Hi, I’m Kaira Gupta, and I studied at Neev Academy, Bangalore, until Grade 10 under the IB board, and then moved to Inventure Academy for Grades 11 and 12, where I pursued A Levels. I’m currently studying at the University of the Arts London, enrolled in the Foundation Diploma. Next year, I plan to apply to either Product and Industrial Design or Product and Furniture Design at one of UAL’s different colleges.

In terms of standardised testing, I took the SAT mainly for US applications, though it wasn’t relevant for UAL. For my UK application and visa, I also took the IELTS as my English proficiency test for my Visa and scored an 8.

Application Costs and Why I Chose the UK

Applications to UK universities are submitted through UCAS, where you can apply to up to five universities. The application fee is usually around £23–25, though this can change slightly each year.

One of the biggest reasons I chose the UK was proximity to home. More importantly, UAL was my dream university, not because of rankings—although it is one of the top universities for design in the world—but because of the course structure and content. I spent a lot of time researching the programs and speaking to current students across UAL and other design schools to understand not just academics, but also student support, lifestyle, and overall quality of life.

I received offers from institutions like Parsons and SCAD, but the cost of living in cities like New York was extremely high, and scholarships there were very limited. Once I received my offer from UAL, the decision became much clearer.

For international students, tuition at UAL is around £30,000 per year. Living costs in London, including accommodation and utilities, typically range between £12,000 and £15,000 annually, not including food.

Another major factor was visa stability. With ongoing political and immigration uncertainty in the US, the UK felt like a safer and more predictable option in the long run.

Student Life at UAL and Living in London

Student life in London is very different from traditional campus universities. UAL doesn’t have one central campus—classes, workshops, and accommodations are spread across the city. While this gives you exposure to London itself, it also makes socialising harder and commuting more time-consuming.

Because London has so many universities, people often stick to friends they already know, which can make it feel isolating at first. Clubs and shared spaces do exist, but attending them often requires long commutes, sometimes 30–45 minutes each way.

On top of that, you’re fully responsible for everyday tasks like cooking, laundry, and managing your schedule. Time management became a huge learning curve for me. That said, UAL’s facilities make it worth it—the workshops, material labs, and technology available are incredibly advanced and allow students to explore a wide range of disciplines, from jewellery design to theatre and screen design.

The Design Application and the Role of the Portfolio

While grades still matter, design schools like UAL care far more about your portfolio. Academic requirements are relatively low, but your portfolio is usually the deciding factor in whether you get in.

Your portfolio shows how you think as a designer—your process, problem-solving approach, ideation, user research, and execution. Building a strong portfolio is extremely time-consuming, which is why passion often drives design students to pursue degrees they want to. It involves long hours of sketching, model-making, reflections, and revisions, where A levels and my teachers really helped me. 

When I first applied, I made the mistake of including too many projects—around 25 to 30 pages—trying to showcase everything I had ever done. Through my foundation year, I learned that quality matters far more than quantity. This time, when I am applying to a more specific course, I’ve narrowed my portfolio down to five projects and documented each one in depth, showing my entire process from start to finish. Tutors care much more about how you think than about polished final models—even simple cardboard or paper models work if the thinking is strong. Which is something I have learned and heard directly from my professors and tutors here. 

The Foundation Year and Reapplying to UAL Colleges

UAL is made up of several colleges, including Central Saint Martins (CSM), London College of Fashion (LCF), and London College of Communication (LCC), each with very different admission standards.

I plan to apply to Central Saint Martins, which focuses heavily on product, architecture, and three-dimensional design. CSM is one of the most competitive design schools in the world, with only about 100 students selected from thousands of applicants. Because of this, the foundation year becomes almost essential—getting in directly from high school is extremely rare.

The foundation year helps you build skills, understand design processes, and create a portfolio that meets the expectations of top design colleges. It’s especially useful for students who didn’t study design in school, although I was lucky enough to do so. Tutors also help with your Statement of Purpose (SOP), portfolio development, and applications, as long as you meet deadlines and stay engaged.

References during the foundation year are written by tutors who work with you for a relatively short period of time, often on rotating schedules. This can feel strange at first, because it’s hard for someone to fully judge you in just a few months. 

That said, making an effort to engage with tutors, ask questions, and consistently produce thoughtful work really helps. Even small interactions can make a difference in how they remember you and the quality of the reference they write. This is because when you are finally applying to the college of your choice from UAL, their references can make or break your application. 

My Subjects and Statement of Purpose

For A Levels, I studied Design and Technology, English Language, Business, Mathematics, and Psychology.

When I initially applied to the foundation year, my SOP focused on my interest in design and why I wanted to pursue it. Now that I’m reapplying to a specific college, my SOP focuses more on how the foundation year shaped my skills, thinking, and approach to creative problem-solving.

I also included relevant experiences from high school—design projects, leadership roles, internships, and extracurriculars. While unrelated activities aren’t as important, they still help show who you are as a person. I even included personal experiences, like cooking and baking with my grandparents, and linked them back to skills like patience, process-oriented thinking, and attention to detail, which are important in design.

Extracurriculars and Internships

Outside academics, I completed a two-week summer program at ISDI Mumbai, which helped me better understand which design path I wanted to pursue. I also did a month-long internship at Resonant Design in Bangalore, where I explored UI/UX design.

In school, I was Vice President and President of the Interact Club, competed in swimming at the national level (ISSO), founded and led the Baking Club for two years, and held leadership roles in school festivals and events. These experiences helped demonstrate leadership, commitment, and initiative in my applications.

The Visa Process and Support at UAL

UAL offers a free support service called Envision, which helps students throughout the application and visa process. I was assigned a dedicated representative who guided me through everything—from my application to visa documentation—which made the process much less overwhelming.

For A Level students applying to foundation programs, the visa timeline can be extremely tight. By the time results are released, there’s often only a two-week window to receive your offer letter, apply for your visa, and book flights. This can be stressful and sometimes expensive if you need expedited processing. IB, ICSE and CBSE students generally have more time, since their results are released earlier.

Final Advice for Future UAL Applicants

If you’re applying to UAL or other UK design schools, be prepared to be fully independent from day one. Living in London is expensive, and everyday costs add up quickly. Learning how to cook, meal prep, and manage your time before moving will make a huge difference.

Socially, it can feel difficult at first, but keeping an open mind and talking to people really helps. Everyone is in the same situation, even if it doesn’t always seem like it.

Most importantly, focus on your portfolio. Show your thinking, your process, and your growth. You don’t need perfect outcomes—what matters is clarity, depth, and honesty in your work.