WelcOme TO sunnY cROYDOn! jamIe ReID #csOa_ Undergraduate Prospectus 17/18
Welcome Welcome to the Croydon School of Art (CSoA). This booklet will give you a flavour of what we are all about here at CSoA, for more comprehensive information about our facilities and courses please see our website at www.croydon.ac.uk/art. Croydon School of Art is part of University Centre Croydon (UCC). Altogether there are around 1,000 students studying on university level courses at UCC. We are a partner institution to the prestigious University of Sussex, which was ranked 18th in the 2016 The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide. All of the Higher Education courses at Croydon School of Art are validated by the University of Sussex. This means that you will study at CSoA and be taught by our staff, but the actual degree you receive will be from the University of Sussex itself. We are one of the largest providers of Higher Education between London and Brighton, and we have been offering university level courses for over 40 years, as part of Croydon College. The quality of what we do is recognised by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education who gave us the highest possible outcomes in our last review. We have a fantastic array of successful alumni as you will discover from this booklet. We hope you will, in turn, become a successful artist, designer or filmmaker.
Choosing the right course to get you where you want to be is one of the most important decisions you will make. We hope that you will find this guide and the information on our website helpful in making your decision. However, if you require any further information, or would just like to speak to the course leader about what to expect, – please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact details are provided on page 7. One of the advantages of coming to CSoA is that we don’t have hundreds of students on each course and you won’t be just a statistic to us. All of our students get to know their tutors really well and spend lots of their time in small groups and classes. This is at the core of how we work, and helps to create a vibrant creative community, in which our students thrive and achieve. Our students tend to be very focused on where they want to be, and take full advantage of the opportunities they have to work closely with their tutors in order to get there. At CSoA we believe that as well as being inspirational, challenging and ultimately life changing, university level education should be affordable. So whilst many providers are charging £9,000 per year for tuition, our fees will be £6,000.
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Croydon School of Art Croydon School of Art was officially relaunched in October 2013 with a visit from alumnus John Rocha CBE. Croydon has had a formal Art School since 1868 and the re-establishment of the Art School is an attempt to encapsulate all that has been good about cultural change and freedom of expression in south London. Our rich heritage is a constant reminder of how Croydon as a town has always been at the forefront of cultural change in the UK. The six-day occupation at Croydon School of Art in June 1968 was organised by Malcolm McLaren and Jamie Reid, two of the Art School’s most famous alumni and two men who would go on to visually define contemporary culture in the later part of the 20th century. Malcolm McLaren went on to manage the Sex Pistols and used Jamie Reid’s work to graphically define them during the mid-seventies. Jamie Reid’s famous Sex Pistols God Save the Queen record cover was later voted number 1 in a list of 100 greatest record covers of all time by Q Magazine (2001).
Croydon School of Art’s alumni come from a range of creative disciplines and include the sculptor Juan Muñoz; Helen Chadwick and Sean Scully who have both been Turner Prize nominees; award winning Scenic designer Ian MacNeil, the internationally renowned Fashion designer John Rocha; Noel Fielding co-writer and TV star of The Mighty Boosh and FKA Twigs. Over the years, Croydon School of Art has had a variety of names but it continues to have links with its past by retaining much of the traditional screen printing, etching, relief printing and letterpress equipment. The opportunity for students to work with the latest computers and digital facilities within the open-plan studios also encourages collaboration between disciplines, allowing students to explore the current boundaries of visual language and interdisciplinary practice. Fiona Minors Head of Croydon School of Art
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Courses at Croydon School of Art College level courses Level 3 & 4
Foundation Degree courses Level 5
Diploma in Art & Design — Foundation Studies
Fashion Design, Pattern Cutting, and Construction
Course title: Diploma in Art & Design — Foundation Studies Full-time: One-year
Course title: Foundation Degree (FdA) Fashion Design, Pattern Cutting, and Construction* Full-time: Two-years
Accredited by University of the Arts London
Film Production
University Level Courses at Croydon School of Art All Croydon School of Art Foundation degree and BA (Hons) degree courses are validated by the University of Sussex. Classes are taught in small groups allowing for a good level of staff support and a greater access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. The courses are vocationally relevant and are taught by a significant number of industry professionals.
