BIMM becomes BIMM University after being awarded university status
BIMM Institute has been formally recognised as the UK’s newest university for the creative industries.
We are delighted to announce that BIMM has been granted full university status by the Department for Education. Following nearly 40 years of incredible work within the higher education sector, this change in status is both a huge accolade and extremely exciting.
BIMM originally started life in 1983 as the world-renowned Drumtech (now BIMM Institute London) and has since grown to become a group of colleges covering many areas of the creative industries, including performing arts, film and TV. With this announcement, our group of colleges will now officially all be part of the newly named BIMM University.
Since our inception, thousands of students have graduated from our colleges, each receiving one of our unique and innovative degrees. Over this period, we have refined our courses, grown our colleges and expanded our disciplines each year. To receive full university status, therefore, shows huge recognition for all the work put in by our staff and students alike.
CEO and Head of Institution Adam Carswell said:
“This is a tremendous accolade for our Institution. It is the culmination of a long journey to develop the educational character of our Institution, together with our academic processes and corporate governance. We are proud of this tremendous achievement, which enables us to continue to develop our unique brand of education for students seeking a career in the creative industries.
I would like to express my thanks to every one of our staff and lecturers who have played a critical role in our journey.”
Professor Louise Jackson, Academic Director and Provost said:
“It is such a joy to be able to announce to our students, alumni, and colleagues past and present that we have been approved to use university title and become BIMM University. To become a university is not a simple act; it is the most significant moment of recognition for an institution of higher education, and it builds upon decades of endeavour. The term university is internationally understood, defined by its community of knowledge creators and leaders who transform societies for the better through innovation and rigorous hard work.
I am immensely proud of the unique contribution our communities make to both the higher education sector and the creative industries, and the way in which our graduates embrace their role in transforming the world around us through their creativity. More than ever the world needs specialist universities that do not just conserve the past but develop new artistic practices and outputs to help us engage in myriad ways with what it means to be human. I cannot describe how thrilled I am that BIMM University, now recognised as an equal to other distinguished seats of learning, will continue to lead the way across all our art forms.”
What does university status mean for BIMM as an institute?
The newly named BIMM University comprises a range of creative colleges that include music (BIMM Institute), performing arts (Institute for Contemporary Theatre, Performers College, Northern Ballet School), and film and TV (Screen and Film School). As a group, our university status neatly unites our different colleges under one prestigious roof with a joint mission to drive collaboration and prepare the next generation of creative industry professionals for a long and sustainable career.
Gaining university status requires certain criteria to be fulfilled. These include demonstrating high academic standards, good governance, and financial robustness. As we now stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other universities, our new status serves to evidence the high quality of our teaching and the student experience at our colleges, as well as our ability to grow and flourish in a challenging environment.
What does university status mean for our students?
Our journey to gaining university status started in 2019 when we were granted Taught Degree-Awarding Powers (TDAP). These powers allowed us to take control of our course design, writing and amending our own courses to follow the industry’s needs and trends. This gives our students the best introduction to the creative industries.
Our new university status is a privilege and one we are committed to upholding. For our students, it recognises our ability to maintain the standards expected of universities around the world. It shows that our courses have been robustly scrutinised and tested.
Studying at BIMM University will provide students with the opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration above and beyond the focus of each course on its own. And finally, a degree from BIMM University will enjoy international recognition and provide each student with a head start in their creative career.
