Here is Arts University Bournemouth’s response to our Freedom of Information request:

Q: Does your HE establishment have a policy on the use of fur?

A: AUB does not have a published policy on the use of fur, however students are discouraged from using real fur.

Q: Does real fur feature in any of your fashion or design courses, and if so, in what way?

A: No, however, please note that BA (Hons) Costume and Performance Design holds a few real fur stoles that have been donated to its costume archive. These are used for educational purposes only, to allow students to see how they were constructed. If the appearance of fur is required for a costume, synthetic fur is used. Students may, if they insist, use fur for their own self-directed work, although the tutors would always advise against this for ethical reasons.

Q: What financial support, including sponsored competitions do you receive from the fur industry?

A: We do not receive any sponsorship from any fur related industries.

Q: Does your HE establishment allow or facilitate the fur industry to promote design competitions, summer schools, sponsorships, internships, or scholarships?

A: No.

This university discourages the use of fur but has no written policy to support this.

Please urge the University to adopt a written fur free policy.  Email: Iain Archer, Course Leader BA (Hons) Fashion, iarcher@aub.ac.uk