Overview

Application Deadline: Midnight on Sunday, 12th October 2025 

Calling all international students...

Submit a design for an A5 notebook cover to be sold in not just a shop from November 2025.  

This competition is open to all current international students studying at University of the Arts London (UAL).

Are you an International Student?

At UAL, international students are mainly defined as those who need a Student Route visa to study in the UK. This includes students from the EU, EEA, and Switzerland who do not have special status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Because of this, they are usually not seen as home students when it comes to tuition fees.

We know that, unlike home students, the UK government's visa rules mean international students are not allowed to be self-employed (for example, you can not sell your work, or take on paid commissions) during your studies in the UK. However, we're excited to share that international students are able to participate in competitions! To ensure we offer an equal number of opportunities for both home and international students at UAL, we are opening this competition up to international students only. We strongly encourage all International Students, regardless of your course, to apply for this opportunity. 

Visit Inter.work for ways to support the campaign to legally expand international students’ working rights.

Not an International Student?

More competitions with not just a shop are open throughout the year, you can also apply to sell your designs in their shop, for more information visit here: www.arts.ac.uk/about-ual/not-just-a-shop 

The Arts Programme team in the SU also have opportunities throughout the year. Keep an eye on our website for updates here: www.arts-su.com/opportunities/ or follow the Arts Programme team on Instagram: @madeinartslondon

The prize

Up to 2 winning designs will be selected and produced. Each designer will receive:

• £150 cash prize
•  5 copies of their physical notebook
• Professional photos of their notebook for their portfolio

What we’re looking for?

The notebook design could be an existing artwork that can be used as an appealing surface design. This could be a crop of photograph that would suit being made into a commercial design.

Designs should be appealing to the general public and represent the quality, creativity and diversity of UAL. Entries will be assessed on their originality, public appeal and commercial appeal.  

While the final image must be submitted in digital format for a printed notebook, we encourage applications from all disciplines, including, but not limited to, graphic design, communication design, photography, painting, drawing, illustration, sculpture, and animation.  

Our important rules for creating the notebook design are:​  

• The notebook cover needs to have a front and back incorporated within the design. The notebook will be stapled, so there will be a very narrow spine.

• The full notebook cover dimensions are 303 x 216 mm. This includes 148 x 210mm for the A5 front design, 148 x 210mm for the A5 back design and 3mm bleed along the edge of the full design.  
   
• The design of the notebook will be laid out flat with the front cover on the right side of the design and the back cover area on the left.  

• Key design elements (e.g. text) need to be kept outside the 3mm bleed from the design edge as this could be trimmed off in the production.  
   
• A downloadable PDF template (pictured) is available on our Padlet page here: https://artslondon.padlet.org/ldawson47/Notebook25 
   
• We have also included example designs using the template  

The winning designs will be produced by not just a shop, and we will need the Adobe Illustrator, EPS, or TIFF files. Copyright in the design will remain with the creator, but not just a shop will print a limited run of 40 units to sell in-store and online. "All of the proceeds from our retail operations are reinvested back into supporting students and graduates with their businesses through our enterprise learning offer".

Winners will be announced by the end of October 2025. 

Submit your design here (deadline: midnight on 12/10/2025): 

If you have any questions regarding this competition, please get in touch with Lotte in the Arts Programme team: artsprogramme@su.arts.ac.uk