Foundation Degree entry requirements A minimum of 48 UCAS points from A level, BTEC National or other equivalent advanced level course. In addition a pass in English Language at GCSE at grade C or above, or an equivalent qualification recognised by UCC. Mature applicants may be considered on relevant experience without having the required tariff points.
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Course title: Foundation Degree (FdA) Film Production* Full-time: Two-years
International students should have an IELTS score of 6.0.
Honours Degree courses Level 6
Digital Arts: Games and Animation Course title: BA (Hons) Digital Arts: Games and Animation* Full-time: Three-years
Filmmaking Course title: BA (Hons) Filmmaking and Screen Arts* Full-time: Three-years
Fine Art Course title: BA (Hons) Fine Art Pratice* Full-time: Three-years
Fashion Design and Production BA (Hons) Fashion Design and Production* Full-time: Three-years
Photography Course title: BA (Hons) Interdisciplinary Photographic Practice*
Fashion Styling Course title: BA (Hons) Fashion Styling and Production* Full-time: Three-years
Honours Degree entry requirements A minimum of 80 UCAS points from A level, BTEC National or other equivalent advanced level course. In addition a pass in English Language at GCSE at grade C or above, or an equivalent qualification recognised by UCC. Mature applicants may be considered on relevant experience without having the required tariff points.
Visual Communication: Graphic Design Course title: BA (Hons) Visual Communication: Graphic Design* Full-time: Three-years
For more comprehensive information about facilities and courses please visit: www.croydon.ac.uk/art
*Subject to validation
International students should have an IELTS score of 6.0. 7
Why Come to Croydon? Croydon, the place… Croydon School of Art is situated in the centre of Croydon, a thriving multicultural centre with strong African, Caribbean and Asian influences and links with many other ethnic communities. Croydon has one of the largest populations in London, with over 330,000 residents. Our central location means the bars, shops, restaurants and leisure facilities that Croydon has to offer are right on the doorstep. A branch of Boxpark, the world’s first popup mall, opened in October 2016 and is situated directly opposite the School of Art – fusing the concepts of the modern street food market and placing local and global brands side by side, to create a unique shopping and dining destination. The borough also boasts a vast range of sports venues, golf courses, clubs, pubs and restaurants. The local economy is thriving and a huge £1 billion shopping centre developed by Westfield Hammerson will transform the town centre and bring further economic prosperity to the area. Another added benefit is that the cost of living is lower than in many other parts of London whilst the services and entertainment facilities are highly rated. Croydon is very well connected and transport links to Croydon School of Art are second to none. Trains, trams and buses stop right outside Croydon School of Art. Central London is only 12 minutes away by train, and it takes just 15 minutes to get to Gatwick Airport. Croydon also has London’s only tram network, transporting over 276 million people a year. The East London Line tube extension links up to West Croydon train station, creating a direct connection to Shoreditch and Hoxton, ensuring Croydon’s reputation as London’s best connected borough.
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As well as providing unrivalled transport links and huge retail offerings, Croydon boasts more green space than most neighbouring boroughs with over 120 parks. Croydon nightlife/shopping Croydon is a buzzing and bustling town that offers a wide range of leisure and entertainment options including gyms, cinemas, theatres, cafés, bars, restaurants and nightclubs. Croydon is one of the UK’s largest commercial centres and has been a focus for shopping in the South East since the 13th century when Surrey Street Market was first established. Croydon is ranked highly in the UK retail rankings and is well known for its busy retail facilities. The two enclosed shopping centres within Croydon’s large pedestrian shopping area are the Whitgift Centre and Centrale, which combined have over 200 stores, including a number of major retailers. Surrey Street hosts a thriving market every day (except Sundays) selling a wide selection of vegetables, fresh fruit and flowers and general goods. Croydon has a large variety of restaurants, brasseries, bistros and cafés offering cuisine from around the world. The greatest concentration is in the town centre, where the thriving nighttime economy attracts 20,000 people every weekend to its wide range of bars, nightclubs and traditional pubs. As London’s ‘third city’, Croydon offers a rich artistic heritage as well as providing opportunities for a varied and vibrant social life. The Cultural Quarter, Restaurant Quarter and Creative Quarter are all continuing to grow and provide opportunities for artists to collaborate, perform and socialise together.
