Do you have to have English and Maths GCSE to study an Art Degree?

If you have an Art Foundation Diploma and want to apply to University to study an art degree like Illustration/Technical Arts/Graphic Design is it obligatory to have a GCSE in Maths and English? Or will Universities take you if they like your portfolio and you have good references from your Foundation Diploma?
Many thanks
Sonya

Hi, entry requirements differ with each University and course , some do not require GCSE depending on what you want to study. Best to take a look at the University website that you are interested in to see what they require for a degree in art - JD

Original post by Sonya55

If you have an Art Foundation Diploma and want to apply to University to study an art degree like Illustration/Technical Arts/Graphic Design is it obligatory to have a GCSE in Maths and English? Or will Universities take you if they like your portfolio and you have good references from your Foundation Diploma?
Many thanks
Sonya

If you're under 19 and a UK national then the funding for an Art Foundation Diploma is dependent on having a 4 or above in GCSE Maths and English (or accepted equivalent approved by the ESFA).

Reply 3

McGinger

20

Check each Uni course page individually for any GCSE requirements.
(Why don't you have these GCSE grades...?)

Reply 4

Sonya55

OP

2

Original post by PQ

If you're under 19 and a UK national then the funding for an Art Foundation Diploma is dependent on having a 4 or above in GCSE Maths and English (or accepted equivalent approved by the ESFA).

This is not really what I am asking thank you. My daughter will have a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design next year. She is 24 but has no exam qualifications. I want to know whether once she has her Foundation Diploma whether it will be accepted by Universities for an Art degree like Illustration based on her portfolio, references and her Diploma or whether they will reject her because she doesn't have Maths and English GCSE.

Reply 5

Sonya55

OP

2

Original post by McGinger

Check each Uni course page individually for any GCSE requirements.
(Why don't you have these GCSE grades...?)

There are lots to reasons as you probably know why people aren't able to take exams at certain times. What would be good to know is whether Maths and English GCSE are a sort of standard requirement for all University degree courses in art related subjects - Illustration/Graphic Design etc.

Reply 6

Sonya55

OP

2

Original post by CCCU Official

Hi, entry requirements differ with each University and course , some do not require GCSE depending on what you want to study. Best to take a look at the University website that you are interested in to see what they require for a degree in art - JD

Thank you

Original post by Sonya55

This is not really what I am asking thank you. My daughter will have a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design next year. She is 24 but has no exam qualifications. I want to know whether once she has her Foundation Diploma whether it will be accepted by Universities for an Art degree like Illustration based on her portfolio, references and her Diploma or whether they will reject her because she doesn't have Maths and English GCSE.

I know it wasn’t what you asked but without the details of your daughter’s age I wanted to make it clear in case she was under 19 and hoping to start a FAD course.

At 24 most universities will have some flexibility over GCSE requirements and many won’t have requirements at all. However many jobs WILL require GCSE maths and English so it would be worth finding the time to take them (or at the least functional skills level 2) prior to graduating. I have known graduates with degrees turned down for entry level jobs due to lacking maths and English GCSE.

Reply 8

dirtmother

8

Our experience is that there can be considerable differences between what universities say about flexibility for mature applicants for creative arts degrees and what actually happens in the admissions process as regards qualifications... however many conversations have been had with admissions and with subject staff prior to application. Keep receipts! Of course nothing entitles an applicant to an offer of a place, but you may have to fight for the advertised right to at least be considered (one university said they guaranteed all mature students an interview... and didn't). Everything does as PQ says hang on the age of the student so when you enquire of individual universities, that's got to be up front information (and keep reminding them). I would personally recommend being very upfront about any disability and disrupted educational history.

My son (also a mature student) has a place for September on a creative arts degree without English/Maths. He doesn't have a Level 3 qualification (FE colleges won't accept him for FAD because no English/Maths!) but he did pay close attention to portfolio content recommendations. My concern might be that universities might feel they have 'nowhere to go' with making an alternative offer of the course 'with a foundation year' if she's already done the FAD... however, if she has secured a place on one, then successful completion may well be all they need to feel confident to offer a place.

BTW do you know about all the funding implications for foundation diploma at FE cf foundation year at university, and the change in the way students are assessed for finance if they are 25 or older?

(edited 4 months ago)

Do you have to have English and Maths GCSE to study an Art Degree?

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