Widening Participation Programme 2024
25
Course Info & Dates
Study Options
On-campus Online
On-campus courses take place in a studio within the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) city centre campus, providing the opportunity to become familiar with an art school learning environment. Participants make work in response to creative briefs with guidance from a tutor and GSA student mentor, alongside other young people interested in applying to art school. A wide range of art materials are available to use in the studio.
Online courses take place live on Microsoft Teams (MS Teams), led by a tutor and GSA student mentor. Participants are guided through a range of creative activities and share images of their work in progress to receive feedback from their tutor and classmates during the session. Art materials are posted to pupils in advance and are free of charge. These courses can be accessed using a laptop, tablet or mobile device with an internet connection.
S6 Portfolio Course
This course is open to eligible S6 pupils who plan to submit a UCAS application to study a creative undergraduate degree starting in September 2025. It is made up of a number of creative projects that will help participants to generate high quality, relevant work suitable for their application portfolio. Participants will develop a variety of key skills, with a focus on developing their creative process, using research to enhance practical work, and building confidence for self-directed study. They will gain experience of study methods at the GSA including peer learning, tutorials, group critique and independent projects.
S6 Portfolio Course On campus
18 weeks
S6 Portfolio Course Online (MS Teams)
18 weeks
Architecture Portfolio Course
This course is suitable for eligible pupils in S5 or S6 who plan to submit a UCAS application to study architecture at university starting in September 2025. The course is designed to give pupils the knowledge and skills needed to compile a strong portfolio of work specifically for architecture courses. Key skills covered include orthographic drawing, model making and using research to inform project outcomes. Participants are encouraged to develop an active interest in architecture by looking closely at the built environment around them and researching examples of contemporary architecture from around the world.
Architecture Portfolio Course On campus
Architecture Portfolio Course
Online (MS Teams)
10 weeks
Architects in the Making On campus
1 day workshop
This workshop is open to eligible applicants to Architecture or Interior Design at the GSA.
S5 Portfolio Course
This course is open to eligible S5 pupils who are interested in studying a visual creative subject at art school or college when they leave secondary school. Participants will take part in a number of short creative projects including an introduction to sketchbooks, experimental drawing and working in 3D. The course culminates in a group crit where pupils display all their coursework and discuss their strengths and areas for development. Many pupils who complete this course include the work they produce in their portfolio if applying straight from S5, or the following year from S6.
S5 Portfolio Course On campus
10 weeks
S5 Portfolio Course Online (MS Teams)
10 weeks
S4 Taster Weeks
These activities are designed to help eligible S4 pupils decide if they want to study a visual creative course in the future. Young people join us on the GSA campus for five days to take part in a range of creative activities in one of our studios. A visit to a gallery or museum is built in to every S4 Taster Week to help participants learn more about contemporary art, design and architecture. It’s a great chance for young people to make new friends from other schools and meet professionals currently working in the creative sector.
S4 Taster Weeks On campus
5 days
S4 Creative Club
These live online workshops are for eligible S4 pupils and take place on the last Saturday of the month. Before each session, participants are posted a packet of free art materials which are used to make interesting, creative work during the workshop. Tutors provide guided demonstrations of each activity, and pupils share photos of their work to receive feedback during each session. S4 pupils can attend as many workshops as they like but must book on to each session in advance.
S4 Creative Club Online (MS Teams)
2 hours
Watch & Chat
This is a drop-in fortnightly film club for S5 and S6 pupils taking place on Microsoft Teams, 5pm - 6pm. Tutors show a range of short videos to introduce participants to a diverse range of contemporary creative practitioners, and facilitate group discussion afterwards. The aim of these sessions is to help participants to develop good secondary research skills, and give them a space to practice talking about art, design and architecture in preparation for potential future interviews.
Watch & Chat Online (MS Teams)
1 hour