Benefits University of Sussex Our students have the opportunity to study for a degree from a top 20 ranked university right in the heart of Croydon, two minutes walk from East Croydon Station – and then less than 15 minutes from central London. All of our university level courses are approved by the University, and the actual awards come from the University of Sussex. Small class sizes As a student you will be highly valued at Croydon School of Art. Most of our lectures are delivered to groups of approximately 15-20 students. At many universities you may be taught in groups of 100 or more. This means that at CSoA you’ll get greater access to your lecturers and every session will be more personally tailored to you and your learning needs.
You’ll also find that outside your formal lectures you get lots of individual contact with your tutors and lecturers in a warm and caring environment. All our courses are built around staff-to-student contact and one of the advantages of being a student at a smaller Higher Education provider is that you will never be an anonymous name or number on a list. Facilities As a student at Croydon School of Art you have access to a range of fantastic facilities. These include a dedicated Higher Education library, lecture theatres, open plan studio spaces, purpose built Mac suites, workshops, etching and printmaking facilities, small study rooms, Gerber pattern cutting space, machine rooms, photography studio and darkrooms.
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Student Life + Support Student Representation Do you have something to say? Do you want to influence policies, services and provision? Learner Voice succeeds in implementing changes and improvements that are led by students. Students have the opportunity to play an active role by democratically electing representatives to voice the interests of all students with the aim of improving the Croydon School of Art community. In September, each course year group will elect a representative for the committee meetings that are held every half term. These provide staff and students with opportunities to discuss topics, issues, concerns and feedback directly to year groups. From the committee meetings, one representative is elected as Student Executive Officer to the Student Parliament, chaired by the elected President and Activities Officers. Representatives act as a channel of communication between the student body and Senior Management, highlighting areas of concern on behalf of others. It is essential you make your voice heard as it not only benefits the community around you, but you will develop your own skills and confidence to speak out about issues that matter to you.
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Library The dedicated University Centre library offers a comprehensive range of resources available both in print and electronic format. As a Croydon School of Art student, you will have access to all of the library services, including online resources. Subject librarians offer personalised one-to-one consultations and training on how to make the most of the resources available to you. There is also the option to attend group and class research skills sessions which will help you to get the most out of your course. Alternatively, you can use self-study materials; watch or listen to streamed media from all the main UK channels’ archives or use the internet and other computer assisted learning facilities. Photography, video, multimedia studios and specialist production areas are also available.
Student Advice Service The team offers a support service that can help students with a range of issues including accommodation advice, behavioural issues, financial advice and assistance, practical issues, complex residency issues, social issues, health issues and emotional distress. The Student Advice team can also provide support, advice and advocacy. The team have experience of working with all kinds of problems ranging from sudden and unexpected distress to long-standing issues as well as questions on accommodation, and residency. In some cases they can also refer students to specialised external agencies for assistance. Students with Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) Croydon School of Art is committed to ensuring that as far as possible all activities are accessible to all students, that is why in their inspection Ofsted reported that, ‘The promotion of equality of opportunity and community cohesion is outstanding.’
