- Location
- Anniesland Campus
- SCQF Level
- 7
- Start Date
- 25 Aug 2025
- Qualification Type
- HNC
- Course Type
- Full-Time
- Duration
- 1 year (August to June)
Applications open 15th January 2025
This is an exciting well-established fine art course designed to develop you as a contemporary creative art practitioner. It combines theory with practice so that you can learn to appreciate and understand the ideas behind the artwork. Teaching, therefore, covers a wide range of fine art disciplines where you are encouraged to explore techniques and approaches in a creative manner to expand your knowledge and practice.
What will I learn?
This is a highly creative interdisciplinary fine art course involving 2D, 3D and intermedia art. You will be working from creative briefs which will challenge and inspire you. Delivered through workshops, critiques, group, and one-to-one teaching you will discover innovative contemporary approaches to developing your work. Art theory is an essential element of the course, and this will help develop your understanding of modern and contemporary theories in art practice. Combined with visits to exhibitions, museums, visiting artists and art workshops you will become aware of contemporary art practice today. Towards the end of your course, you will undertake a graded unit project which will provide you with the opportunity to highlight your learning.
The course includes:
- 3D Art Practice: Sculpture processes
- 2D Art Practice: Photography, painting, printmaking
- Drawing
- Digital: Moving image
- Portfolio building
- Conceptual processes
- Contextual Studies: Modernism to present day
- Collaborative working
- Graded unit.
Life drawing is an important additional element and may be offered by the College at a reduced cost.
Entry requirements (minimum)
- One Higher in Art and Design or in a related art subject, band C or above plus a suitable portfolio
- A pass from an NQ/NC or UAL (University Arts London) Level 2/3 course plus a small portfolio of work
- Applications are also invited from those without formal qualifications but who have relevant experience with a portfolio of work
- A personal statement is key to supporting a successful application.
Entry requirement equivalency table
If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area
Please note: if you are planning to use this course to apply direct to Art School, you may require additional Highers, please check with the individual institute.
Employer and industry links
In addition to the course, you will have the opportunity to...
- Participate in a two-day workshop with Glasgow Print Studio. Students will have the opportunity to become members of Glasgow Print studio.
- Work on live project briefs
- Visits galleries and artists’ studios
- Participate in a cultural visit abroad or a residential art visit.
Articulation Routes
If you successfully pass all 15 credits you can articulate to year 2 of the HND in Contemporary Art Practice at Glasgow Clyde College.
An articulation agreement is in place with Gray’s School of Art at Robert Gordon University Aberdeen. Successful HND Contemporary Art Practice students can progress to year 3 of the BA (HONS) Contemporary Art Practice degree programme. Entry will be dependent on the following:
- Satisfactory completion of the HND in Contemporary Art Practice
- Grade A in the Graded Unit
- Attendance at interview
- Portfolio review.
Students from this programme will have the opportunity to progress to the following institutions to study fine art in a wide range of specialist areas. Applications to year 1, 2 or 3 will depend on the individual student and their portfolio.
Edinburgh College of Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, Grays' School of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Heriot-Watt University, Highlands and Islands University, University of the West of Scotland, Forth Valley College, Glasgow City College, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Portfolios are suitable for application to all UK art schools.
Take a look at the course progression map for art and design courses.
Jobs and further study
Students from this programme will have the opportunity to progress to the following institutions to study fine art in a wide range of specialist areas. Applications to year 1, 2 or 3 will depend on the individual student and their portfolio.
Edinburgh College of Art, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art DJCAD, Grays' School of Art, Glasgow School of Art, Heriot-Watt University, Highlands and Islands University, University of the West of Scotland, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Portfolios are suitable for application to all UK Art Schools.
Students will have the opportunity to become members of Glasgow Print studio.
Making an application
For courses starting in August, you can make up to two applications.
Applications are made to a course and a first choice of campus. If the course is oversubscribed at your first choice you will be automatically considered for alternative sites and may be made an offer without a further application.
I've applied — what happens next?
When you apply
You will receive an automated email confirming that we have received your application (remember to check your SPAM folder).
Once your application has been received you will be asked to submit a small portfolio of your artwork, information on digital submissions will be sent out to you.
Offers will be made based on your portfolio and your application.
Your application will be reviewed by the admissions team and you will either be:
- Made a direct offer (unconditional or conditional)
- Invited to book an interview session
- Advised that your application is unsuccessful – you have not met the entry requirements for this course and are advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
- We aim not to reject an application and if you don’t meet the entry requirements you may be referred to a different course or level.
If you are invited to interview, you will be informed of the outcome of your interview by email within 14 working days. The outcome will be one of the following:
- Unconditional offer of a place – you have met all the entry requirements and your place is guaranteed. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your place.
- Conditional offer of a place – your place is secured pending you meeting the entry requirements. This may mean achieving school or college qualifications which you may not be able to provide to us yet. You will be required to accept this offer to secure your conditional place. Once your conditions are met this will change to an unconditional offer of a place which you must accept before you can enrol on the course.
- Waiting list – you have met all entry requirements, and have been interviewed however, the course is now full so you have been placed on a waiting list. If any spaces become available you may be contacted, usually around the course start date. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Reserve list – following your interview, you have unfortunately not been successful in this round of recruitment. We have placed your name on a Reserve list and your application may be reconsidered at a later date. This could happen any time up to the start date of the course but it is very possible that you will not be offered a place. We would advise that you also consider other application options.
- Unsuccessful – your interview has been unsuccessful. You may be offered a place on a course at a different level, or advised to contact the College Student Advice Centres to discuss alternative options which may be available to you.
Once an offer is received, you must reply within 14 working days or risk losing your place, as the system will automatically decline your offer after 14 days.
Once you have accepted your offer, you will be sent out instructions about student funding, joining instructions and induction date.
