Combining art and business

[Bobochic]

A French girl who is doing her Bac S (Maths/Science) and is also a gifted illustrator is looking for a university course in the UK where she can combine an education with a business/management focus and pursue her art education. Has anyone got any ideas? We have identified Arts and Sciences at UCL as possibly being appropriate.

[BasiliskStare]

Bobo,
Looking at that course it would seem to me it wouldn't have enough (or perhaps any ) Business / Mgt focus and the Art bit is Art History rather than actually practising Art (if that is what she means. )
Would she be better finding a better Business degree and doing Art at an evening or weekend class. The Slade school at UCL run some www.ucl.ac.uk/slade/shortcourses/evening-courses . This would be a lot of work but might fit in with what she wants better (if I have understood you correctly. )

[Bobochic]

There is drawing (as opposed to just art history) on offer, and quantitative courses but it's not a perfect match. Obviously there is always the "night class" route for art but what we are trying to ascertain is whether there is something better on offer as a complete degree course.

[oklumberjack]

Does she wish to pursue her illustration as a business venture or just practice it?

I'm a professional illustrator of 22 years and studied at Art College nearly 25 years ago. Things may have changed but as far as I'm aware I know if no official business/management courses with a practical art element. At art college we studied Art History etc but had very little (virtually zero) business education.

I would find a great business/management course and pursue illustration/art alongside. I know dozens of professional illustrators who have been physicists, nurses, teachers. Having a good sense of business will only help if she decides to pursue professionally.

[Bobochic]

I think she's undecided. She originally wanted to go to art school (in France) but was put off by the courses which were too focused on graphic design.

If she does a business/management degree she would need to do it somewhere where she can access good night school art classes.

[Violetsarentalwaysblue]

What about Scotland you can combine unrelated subjects in the first two years. A friends DD looked at both Edinburgh and Glasgow School of Art and was very impressed with both, although I think she said neither are actually attached to the universities.

[Bobochic]

Thank you for that tip. Though, as an EU applicant, the probability of an offer from a good Scottish university isn't great.

[bojorojo]

Norwich has a BA in Illustration with significant industry input. I think combining the two is difficult because of the nature of an Arts university education. I think I would do the Business/Management as a separate course. Does she want to sell her skills and is looking to be self-employed? Otherwise, it is an odd combination which is probably why it is difficult to find.

[Violetsarentalwaysblue]

My DC has visited both Edinburgh and Glasgow universities on their open days, both very obviously has students from the EU. Having said this the impression gained, maybe mistakenly, was that Edinburgh had lots of English students (many privately educated) whilst Glasgow seemed to have a broader mix but possibly more from Scotland (state educated) and the EU than Edinburgh.

[Leatherboundanddown]

How about an illustration degree with a year out on a (paid) indusustry work placement followed by a business and marketing masters?

[Leatherboundanddown]

Consider Loughborough design school.

[ttlshiwwya]

How about Strathclyde University in Glasgow? Great business school (www.strath.ac.uk/business/undergraduate/) and easier to get into than Glasgow University for an EU applicant but still close to Glasgow School of Art which runs lots of weekend/short courses/summer courses (www.gsa.ac.uk/study/short-courses).

My daughter has attended some short courses at GSA and was very impressed - high quality, welcoming.