The Additional Learning team are able to offer a wide range of support, from special exam arrangements to use of specialist technology, in class and out of class support, including BSL interpreters and note takers. During your application, if you wish, you can ask to meet a member of the team. They will discuss with you what support you may require; this is all kept in the strictest confidence. Careers The Careers and Employability team are here to provide information, advice and guidance (IAG) on all aspects of career planning and career decisionmaking. They can advise you about what qualifications are needed for different jobs, tell you about the types of courses available, and help you to understand progression routes into higher level study, employment or training. Careers and employability support are also integral parts of our courses here. You will get industry specific advice throughout your time at Croydon School of Art to give you every opportunity to succeed in your chosen career.
Students have the opportunity to play an active role by democratically electing representatives to voice the interests of all students with the aim of improving the Croydon School of Art community. 11
Teaching + Learning Studying at Croydon School of Art is generally a very different experience to studying at other institutions. While all graduates from university level courses must develop their skills in learning independently, and be able to manage their own time – we tend to go about this in a different way. Typically in other educational institutions you may be taught in groups of 100, 200 or in some cases even more, and have very limited individual time with your lecturers. Here at CSoA we pride ourselves on the support and individual attention we give to everybody. You will get to know your lecturers, and will see them individually on a regular basis. All students have individual reviews with their personal tutor three times a year. Before this review, the full teaching team will have met to discuss how well things are going, and to
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identify what you need to do in order to improve your grades. You and the tutor then agree a plan of action to make this happen, and this is then discussed regularly throughout the year in a supportive and constructive way. This formal process of support is only part of the picture. Office doors are generally always open, and our students really enjoy the supportive relationships that are fostered by our committed staff. The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, the equivalent of Ofsted for schools, graded University Centre Croydon the highest possible rating in our last review. Commendations included the ‘extensive academic and pastoral support available to students,’ and the ‘wide range of methods in identifying and responding to student views.’
Fees Whilst most universities charge in the region of £9,000 per year for full-time courses, here at Croydon School of Art we wish to encourage all who are able to study at university level, and therefore have set our full-time fee at £6,000 per year for courses starting in September 2017. The important thing to remember for university level students is that the tuition fee loan scheme means that you pay none of these fees up front.* In addition, there are loans available to cover living costs for full-time students. You can get a loan of up to £7,751 per year if you live away from your parents in London. Any loans – for fees or living costs – will only be paid back when you are working and earning over £21,000 per year. You will repay just 9% of anything you earn above £21,000. For example, if you are earning £25,000 you will repay just £30 per month. Anything left outstanding from your loan will be written off after 30 years.
*Provided that no previous Higher Education award is held at the same level or higher.
For full-time students, there are also nonrepayable grants available for living costs.* If your household income is less than £25,000 per year you will be entitled to a full maintenance grant of £3,387 per year. For household incomes between £25,000 and £42,620 partial grants are available. For further information you can visit the Make Your Future Happen website: www.gov.uk/student-finance. Please note that for Level 3 and Level 4 courses, there is no maintenance support, but for students aged 24 and over, an Advanced Learning Loan for tuition fees may be available. Please see www.gov.uk/advancedlearning-loans for further details. For individual advice please contact the Advice and Guidance team on: 020 8760 5914.
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21st Century Art School Croydon School of Art has undergone extensive refurbishment over the past few years. Our capital investment project is not a face-lift; we are serious about providing our students with the very best facilities and resources to ensure their current and future success. The project provides some of the best facilities in London and enables us to continue delivering the training needed by both residents and businesses in south London at every level; from Entry to Postgraduate. There has been a complete refurbishment of the third and fourth floors and a considerable extension to the Fairfield building. This new space provides a state-of-the-art Learning Resource Centre, a dedicated Higher Education
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library, lecture theatres and more social and learning space designed to encourage more self-directed and group study opportunities. As a student of Croydon School of Art you will have access to a dedicated Higher Education Social Learning Space. This area is designed to help you study in a sociable environment. There are study pods for group collaboration and a soft seating area for relaxed discussions. Netbooks are also available for loan, alongside two open access IT areas. This provision was carefully planned with the intention of providing you with the opportunity to continue your studies outside the classroom and help pave the way to your success.
