confidence and creative ambition.
Slow
fashion
Photography by Malcom Tam
HELM Launch Show at London Fashion Week
A degree for curious, independent thinkers who want to develop a confident and experimental studio practice as a contemporary artist.
You will work across a wide range of disciplines, including sculpture, painting, printmaking, installation, film, photography, performance and sound, engaging with both traditional processes and emerging technologies to shape your individual artistic practice.
The course unfolds through immersive workshops, practical inductions and collaborative projects. You’ll have the flexibility to work across disciplines or specialise, supported by teaching staff who are practising artists with diverse professional experience.
Critical reviews, seminars and artist talks support you to articulate your ideas, reflect on your work and engage with the work of others. Professional development sessions focus on presenting your practice, strategic planning and navigating the creative industries.
Gallery visits, live projects and briefs place your work within historical and contemporary contexts, while collaboration with students across art, design, music and theatre encourages cross-disciplinary thinking and research.
You will study in purpose-built studios with access to industry-standard workshops including printmaking, ceramics, casting, 3D processes and photographic darkrooms. Whether studying full-time or part-time, you’ll exhibit your work in college and public venues, graduating with a professional portfolio and the confidence to launch your creative career.
@bafineart_northbrookcollege
Fine Art BA(Hons)
UCAS codes
Course W102
Institution C57
Duration
3 years, full-time
5 years, part-time
Bring your ideas to life and shape the future of visual communication. This degree was developed in collaboration with industry experts to prepare emerging designers for professional life, ready to shape visual culture on their own terms.
This course blends traditional design principles with cutting-edge digital techniques, with employability embedded in the creative process. The first year centres on mastering core design skills, exploring the many facets of the subject across digital and interactive platforms while building a broad overview of historical and contemporary issues that frame design today.
In year two you’ll step inside the industry environment, growing market awareness and the professional practice necessary for the workplace through industry standard briefs. Your third year will culminate with your final major project. Throughout your studies, you’ll work across a range of media and disciplines, including graphic design, illustration, digital platforms and interactive media.
Enjoy access to state-of-the-art facilities including dedicated computer suites, print room, photography studios and a 3D workshop. You’ll learn to work independently and collaboratively with support from industry expert tutors who will support and prepare you for your next steps after graduation.
@northbrookgraphicdesign
Graphic Design BA(Hons)
UCAS codes
Course W210
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
This degree prepares you for a career in contemporary illustration, where critical thinking and technical discipline go hand in hand. Workshops, critiques and collaborative projects help you become an independent illustrator ready for further study and professional practice.
You’ll explore traditional, digital and experimental approaches through workshops, seminars and professional briefs, working with media including ink, paint, collage and cutting-edge digital tools. Alongside this, you’ll have access to specialist processes such as large-format and risograph printing, expanding how your work is produced, shared and experienced. As you progress, you’ll apply your skills to industry-standard projects, developing an understanding of current markets, audiences and the social and cultural contexts shaping illustration today.
In your final year, study becomes increasingly self-directed. You’ll write your own briefs, refine your technical and conceptual approach, and complete a final project shaped around your interests. Working across areas such as children’s books, editorial, advertising, posters, packaging and display, you’ll graduate with a versatile and professional portfolio.
You’ll study in collaborative studios alongside a vibrant creative arts community, supported by expert tutors, including an award-winning children’s illustrator.
Many of our students have received prestigious awards, and alumni include Jamie Hewlett, creator of Gorillaz.
@northbrookillustration
Illustration BA(Hons)
UCAS codes Course W221
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
This innovative course responds to a growing industry need for confident, practical makeup and hair specialists. Over three focused years this course combines technical mastery with creative exploration, preparing you to work in theatre, film, TV, fashion and editorial fields.
On this degree, you’ll develop a comprehensive range of specialist skills across both hairstyling and makeup for performance, screen and creative industries. You will explore period hair design, wig creation, foundation making and advanced postiche techniques. You’ll work with period styles, camera-ready and beauty applications, alongside body painting and prosthetic special effects.
Whether you are creating classic elegance for the stage, a bold fashion editorial, or a striking character transformation, this degree equips you with the technical expertise and creative confidence to thrive in a competitive industry.
