2026/27 Programme:
Course Information & Key Dates
Study Options
On
Campus
On-campus courses take place in a studio at the Glasgow School of Art’s (GSA) city centre campus, providing the opportunity to become familiar with an art school learning environment. Participants are supported by a tutor and a GSA student mentor, whilst working alongside other young people interested in applying to art school. A wide range of art materials are available to use in the studio.
Online
Online courses take place live on Microsoft Teams (MS Teams), led by a tutor and a GSA student mentor. 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.
S4 Taster Weeks
ON CAMPUS
Taster Weeks are for S4 pupils who are curious about what art school is like. Join us on campus during the school holidays. It’s a great opportunity to try new creative skills, and meet new people in a friendly, supportive environment.
DAYS TIME DATES
Tuesday - Friday 10am - 3pm 21 - 24 July 2026
Monday - Friday 10am - 3pm 5 - 9 April 2027
Creative Club ONLINE
Creative Club helps you explore new ideas, methods and materials. These live online workshops are open to S4, S5 and S6 pupils who are not taking part in a portfolio course but still want to learn more about art school and strengthen their creative skills for future applications. Sessions run on the last Saturday of each month and you’ll receive a pack of free art materials to use during each class. You can join as many workshops as you like.
DAY TIME DATES
Saturday 10am - 1pm 26 September 2026
Saturday 10am - 1pm 31 October 2026
Saturday 10am - 1pm 28 November 2026
Saturday 10am - 1pm 30 January 2027
Saturday 10am - 1pm 27 February 2027
Saturday 10am - 1pm 27 March 2027
S5 Portfolio Course
This course builds your confidence in studio-based learning, giving you the opportunity to respond to creative project briefs with support from your tutor and a friendly GSA student mentor. You attend a three-hour class once a week for 10 weeks, developing your creative thinking and making skills while exploring a range of art school courses to help you make informed choices about your future study. Towards the end of the course you work on a self-led project, giving you the chance to develop your own ideas and explore what interests you most.
DAYS TIME DATES
DAYS TIME DATES
Tuesday 5pm - 8pm 6 October - 8 December 2026
Tuesday 5pm - 8pm 19 January - 23 March 2027
Architecture Course
This course is for S5 and S6 pupils who are interested in studying architecture. Over 10 weeks, you develop key skills and techniques to prepare you to study on an architecture degree. The course encourages you to think creatively and critically about the built environment, while building a body of work for your portfolio.
DAYS TIME DATES
Tuesday 5pm - 8pm 22 September- 24 November 2026 Saturday 10am - 1pm 26 September- 28 November 2026
S6 Portfolio Course
This 18-week course is for those making an application to art school straight from school. You work more independently, creating work relevant to your chosen subject area, including a long self-directed project. This gives you the opportunity to develop your creative process and voice, while learning how to bring secondary research into your practice to strengthen your ideas. You also develop key skills used at art school, including giving and receiving feedback through a group crit. Throughout the course you become part of a supportive creative community helping you navigate the application process together.
DAYS TIME DATES
DAY TIME DATES
Watch and Chat ONLINE
Watch & Chat is a relaxed, fortnightly drop-in online session that runs from September to December. Join our tutors to watch short videos and chat about diverse artists, designers and architects. Discover new ideas and ways of making work - perfect for developing your research skills and preparing for interview!
DAY TIME DATES
Monday 5pm - 6pm 21 September - 14 December 2026
Application Support ONLINE
Many Scottish universities offer a range of creative degree courses, all with different entry requirements and application processes. We encourage you to use all five UCAS choices and research what each course is looking for before applying.
We appreciate that the extra steps involved in applying to art school can be a barrier for many. For this reason, we aim to offer application support to all eligible school leavers who submit a UCAS application to GSA. This may include:
• Help with your GSA digital portfolio layout
• GSA interview advice
• A mock interview
www.gsa.ac.uk/wp
wideningparticipationgsa
wp@gsa.ac.uk