Edinburgh College of Art part of the University of Edinburgh |
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Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design part of the University of Dundee |
Gray's School of Art part of the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen |
School of Textiles and Design, SBC part of Heriot-Watt University |
Inverness College part of the University of the Highlands and Islands |
Moray College of Art part of UHI |
be creative!
Studying art + design at college or university is a fantastic opportunity to explore your talents further.
Foundation courses, BTECs, HNCs and HNDs give you the chance to try out new techniques and areas of art + design that you may not have encountered at school. Many people start off a course thinking they will end up one thing and actually end up another. People change from painting to fashion, graphic design to sculpture, drawing to photography.
BA and MA degrees at art colleges around Scotland offer a good mix of practical skills with critical enquiry. Most courses will insist on solid drawing skills, so developing these and building up an impressive portfolio is crucial.
Good grades at Higher and Advanced Higher are in no way guarantees of places at art college. You must show a commitment to personal development and experimentation through using sketchbooks and visual diaries.
Most courses are applied to through UCAS Route A, with minifolios of work being uploaded in December/January and full folio interviews taking place from February to May. The MA Fine Art course at the University of Edinburgh/Edinburgh College of Art has an earlier deadline (normally the beginning of December). Make sure your applications are in with plenty of time - late or near deadline applications are not going to be looked upon kindly by the colleges. You must show keenness and organisation.
Try and visit the degree shows of the colleges you are applying to in May/June of the preceding year and go on as many open days as you can.
College websites have information on what is needed in a folio - typically it will consist of a variety of very high quality work, including 10-20 fully resolved pieces, 3 sketchbooks and 20-30 preparatory/exploratory 'drawings'. If you are aiming towards a specific area of art and design, make sure you have visual evidence of having tried this area out in your folio. You will have to provide a written commentary on each piece and be able to talk about the ideas and inspiration behind all of your work at interview. Be prepared for the interviewers being much more critical of your work than you are used to from your teachers