Collaboration is integral to the course, with opportunities to work alongside dancers, photographers and theatre students, ensuring your work meets industry standards. You’ll benefit from access to excellent facilities, including specialist studios, photography spaces and a working theatre that hosts public productions throughout the year.
Teaching is delivered by experienced specialists, with regular critiques and individual feedback supporting your development. You’ll graduate as an adaptable, imaginative and industry-ready practitioner.
Makeup & Hair for Theatre & Media
UCAS codes
Course W452
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
This degree is built around entrepreneurship and employability, giving you the core skills to work in artist management, Artists and Repertoire (A&R), music publishing and events. Smaller class sizes and industry projects help you step toward professional life with confidence.
Classes take place in our Music Business Hub inside our extensive state-of-the-art studio complex. In your first year, you’ll be introduced to the structure of the music industry and music law, studying artist management, A&R and the craft of releasing and marketing records from vinyl to digital streaming.
In year two you will bid for funding for your own business ideas and negotiate industry work placements, cultivating independence through vocational projects that mirror real-world briefs.
Your third year is shaped by visits from practitioners across record labels, publishers, artist managers, music lawyers and performing artists in all genres, including many successful alumni who return to share their experience. Opportunities to collaborate with fellow students from a range of creative disciplines will widen your perspective, while work in event planning and live projects helps you build a resilient network and professional identity early on.
Be part of the vibrant and diverse music community on campus and immerse yourself in the local scene, learning how creativity and commerce come together.
Music Business & Management
UCAS codes
Course N190
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Our Stage Management
and Technical Theatre alumni are now working at the highest level of the industry, across major West End productions, national theatres, touring shows, and large-scale live events.
These include Donmar Warehouse, Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, Chichester Festival Theatre and The O2 Arena. From lighting and sound to stage management, wardrobe, events and operations, our graduates play a vital role behind the scenes on the most ambitious productions in the UK and abroad.
Graduates are now working on highprofile shows and events such as Moulin Rouge, Starlight Express, Matilda, ABBA Voyage and Tick Tick… Boom! Their progression reflects the degree's strong industry focus and its emphasis on professional practice, technical expertise, and real-world experience.
Behind the scenes
Northbrook College, Creative Arts Degrees
Northbrook alumni at work in industry
Turn your raw ideas into professional work and gain the technical knowledge you need for your future in music production.
This course gives you access to one of the most advanced studio complexes in the UK, designed to rival top commercial studios. From day one, you’ll create original music, collaborate across creative disciplines, and take part in our Artist Development Programme, shaping your identity as a producer, composer, or engineer. You will develop a broad range of skills, from studio-based production to live sound, including recording, mixing, mastering, sound design, acoustics and music theory.
You’ll work in 24 custom-designed studios, including high-spec control rooms, live recording spaces, and Apple Mac workstations, equipped with industry-standard software such as Logic Pro, Pro Tools, and Ableton, alongside professional hardware from SSL, TL Audio, Audient, Neve, Focusrite and Universal Audio.
This degree will prepare you for the future with our Artist Development Programme, with regular visits from key music industry practitioners, including many alumni. Develop entrepreneurial and music business skills and start building your industry network by collaborating with other creative industries students and external industry experts.
This innovative degree is at the cutting-edge of music production, explore your creativity, independence and technical skills on this multidisciplinary course.
Music Production
UCAS codes Course J931
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
As a musician, performing live is a unique and exhilarating experience, and on this degree the stage becomes your daily classroom. Designed to develop your musicianship, stage presence and entrepreneurial skills, giving you the tools to succeed as a performer, musician, composer or music educator.
You’ll take part in regular gigs on campus and at external venues, collaborate with students across creative disciplines and work in professional recording sessions.
Guidance comes from lecturers with expert knowledge and industry experience, shaping your progress with individual feedback and honest reviews. By the end of your degree, you will have a significant recorded portfolio, produced in our state-of-the-art studio complex. Specialist units include music theory, songwriting and live performance so your craft has both academic and creative foundation.
