Chelsea College of Arts Undergraduate Welcome Events 2026

Welcome to Chelsea College of Arts!

You will be able to join in our on-site activities, including an exciting orientation treasure hunt to help you get acquainted with the site (see event listings) and visit pop-up tables in the canteen area where you can meet Chelsea staff, local community, and student ambassadors. Enjoy freebies and refreshments while you get to know everyone.

Please note: These events are for new and returning UAL students only.

25 September

Undergraduate Welcome Talk at Chelsea College of Arts

Lecture Theatre

25 September, 10am - 12pm

Please join us in the lecture theatre to meet key members of the Chelsea College of Arts staff team, and to find out more about the campus and support available to you.

The session will include a welcome from a variety of staff members and student groups including:

• College welcome led by members of the Executive Team
• School welcome led by senior leaders
• Introduction to Arts SU, your Student Union
• Meet the Student Contact Desk and Support Servies teams
• An introduction to your local library staff
• An introduction to Academic Support
• Explore professional practice and professional opportunities.

Bob and Roberta Smith guest speaker talk

Lecture Theatre

12:30-13:30pm

Guest Speaker Talk: Bob and Roberta Smith | UAL

Chelsea College of Arts Treasure Hunt

Chelsea Reception

2pm - 3.30pm

Join us at Chelsea College of Arts for an exciting orientation treasure hunt to help you get acquainted with the site! You will collect a passport from the Welcome Desk at reception that will guide you to collect stamps from different locations of the campus. You'll get to meet staff at different points and then return to the Welcome Desk for refreshments and gifts. Don't miss out on this great way to explore the campus and make new friends!

With Tea: Acts of Cleansing

A workshop by UAL Fine Art Alumnus N. H. Cietisoo Nguyen

3pm - 5pm, Red Room BG11

Beyond the cup, tea cleanses, tea heals, tea nurtures, carrying local wisdom across cultures.

In Vietnam, tea is re-used as a daily cleansing remedy. Gentle and satisfying, tea removes stubborn malodour from our hands, while leaving the skin moisturised and subtly scented. All natural.

And yet, this knowledge remains little known beyond its motherland.

Join us, in this hands-on workshop, where we will be enlivened and re-energised through this humble act of cleansing our hands with tea, and in sharing our wisdom around the diverse uses of this everyday material.

Dungeons and Dragons

3pm - 5pm, Billiards Room BLG15

Curious about tabletop roleplaying games?

This Welcome Week session offers an introduction to Dungeons & Dragons in a relaxed, supportive environment led by a university staff member. Participants will work together to create characters, explore a shared fantasy world, and solve challenges through collaborative storytelling and creative problem-solving. No previous experience is needed, and all materials will be provided. Whether you're interested in games, storytelling, or simply meeting other new students, this workshop provides an informal opportunity to develop teamwork, communication, and improvisation skills while taking part in a short adventure.

Life Drawing

2Bor Not 2B Collective

3pm-5pm, Banqueting Hall BG12

Community, Collaboration and Inclusion are essential part to your university experience. In addition to building your network. For this Welcome Week session, we partner with 2B or Not 2B collective, offering life drawing sessions for our students. This private company is London based and hold in person, online and hybrid sessions with one of the largest diverse life drawing reference libraries online. We focus solely on uplifting marginalised bodies such as POC, trans and disabled bodies. Click the button below to book tickets to our upcoming events.

Let’s talk about it: conversation card game

A workshop by the CCW Climate Advocates

3pm - 5pm

Make new connections, break down barriers, and have open conversations about culture, race, and identity in this conversation card game! Using simple prompt cards, the session encourages gentle and honest conversation in a relaxed setting. Developed through student led climate advocacy and workshops with students and staff, the toolkit uses reflective and playful question cards, partner rotations, and short timed rounds to make meaningful dialogue feel safe and accessible. Its trauma informed structure creates a safe space and allows participants to share at their own pace, encouraging honest reflection without pressure.

Repair Café

3pm - 5pm

Arts SU - Clubs

3pm-5pm, Canteen

Discover new opportunities, meet like-minded students, and find your community with Arts SU Clubs! Drop into the canteen for an informal chat and explore the wide range of clubs and societies available.

Chelsea Social Event

5pm-6pm, Canteen

Join us for a relaxed evening in the canteen and kick off the new academic year by meeting fellow students! Enjoy great music from our DJ, free drinks and snacks, board games, and plenty of opportunities to make new friends.

DJ: SANSAN

Instagram: @el.san.san

Get Ready: An introduction to creative undergraduate study

Get Ready consists of four live 45 minute online workshops exploring some of the essential elements of creative study, to help you prepare for your course:

1. Creative Practice: developing responses to a brief
2. Writing Practice: from essays to storytelling and everything in-between
3. Strategies for Learning: developing a personal approach to creative study
4. Research: what it is, how to do it and why it matters

Workshops are delivered online between 21 – 24 September, once you have enrolled use this link to find out times and to join: https://academicsupportonline.arts.ac.uk/ccw-get-ready

If you expenience an issue joining a Get Ready workshop please email CCW-GetReady@arts.ac.uk