UAL Future Creatives 2026: A Complete Guide

UAL Future Creatives (also known as Future Creatives) offers aspiring artists and designers the chance to develop practical skills through multidisciplinary art and design workshops across the UK.

Delivered by the University of the Arts London at regional hubs throughout the UK, the programme provides ages 7–17 with portfolio-building experiences tackling the growing deficiency in arts availability in schools. 

Each short course covers disciplines ranging from drawing and sculpture to graphics and screen printing, running after school, on Saturdays, and during school holidays. 

Here’s a comprehensive guide to UAL Future Creatives.

Course Breakdown

Note: Check their official website for their current pricing.

Why Choose UAL Future Creatives?

UAL Future Creatives offers accessible, skills-focused arts education at a time when many schools are reducing creative provision. 

Delivered across regional hubs throughout the UK, these short courses bring specialist training closer to home, making high-quality creative learning available to a wider range of students. Sessions typically run during school holidays and are designed to be flexible, with most workshops lasting between two and three hours.

The programme is highly practical and portfolio-oriented. Students explore disciplines such as painting, sculpture, cartooning, graphic design, and screen printing, working with professional materials throughout. 

Tutors combine classroom expertise with industry backgrounds, giving participants the chance to learn techniques, develop confidence, and understand how creative skills connect to real-world practice. 

Where UAL Future Creatives stands out is its accessibility and regional reach, expanding opportunities for young learners who want to build creative portfolios without needing to travel far. 

Immerse Education also offers creative programmes in areas such as Creative Writing, Architecture, and Design, but goes further by blending this with academically rigorous subjects like Medicine, Law, and Engineering. 

Our programmes provide small-group tutorials, one-to-one mentorship, and international residential opportunities. This means ambitious students not only enhance their creative skills but also prepare for university and future careers with confidence.

Key Features of UAL Future Creatives

UAL Future Creatives courses run during school holidays, on Saturdays, and in some hubs after school, offering flexible options for young learners. 

Delivered at regional centres across the UK, with some online classes available, the programme makes creative education widely accessible. Each workshop is highly practical and hands-on, covering disciplines from drawing and painting to modern design, sculpture, and digital techniques.

Tutors bring both teaching expertise and professional industry backgrounds, giving participants valuable insights into creative practice. 

Students receive personalised feedback throughout, helping them refine their work and build portfolio pieces for future study. All materials are included in the fee, removing barriers and ensuring full participation.

The initiative reflects UAL’s mission to expand access to arts education for ages 7–17, particularly where schools have reduced provision. Courses are designed around wellbeing and confidence, providing safe, age-appropriate settings where students are encouraged to take creative risks and explore their potential. 

Each programme ends with a certificate of participation, recognising skills gained and achievements made.

Advantages

• Local accessibility: Regional hubs across the UK bring professional arts education closer to home, reducing travel requirements and costs.
• Flexible scheduling: After-school, Saturday, and holiday sessions fit around school terms, offering multiple entry points throughout the year.
• Portfolio development: Every workshop produces tangible creative outcomes that students can use when applying to art schools or creative programmes.
• Industry-experienced tutors: Courses are led by expert teachers with professional backgrounds and connections to UAL, one of the world’s leading arts universities.
• Materials included: All equipment and supplies are provided, ensuring students can fully participate regardless of resources at home.
• Affordable entry point: With fees starting from £150, Future Creatives workshops provide an accessible alternative to intensive residential programmes.

Disadvantages

• Limited academic depth: Short workshops focus on practical skills rather than theoretical understanding or university-level exploration.
• Non-residential: Courses require daily commuting to regional hubs, without the immersive experience of residential programmes.
• Variable availability: Locations and subject options depend on demand, and not all areas of the UK have access to hubs.
• Lack of specialisation: The multidisciplinary approach provides variety but may feel too broad for students wanting a deeper focus in a single discipline.
• Limited outcomes: Certificates of participation acknowledge completion but don’t carry the academic recognition of assessed or accredited programmes.

UAL Future Creatives vs Immerse Education

Immerse Education offers three core pathways – Academic Insights, Career Insights and the Online Research Programme (ORP) – each blending university-style learning with real-world experience and one-to-one research mentorship across global locations. Alongside traditional academic subjects, Immerse also offers creative options such as film, architecture, design, writing and digital media, giving students the chance to build practical portfolios and explore creative industries in settings that feel close to real university study.

Is UAL Future Creatives Worth It?

UAL Future Creatives is a good option for teenagers wanting practical, portfolio-building workshops during school holidays. 

With fees starting at £150 and a regional hub model, it brings arts education into communities across the UK. Students receive guidance from tutors with professional backgrounds, work with quality materials, and build confidence in supportive environments.

That said, the programme has limitations. Courses are short, often only a few hours, which limits depth. The multidisciplinary approach offers variety but may feel unfocused for those wanting specialisation. 

As a non-residential option, commuting is required, and availability depends on location. Certificates acknowledge participation but lack the weight of formal qualifications.

For accessible enrichment close to home, UAL Future Creatives provides solid value. By comparison, Immerse Education not only offers creative courses such as Creative Writing, Architecture, and Design, but also a wide range of academic subjects, including Medicine, Law, and Engineering. 

Our programmes feature residential options in world-leading cities such as London, New York, and Tokyo for a truly immersive experience, combining small tutorial groups, close mentorship, and academic rigour to prepare ambitious learners for future success.

Alternatives to UAL Future Creatives

• Immerse Education – Academic Summer School: Oxbridge-style subject exploration, including Creative Writing and Architecture in Oxford, Cambridge, and Sydney; small tutorial groups with university preparation focus.
• Immerse Education – Career Insights: Project-based learning with industry exposure in London, Singapore, and Boston, including Architecture and Design, Fine Art, and Film Studies, with real-world applications.
• Immerse Education – Online Research Programme: 1:1 research mentorship with PhD tutors across creative and academic disciplines, producing original projects for university applications.
• National Saturday Club (ages 13–16): Free weekly creative sessions across the UK in partnership with universities and cultural organisations, covering art, design, science, and media.
• Arts Award (ages up to 25): Nationally recognised qualification framework for creative development, from Discover to Gold level, delivered through various providers.

How to Apply for UAL Future Creatives

1. Browse Courses – Visit the UAL website and explore Short Courses → Future Creatives to find workshops by age, subject, and location.
2. Check Availability – Confirm which regional hub and dates work for you. Places are limited and book up quickly, so early enrolment is advised.
3. Register Accounts – For under-18s, both the parent/guardian and the student must create accounts in the UAL booking system for safeguarding purposes.
4. Book and Pay – Add your chosen course to the basket, proceed to checkout, and pay online to secure your place.
5. Prepare for Sessions – Submit any required details in the portal, confirm the venue, plan travel, and arrive ready to create. All materials are provided.

Final Thoughts

UAL Future Creatives offers accessible creative workshops across UK hubs, combining practical teaching with portfolio development from tutors linked to one of the world’s leading arts universities. 

Starting at £150, the programme is affordable and fits around school schedules, making it a valuable option for local creative enrichment.

For students seeking more than short workshops, Immerse Education is the stronger alternative. 

With small tutorial groups, Oxbridge and Ivy League mentors, and residential programmes in Oxford, Cambridge, London, Sydney, Singapore, and Boston, Immerse combines academic rigour with inspiring environments. 

Through Academic Insights, Career Insights, and online research mentorship, it offers personalised guidance and depth that supports ambitious learners preparing for university and beyond.