Glasgow School of Art Partnership

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As a studio art school, Glasgow School of Art is based on a tutorial system, in which students are expected to work independently and in groups on assignments that are often very broad and allow for much creativity, imagination and self-direction. Guidance from instructors is always available, but students must initiate contact with their advisors at the GSA. You will be admitted to a specific school and department, and are expected to undertake the projects that are assigned for that year or semester of study at the Glasgow School of Art.

Glasgow School of Art offers three different schools: The School of Fine Art, the School of Design, and the Rennie Mackintosh School of Architecture. The staff at the Glasgow School of Art will review your application and portfolio and assign you to a year of study. Most IFSA students are admitted into Year Two studies and will be fully integrated with degree-seeking students. Students who demonstrate extensive background in their chosen medium may be admitted into Year Three studies.

To learn more about what is taught in each year of study in the various departments at the Glasgow School of Art, visit the website and click on one of the many different degrees offered by the school, then click on the “Study Guide” PDF on the right side of the page, next to the Programme Overview.

A class week will typically consist of four days of intensive studio practice and one day of Fine Art Critical Studies, Design History and Theory, History of Urban Studies, or Critical Studies in Immersive Systems—depending on the school for which you applied.

Non-Art Majors/Minors
Students interested in taking Glasgow School of Art classes but who are not majoring or minoring in art, should apply to the University of Glasgow Partnership program in order to take classes at the Glasgow School of Art. Studio art classes enrolled in at the University of Glasgow will take place in the studio space at the Glasgow School of Art.

Credit Conversions
At the Glasgow School of Art, a full class load is 15 U.S. semester credit hours for semester.

1 SCQF = .25 U.S. semester credit hours

Lab & Field Trip Fees
Please review syllabi and course materials when registering for direct-enroll classes. Certain classes may have a one-off lab or field trip fee disclosed in the syllabus or during the first meeting of the class. These fees are not included in your IFSA program fee. You will be responsible for these fees, whether they are billed and paid by IFSA or billed to you.

New country, new way of learning!

Here’s what to expect at Glasgow School of Art:

• More emphasis on independent learning. Major projects are often assigned and completed with little input from your professors.
• Grades are often based only on a single final project and exam.
• More advanced instruction and material than you’d find in a class at the same level in the United States. Scottish students specialize earlier and have extensive background knowledge in that area before entering university.
• Less personal access to professors. Instead, it’s common to connect with more junior faculty members.
• Full access to the university’s robust academic support system and resources, including assignment to an advisor. IFSA local staff are also available for individual help.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age. Students under 18 may be accepted on a case-by-case basis.
• You must be currently attending or recently graduated from a U.S. or Canadian community college, technical college, two-year college, four-year college, or four-year university.
• You must have completed at least one (1) full-time semester of study at your home institution before the beginning of the semester program or one (1) full-time year of study at your home institution before the beginning of the year program.
• Eligibility requirements can vary among host institutions. Please ask your IFSA Enrollment Counselor for specific information.

Recommendation Letters
Your application to this program will require two (2) academic letters of recommendation.

Portfolio
The Advance Studio Art program requires a portfolio of your work as part of the application process. The portfolio must be submitted as a PDF file consisting of 15 to 20 images of your more recent artwork—links to video content should also be included. The portfolio should include a numbered list of its contents, including the medium and a description of the work. More information can be found at Portfolio Examples.

TRANSCRIPT
Upon completion of your program, IFSA will send an official Butler University transcript to your home university with your coursework converted to the U.S. semester credit hour system. You will also have access to an unofficial transcript in your IFSA Student Portal. The transcript reflects classes taken, credits attempted, and grades earned during your term abroad. This service is included in your study abroad program at no additional cost. See our Transcripts page for more information.