Feel inspired each time you attend a guest lecture, with visits from prominent music figures, record labels, publishers, artist managers and successful alumni sharing insights into their careers.
Collaborative projects with other creative students mirror industry practice, while opportunities for work experience, festivals, private tuition and recording sessions with professional touring bands, help you grow a professional network early on.
You’ll perform in our professional 160-seat on-site theatre and external venues, gaining varied real-world experience.
Music Performer & Practitioner
UCAS codes
Course W313
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
If your aim is to become a versatile, creative and technical performer, then this course is for you. This degree provides triple threat training focused on developing skills in acting, singing and dance.
This exciting course combines in-depth vocal coaching, acting techniques, and technical dance training across jazz, tap, ballet contemporary, lyrical and commercial styles. You’ll develop skills in music theory, choral singing, choreograph and audition preparation, ensuring you are equipped for the demands of the industry.
Our state-of-the-art facilities include 11 rehearsal studios, five with sprung dance floors and mirrors and a professional 160-seat theatre.
Performance opportunities include full-scale musical productions, agent showcases, dance exhibitions, and major festivals such as the Edinburgh and Brighton Fringe. You’ll create original vocal and choreographic work, with opportunities to perform at events, record podcasts, take part in modelling shoots and feature in short films.
Collaboration is central to the course, providing unique opportunities to work with students in other creative disciplines to produce fully realised productions. You’ll be taught by a dynamic team of experienced professionals and benefit from exclusive workshops with West End artists. Alumni have gone on to perform in West End productions, UK tours, TV, film, and cruise ship entertainment, as well as in creative roles across the industry.
@northbrookmusicaltheatre @northbrooktheatre
Musical Theatre BA(Hons)
UCAS codes
Course W392
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
This hands-on photography degree develops you as a creative and professional lens-based practitioner, supporting you to refine a distinctive personal approach. You’ll build the confidence to progress into industry as an independent practitioner or as part of a collaborative creative community.
The degree places curiosity at the centre of the creative process. You’ll experiment with a wide range of approaches, developing strong technical and visual skills while exploring the areas of photography that inspire you most. From moving image and traditional film to experimental practices, you’ll work across a broad spectrum of lens-based media, building a professional portfolio for future employment.
You’ll have access to excellent facilities, including a large infinity curve studio with professional flash lighting, a flexible studio with interchangeable backdrops and a black studio equipped with flash-capable LED lighting. You’ll work in a traditional black-and-white darkroom and a Mac suite equipped with Adobe Creative Cloud.
The course provides access to professional equipment, including mirrorless and DSLR cameras from crop to full-frame sensors, a wide range of lenses, analogue cameras from 35mm to large format and dedicated technical support.
Through client-based projects and industry connections, you’ll work with established professionals while building your network and engaging in cross-disciplinary collaboration across the campus.
@northbrookcollegephoto
UCAS codes
Course W642
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Photography with Lens-Based Practices
Making props is where imagination learns to stand on its own two feet. This degree focuses on the design and manufacture of objects for theatre, television, film, exhibitions and the wider entertainment industries, training you to think like a maker who can solve problems with their hands and their head.
Prop workshops are energetic, hands-on environments, and you’ll be based in our dedicated studios equipped with industry-standard tools and technologies. Across these spaces you’ll build skills in wood and metalwork, sculpting, moulding and casting, decorative finishes, model making and soft props and puppetry. Alongside traditional craft techniques, you’ll work with advanced equipment including Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, laser cutters and 3D printers.
You’ll take on professional, client-led projects, collaborate with industry partners and develop a portfolio that reflects your technical ability, creativity and problem-solving skills. You’ll work on live projects for real clients, gaining hands-on experience in creating high-quality props for productions, exhibitions, and corporate events.
Our graduates have gone on to work with leading studios, theatres, and production companies, including The National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, Elstree and Pinewood Film Studios, English National Ballet, and Universal Creations, contributing to major films, TV series, advertisements, and West End shows.
propsuk.com
Prop Making & Special Effects
UCAS codes
Course W490
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Our Propmaking graduates go on to work across film, television and theatre, contributing to major productions and world-class creative teams. From specialist workshops to global studios, their careers show just how far hands-on prop training can take you.