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International Choosing the most suitable career path and the institution you study at represents one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. We are committed to providing free, impartial advice and guidance on the types of courses available to international students as well as immigration advice, specific to your individual circumstances. We hope that this personal attention will help you make an informed decision, help you through the application process and settle into life in the UK. We are confident that studying at Croydon School of Art will be a positive and enjoyable learning experience and will enable you to achieve your academic and professional aspirations. The International Office is responsible for providing advice about issues affecting international students, including orientation, immigration questions, and
assisting students who need to apply for or extend their Tier 4 (General) visas. In addition, the International Office is responsible for assigning Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies (CAS), which is a mandatory requirement for all Tier 4 students. Our fees are affordable for all international students. Our aim is to widen participation for our international students by offering competitive fees, which provide value for money. Our degree course fees start at only ÂŁ7,995 per year. Bursaries and scholarships are available for deserving students. Please contact the International Office for details. The International Office should be your first point of contact when considering studying in the UK. You can call the International Office on 020 8760 5925 or by email: international@croydon.ac.uk.
Your Study Options When considering Higher (or university level) Education, many people automatically think that you can only apply directly from school once you have completed a Level 3 programme of study. Here at Croydon School of Art, we offer a number of ways in which you can study for a career in the creative industries. If you have completed some Level 3 qualifications, but feel as though you need an additional year to explore conceptual practice in a variety of mediums or have been out of work and need to develop a portfolio in preparation for employment or further study, then we will have a course level that is right for you. Diploma in Foundation Studies/Level 3 & 4 The University of the Arts London Awarding Body Level 3 Diploma in Art & Design – Foundation Studies is a pivotal qualification which provides a transition from general education to specialist art and design education, enabling students to make an informed decision when applying to Art & Design Higher Education, or seeking employment within a related industry. The qualification builds on students’ prior experience, linking skills already acquired with ideas and challenges which will extend their critical independence. The qualification attracts 165, 225 and 285 UCAS tariff points for Pass, Merit and Distinction grades respectively.
Honours Degrees/Level 6 These qualifications are designed to provide in-depth knowledge and understanding, develop abilities and problem solving skills as well as applied/ practical learning. Honours graduates will have the qualities needed for employment including the ability to take personal responsibility for decision-making in complex contexts. Qualification Levels The National Qualifications Framework (NQF) sets out the levels against which qualifications are recognised in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Level 8 — Doctorates Level 7 — Masters Degrees Level 6 — Honours Degrees Level 5 — HND, Foundation Degrees Level 4 — HNC Level 3 — A-Levels, Access Courses Level 2 — 5 GCSEs Grades A*–C Level 2 — NVQ or Diploma Level 1 — GCSEs Grades D–G, NVQ or Certificate Please see www.croydon.ac.uk/art for details of fees and how to apply.
Foundation Degrees/Level 5 Foundation Degrees are a relatively new qualification that are equivalent to the first two years of a full-time Honours Degree, and are designed to promote work-based learning and skills. Foundation Degrees are flexible and involve different learning methods. Students will learn technical work-based skills as well as the academic knowledge that underpins these skills and their application. These vocationally focused courses will also prepare students for progression on to an Honours Degree. 19
How to Apply For our FDA and BA (Hons) degree qualifications, you must apply through UCAS. There are three types of applicant: students at a school or college registered with UCAS, independent applicants in the UK, and international applicants outside the UK (EU and worldwide). There are full instructions available for all applicants at www.ucas.com and a comprehensive guide to download called Applying Online. Depending on which type of applicant you are, you will also be able to seek advice from your teacher or careers advisor and for international students, your college or other overseas organisations, such as British Council offices. You can also contact our International Office by email: international@croydon.ac.uk. Level 3 Courses You can apply to us directly via our website. Please call or email Croydon School of Art Admissions Office using the contact details below for an application form. Alternatively, you can collect an application form in person at one of our open events or by visiting Croydon School of Art. All completed application forms should be returned to: Admissions Office Croydon School of Art College Road Croydon CR9 1DX T: 020 8760 5934 E: admissions@croydon.ac.uk
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What happens after I apply? If you have applied through UCAS, you will receive an acknowledgement from them and, shortly after, we will be in touch to arrange an interview if you are a home student, or to request copies of your portfolio and qualifications if you are overseas. If you have applied for an Art, Design or Media course, you will need to bring a portfolio of recent work to the interview. If you have applied directly to us, we will acknowledge receipt of your application within five working days and pass on your details to the appropriate admissions tutor for your course. We will then arrange an interview for you with one of the course tutors to discuss your application and for you to find out more about both Croydon School of Art and the course. What happens after I am offered a place? If you have applied through UCAS, your offer will be added to their system. Once you have received offers from all of your UCAS choices you will need to respond to choose which offer you want to keep as your firm choice and which you want as your backup, or insurance choice. Whether you applied to us directly or through UCAS, if you have been offered a place we will be contacting you during the summer to let you know when you need to come in and enrol on your course, as well as what you’ll need to bring with you.
