The Glasgow School of Art

Applications now open for 2023/24

Application form available here
Information and guidelines available here

Programme Overview

What is The Portfolio Preparation Course - Creative Practices?
The GSA Portfolio Preparation Course is a 24 week programme that provides hands on learning and teaching in a studio environment. Students on the course cultivate and develop their own individual visual language. The course provides a fast-paced learning environment and attracts a mixture of creative and intuitive individuals who are committed to become the designers and artists of the future.

The Course aims to

• Support students in the creation of a unique and distinctive portfolio of fine art, design or architecture work for both 'Digital' and 'Full' Portfolio submissions for Further and Higher Education Courses
• Introduce students to an artistic learning and teaching environment working in a studio
• Extend student's knowledge and understanding of creative approaches in fine art, design & architecture
• Support students in the exploration of pathways towards careers within art & design

What makes this course 'unique'?
It is a productive experience, encouraging students to establish a strong work ethic while producing an abundant amount

of high-quality work for a unique and non-formulaic portfolio for fine art / design / architecture application

• Environment encourages confidence in the student to take risks, try new 'things' and not fear failure but to embrace it in order to improve skills and expand knowledge
• Teaches students new 'ways of seeing, thinking, creating and making'
• Contact with GSA Departmental Staff
• Access to a range of activities and resources within GSA
• Student demographic is extremely diverse in that applicants apply from the full spectrum of society and age range

Programme summary

• Duration of Study: September - February (24 weeks)
• Award: GSA Award SCQF Level 6 {60 credits)
• Self-funded:- Full fee & resources - materials/equipment cost for creative activity
• Limited number of GSA scholarships available
• Number of places: 40 (20 in each Option)
• Option 1 - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Morning
• Option 2 - Wednesday Afternoon, Thursday and Friday
• Timetabled 2.5 days per week

Entry requirements

• Qualifications - Applicants would preferably have the required entry requirements for HE Fine Art, Design and Architecture Courses or are in the process of studying towards these qualifications.
• International applicants - proof of English Proficiency required i.e. IELTS 6.0 (5.5 min in all components)
• We are willing to consider applications from those who do not have the published conventional qualifications for HE admission and who wish to gain recognition for formal or informal study taken elsewhere

How to apply
Online application (Application form available here)
Digital/efolio submission consisting of 10 slides (some slides might contain multiple images)
The Admissions Panel are interested in a candidate's work including and most importantly, drawings from primary source material (i.e. NOT from photographs), images from sketchbooks are encouraged particularly those which demonstrate the applicant's creative process.