Widening Participation Programme 2025 – 26
Course Info & Dates
Study Options
On-campus Online
On-campus courses take place in a studio within the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) city centre campus, providing the opportunity to become familiar with an art school learning environment. Participants make work in response to creative briefs with guidance from a tutor and GSA student mentor, alongside other young people interested in applying to art school. A wide range of art materials are available to use in the studio.
Online courses take place live on Microsoft Teams (MS Teams), led by a tutor and GSA student mentor. Participants are guided through a range of creative activities and share images of their work in progress to receive feedback from their tutor and classmates during the session. 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.
S6 Portfolio Course
This course is open to eligible S6 pupils who plan to submit a UCAS application to study a creative undergraduate degree starting in September 2026. It is made up of a number of creative projects that will help participants to generate high quality, relevant work suitable for their application portfolio while expanding their knowledge and skills in preparation for further study. Participants will develop a variety of key skills, with a focus on developing their creative process, using research to enhance practical work, and building confidence for self-directed study. They will gain experience of art school study methods including peer learning, tutorials, group critique and independent projects.
S6 Portfolio Course On campus
18 weeks
S6 Portfolio Course Online (MS Teams)
18 weeks
Saturdays 10am - 1pm 6 Sept 2025 - 17 Jan 2026
No classes during the Winter Closure: 22 Dec – 4 Jan
Architecture Portfolio Course
This course is suitable for eligible pupils in S5 or S6 who plan to submit a UCAS application to study architecture at university starting in September 2026. The course is designed to give pupils the knowledge and skills needed to compile a strong portfolio of work specifically for architecture courses. Key skills covered include orthographic drawing, model making and using research to inform project outcomes. Participants are encouraged to develop an active interest in architecture by looking closely at the built environment around them and researching examples of contemporary architecture from around the world.
Architecture Portfolio Course
On campus
10 weeks
Tuesdays 5pm - 8pm 7 Oct 2025 - 9 Dec 2025
Saturdays 1pm - 4pm 11 Oct 2025 - 13 Dec 2025
Architecture Portfolio Course
Online (MS Teams)
10 weeks
Day Time Dates
Wednesdays 5pm - 8pm 8 Oct 2025 - 10 Dec 2025
S5 Portfolio Course
This course is open to eligible S5 pupils who are interested in studying a visual creative subject at art school or college when they leave secondary school. Participants will take part in a number of short creative projects including an introduction to sketchbooks, experimental drawing and working in 3D. The course culminates in a group crit where pupils display all their coursework and discuss their strengths and areas for development. Many pupils who complete this course include the work they produce in their portfolio if applying straight from S5, or the following year from S6.
S5 Portfolio Course On campus 10 weeks
S5 Portfolio Course Online (MS Teams)
10 weeks
Tuesdays 5pm - 8pm 30 Sept 2025 - 2 Dec 2025
Tuesdays 5pm - 8pm 27 Jan 2026 - 31 Mar 2026
S4 Taster Weeks
These activities are designed to help eligible S4 pupils decide if they want to study a visual creative course in the future. Young people join us on the GSA campus for the week to take part in a range of creative activities in one of our studios. A visit to a gallery or museum is built into every S4 Taster Week to help participants learn more about contemporary art, design and architecture. It’s a great chance for young people to make new friends from other schools and meet professionals currently working in the creative sector.
S4 Taster Weeks On campus
Monday - Friday 10am - 3pm 7 - 11 Jul 2025
Tuesday - Friday 10am - 3pm 7 - 10 April 2026
Creative Club
These live online workshops are for eligible S4, S5 and S6 pupils and takes place on the last Saturday of the month. Before each session, participants are posted a packet of free art materials which are used to make interesting, creative work during the workshop. Tutors provide guided demonstrations of each activity, and pupils share photos of their work to receive feedback during each session. Pupils can attend as many workshops as they like but must book on to each session in advance. These workshops are perfect for pupils with a busy schedule who still want to develop their creativity.
Creative Club Online (MS Teams)
2 hours
Watch & Chat
This is a drop-in film club for S5 and S6 pupils taking place on Microsoft Teams, 5pm - 6pm. Tutors show a range of short videos to introduce participants to a diverse range of contemporary creative practitioners and facilitate group discussion afterwards. The aim of these sessions is to help participants to develop good secondary research skills, and give them a space to practice talking about art, design and architecture in preparation for potential future interviews.