Late applications and Clearing Croydon School of Art accept late applications up until UCAS’ deadline for applying through Extra, which can be found on their website. After this deadline, applicants who do not currently hold any offers or who have not met the conditions of their offers, may be able to apply to us through Clearing. Places are limited and only available on courses that are not yet full. These are offered on a first-come, first-served basis after UCAS open their Clearing Search. Details of these courses are available on the UCAS website, on the Croydon School of Art website, or by calling the Clearing helpline number listed below.
UCAS important information — Application Fee: 2–5 choices £23 or 1 choice £12 — UCAS Customer Service Unit For callers in the UK: T: 0871 468 0 468 For callers outside the UK: T: +44 871 468 0 468 — For callers with hearing difficulties: From the UK use the Text Relay service on 18001 0871 468 0 468 — From outside the UK dial +44 151 494 1260 (text phone) and then ask the operator to dial 0871 468 0 468
Contact UCAS www.ucas.com Institution Code: University Centre Croydon C92 www.croydon.ac.uk/clearing Clearing Helpline T: 020 8760 5994*
* Please note this telephone number is only operational during the Clearing process.
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Contact Where to find us To find out more information on our courses, why not visit us to speak to a course tutor to discuss the course content and structure. Main switchboard T: 020 8686 5700 Website www.croydon.ac.uk/art Address Croydon School of Art College Road Croydon CR9 1DX
Visit us We have a number of Open Events throughout the year where you can come and find out more, meet some of the tutors and get a tour of our facilities. Open event dates: Wednesday 12 October 2016 3.30pm-6pm Saturday 12 November 2016 10am-1pm Thursday 23 March 2017 3.30pm-6pm Wednesday 5 July 2017 3.30pm-6pm For more information about our Open Events please visit: www.croydon.ac.uk/art
Mainline railway stations East Croydon (2 minutes’ walk from Croydon School of Art) West Croydon (10 minutes’ walk from Croydon School of Art)
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Useful Information Useful information If you would like to visit Croydon School of Art or simply require more information or additional copies of this publication, please contact: Croydon School of Art College Road Croydon CR9 1DX T: 020 8686 5700 info@croydon.ac.uk www.croydon.ac.uk/art In addition, visit our website: www.croydon.ac.uk to download this publication. Opening times: Monday to Thursday 9.00am–5.00pm Friday 9.00am–4.00pm
Please note Every effort has been made to ensure the information contained within this publication is correct and accurately reflects the CSoA communities’ experiences and achievements at the time of going to print. However, CSoA reserves the right to change or amend, at any time, any of the course details including content, dates, times, venues, fees payable, concessions available and terms or conditions. CSoA also reserves the right to close or not to start any published course. Please note that fees may change each year – so before deciding on a course to study, you should contact CSoA on 020 8686 5700 for the latest information. Alternative formats Students needing this publication in alternative formats, such as, enlarged print, electronic or Braille should call the Additional Learning Support team on 020 8686 5700.
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