The Glasgow School of Art continues to set the bar high for higher education in the arts, proved by the stunning statistic that it has provided nearly a third of all the nominees for the prestigious Turner Prize since 2005. Founded as a government school of design in 1845, the Glasgow School of Art offers courses of the highest quality in fine art, design and sculpture.
The Glasgow School of Art has produced some glittering alumni, such as Turner Prize winners Douglas Gordon and Simon Starling; and Beck's Futures winners Roderick Buchanan, Toby Paterson and Rosalind Nashashibi. Some famous names from outside the arts and design community have also studied at the school. Harry Potter star and all-round national treasure Robbie Coltrane (aka Hagrid); Oscar and BAFTA-winning actor Peter Capaldi; indie band Travis and veteran film director Alexander McKendrick have all passed through GSA on their way to successful careers in their various fields.
The School is prestigious for a reason: competition for places is fierce, not just among British students, but among international students as well, who make up 15% of the 1,900 strong student body. You'll need at least an ABB at A Level (or ABBB in Scottish highers) and a strong portfolio to stand a fighting chance. As you'd expect, there's an extremely low drop-out rate and nine out of ten of its graduates would recommend the Glasgow School of Art to prospective students.
Glasgow School of Art’s main campus lies in the area of Garnethill in Glasgow between two bustling cultural quarters: the West End, home to a vibrant theatre scene and the regenerated commercial district, and the Merchant City, where many of GSA's graduates have established studios and workspaces. Glasgow boasts some of the UK's most impressive architecture as well, so you'll find plenty of inspiration from the city's surroundings.
Much of the Fine Arts, Environmental Art and Sculpture teaching is located in the Mackintosh building at Garnethill Campus, while the departments of Textiles, Jewellery, Product Design, Visual Communications and the school's main bars, refectories and venue, The Arts School, are located at the Skypark campus, while the main Garnethill campus is being renovated.
Glasgow School of Art has two campus halls of residence, Margaret Macdonald House and Old School House. It also subleases residential accommodation from the University of Glasgow at Victoria Hall, which is a ten to fifteen minute walk from the main campus. Rental rates range between £83 and £108 per week, although some halls do charge extra for utility bills. The Student Welfare Department offers guidance for students who would like to rent a private flat or room.
From 2012, Scottish and EU Students will payannual fees of £1,820. The school has proposed annual fees for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland of £9,000 (capped at £27,000 for students studying four year courses in fine art, design and digital culture) starting in 2012.
Glasgow is one of the least expensive UK cities of its size, and just as well, given the amount of things for students to do. There are plenty of pubs and clubs in Glasgow which offer student discounts. A student cinema ticket can cost as little as £4 and, failing that, most of Glasgow’s museums and galleries are free, meaning sampling the city’s culture needn't be prohibitively expensive. Housing costs are pretty reasonable too, with the average rent costing around £65 per week.
There around 15 subject-specific and general undergraduate scholarships available, ranging from £500 - £2,000 per annum, donated by alumni, philanthropists and Scottish arts patrons, such as the King Family Scholarship for fine arts students. There are four Architecture scholarships available, two Fine Arts and one Design scholarship.
There are also around 26 postgraduate scholarships available ranging from £1,000 to £10,000 per annum. There are also a limited number of Postgraduate Student Allowance Scheme funded places on Postgraduate Taught Programmes. PSAS places are funded by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and are available for both Scottish and EU students.
Glasgow has some of the best nightlife and music scenes that the UK has to offer. Don't just take our word for it: Glasgow was officially awarded UNESCO status as a City of Music. Barrowlands, Nice 'n' Sleazy and King Tuts represent some of the city's premier rock and alternative venues, while The Garage and ABC are large, multi-floor venues with genre-hopping club nights that are particularly popular with the student community.
The Merchant City, Glasgow's historic commercial district, is brimming with vibrant bars and galleries. The Glasgow School of Art’s student union is one of Glasgow's most respected venues, pulling in well-known bands and DJs.
The Glasgow School of Art shares sports facilities and clubs with the University of Glasgow. With a fully equipped gym, facilities across several campuses and sports as diverse as Aikido and Muay Thai boxing, there's opportunity to get involved in a wide range of sport.
GSA is part of the Glasgow University's Student Representative Council and has access to over 120 clubs and societies and, even if you can't find the right society for you, the Students’ Representative Council will provide you with the funds and support to create your own.
Freshers' week comprises of a number of introductory meet and greets put on by The Art School (aka the GSA Students Association) and a packed calendar of music events and club nights at The Art School union.
Glasgow School of Art has its own careers service which offers a wide range of career guidance and advice. This includes one to one guidance appointments, professional practice seminars and other career resources. There are also a range of employability opportunities within the curriculum, such as opportunities to enter competitions and take part in live projects.
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