London College of Communication

The London College of Communication stands in the heart of Elephant and Castle, a busy area of Southwark. It is part of the University of the Arts London and specialises in media-related subjects such as advertising, animation, film, graphic design, photography and sound arts. The college has about 5,000 students and offers around sixty courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. It is organised into three schools: media, design and screen, all housed in a single building. The college received its current name in 2004, though it has had several earlier identities linked to printing and graphic arts. The college’s history goes back to the late 19th century, when the St Bride’s Foundation Institute Printing School was established in 1894. Over the decades, it evolved through mergers and name changes, becoming the London College of Printing in 1960 and later part of the London Institute. The college’s leadership structure has also changed, with the role of Provost introduced in 2025. Dr Sam Mejias now serves as Provost and Executive Dean for Impact and Innovation. Visitors to the college find a modern campus with wayfinding signage designed by alumni Domenic Lippa and his team at Pentagram. The building includes studios, workshops and teaching spaces for design, media and screen courses. The Media School houses the Photography and the Archive Research Centre, founded by Val Williams, and produces Artefact Magazine. The Screen School includes the research centre CRiSAP, which supports work in sound and audio cultures. The college also runs initiatives like Talent Works, which has placed over 200 students in paid creative projects with local charities and community groups.