Not met entry requirements grades (fine art) is it still worth applying?

[Shallowgrange]

DS wants to do a Fine Art degree. He is doing a fine art foundation diploma this year, so he is a tarting to look at universities for next year. His first preferences require ABB or AAB, but he has A*/A/D. However the A star is in Fine Art and the A in photography, so relevant to the course.... The universities also ask for a portfolio and he will have the grades from the foundation diploma ...is it worth him putting these universities down on his UCAS form or do universities only accept students with the required published grades?

It might be worth him contacting the course leaders direct to ask. I suspect if he’s got A* fine art, A photography and a foundation course under his belt, he’ll love an art degree and be an asset to the uni, but it might be worth making contact now as I’m not sure how UCAS filter applications.

He should contact the universities and ask them that question. 'These are my grades, is it worth my applying to your course?'

I suspect the answer will be yes, given his grades in relevant subjects but I don't know that.

Thanks, I'll badger him to ring next week, it would be a shame not to apply if there's a possibility he could still be accepted. I?wasn't sure whether UCAS filter or the universities.

No harm in giving a ring...but his Foundation course tutors should be able to advise him. On a Foundation course students should get a lot of specialist guidance about the whole UCAS process relating to Art and Design and what institutions accept what etc. I work in that field....and I personally loved my Foundation year.

Generally speaking it’s based on overall tariff points. A foundation dip has a lot of tariff points which when added to what he already has he’ll have over the requirements. He’s doing an additional qualification to his A levels which will be taken into account (he’ll need to make sure he adds this to his qualifications on his UCAS form with grade pending). If he’s offered a place after interview it’ll probably be on the condition of a pass so he’ll meet their tariff requirements.

Of course no harm checking with uni’s directly, but for art courses this shouldn’t be an issue. Good luck and enjoy!

Oh and it’s the unis that go through the applications, not UCAS.

Yes! Dd was way off (music not fine art) but they took her because of her diploma in singing

A foundation year is generally a level 3 course ( same level as A Levels) with some elements of Level 4. One purpose of the course is to develop skills/ the portfolio. Definitely worth applying, but as always, visit unis and ask the question, and have some other back up courses on the application

In my experience universities can be as flexible as they want to be.

Your DS should deal out all the cards he has - even if they are not the official ones. Best of luck.

Years ago I applied for a prestigeous course at an RG uni. I was a mature student with professional experience by no A levels. I had also published a small book (but not in a relevent subject) and completed an Access course. I got an offer from every uni I applied to. My desired course made me an instantaneous offer on the day. There were only 13 places on the course and over 300 applications.

Thanks all for the advice. It's reassuring to know he still has a chance, just need to convince him now!!