Practical magic
Since finishing the course I’ve worked across TV, theatre and film. Some highlights were being part of the team that made the stunt Ironman suits for Disneyland Paris, I built Proton packs for Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and recently I made it to the Lucasfilm Creature FX team for Star Wars Starfighter.
Rich Prop making alumnus
The course took me from an amateur interest in cosplay to a clear professional direction. It gave me a broad range of practical skills, from welding to sculpting and painting, while allowing the freedom to explore my own interests. I’ve since worked across film, TV, events and the hobbyist market, including projects for larger studios like Weta Workshop and HBO.
Danielle Prop making alumna
This degree develops confident, adaptable production professionals. You’ll deliver productions and events across a range of genres, working from the earliest planning stages through to final get-out, while building essential industry skills.
This distinctive degree offers a progressive, student-led approach to technical and production training, delivered within our professionally equipped 160-seat theatre and specialist studio spaces. You’ll work with industry-standard technologies including ETC ION lighting desks, DiGiCo SD Series sound consoles, counterweight and hemp flying systems, motors, truss and specialist rigging, alongside a fully operational prompt desk, radio communications and cue-light systems.
You’ll gain experience across all production pathways before selecting two areas to focus on. Pathway options include Stage Management, Lighting Design & Operation, Sound Design & Operation and Production Management, allowing you to shape your training around your interests and career goals.
Your learning will be practical, vocational and industry-focused, developing both technical expertise and critical understanding of production and performance. This approach prepares you for professional practice and confident entry into the industry.
Graduates of this course work nationally and internationally across theatre, television, festivals, opera, the West End and live events. Find out more about our alumni on page 42.
@northbrookproduction
UCAS codes
Course W450
Institution C57
Duration 3 years, full-time
Stage Management & Technical Theatre
This degree is for artists, craftspeople, designers and makers who want to create textiles for art, fashion or interiors, developing technical confidence, personal vision and a clear pathway into industry or postgraduate study.
In your first year, you’ll be introduced to core skills and processes through practical workshops. These typically include design development, drawing, printed and dyed textiles, natural dyeing, stitch, fabric manipulation, traditional and digital printmaking.
You’ll be encouraged to adopt an exploratory and experimental approach to design, underpinned by an understanding of contemporary issues such as sustainability, material knowledge, market awareness and in-depth creative research.
Next, you’ll develop design solutions for a variety of contexts, from fashion and interior textiles to stationery, gifts, craft and art-based applications, before selecting a specialist route and refining projects within your own studio space. You’ll have full access to campus facilities including the textile print room, dye lab, laser cutter, 3D craft workshop, sewing studios and photography facilities.
Live industry projects, competitions and work placements offer opportunities to work with real clients, including briefs such as the Bradford Textile Society Awards. The course culminates in a final major project that brings together technique and creative vision, preparing you for employment, freelance practice or postgraduate study with confidence.
@textiledegree_northbrook
UCAS codes
Course W231
Institution C57
Duration
3 years, full-time 5 years, part-time
Textiles for Art, Fashion & Interiors
This one-year full-time course offers anyone over 18 an opportunity to develop an individual art practice. We will provide support, inspiration and advice for those wishing to progress to higher education or employment.
This programme is designed to achieve higher level skills and knowledge, develop professional behaviours and transferable skills that will support progression to university-level study, taught by tutors who are themselves practising artists.
Specialist skills include: 3D design, sculpture, modelling, fashion, textiles, weaving, ceramics, fine art painting, drawing from the model, narrative image making, zine making, artists’ book creation, illustration, digital design, lens-based, animation and print-making.
You will also learn to talk about your practice with confidence through individual and group tutorials and assessment feedback. The course provides you with the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to access and progress to degree level study or employment and to develop and test your creativity.
The course comprises three separate units beginning with an experimental, exploratory stage. This gives you an immediate feel for the course ethos, a chance to meet your cohort, workshops in a wide variety of creative areas, and to work both individually and in groups. This unit will enable you to make informed choices about where to go next. The subsequent unit (often referred to as Pathway stage) allows you to focus more clearly on potential future developments and to focus on creative areas that will aid your progression. This is enabled through a series of workshops in various creative disciplines that support independent creative practice.
