“I knew I wanted to study costume, and the options in the US were quite limited, expensive, and not very technical. I was able to conduct some online chats with course leaders, as well as visit, which was really great, as I had never been to the UK before. Plymouth was the best fit for me because I was able to explore many other things alongside my degree.

I am very much a person who doesn't like to sit still, so AUP is really my paradise. I also loved the proximity to the ocean. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I have been surrounded by trees, ocean, and mountains my entire life, and I wasn't about to give that up.”

“I’d say that the best thing about my course is that the teachers are very supportive of different, unusual ideas — instead of questioning me, they would give me advice on how to work on my ideas. Equipment-wise, the university provides a wide range of materials, workshops and different things to work with. I can work with glass, wood and many different materials, which is awesome.”

“I was going to study abroad from the get-go, from when I was in high school, so I applied to many schools all over the world, from Europe to the US to Canada. I went to my advisor and asked for options, and he said, ‘Have you thought about Plymouth in the UK? I have a close friend there, she loves it there — it’s similar to where you’re from, so you wouldn’t feel outside your comfort zone.’”

I don’t really like big cities, so this is a perfectly sized city for me — it’s not massive, not a village, it was the perfect balance for me.”

“The staff here are supportive — they answer my emails every time, and whenever I have a problem, they solve it for me. I’m a full-time MFA student, and it’s amazing. The degree has encouraged me to contemplate and understand contemporary art better than before. There are a lot of facilities here too — good facilities, a lot of workshops, workspaces and studios especially for postgraduate students.”