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!!

City & Islington in Holloway offer an art foundation - www.candi.ac.uk/course-detail/art-and-design-fine-art-pathway-level-3-foundation-diploma/10700/
The advice on The Student Room art foundation thread seems to be to stick with a level 3 foundation, not level 4.

Thanks for that - I had no idea there was level 3 and 4 for post 18. Had assumed were all the same level although I had noticed there was BTEC and UAL qualification.

Anyone know more about that?

I think Westminster Kingsway also offer a level FAD course.

Hello, great thread
my DD is looking to do Illustration/ possibly animation. She currently study 3 A Levels, one being fine Art.
we’re from south East and so far has looked at Bournemouth arts uni, looking at Portsmouth on Saturday and have Norwich arts uni booked end of month. We’re just deciding where else to book. One or two more. She doesn’t want to go too far. 3 hour drive max

Hi @mumma24, my DD is one month into the illustration course at Cambridge School of Art (part of Anglia Ruskin Uni). Direct entry from A levels, doing a sandwich course with placement year.

So far, she loves it. Great city, small course in a well-respected art school, and very traditional (lots of drawing from life, which is a bit marmite in the art world). Also cheap accommodation if you pick the right option (at least for first year...)

Do feel free to ask me anything! @OneFrenchEgg was at an open day there recently too.

Ah yes of course @PhotoDad @mumma24 we felt Norwich arts and Bournemouth arts were a similar vibe for dc who wants to develop their own thing from the start and not do lots of detailed drawing practice (opposite to me, I loved it) - obviously that's quite black and white and it's more nuanced on the courses. ARU Cambridge was very traditional feeling - lots of lovely life drawing and urban sketching etc.
Happy to give parking advice etc on Cambridge!

I’m not sure the level 3 or 4 aspect is true. The UAL foundations at CSM and Camberwell say the first term is level 3 and the next two are level 4.

A level 3 qualification is the same as an A level Levels

Sounds great @PhotoDad I did mention this to my daughter. Will certainly
consider going to an open day. What’s accommodation costs like there?

Thank you @PhotoDad @OneFrenchEgg

we’re going to look at Graphic Arts at Winchester school of Art (Southampton Uni) not sure how much illustration is involved but DD likes the idea of a bit of a mix of arts

@mumma24 DD is in a small-ish room in a uni-owned house right next to the art school (so the street is full of art/design students). Self catered. £4.8k for the year (40 weeks).

Mind you, that is the very cheapest room; they do "first come first served" rather than a preference list and she got in early. It's a steal for Cambridge! (Private rental might be a shock next year.)

ARU also does a combined illustration & animation degree, and even the "pure" illustration course involves small amounts of printmaking/graphics/animation.

Sorry @Duchessofmuchness , I misquoted the bit from The Student Room FAD thread, this is what was actually said:

"All FADs are a mixture of level 3 and 4 - some are 60% level 3 and 40% level 4 (and so have a level 3 final award), others are the other way around.
Again if you don't have experience with art education I would say a level 3 course is a better option - you'll get to the same place by the end of the year but with more time to build up to that...but the differences are pretty small. If you find a L4 course you like (that will take you), with staff you get on with and facilities that suit your interests then that's still a good option."

Thats good to know @PhotoDad

Ok we've booked UCA Farnham for our final visit.
Seen:
ARU Cambridge
Nottingham
Arts Norwich
Arts Bournemouth

I think five is enough? Really hoping they get an undergrad offer as we can't fund accommodation and fees for a foundation plus they are quite sure about what they are keen to do (illustration) and do a lot of practice out of school

Just a little anecdotal info - apparently UCA Farnham have 2 taught days a week. The person I know who is on this course is pretty disappointed ☹️

@OneFrenchEgg 5 is plenty!! If your DC is pretty sure about illustration then there's nothing really to be gained by doing foundation. Especially if accommodation will blow the finances (no tuition fees for most foundation courses if you're under 19). DD got offers for direct entry from A level and so far hasn't changed her mind about where she wants to go.

Thank you. That might work really well dc 😂

For what it's worth, ARU illustration (first year) has three contact days per week (Drawing, Digital, and Printmaking in first term). But DD says that they are set more than enough homework to keep them busy for three more full days, and she goes out sketching with her friends.

I got the sense @PhotoDad that it was much more of a step up rather than a giant leap from a levels - like a nurturing, teaching environment.

@OneFrenchEgg Obviously I am incredibly biased as my DD is so happy with the course and it fits her like a glove. But, yes, as it's a small course (20-30 intake) they get lots of advice from the lecturers, and patient teaching. It wouldn't suit someone seeking to strike out with their own style. Definitely not everyone's cup of tea!

One of DD's A-level art teachers told her that he, personally, had hated foundation in a big London art-school as he was one of nearly 100 and never got any advice other than "do your own thing." But that was 25 years ago.

You’re selling ARU PhotoDad! Does your DD have to clear her room of possessions during the Christmas and Easter Holidays?

Do you know how the placement year is organised? Is it in year 2? Who finds the students the placements?

I can see why @PhotoDad it's brilliant she's found a course she enjoys. I try a funny how you can see them get the vibe or not isn't it? AUB felt so comfortable , I really hope they get a place their or Norwich at the moment. I met someone who did UCA so excited to see it.

Visiting each uni is so important- must have been a nightmare during covid when so many open days were virtual! We will make a two night trip to a Falmouth at some point.
One of the reasons my daughter wants to do a foundation year is she's just not ready to leave home yet. We are very close (I'm a widow - her dad died when she was 4). She wants a break really, from a few intensive years school - not that foundation is a break, but feels a bit lighter than a degree course. Plus as she wants to do animation, she needs some technical bridge between school and uni.
@ArtGarfield the unis I asked about this said the students find their own placements which is between years two and final year.

I can completely see the pull of an art foundation as an extra year to come to terms with adulthood. It sounds perfect in some ways. A lovely creative year, with enough time to get stuck into a PT job and save for what we is next. Time to spread your wings but still come home. I wish I’d done it. I know of some medics who took the art foundation year.
I’m sorry to hear of your and your DD loss mondaytosunday. I hope DD has a wonderful foundation year.
Interesting to hear about the placements, thank you.

Well, yes, last year DD only managed two official in-person open days due to lockdowns, but we managed to visit the other three cities on her list and look around to get the "vibe" even if she couldn't see inside the art-schools there. That sense of belonging is really, really, important. For instance, she liked Norwich as "a fine city," but it didn't click in the same way as Cambridge for her.

I rather wish that some of DD's school friends had also wanted to do art/design, but none of them did. So this thread is a nice way to spread the love (and anxiety) of having an arty DC!

Her placement will be after her second year, so there's some time to think about that. The uni will help, with lists of places that previous students have attended and support from the careers team, but it's mainly up to her. She is considering going abroad, as she has conversational German, and one of her friends this year is from Austria... we'll see. On the other hand she might want to keep her intended house-share group and do something in Cambridge/London.

On a more personal note, DD had big problems last year. Mental health issues and friendship-group problems combined in a perfect storm. She worked from home from around February, and we were really worried that she wouldn't be able to move on; all she wanted to do was her art. BUT she got decent exam results, managed to get some medication and therapy which helped equally, and is now happier that she has been for years. She's surrounded by course-mates who are equally passionate about creating things, and has "found her tribe.". I'm only sharing that because it might give some comfort to people with DC in similar situations.