The third and final stage is the final major project. This is an extended project that you will write and design yourself. It begins with a statement of intent and some initial thoughts. Although this stage is predominantly student-led, there is still a great deal of tutor input in the form of regular tutorials.
Art & Design Foundation
Duration 1 year, full-time
Graduation
At Northbrook College, graduation is a memorable milestone for every student.
Each year, graduates gather at Chichester Cathedral, a historic and iconic venue in the heart of the city. The ceremony offers a meaningful moment to reflect on the hard work, commitment, and academic achievements attained throughout their studies.
Receiving their certificate on stage in such a prestigious setting marks a significant transition from education to the next stage of each student’s journey. In particular, every ceremony contains hundreds of individual stories, with students following their own paths to graduation. Each of these students have been shaped by different experiences, responsibilities, and challenges. This day is about recognising every one of these students, as they celebrate their accomplishments surrounded by family, friends and tutors, and look ahead to the opportunities awaiting them in their chosen industries.
It is a proud culmination of their time at Northbrook College and a confident step into their future, be it in professional careers, postgraduate study, or industry roles.
Entry requirements
Flexible entry requirements
Entry requirements for our degrees are flexible and vary by course and level of study. We recognise that student potential is demonstrated in many ways, so each application is considered individually.
Alongside academic qualifications, we value industry experience, portfolios, and transferable skills gained through work, independent projects or professional activity. Your application will be assessed holistically, considering your grades, portfolio or audition (where required), relevant experience, and personal statement.
Typical entry requirements are outlined here; however, offers may vary to reflect individual strengths, creative ability and experience.
For BA (Hons) degrees
Art, Design, Media, Music and Performing and Production Arts:
+ 2 A-levels and 3 GCSEs in other subjects (grade 9-4 or A-C) plus portfolio of work or audition to demonstrate ability in the specialist area.
+ 1 A-level, a Foundation course (or equivalent) and 3 GCSEs in other subjects (grade 9-4 or A-C) plus portfolio or audition to demonstrate ability in the specialist area.
GCSE English and maths
We strongly advise that all applicants will have achieved 9-4 (A-C) grades in maths and English or an equivalent qualification to ensure the successful completion of the course and enhance future careers.
English as a second language
Applicants who have English as a second language and do not have a GCSE in English will be asked to take an IELTS assessment to demonstrate their ability to work at this level. The minimum overall score is 6.0, with no element under 5.5 in all four elements. The exception to this is students who have been educated in the UK and have been schooled in English. If they have achieved a grade D/3 they would not need to take the IELTS assessment.
If you only want to apply to Northbrook College (Part of the Chichester College Group), applying direct is the easiest way to secure your place.
Why apply direct?
+ Guaranteed interview
Secure an interview for your chosen degree
+ £250 bursary
Existing CCG students can receive a one-off bursary of £250 towards your study costs* (you must still be enrolled as a student on 31 January during your first year to receive the bursary)
+ No application fees
If we’re your only choice of institution, you won’t pay any application fees
+ Personalised support
How to apply
Get help with your application upon request, including guidance for Disabled Student Allowance, Student Finance Tuition Fees and Maintenance Loans.
*Correct at time of printing for students completing a Level 3 qualification in summer 2026. Benefits may change for future students.
You can apply online via UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). UCAS allows you to apply to up to five universities. You must use UCAS if you want to apply to more than one college or university.
When to apply
We advise you to work on your application during the autumn term and submit your application before 13 January 2027 (UCAS deadline). We will consider late applications, but you are strongly encouraged to meet this deadline in order to receive priority consideration.
Interviews, portfolios & auditions
Once we have received your application, we will formally invite you to an interview at the college (although online interviews can be arranged at your request). If you have applied for a creative course, you will need to prepare a portfolio. If you have applied for a performance course, you will be invited to an audition. This is your chance to show your skills and enthusiasm for the course. We aim to arrange interviews within six weeks of receiving your application.
throughApplying UCAS
What’s next?
