2023 uni applications for those pursuing art and creative routes

[Duchessofmuchness]

The other thread discussing Uni applications for RG and academic routes isn't so relevant for DS. He's considering Art Foundation year or direct entry to uni for fashion design.

Anyone care to join a thread on similar creative paths. (Not just fashion!)

He's looking at art foundation at Kingston, Central St Martin's, UCA,

For Fashion BA looking at Central St Martins, London College of Fashion, Manchester Met, Nottingham Trent, Liverpool John Moores, Leeds Beckett.

Most seem to accept without art foundation but he would need one to Central St Martin's so if he wants to try for that will need foundation.

Lots of open days coming up and hopefully school will give him some more advice next week. No start on his PS yet!!

Last visit tomorrow! Going to UCA Farnham.
Short list is AUB, AU Norwich so far. Doesn't want to do Foundation. Started thinking about portfolio pieces but no actual prep for it yet as in putting it together.

Hi @luluposs

DS also looking at fashion design - he's probably going to just apply for foundation this year but still deciding. As you say CSM say have to do foundation and Kingston which we visited a few weeks ago said 97% had foundation. He's not doing fashion a level though so that may help your DD?

We are visiting fashion ba at CSM tomorrow and then the foundation in a few weeks. He has mixed feelings about the reputation but hasn't seen yet. I have as looked at it for DD for a different subject a few years ago and it wasn't for her.

Then new bucks, Ravensbourne, Bournemouth, Manchester met and poss DMU as he's happy to be outside of London. All have foundation and fashion and most he could apply direct. I guess he's add LCF for ucas

Be interested in what you think tomorrow

@Duchessofmuchness
Bucks New? Really? Not quite the same as LCF? Or the others.

@TizerorFizz

Not worth the visit? Was looking for foundation courses close to London. And my thinking was if they had fashion ba then foundation would be able to support fashion portfolio at FAD?

Agree for fashion Kingston, CSM and LCF. But what about foundation if likely yo do fashion?

Now UCA doesn't do foundation only Kingston is vaguely in communicating distance. So next best was something closer to home. But actually doesn't make that much difference so maybe not worth visiting?

@Duchessofmuchness
They used to run an amazing Foundation at Amersham back in the day!!! However do you want to live as a student in High Wycombe? Cannot comment on the teaching but, as I know the area well, it’s not fashion central! However your DC might love it.

@Duchessofmuchness ah I didn't realize CSM were doing BA open day tomorrow also! Let us know how that goes. I had toyed with visiting LCF tomorrow too since we're going into town anyway and they're also holding an open day, but 3 might be pushing it! We are also booked into the CSM Foundation Open Day up in Archway on Nov 19th, is that when you're going? I'll report back after tomorrow and be interested to hear what you and DS think of CSM BA too. We are....on the fence with CSM. DD knows it's "the" place with "the" rep, but looking at their output (we went to the Foundation Show in summer and also follow the insta) I don't know, it's just....? Whereas apparently somewhere like Ravensbourne actually turns out incredible work, has top notch modern tech and facilities and might be more suited to guiding a kid towards an actual career. I can't help feel a lot of the CSM types know they've got something else to fall back on financially. But as DD says, if she was to cinch a spot at CSM it'd be a hard thing to pass up!

I think you make a good point. Kingston is local to us but DS liked it and could imagine living there on edge of London. Able to get into London for clubbing etc. I sort of wondered if Bucks new might be similar and an option for FAD? Sounds like not?

It’s not a long journey into London (35 mins into Marylebone) but it’s not Kingston. Last train back? Not sure - but not late. If DC likes clubs, go where there are clubs. HW is quite popular with families in its middle class areas because it has grammar schools and access to the countryside. I frequently wonder what on earth students do there. It was a college of HE serving local industry. It’s not much different now except they are degree courses. I think you might need to visit.

@TizerorFizz
Really helpful thank you.

I don"t think it sounds like him. He's not even sure about Bournemouth as definitely more interested in a city. I think we'll take it off list for now. I didn't think he'd like Kingston but he loved the courses and set up and felt it was so close to London it was fine. It's not just clubs he's looking for but music and city vibe.

