Arts degrees - any experiences of the following?

[MouldyFridge]

DS unsure which way to go in the world of arts degrees. He’s had a lot of help and advice off his current college to finally horn into the sort of direction he would like to go in and has picked out too many a few courses he quite likes the sound of. However, he doesn’t know what to apply for/which direction to go in. Anyone have any advice or experience of the following? Of the course itself and what your DC went onto afterwards? (Believe it or not, this is the short list!)

Northern School of Art:
Modelmaking and visual FX
Illustration for commercial application
Production design for stage and screen

Manchester school of Art:
Product design and craft
Illustration for animation

Arts university Bournemouth:
Modelmaking
VFX for film and TV
Illustration
Creative technologies

Glasgow school of art:
3D modelling (immersive systems design)
Communication design
Interaction design
Product design
Product design engineering

Birmingham school of art:
Art and design with creative technologies

Bit of background
Currently:
Art and design Level 3 foundation diploma

A Levels:
Art A*
Maths C
Physics C
EPQ A* - it was a model he made which he then wrote about

GCSEs:
The normal, has 8, passed them all between grade 4 and grade 7.

Thank you 😊

Hi OP,

My DD is currently doing Illustration at Anglia Ruskin ("Cambridge School of Art"). No specific advice about the places you mention... but, there are a couple of threads that might be helpful if nobody replies here. One is a support thread for current students/parents, and the other some general thoughts about the arts! It might be worth asking there as well..? I know that some of the posters there have experience of those places, either through going there or at least applying; some did the FAD route and others straight-to-degree.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4795276-art-and-design-at-university-for-past-present-and-future-students-and-parents

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education/4796902-part-2-continuation-of-2023-uni-and-other-applications-for-those-pursuing-art-and-creative-routes

@PhotoDad this is excellent, thank you so much! Not sure how I missed those threads earlier in the year, but glad you’ve pointed them out. I’ve only had a brief read of a couple of pages on them but already they have been helpful. I know what I’m doing the the rest of the day….. (well, the next hour anyways)

@MouldyFridge Arts University Bournemouth & University of Hertfordshire are two of the best model making courses in England.
Has your DS looked at New Blades’ (the model-making graduate show)? The graduates are consistently sought after.

Totally recommend Glasgow or Edinburgh for art.

My DD is trying to decide between Illustration degree courses at Cambridge School of Art (ARU) and Falmouth. She has good offers for both. Does anyone have any experience of either course? One has a very small intake (less than 50) and the other 120. Both places have a great feel about them. How to choose?!

My DD is a second-year illustration student at CSA/ARU. She loves it and is thriving. Amazing course and facilities, stunning city, and loads of personal attention from tutors. Please send me a PM with any questions!

Falmouth is relatively quiet. Depends what lifestyle you want. More laid back than Cambridge. Depends where you live too.

Glasgow!

Excellent school for art.