Applying to Mackintosh School of Architecture
Your application to study for an undergraduate degree at the GSA is in two parts:
When GSA receives your UCAS application, you will receive an email acknowledgement and directed to upload your digital portfolio images. You can do this as soon as you receive your acknowledgement email and no later than the deadline communicated to you in the e-mail you receive. Late applications may not be considered. Guidelines on what to include in the digital portfolio and portfolio statement are available here.
If you encounter any problems during this process, please contact us by email at: admissions@gsa.ac.uk
Standard Academic Entry Requirements
- Scottish Highers: ABBB including a literate subject* and maths or physics.
- A Levels: ABB including maths or physics, plus GCSE English Language at grade A or 7.
- International Baccalaureate (IB): 30 points overall in the Diploma, including 18 at Higher Level, normally including English and Maths or Physics. Students not presenting English at grade 5 or above at Higher Level will be required to submit an IELTS.
- Irish Leaving Certificate: Four Highers at H2 or above - subjects required as per Scottish Highers.
- Those who have qualifications from outside the UK should consult our international pages for country-specific entry requirements.
For students currently taking qualifications we will look at predicted grades.
Direct Entry to Second or Third Year
You must be able to satisfy the school that you have undertaken a period of study equivalent to the first, or first and second year, of the degree programme. This may include an art foundation, HNC or HND qualification.
Widening Participation Applicants
The Glasgow School of is committed to widening participation and believes all applicants should have an equal chance of entry regardless of background or life circumstance. To support this, we operate contextualised admissions for applicants living in Scotland. This means we consider circumstances faced by individual applicants which may have prevented them meeting our standard academic entry requirements and make adjusted offers accordingly.
Widening Participation applicants are those who:
- Are care experienced (i.e., have been adopted, in foster care, residential care, secure care, kinship care, or being looked after at home with a supervision requirement at any point in life)
- Live in an SIMD20 or SIMD40 postcode
- Are estranged from their parents or legal guardians(i.e., no longer have any contact due to a permanent breakdown in their relationship)
- Have caring responsibilities for someone, who due to illness, disability, mental health issues, or an addiction, cannot cope without their support
- Are a refugee
- Currently receive free school meals
Widening Participation applicants who pass the digital portfolio stage will receive an offer at our adjusted entry requirements, shown below.
- Scottish Highers: BBCC including a literate subject* and maths or physics
For students currently taking qualifications we will look at predicted grades.
Accredited Prior Learning
We recognise that our applicants come from a wide variety of social, cultural and educational backgrounds and we are willing to consider applications for admission from those who do not have the published conventional qualifications for admission and/or who wish to gain recognition for formal or informal study undertaken elsewhere.
Applying to Study Part-time
The BArch can be studied on a part-time basis. Applicants who wish to study part-time, should apply directly to the School. Applicants should email architecture@gsa.ac.uk in the first instance or call +44 (0) 141 353 4686.
English Language Requirement
The Mackintosh School of Architecture expects all students to demonstrate proficiency in the English language, which for UK students is normally evidenced by a pass in Higher or GCSE English or other literate subject*.
For international students required to evidence their English language proficiency, the GSA’s preferred test is the IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test taken at a UKVI approved test centre.
International students required to evidence their English language proficiency by sitting a Secure English Language Test (SELT) will be asked to complete an IELTS for UKVI (Academic) test taken at a UKVI approved test centre. Our current requirement for the Bachelor of Architecture (Hons) is IELTS for UKVI (Academic) with 6.5 overall and no less than 5.5 in each component. A full list of UKVI approved test centres can be found here. A full list of other tests that may be presented can be found here.
For more information, please email registry@gsa.ac.uk or call +44 (0) 141 353 4512.
*literate subjects include English, Business Management, Classical Studies, Economics, ESOL, Georgraphy, History, Media Studies. Modern Studies, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Religious studies, Sociology.
