University of the Arts London: a creative champion rising up the rankings

There’s a pattern of increasing competition to study at UAL. Photograph: Elaine Perks

A university that specialises in the creative arts, and recruits nearly half of its students from overseas, sounds like a place designed to irk the science-promoting government ministers who want to turn away international students.

But James Purnell, vice-chancellor of the University of the Arts London, says the answer is to use UAL’s strengths to steer clear of political turbulence.