How to get into art college?

[Scarylegs]

My friend's DD is clearly a talented artist but didn't do well at school. She has I think 6 GCSEs at c or above including English and maths and Art, but even art was a C as she didn't bother with some of the course work. She's now 22 and had a series of minimum wage jobs but is now full of regrets.

What routes are there for her if she wanted to do a degree in art?

Take a look at local colleges that offer BTECs, as a possibility. My DD dropped out initially after suffering from MH issues, but went back to college to do a fashio BTEC. Once completed, she should have enough points to apply to university to do fashion.

Also, your friend's DD could take a look at the university courses she's interested in, and then take a look at the information for mature students (which she will be classed as now). She should still be able to apply for students loans, etc, and the mature student information will hopefully include a contact for making enquiries.

I'm 51 and in the process of planning how I'm getting to university next year as a mature student. I've never done a degree, so still eligible for student finance, and I should have enough in terms of qualifications to get me there. I just have to look at getting a job that will allow me to work around lectures, etc. My current role doesn't suit, so will have to look elsewhere.

Don't do it. It's not worth the debt. Artists get discovered on Instagram now.

Don't listen to Luna! 🙄

She's only 22, there's acres of time.

If she knows what type of art she wants to do she may be better off doing a shorter course at college e.g. drawing etc. However an art degree will open her up to so many different disciplines and artists. You also learn so much from others work and make lots of networks and connections to help you establish yourself, they will also help you find employment and work experience. Art is about hard work and practice so a degree is well worth it.

In addition to the above advice she needs to build up a portfolio of work showing her strengths and a range of work. She needs to have this for interviews and will be expected to talk about her work. Also she will be expected to know about some artists and their work. Visit art galleries too - post Coronavirus.

Could she get onto an Art Foundation course? Or do you need level 3 qualifications to get onto one?

Thanks all, really useful.

I know a friend's DD got 2 low grade A levels in something like media and sociology, left sixth form, waitressed, then went along to a local Tech to sign up for an evening course in photography, that she has a talent for.

The course leader saw her work and suggested she enrolled on their Foundation Course, instead, which she did.

She's now at uni doing Animation. Okay, not RG but she is having the uni experience, mingling with other creatives.

Oh! my niece is doing Animation too

She'll need a portfolio (I assume it's still the same as back in the day..!) - a collection of work she has made. She'll build up a portfolio by doing various courses. The portfolio will show a variety of work, showing her talent. It's her showpiece where she shows what she's capable of. She'll need a portfolio for any interviews or how would they know what she can do? Some people can produce a portfolio independent of any courses but this isn't the usual way. Maybe she already has some work she can approach any institution with to ask for advice, but there would have to be some contemporary work in her portfolio when she applies for eg a degree, or foundation, course.

As I said above, she is only 22 and has plenty of time to build up a portfolio.

She has the prerequisite English and maths essential to apply (though she may have to brush up on these if she got these qualifications too long ago).

Tell her to GO FOR IT.

UCAS entry requirements

She can also enrol on an Access to Higher Education course

eg

Easily accessible through local colleges of Higher Education.