Getting into Art School

The term “Art School” has a very broad meaning, but here we are referring to specialist colleges and university departments that offer degree courses in Art and Design. There is a huge range of courses available, from Fine Art to Fashion and Textiles or Product Design. The UK is renowned for the quality of its Art and Design courses, and entry to the top Art Schools is extremely competitive. If you are considering a creative career and are interested in applying for a degree course in an Art-related subject it is essential to make the right choices for A Level or IB  subjects as early as possible.

What should you study in the 6th Form? How can you choose where to study?

There are many questions to consider. Do you need to take A-Level Art or History of Art or Photography? What about the IB or BTECs? Should you combine Art with other subjects such as English, History, Modern Languages, Business or Maths to either suit the degree requirements or keep your options open in case you change career direction? Most importantly, the key decider in Art School admission is compiling your own individual art portfolio. So which school / college is going to combine top class art facilities, inspired teaching and the experience to guide you in building an impressive personal portfolio?

There are a very small number of private sixth-form colleges specialising in Art and Design some of which offer their own Foundation Programmes and/or have special admissions arrangements with university art schools.

Please call us for further information and advice on +44 (0)1622 813870

What is an Art Foundation Course? Do you need to take one?

If you know exactly what you want to study, and already have a strong portfolio, it is possible to apply for an Art and Design Degree course to start immediately after completing A-Levels or the equivalent, but many students choose to take a Foundation Course to develop their skills and explore different disciplines first. Foundation Courses generally give you more opportunity to develop your own portfolio. Some Art Schools require a Foundation Course and indeed many offer their own. The traditional route for UK students is to take a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. For international students there is a range of different Foundation Courses offered at private sixth form colleges, as well as by some Art Schools to prepare you for entry to an Art and Design degree course.

For advice please call us on +44 (0)1622 813870 

How do you apply for a Foundation Course or a Degree Course in Art and Design? How do you pick the best one to suit your aims?

Entry procedures and requirements for courses vary considerably, but in all cases the most important aspect of your application will be your portfolio. It is essential to choose a school or college which will support you in developing an impressive portfolio of your work and give you the best chance of ultimately gaining entry to the degree course of your choice.

Let us help you find the right school or college to get into Art School

You can also download a copy of our eGuide Getting Into Art School here.

Getting into Medical School

There is a huge demand for UK Medical Schools, Dental Schools and Veterinary Colleges. Less than half of applicants succeed and AAA grades at A Level including Chemistry and Biology (or equivalent in the IB or Pre-U) are almost mandatory just to get to the first screening stage. Then there is the personal statement, references, work experience, special admissions tests and an interview. It is therefore crucial for parents to choose private senior schools or sixth form colleges which will not only help your child achieve exam success but also thoroughly prepare him or her for all the other requirements.

Some schools have great success with medical applicants and others may only send the odd student every few years. You must not leave this to chance – the right school will optimise your child's chances of a medical degree offer.

A number of private sixth-form colleges have specialist Medic Programmes which, inter alia, can coach students for GMAT and UKCAT tests and also facilitate work experience placements at local hospitals.

We are pleased to offer a comprehensive eGuide with information about Getting into University Medical or Dental School or Veterinary College.

The contents cover:

• Introduction
• Background to Medical Degrees
• International degrees
• Other careers
• Types of degree
• Which Medical School
• Process & timing
• Subjects and grades
• Application and Personal Statement
• Admissions tests
• Interview
• Creating your own portfolio
• International Medical Schools
• Dental Schools
• Veterinary Colleges
• Choosing a Private Sixth Form College or School
• Appendices

Please click here to download a complimentary copy of the eGuide

Having stated that all students need AAA grades, there are actually other routes into medicine which can help candidates with grades at levels to BBC. These involve a Pre-Med Course or Foundation for one year, which then leads into Medical Schools in the UK and EU or other international centres. Additionally, after the first year of these courses, you can sometimes be accepted into the second year of a Medical School degree.