Offering you a place
Within one week of your interview, we will send you an offer if a place on the course is agreed in your interview. An offer will be unconditional or conditional. Conditional offers are based not only upon your interview but also on your exam results. We will reflect your achievements and potential. Applicants who have applied through UCAS will receive their offer on UCAS Track.
Accepting your offer on UCAS
If you have applied through UCAS, once you have received offers from all the universities you applied to, UCAS will require you to accept one of your offers as your “firm” choice and another as your “insurance” choice. UCAS sets all the deadlines by which time you must let them know your decision.
Admission
If we have offered you a place, we will ask you to complete an enrolment form and invite you to attend an induction at the beginning of term.
Deferred entry
We are happy to take applications from students who plan to take a gap year before starting their degree course.
University-level fees
The fees you pay will depend on several factors, including where you choose to study, the level of your course and whether you are studying full-time or part-time. For the most up-to-date fee information, please visit the course information page of the college website.
Student loans
UK students can apply for Government student loans to cover tuition fees and help with living costs while studying. These loans are normally available to students with settled status in the UK but eligibility needs to be checked with Student Finance England. You will only start repaying your loan once you are earning above a certain income threshold. When this happens, repayments are taken automatically from your salary through the income tax system. Apply online at: gov.uk/student-finance
Foundation diploma in Art & Design fees
If you are under 19 on 31 August in the year your course starts, you will not pay any fees for the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design.
If you are 19 or over, you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover your course fees. You will repay this gradually, but only if your income is above a set threshold. These fee arrangements are subject to eligibility for non-UK students. Apply online at: gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan
Finance & funding
Out & about
One of the best things about being on the South Coast is the variety of culture, creativity and entertainment on your doorstep.
From iconic coastal hotspots to renowned galleries, theatres and live venues, the South coast offers a dynamic mix of culture and entertainment. With so much within easy reach, you’re free to explore, experience and make it your own.
KEY
Train Stations
Cinema & Theatre
Galleries & Museums
Live Venues
Leisure
Worthing
Cannaught Theatre
Colonnade House
Splashpoint
The Factory Live
Worthing Dome Cinema
Worthing Museum & Gallery
Worthing Pier
Brighton
Booth Museum of Natural History
Brighton Dome
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Brighton Pier
Chalk
Concord 2
Duke of Yorks Cinema
Hove Lagoon Watersports
Komedia
Royal Pavilion
Sea Lanes
Theatre Royal
Chichester
Pallant House Gallery
Oxmarket Contemporary
Chichester Festival Theatre
Wider Sussex
Arundel Castle
Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft
Goodwood Art Foundation
Hastings Contemporary
Towner Eastbourne
Getting around as a student
If you’re planning to travel by train, the National Rail 16–25 Railcard is a great way to save, giving you up to one-third off fares across the UK.
For everyday journeys, the Unizone ticket offers unlimited travel within selected zones at a discounted student rate, perfect for getting to campus or exploring the city. Together, they make travelling easier, more flexible and much more affordable while you’re studying.
GORING BY SEA
Enjoying our new look?
We’ve chosen Inconstant Regular by Daniel Brokstad as the new typeface for this year’s university-level course guide. It was selected not only for its distinctive, contemporary look, but because it represents something meaningful: accessibility and inclusivity.
Inconstant is designed with an irregular set of letterforms to help people with dyslexia read more easily. As a college group that places opportunity for everyone at its core, Inconstant Regular felt like the right choice. It supports accessibility while reflecting the uniqueness of our campuses and the diversity of the people within them.
Commissioned by Dyslexia Scotland for their awareness campaign, There’s Nothing Comic About Dyslexia, designer, Daniel, talks through the challenges of beginning the project, researching and learning what makes a typeface legible for people with dyslexia.
A huge range of glyphs and concept entry points were sketched out on how to solve this. Eventually landing on the concept of inconsistently inconsistent, by adding in the different stylistic sets and contextual alternatives.
Northbrook College, Creative Arts Degrees
Throughout the design process, the typeface was tested by Dyslexia Scotland with people with dyslexia, whose feedback helped fine-tune the typeface into what you see here in our prospectuses.
Marnie Mugridge and Ellice Marsh (hair & makeup)