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2nd thoughts on a gap year+ Advice on ILLUSTRATION unis
As the title says really, i got slightly better grades than i maybe expected at A-level, a in art, b in biology and d in physics. I was intending to do a gap year then go on 2 study illustration/design in London or falmouth however im beginning to realise after a few fonecalls from my auntie whos a teacher and doesnt think i shuld do 1 that ultimately im gonna be stuck working crap shifts in tescos until march. At the time of clearance i was still keen for a gap year but now i really want to go 2 uni. I have a very strong portfolio with straight grades in art as well as all the college prizes and am already getting a few commissions as far as illustration is concerned. Ive been told to phone them up and be a bit cheeky bought it so am hastily drafting up a personal statement/cv and getting a portfolio organised. Apparently this happens quite a lot with many skipping out the whole ucas shiz and just bombing up there for an interview and work viewing. however it does seem a big step and im not telling my parents bought it unless i get in as they were almost violently against me doing a gap year haha. Ive been told 2 aim for the best as far as unis r concerned and have narrowed it down to lcc and falmouth pretty much (although please comment ne other top ones) stuck between the two each with obvious advantages. At the moment im swayed 2wrds london as have lived near the sea all my life and almost wuldnt mind some experience in the big smoke. Any advice at all much appreciated, Thanks, Chris
I'm not entirely sure what it is that you want advice on, but yes you can apply directly to universities in some cases but only if they still have places available. You would require a "record of prior acceptance" form from the uni. Clearing is also still technically still ongoing, but there are limited places available. I would recommend you phone up the universities you are interested in first and see if they actually have any places available.
I'm going to move this to the creative arts forum, as I'm not an expert at all on the whole portfolio thing.
I'm going to move this to the creative arts forum, as I'm not an expert at all on the whole portfolio thing.
Well done with the A-level grades!
I don't know what different colleges attitudes to late applicants are, but I wouldn't have thought that top places like Falmouth and the UAL colleges consider anyone who's applying this late in the cycle; I know Falmouth certainly don't have Illustration in clearing. Some places might give you an interview if they still have places, but not necessarily the best, well-established courses.
Your other main problem is the fact that you'd be applying straight from A-levels. Most of the top illustration courses prefer a Foundation or BTEC National Diploma instead; A-level art isn't really sufficient experience for art study at higher education. You say that you do some commissions in illustration, which is probably more than a lot of applicants from A-level can offer, but some unis still might not want to know without you having a Foundation course behind you. I know that Falmouth do look at people from A-level, but rarely give places and you aren't guaranteed an interview even going properly through UCAS. My advice would be to also apply to some foundation courses (directly) and see if they have any places. A lot of local colleges even offer a course, and it would really benefit your application and portfolio next year if you went through the correct channels.
As for top unis for pure Illustration... People have different views, but popular and well respected courses include Falmouth, Brighton, Camberwell, Bournemouth, UWE, Plymouth, Manchester Met. I've probably forgotten some really obvious ones. There are also some universities that offer broader Graphic Design courses where you can specialise in Illustration later on, such as Central St Martins, Nottingham Trent and Winchester School of Art. I'd say you'd be lucky to get into any of these at this stage, but you'd stand a better chance doing a foundation.
I hope this helps, and isn't to waffly.
I don't know what different colleges attitudes to late applicants are, but I wouldn't have thought that top places like Falmouth and the UAL colleges consider anyone who's applying this late in the cycle; I know Falmouth certainly don't have Illustration in clearing. Some places might give you an interview if they still have places, but not necessarily the best, well-established courses.
Your other main problem is the fact that you'd be applying straight from A-levels. Most of the top illustration courses prefer a Foundation or BTEC National Diploma instead; A-level art isn't really sufficient experience for art study at higher education. You say that you do some commissions in illustration, which is probably more than a lot of applicants from A-level can offer, but some unis still might not want to know without you having a Foundation course behind you. I know that Falmouth do look at people from A-level, but rarely give places and you aren't guaranteed an interview even going properly through UCAS. My advice would be to also apply to some foundation courses (directly) and see if they have any places. A lot of local colleges even offer a course, and it would really benefit your application and portfolio next year if you went through the correct channels.
As for top unis for pure Illustration... People have different views, but popular and well respected courses include Falmouth, Brighton, Camberwell, Bournemouth, UWE, Plymouth, Manchester Met. I've probably forgotten some really obvious ones. There are also some universities that offer broader Graphic Design courses where you can specialise in Illustration later on, such as Central St Martins, Nottingham Trent and Winchester School of Art. I'd say you'd be lucky to get into any of these at this stage, but you'd stand a better chance doing a foundation.
I hope this helps, and isn't to waffly.
I don't wish to needlessly reiterate, so I'll simply enforce 'insomniac89' by agreeing with his post. The only thing I will say is that among the six UAL colleges, LCC is generally not known for its illustration (although this does not necessarily mean it's less good). Conversely, Camberwell does offer a straight undergraduate course in illustration, which the college has become partly known for, as addressed in the above post. Similarly, CSM does have an illustration pathway on its undergraduate graphic design course, which has also developed a good reputation among awarding schemes and the industry. However, these courses aren't in clearing.
thanks everyone, helpful and not too waffly lol. i have heard some good stuff bout illustration at lcc, the course i think illustration and design. Originally i was intending to do a foundation year then go on to do art in london, recommended 4 the slade and few of the other big london ones. I skipped the idea of a foundation year at the recommendation of my tutors as my college is quite a free thinking art department and we are basically left to explore by ourselves with assistance and teaching only when needed and as a result i have a pretty broad and expansive portfolio frm huge oil paintings to drypoint etchings and illustrator vector pieces. I live in pompey/southampton area so winchesters pretty close but havent heard that much gd stuff from people i know that have done foundations there. looked at plymouth when i was gonna apply 4 biology and loved it so might try there. ive got some work experience/semi internship at a big print company in the next week or so but its still a bit hazy as 2 what im gonna do the rest of the year so i might try and get on a foundation course. ill probs ring around the big ones as well just in case i get lucky. Are foundation courses residential? or do u have to go local? thanks very much for any help its great
chris130
Are foundation courses residential? or do u have to go local?
Not at all! You can move away for a foundation course if you wanted to, though I'm not sure if there is funding for it as there is for undergraduate programmes. However, like BA courses there's not likely to be spaces left on courses in popular places like London, Falmouth and Bournemouth, so studying locally might be the only option at this late stage, unless you get lucky or get onto a waiting list.
Going locally is much cheaper obviously as Foundation courses are pretty much free if you're under 19 at the start of the academic year. Some local colleges offer really good courses; I did mine locally and loved it!
Good luck phoning around.
I have a friend doing illustration at AIB. Her work is beautiful and she loves the uni. But that's no real indication on how good the uni is. If you're good, then I would probably look at who offers you the best training when it comes to computer programmes and placements.
Also consider things like visual communications degrees, as you'll probably be given a broader range of teaching. Employability upon leaving is such a huge thing now
And I can officially say, foundation courses are the most fun year of your life!
Also consider things like visual communications degrees, as you'll probably be given a broader range of teaching. Employability upon leaving is such a huge thing now
And I can officially say, foundation courses are the most fun year of your life!
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