How does arts university stand out from its peers?

Students at an arts university have shared why they felt it deserved to be named as the best of its kind in the UK.

Norwich University of the Arts (NUA) has been picked as the specialist university of the year in The Times and The Sunday Times' Good University Guide 2027, months after the newspaper revealedthe city as the best place to live in the UK.

Janet Chase, 61, who has just graduated from a four-year fine art degree, said she felt the university had unlocked many doors to her as a mature student.

"I can't tell you how I entered feeling quite nervous, and [I'm] exiting feeling rounded and my confidence has grown enormously," she said.

Founded in 1845 by artists and followers of the Norwich School of Painters, the university now offers courses across art, architecture, design, fashion, communication, performing arts, business, marketing and psychology.

Chase, who is NUA's Students' Union president of education and representation, has just finished a month-long residency in Finland.

"I had a sadness in my life and I wanted to change it... I didn't realise I could do a degree and the rest is history," she said.

"To be a president of this university as a mature student is what everyone can do if they want, so I advocate everything 'mature' at this university.

"My four years here have been unbelievable - there are opportunities out there for mature students."

Last year, the university invested in a new virtual production studio in partnership with two technology firms.

The video wall, based in the city's Mile Cross district, creates the illusion of actors, creators or newsreaders being in any location imaginable.

NUA hoped it would help put it at the forefront of the next generation of film-making in the UK.

Earlier this year, it was announced the university had joined forces with the Royal College of Art (RCA) to offer jointly awarded undergraduate courses at the Norwich campus from next September.

Vice Chancellor Prof Ben Stopher said the newspaper award rewarded the institution's hard work.

He said: "The focus of it is so much on student learning and academic excellence, and that's what's really driving the award.

"To get that recognition is a great moment for us."

Student Trinity Drummond, 20 and originally from Surrey, is learning game art design and said she was keen to encourage more people to study gaming in the city.

Drummond, who is also Students' Union president of community and welfare, said: "The course was the best course I could find anywhere - and especially with the Royal College of Art - I think it's going to get so much better and bigger.

"It's already so amazing, so I can't even imagine how much more amazing it's going to be."

The city's University of East Anglia (UEA) also received recognition across a number of subject areas in the latest Good University Guide, with nine subjects ranked in the top 15.

Four subjects, including social work, anthropology, physiotherapy and nursing, secured spots in the top 10.

Stopher said both of the universities strived to help strengthen the city's reputation.

"We've worked for years to really try and support the growth of the city," he said.

"We are really passionate about Norwich as a creative city and Norfolk as a creative county.

"We are joint citizens of this place. Our history is about serving the people of this place.

"It's about protecting access to certain jobs, skills and careers and it's about playing our part in being a powerful voice in the amazing region we have."

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