The Glasgow School of Art (Scotland, United Kingdom) and Central Academy of Fine Art (Beijing, People's Republic of China) join forces to offer a unique educational opportunity:
Entry to a UK university degree in Fine Art, Design or Architecture through a First Year Programme undertaken in China
Gain a University Degree in Fine Art, Design or Architecture from the United Kingdom
Q: Do you want to nurture your creative talent within an international context?
Q: Do you want to experience one of the best visual arts, design and architecture educations in the world?
Q: Do you want to create a springboard into a professional career in the creative industries and cultural sectors?
Q: Do you want to be able to use English fluently in your future career?
The Glasgow School of Art in the United Kingdom and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, two of the finest Academies in the world, are joining forces to provide a unique opportunity - a pathway to a university degree course which starts in Beijing and completes in Scotland in the United Kingdom (UK).
Students will spend the first year at Central Academy of Fine Arts undertaking a First Year Programme in Architecture, Design and Fine Art designed and delivered by the Glasgow School of Art whilst enjoying the excellent facilities, ambiance and reputation of the Central Academy. On successful completion of the Year, students will then complete their degrees in Scotland at either the Glasgow School of Art or Edinburgh College of Art, two of the United Kingdom's most successful higher education academies. There, students will specialise in Architecture or in a range of Design or Fine Art disciplines. Glasgow School of Art degrees are validated by the University of Glasgow and Edinburgh College of Art degrees by the University of Edinburgh
The First Year Programme in Beijing will be largely studio based, supported by studies in the history and theory of architecture, design and fine art and with a large English language component. With English language tuition forming 20% of the Programme and the Programme conducted mainly in English, students will have a robust and effective preparation for the high quality educational experience, which awaits them in the United Kingdom
By starting their studies in Beijing and concluding them in Scotland, students will experience different cultures; be exposed to a wide range of international contemporary art, design and architecture practice; engage in new approaches to learning and, importantly, develop both an international visual language and a fluency in English. They will join an international community of artists, designers and architects, forming friendships and working relationships, which will last for life.
The degree level education that students will be offered at Glasgow School of Art or at Edinburgh College of Art is practice-led and project-driven. Studio practice is supported by high-level technical workshops and underpinned by theoretical studies which provide historical, critical and literary context. This education develops conceptual and technical skills, nurtures creativity, encourages innovation and provides professional and life skills such as presentation, teamwork and self-management. It creates mature and confident graduates able to thrive in their chosen careers.
Students are taught individually and in small groups by excellent tutors who are themselves practising artists, designers and architects. The teaching team is complemented by a wide range of International Visiting Professors and Lecturers from all over the world. Through the tutors, through placements and projects, students are introduced to professional and business networks even before graduating and develop an understanding of the careers open to them.
As a result of this enterprising new course - this unique collaboration between Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Glasgow School of Art - graduates will have a number of very significant advantages. They will, first and foremost:
They will also have:
It is an opportunity not to be missed.
How long will it take to get my Degree?
Degree programmes at Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art take 3 years for a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and 4 years for a BA (with Honours) and BArch (with Honours)
Where will I study?
The First Year Programme will be delivered by Glasgow School of Art in Beijing at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
If you complete the First Year Programme successfully Glasgow School of Art will then offer you a place on its degree course in Glasgow or make a place available at Edinburgh College of Art.
What course will I progress into?
If you complete the First Year Programme successfully you will receive a Certificate of Scottish Higher Education and progress into one of the specialist departments at the Glasgow School of Art or Edinburgh College of Art
When you apply for the First Year Programme you will be asked to say which degree course and specialism you would prefer to enter. Glasgow School of Art will let you know if your choice is available when you receive an offer to enter the First Year Programme
The courses and specialisms are:
The Glasgow School of Art
BA (Hons) Fine Art specialising in
BA (Hons) Design specialising in
BArch (Bachelor of Architectural Studies)
Edinburgh College of Art
BA (Hons) Design and Applied Arts specialising in
BA (Hons) Visual Communication specialising in
BArch (Hons) Architecture
BA (Hons) Painting
BA (Hons) Sculpture
What is the Structure of the First Year Programme and how is it taught?
The Programme delivered in Beijing is divided into three components - Studio Practice (60%), Theory and Contextual Studies (20%) and English Language (20%). All students follow a common core programme, but will focus on their chosen specialism - Architecture, Design or Fine Art. You will be assessed in each of the three components and will be expected to pass all of them in order to progress into Year 2 of your studies in Scotland.
The Programme runs for approximately 38 weeks (September - July) over three terms, in line with the academic year at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
The teaching team for the Programme is made up of staff from both the Glasgow School of Art and from the Central Academy of Fine Arts, so you will be taught be some of the best teachers in the world.
