Art college wants university status

The London Institute, which has trained some of the biggest names in the arts and fashion, is attempting to reinvent itself by applying for official university status, it was revealed today.

If successful, the move will make the group of five colleges Britain's only university dedicated solely to the creative arts.

The institute - which includes Central Saint Martins College and the Camberwell College of Art - can boast Pierce Brosnan, Stella McCartney, Mike Leigh, Malcolm McLaren and Ralph Fiennes among its former students.

Its application for university status - recently delivered to the Government - will take a year to evaluate. Inspectors must spend two terms scrutinising teaching and research in all five colleges before delivering their recommendations.

If approved, the title of University can only be authorised by the Queen after advice from the Privy Council.

Michael Benson, the London Institute's director of communications, said today: "We want to go for this for many reasons.

"We will be able to attract people who might not be excited by the name 'institute' rather than university, and it will help us to raise nongovernmental sponsorship."

The "creative industries" now employ more than 500,000 people in London - just one argument cited by the institute in support of its claim to be made London's newest university.

As well as Saint Martins and Camberwell, the London Institute includes Chelsea College of Art, London College of Fashion and the London College of Printing.