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120 UCAS tariff points  

• e.g. A-levels: ABB, BTEC: DDM, IB: 33 and Portfolio 

The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a  for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

We are interested in creative people who demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design and, therefore, we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. 

We arrange interviews for all applicants to assess suitability for the chosen course. Your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered, as well as your portfolio of work. 

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GCSE grade A*-C (grade 9-4 in England) in English and Mathematics is also required. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Alternative entry routes text  

If this course interests you, but you don’t have the entry requirements to join our bachelor’s degree you could consider:  

• Certificate in Higher Education (CertHE). 

This is a one-year course offering a comprehensive introduction to art and design, establishing a strong basis for your creative future. During the course, you will engage with a broad range of artistic disciplines and design areas, helping you to discover your passions and refine your skills. 

 Admissions Advice and Support  

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

English language requirements  

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses. 

Visa and funding requirements  

If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;

For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study. 

Interview 

All applicants to Swansea College of Art are required to have an interview. 

We really enjoy the interview process, getting to know you and your work, and we feel that this is the best way to find the right students for our programmes. This also ensures that our applicants have all the information they need to make the right choice for them too.

If you have any queries before your interview, please contact us at artanddesign@uwtsd.ac.uk.

Portfolio 

We ask that you bring a portfolio of some past and current work. Your portfolio is a collection of your most exciting and representative work, showcasing your creative abilities, technical skills, and artistic vision. It tells the story of your creative journey, highlighting your unique style, interests, and ideas as they develop. We interpret the term ‘portfolio’ broadly and are happy for you to do the same - this can include finished pieces, work in progress, sketchbooks, drawings, and projects that are still unfolding, as these give us insight into your thinking and creative process. Whether in physical or digital format, your portfolio is an opportunity to showcase your creative journey in a way that feels authentic to you, with each piece highlighting your creative potential and enthusiasm for the programme you are applying for.  

We understand that many applicants are still mid-qualification (e.g. A-Level, BTEC, L3, Foundation) and are developing an emerging body of work, so there’s no pressure for everything to be polished or complete. 

Assessment is carried out through coursework, both written and practical. There are no exams on this course. You are formatively assessed reviews during a module, with the summative assessment taking place at the end of a module. A variety of teaching and learning methods are used throughout the course which includes amongst others;

Informal and Formal Tutorials

These tutorials are held on a regular basis, across all levels. In Year 1 you regularly discuss your work with a member of staff during the studio sessions, likewise in Year 2. In the third year, you tend to work more independently but benefit from weekly timetabled tutorials. We pride ourselves on the fact that you can see staff on a one to one basis.

Pastoral Tutorials

These tutorials give you the opportunity to discuss your progress and engagement with the whole programme and University life and raise any issues/concerns by either party.

Group Critiques

These are held on a regular basis, across all levels, during the course of the module, and provide an excellent opportunity for you to share and exchange ideas with your peers in a structured manner in addition to valuable input from staff.

Studio Projects

This is where you evidence your creativity, innovation and professionalism in presenting a variety of types of work for assessment such as; portfolios, sketchbooks and project journals, presentation artwork/visualization boards or real and virtual 3D models. The projects are set to examine your abilities to master the integration of new design principles and skills to your design practice.

Written Assignments

These are coursework elements that usually take the form of an illustrated paper or report that you undertake in your own time supported by scheduled tutorials. It is where you are expected to demonstrate critical insight and proficiency in articulating the results of a practice or research-based assignment.

Online Assignments

These are coursework elements which are undertaken and self-directed by yourself, usually submitted as an e-portfolio.

Informal & Formal Presentations

The nature of the presentations varies according to your level: in Year 1 informal presentations are introduced in order to help you gain confidence in talking about your work to your peers and staff. It is also usually part of the assessment process at the end of each project. In Year 2 you are expected to give more formal presentations as part of each module. In Year 3 a formal presentation and Q&A session is part of the final assessment of your Major Project Outcome.

Exhibiting Work

In Years 1 & 2, the nature of exhibiting work varies in formality from corridor exhibitions to public venues. At the end of the third year of study, you have the opportunity to showcase of your work in public-facing exhibitions within the locality of Swansea, and at the prestigious national design show in London, New Designers.

Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.

However, art and design students will likely incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining optional study trips, and printing.

Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment when they commence the course.  We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.  

A basic ‘art and design kit’ will cost approximately £100, but you may well already have much of the equipment required, so check with us first.  Although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework, you may wish to bring your own digital devices, again check with us first before making a purchase.

Depending on distance and duration, optional study visits can vary in cost from approximately £10 to visit local galleries and exhibitions to £200+ for overseas visits. These costs cover things like transport, entry to venues and accommodation and are normally at reduced rates for our students.

Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.  

If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies. 

We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.  

Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities 

There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

Opportunities to Learn Welsh 

We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;

You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.

Students can also take up the opportunity to study a semester in the Europe, USA or Canada.

After graduating, you can look forward to highly creative, exciting and diverse careers as:

• Product Designers
• Furniture Designers
• Engineering Designers
• Design Managers
• UX Designers
• CAD Designers

As well as learning about the product and furniture design practices, you will also pick up a variety of transferable skills that will give you a competitive advantage in whatever career path you choose to follow, such as:

• 2D Adobe CC software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• 3D Autodesk Fusion 360 CAD software skills
• Time management
• Planning skills
• Research skills
• Design Thinking skills
• Workshop skills
• Organisational skills
• Analytical skills
• Presentation skills
• Negotiation skills
• Interview skills

Our alumni are working for some of the world’s established leading brands and design consultancies, such as:

• Lego
• Hasbro
• Panasonic
• Seymour Powell
• OrangeBox
• Adidas
• Native
• Culture Group
• Acumen
• Gurit
• Zodiac Aerospace
• Recaro
• Cerebra

Many of our graduates have set up their own consultancies, such as MeeCreative and Lunia 3D with great success. Other graduates have continued their educational development on postgraduate courses, training to become teachers [PGCE] or furthering their intellectual capacity studying at Master’s/Doctoral level at UWTSD and further afield.