The Programme follows a similar pattern to the First Year of the Architecture, Design and Fine Art Degree courses which are delivered in Glasgow and has been specifically designed to prepare Chinese students for the learning and teaching environment in the United Kingdom. You will be gradually introduced to UK learning, teaching and assessment methods and English will become the main language of tuition as the course progresses over the 38 weeks. The Programme will provide a bridge to ensure that your transition into Year 2 of your chosen degree course in Scotland will be as seamless as possible.
The Central Academy of Fine Arts is the only national art educational institution in China directly under the Ministry of Education. It is exclusively dedicated to the education of the fine arts, including painting, sculpture, design, architecture and art history.
Established in 1950, soon after the founding of the Peoples Republic of China, it incorporates the National Beijing Art School, the earliest national art school in China founded in 1918, and the Fine Arts Department of Huabei University.
Under the Central Academy of Fine Arts there are five schools: the School of
Plastic Arts, the School of Design, the School of Architecture, the School
of Liberal Arts and the City School of Design. Together these Schools offer undergraduate, graduate and PhD degrees in Chinese painting, oil painting, mural painting, printmaking, sculpture, art design, product design, fashion design, photography, digital media art, environment art design, architecture design, the theory and history of design, art administration, design management, museology, art archaeology and art education.
In doing so, the Academy prepares the students for a creative career in the arts, both in China and abroad.
The Glasgow School of Art was founded in 1945. It has enjoyed a long and distinguished history as one of the United Kingdom's most successful independent art academies. The Glasgow School of Art offers undergraduate, graduate and PhD studies in three schools of Architecture, Design and Fine Art, providing its1600 students with an educational experience of the highest quality.
Glasgow School of Art is closely associated with Charles Rennie Mackintosh, one of Europe's most influential architects and designers at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. His most famous building, commissioned by the Art School, still forms the heart of the Glasgow School of Art campus and boasts some of the finest painting studios in the world
The education provided by Glasgow School of Art is second to none. Students enjoy their own studio space within a highly creative and collaborative community. They are taught individually or in small groups by staff who are themselves practising artists, designers, architects and writers with international reputations. It is also a truly international community which attracts students, staff and visiting professors from all over the world. All this creates a supportive but intellectually challenging environment in which creative, mature and confident graduates are nurtured, able to achieve success in a very wide range of professional careers.
In Glasgow, students will discover a truly vibrant cultural city. It acts as a magnet to creative people and is home to the largest concentration of artists, designers and creative businesses outside London. With its museums, contemporary art spaces, national performing companies, music venues and clubs, it is not surprising that Glasgow won the accolade of European Capital of Culture in 1990 and UK City of Architecture and Design in 1999. All this, together with world class sports facilities, easy access to mountains and lakes and the presence of thousands of students attending the City's three universities and music academy, makes Glasgow one of the most exciting cities in Europe. But Glasgow is known for other things: for its friendliness and the warmth of its welcome; as one of the safest cities in the world and as "a downright fashionable place to be - the coolest city in the UK"
Edinburgh College of Art also has an international reputation as one of the most successful independent art colleges in the UK. It has won that reputation by offering the highest quality experience for its students and by providing a learning environment that is both supportive and challenging.
Edinburgh College of Art provides professionally oriented courses with students enjoying their own studio space and a high degree of individual tuition. It is known for its creativity, its co-operative atmosphere and its people. Its facilities are excellent, but the ideas that continually drive and refresh the education are even more important. The College's staff are practising artists, designers, architects, curators and writers, many with international reputations. College graduates move into an extraordinarily wide range of careers and make a real contribution to the social, cultural and economic life of Scotland, the UK, and many other countries.
Edinburgh College of Art attracts students of the highest quality from throughout the UK, Europe and the World. The atmosphere is thoroughly international, with almost one in five of students coming from overseas.
In Edinburgh they find a unique setting for research and study. They have access to world-class resources in a capital city celebrated for its vibrant creative and cultural environment. Edinburgh is Scotland's capital city and has a rich sense of history as well as a lively contemporary feel. Home to the Scottish Enlightenment, which revolutionised European thinking, the city has attracted generations of artists and writers. It is home to Scotland's national museum, galleries and library and a number of public exhibition spaces devoted to contemporary art.
Similar to Glasgow, Edinburgh has a very large student population that helps to make it a friendly and stimulating place to be.
Entry Qualifications
Applicants should:
National College Entrance Exam
In the National College Entrance Examinations all applicants will require core subjects (English and Chinese) and the complex Humanities package (History, Geography and Politics). Additionally, applicants for Architecture will require a score of at least 90 in Maths.
English Language
All applicants will require a score of at least 100 out of 150 in English (or higher or lower according to the average English score of that year) in the National College Entrance Examinations. Applicants who do not take the National College Entrance Examinations this year, will be required take an English test for entry to this Programme.
Professional Test
Applicants who have applied for a course at Central Academy of Fine Arts and who have taken the CAFA Professional Test may also be considered for admission to the Glasgow School of Art First Year programme, provided they have the other necessary qualifications in the National College Entrance Examination described above
Exceptional Admissions
Applicants who have a senior middle school diploma or equivalent but who have not taken the National College Entrance Exam and/or have not taken the CAFA Professional Test may, exceptionally, also be considered for entry to the Programme on the basis of:
Applicant should also be physically healthy, according to the requirements in the Guidelines on the Work of Health Examination for General Higher Education and of professional studies. Additionally, applicants should not have colour-blindness or colour-weakness.
