'Whatever your creative ambition, there's a course for you in the UK'
The UK is at the heart of the world's creative arts scene, from music and fashion design to drama, museum curation and advertising. International students have long been attracted to the innovative creative arts and design courses in the UK, so whatever your creative ambition, there's sure to be a programme for you.
Creativity is constantly on show in the UK. It is home to London's West End theatres, the Edinburgh Festival, museums and galleries with world-famous classic collections and cutting-edge displays by new artists. The UK is the base for multinational film and TV companies, and independent production houses. More than two million people are employed in the creative industries in the UK and the sector is growing every year.
Music? Theatre? Dance? Fashion? A quick snapshot of UK music shows great orchestras and a thriving indie, rock and pop industry. UK film greats include directors Ridley Scott and Danny Boyle, and actors Helen Mirren and Chiwetel Ejiofor. At the top of their field are Cameron Mackintosh (theatre producer), Andrew Lloyd Webber (composer) and Stella McCartney (designer), to name but a few.
The building blocks for a career in the creative arts can be found at UK schools, colleges and universities.
Study art, design and fashion in the UK
At GCSE and A-level, you can choose to specialise in applied art and design, fine art, graphic design, photography, textiles and 3D design. BTECs offer a First Diploma in Design that can lead on to a National Diploma in the same subject, with options to specialise in 3D design, crafts, fashion, graphic design, photography or textiles. There are also a number of NVQs that are often studied alongside the English language on an English Plus course.
It's important to build your portfolio of artistic work. Many undergraduate degree courses stipulate that you do a one-year Art and Design Foundation course before you start your degree. Foundation year programmes maybe run by specialist art colleges or taught at further education colleges.
As you enter higher education, you can take BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees are available in all of the specialisations that can be studied at A-level and BTEC National Diploma level, plus others such as ceramics and sculpture. A strong emphasis is placed on applied art and design, preparing you to move directly into the industry.
The range of undergraduate degree courses offered in the UK is huge, covering every aspect of art, craft, design and fashion. On most courses you'll have your own studio space and will be expected to put on displays of your work. In Scotland, art and design degree courses last for four years and lead to the award of a BA (rather than the usual MA). The first year covers the equivalent of the foundation year required by universities in the rest of the UK.
Music from secondary through to higher education
You can lay the foundations for a career in music performance or technology by taking GCSEs, AS- and A-levels in the subject. Or you could take a BTEC First Diploma in Performing Arts (Music), and move onto choose from a range of National Diplomas, including Production, Performing or Composing. The organisation Access to Music runs nine specialist vocational music colleges around the UK, and partner colleges that offer vocational music courses. Many awarding bodies offer examinations in instrument skills; grades 6 to 8 are scored on the UCAS Tariff.
At GCSE and A-level, you can choose to specialise in applied art and design, fine art, graphic design, photography, textiles and 3D design. BTECs offer a First Diploma in Design that can lead on to a National Diploma in the same subject, with options to specialise in 3D design, crafts, fashion, graphic design, photography or textiles. There are also a number of NVQs that are often studied alongside the English language on an English Plus course.
It's important to build your portfolio of artistic work. Many undergraduate degree courses stipulate that you do a one-year Art and Design Foundation course before you start your degree. Foundation year programmes maybe run by specialist art colleges or taught at further education colleges.
As you enter higher education, you can take BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees are available in all of the specialisations that can be studied at A-level and BTEC National Diploma level, plus others such as ceramics and sculpture. A strong emphasis is placed on applied art and design, preparing you to move directly into the industry.
The range of undergraduate degree courses offered in the UK is huge, covering every aspect of art, craft, design and fashion. On most courses you'll have your own studio space and will be expected to put on displays of your work. In Scotland, art and design degree courses last for four years and lead to the award of a BA (rather than the usual MA). The first year covers the equivalent of the foundation year required by universities in the rest of the UK.
Music from secondary through to higher education
You can lay the foundations for a career in music performance or technology by taking GCSEs, AS- and A-levels in the subject. Or you could take a BTEC First Diploma in Performing Arts (Music), and move onto choose from a range of National Diplomas, including Production, Performing or Composing. The organisation Access to Music runs nine specialist vocational music colleges around the UK, and partner colleges that offer vocational music courses. Many awarding bodies offer examinations in instrument skills; grades 6 to 8 are scored on the UCAS Tariff.
You can study BTEC HNDs in Music Performance or Production, among others. Options at Foundation Degree level are also extensive. Undergraduate music degrees offer everything from Popular Music Performance to Music Technology, and Music History, Literature and Theory, as well as opportunities to study developing areas such as music psychology and film music.
Application to higher education courses at the seven specialist music schools, known collectively as Conservatoires UK is separate from the normal UCAS procedure. Courses in other areas of music, such as music technology, are administered by UCAS, as are several music degrees in similar subjects.
Drama, dance and film studies in the UK
You can study GCSEs and A-levels in Drama and Theatre Studies, Dance, Film Studies and Film and Video, and BTEC offers First Diplomas and National Diplomas in Performing Arts (Dance and Acting), Moving Image Production and Multimedia.
BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees are available in Film and Television Production, Theatre and Design Practice, Performing Arts (dance or drama) and Creative Digital Broadcast Technology. Undergraduate degree courses in all branches of drama, dance and film are evolving in response to technological developments. A degree in Digital Film and Television, giving students the chance to work with technical experts, actors, designers and composers, is also available.
BTEC HNDs and Foundation Degrees are available in Film and Television Production, Theatre and Design Practice, Performing Arts (dance or drama) and Creative Digital Broadcast Technology. Undergraduate degree courses in all branches of drama, dance and film are evolving in response to technological developments. A degree in Digital Film and Television, giving students the chance to work with technical experts, actors, designers and composers, is also available.
