Progression and Articulation from FE college*
Many of the new students who start the Glasgow School of Art in Years 2 and 3 come directly from courses at Further Education (FE) colleges in Scotland. For many of these students, the route to art school is a complicated one including employment, caring responsibilities, studying other subjects and more. Others went straight to college after secondary school.
The following describes the most common routes from college:
Progression from college into Year 1
NQ or NC Portfolio Preparation or UAL Level 3 Diploma courses are a great way to prepare for art school and many students join Year 1 at GSA from these and other SCQF Level 6 college qualifications in art or design-related disciplines. HNC students and, less commonly, HND students, may also be offered a place in Year 1 if the GSA admissions team agrees that study at Year 1 would be beneficial and/or the applicant's previous study wasn't directly related to the GSA degree.
Advanced Progression from college into Year 2
Advanced Progression is a term the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) uses to describe an HND graduate entering a Higher Education Institution in Year 2. Effectively, the HND allows them to skip Year 1. In many cases, the GSA will offer Year 2 entry to HND students and graduates, but this isn't always the case.
Articulation or Advanced Standing from college into Year 2 or 3
Articulation or Advanced Standing is an official term used by the SFC to describe HNC graduates entering Year 2 and HND graduates entering Year 3 in Higher Education.
The GSA works with a number of Scottish colleges to support and encourage progression and articulation. We work formally and informally with a number of Scottish colleges to support such routes.
Associate Student Schemes
Currently, we have two articulation agreements which include Associate Student Schemes. This means that the students registered on the Scheme are able to participate in additional engagement activities to support articulation to the GSA.
For more information, click on the links below:
Associate Student Scheme with the HNC Art & Design at Glasgow Clyde College
Year 2 entry to Fine Art and Design Programmes
Associate Student Scheme with the HND Sound Production at Forth Valley College
Year 3 entry to the BDes Sound for the Moving Image
Information and Support for colleges, college students and graduates
GSA's Progression Manager works with colleges to build bridges, facilitate collaboration and understanding as well as provide support for applicants and entrants from college. Part of the development and enhancement of GSA/college partnerships includes support and guidance for applicants. This includes an annual Open Day talk which is available here.
Click here for more information on applying for advanced entry to the GSA.
Support for entrants from college
If successful, direct entrants will be invited to attend transition workshops. Direct entrants from Scottish colleges participate in workshops in June which include a visit to the GSA Degree Show.
GSA Articulation Stories
To hear more from graduates who have come to GSA via college, click here.
* the information included on this page focuses on students studying at Scottish colleges of Further and Higher Education