Admissions Process
Students applying for this course follow the same application process as those students applying to Central Academy of Fine Arts but must also complete a specific application form (available from CAFA) in which the following information should be given:
1.Choice of area of study on the Programme (Fine Art, Design or Architecture)
2.Choice of specialist subject (for Fine Art and Design only)
3.Choice of degree study in Scotland (Glasgow School of Art or Edinburgh College of Art)
Please note that places will be offered subject to availability and at the discretion of the Glasgow School of Art.
Students who apply to Central Academy of Fine Arts may also apply to the Glasgow School of Art Programme at the same time.
Students who apply to both Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Glasgow School of Art Programme will take the CAFA professional test. Those who apply only to the Glasgow School of Art Programme will take a professional test specially designed for that programme
All applicants must meet or exceed the entry requirements for this Programme.
Successful students will be informed by the Glasgow School of Art through Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Please note that there is an Application Fee of RMB300.
Course Fees
The fee for the First Year Programme is RMB60,000. Fees are paid direct to the Central Academy of Fine Arts
The fee for degree programmes at Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art is £7,500 per annum. This represents a 15% discount on the usual fee charged by Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art
Other Costs
You should include in your budget costs for materials, accommodation and general living expenses:
Material Costs
Costs vary depending which course you are studying but you should budget for:
Year 1
Design subjectsCAFA
Fine Art subjectsCAFA
ArchitectureCAFA
Year 2
Design subjectsBetween £100 - £500*
Fine Art subjectsBetween £300 - £515*
Architecture£1,000*
Year 3
Design subjectsBetween £300 and £850*
Fine Art subjectsBetween £300 - £600*
Architecture£1,100*
Year 4
Design subjectsBetween £500 and £820*
Fine Art subjects£500 - £1000*
Architecture£1,100*
* includes costs for field trips
In Beijing
Student accommodation on the campus of the Central Academy of Fine Arts costs RMB1,500 per annum although students can choose to rent private accommodation outwith the Academy. As a guide, private rented accommodation close to the Central Academy will cost approximately RMB1200-1500 per month for a one bedroom furnished apartment.
In Scotland
The Glasgow School of Art has its own purpose built student residency which will be available to students for the first year of study in Glasgow.
Students studying at Edinburgh College of Art will be offered assistance in finding student residencies or other accommodation.
Student residences in both cities are within close proximity to the campus, shops, cultural and other facilities and you will live with UK and other overseas students.
Rents in student residencies start from about £700 per term and for students in private rented accommodation a budget of approximately £60 per week is recommended.
In Beijing
As well as budgeting for their living costs (CAFA to provide examples) and tuition fees while at the Central Academy for Fine Arts, students should also include the costs of their VISA application (CAFA to provide detail), additional costs for further English language teaching (CAFA to provide estimate), insurance (CAFA to provide estimate) and IELTS test (the first test is covered by Programme fees).
In Scotland
In additional to your tuition fee, material costs and accommodation costs, you will need to budget for your cost of living including food, transport and social life. As a rough guide, many students budget for between £250 and £400 per month excluding the costs of accommodation and travelling home during vacations. Your annual expenditure might look like this:
Food and meals £1000
Books and stationery £170
Clothes £250
Laundry/cleaning £100
Telephone £150
Postage £50
Travel to art school £100
Sport/leisure £340
(Other costs) £500
TOTAL £2660
The Central Academy for Fine Arts will provide a number of scholarships to students for the First Year Programme. Scholarships are based on merit with fees being reimbursed at the end of the course for successful students.
Glasgow School of Art and Edinburgh College of Art will offer a number of scholarships for study in Scotland.
The British Council detailed information on scholarships available to students from the Peoples Republic of China who wish to study in the United Kingdom. More information can be found on the British Council China website at http://www.britishcouncil.org/china-education-scholarships.htm
If you would like more information about the Glasgow School of Art First Year Programme in Fine Art, Design and Architecture, please contact:
Huangli ; wangjunfeng
International Office
No. 8, Hua Jia Di Nan Jie
Chao Yang District, Beijing 100102
P. R. China
Tel +86-10-64771017
Fax +86-10-64771136
Email
Huangli@cafa.edu.cn
wangjunfeng@cafa.edu.cn
More information on The Glasgow School of Art, the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Edinburgh College of Art can be found on-line at:
The Glasgow School of Art - http://www.gsa.ac.uk
Central Academy of Fine Arts - http://www.cafa.com.cn
Edinburgh College of Art - http://www.eca.ac.uk
The First Year Programme in Fine Art, Design and Architecture is subject to validation by the Glasgow School of Art and subject to approval by the Government of the People's Republic of China