A great example of how useful this thread is in helping on research!

HW is neither. Bournemouth is a lot more lively for students. Not sure about music though. Brighton is definitely lively. We live quite close to HW so I feel a bit treacherous! However my DDs wanted cities too!

@luluposs am I to understand that your daughter is applying to both the Kingston and CSM foundation AND degree programs at the same time? Also, I mentioned upthread the same - we went to UAL's Camberwell foundation show and were not that impressed, and I wonder if they are relying a bit too much on their rep. And Ravensbourne's fashion was really good when we visited - such a surprise as I didn't even know they did fashion!
My daughter is doing the Foundation Prep course at Kingston over half term - anyone else?

DS1 is in his 2nd year at UAL. He didn’t need a Foundation year and got an offer on his Art BTEC results and portfolio. Quite surprised reading this that it is difficult to get into UAL with a Foundation.

I think posters were talking about CSM. Not UAL in general, @JustFeckIt

DD went to LCF without a foundation. They are still the fashion specialist. Not Camberwell.

I’d think long and hard about going to London Met for art, and especially fashion, if you’re coming from outside London. I don’t want to put a downer on it, and the Cass art school used to be well regarded. But fashion in London is not really London Mets thing.

you wouldn’t get the uni experience and you wouldn’t get the art school experience and it’s not a uni that shows at LFW ( I may be wrong on that so double check).

If your child was from London and had personal difficulties in getting a portfolio together. They were a young parent or career or similar, maybe London Met would be the one.

On our way back from fashion BA open day at CSM.

We were both underwhelmed by the experience. Was at the granary square building which is a great piece of architecture. Fantastic space snd seems like lots of resources.

But the open day was so poor in comparison to others. We had to sign up for a 2 hour slot but in the one we signed up fo there were no talks for fashion ba. Only fashion and comms. There was a q and a session which we tried to go to but was so over subscribed we couldn't get in (true for more than half people trying!).

No tours - visitors could just tour the empty fashion studio but no one to explain what it was .

No lecturers of academic staff to speak to. There were desks to queue up for but no one manning the menswear fashion!!

And no student work or portfolios on show.

We enjoyed our free coffee and DS got his tote bag but we both agreed was a waste of time. We headed to tate modern for the rest of afternoon !

Foundation open day in a few weeks so hope that is better. We saw nothing that would encourage him to apply but as he said how can he not apply given the name. However it just solidified his opinion that it's probably not for him. It has no feel of community or buzz about it.

I’m surprised there were no students showing visitors around. That’s pretty standard. You might find csm has a high level of international students. LCF certainly does. I guess it’s buzzy on a working day. I think Kings Cross is a pretty good place to be.

I would also say I think it’s about time universities did bookings for talks and entry by ticket on a phone! We found Exeter abysmal 12 years ago with parents crowding talks and prospective students not getting in. They need several sessions of popular talks. I do remember at LCF, DD didn’t meet any lecturers but they have lots of guest ones.

There were some students there but they were directing rather than touring and they weren't doing fashion!

To be fair to CSM fashion is only a very small part of what it does. It’s their MA fashion course that’s the famous one.

@MaffsMover
Yes. That’s true. The fashion course probably sells itself. What’s the proportion of international students? At LCF it’s very high on some courses.

Not trying to be unfair about CSM - it is world renowned for its fashion programmes including the BA I think and DS will probably still apply. They don't need to sell themselves.

High number of international today I think of the guides and of handful of students working in the studio. It does have an impressive worldwide reputation

Good visit to Manchester Met today. Informative talks and welcoming students and staff. Maybe they need to try harder?

@HannahDefoesTrenchcoat
I rather think they don’t. That’s the issue. It’s London. It’s got the name and reputation. They might have the attitude that you are lucky to get in! We didn’t get much hard sell from LCF either. They are after the international fees.

That’s what I meant - maybe Manchester has to try harder than London? Sorry if not clear. I agree some places get a bit complacent.