We have one open day left before the on time application deadline
Saturday 11th January 2025

For applicants starting in 2025, the UCAS ‘on-time application’ deadline will be January 29th. Applicants are encouraged to apply by this date (in-line with other HE providers), however, The Northern School of Art will continue to accept applications after this date.

Applicants who are thinking of taking a gap year before starting a degree with us can still apply by selecting ‘deferred entry’ on the UCAS application form. Deferred applicants are still advised to apply early. If successful, an offer will be given to start the following year.

On the UCAS application, applicants are asked if they are a care leaver or a looked after young person. This is important because there may be extra financial support available. We encourage care leavers to tick this box. Those applicants, who have ticked this bix when applying to The Northern School of Art will be contacted by our support team to find out if there is any additional support needed before the start of term. To find out more about support for care leavers, please visit our page here: https://northernart.ac.uk/care-leavers-2/

Applications for our Foundation Diploma are made directly to the School. Applicants can apply on-line or by completing a paper form found in our Further Education prospectus. The course starts in September and applications are open throughout the year.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications from anyone outside the UK who are no longer eligible for home fee status.

Due to the creative nature of our programmes, we treat all applications on their own merit and welcome anyone who has the ability and aspirations to achieve at higher education. Applicants have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential to us by showing their portfolio at an interview. Applicants are typically required to have between 96-112 UCAS Tariff points, primarily from Level 3 qualifications such as but not limited to A-Levels, T-Levels, UAL Diploma, BTEC diplomas or a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design. If you are predicted points below the stipulated range, or if you have any other qualifications or professional experience, please get in touch as we still may be able to consider you. It is expected that all applicants will also have a Level Two qualification (or equivalent) in literacy. For mature applicants (i.e. 21+ years), emphasis will be placed on the portfolio review and interview session, which remains an important part of the selection procedure.

The UCAS website holds equivalency scores for all other qualifications aligned to the tariff system. Not all qualifications will have a defined tariff, in which case, applicants should contact the Admission Team for more information on eligibility. CALCULATE YOUR UCAS TARIFF >

See below for an overview of the tariff points for the most popular courses studied by the majority of applicants:

BTEC Extended Diploma D*D*D* 168 DDD 144 DMM 120 MMM 112 MMP 80 MPP 64

A-Levels A* 56 A 48 B 40 C 32 D 24 E 16

T-Levels D* 168 D 144 M 120 P 96 P 72

Foundation Diploma D 112 M 96 P 80

UAL Extended Diploma D 168 M 120 P 72

Your interview After we receive your UCAS form, an interview will be arranged, which enables you to see the outstanding facilities, meet our staff and current students, and view the latest work. It provides us with an opportunity to discuss your portfolio, find out more about you and establish the best degree route for you. Interviews can happen either virtually or in person. Interview Preparation This is your opportunity to evidence your visual and creative ability in the form of a portfolio of work. To help you prepare for this, we send all applicants a useful guide with the interview confirmation letter. Your interview with us is intended to be relaxed and informal. You will be asked general questions regarding your application to us, some questions about yourself, your inspirations and aspirations. This may include information about artists or designers that you admire, and what it is about their work that inspires you. Portfolio Advice A portfolio is individual to every student. Everyone will have their own individual styles and will have produced work in different ways, which we actively encourage. Your portfolio should be a visual representation of your creative identity and should include the following: 1. Development of ideas and creative thinking i.e. sketchbook work, drawings, annotations, photography 2. A range of appropriate skills and techniques you have previously developed 3. Your approach to the creative process i.e. concept, research, ideas development, experimentation of techniques and final outcome 4. Ability to take risks 5. Evidence of written work

If you are made an offer after your interview/audition, we will keep in touch with you throughout the rest of the year. During these interactions, we will keep you posted about accommodation options, enterprise news and any student support-related matters. We’ll also send you a special invitation to our applicant day and annual degree show.

Applicants for BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen will be invited to an audition. We do not charge an audition fee. For the audition you are required to prepare 2 contrasting monologues: 1. One classical piece 2. One contemporary piece Each of these should last no longer than 2 minutes. The Classical piece should be Elizabethan or Jacobean (for example Shakespeare, Marlowe, Webster) and preferably in blank verse. Your Contemporary piece should come from a published play produced post 1980 although the more recent the better. With the monologues try to choose pieces that suit your age and showcase your skills. You will perform the monologues to our panel and may be re-directed in one of them. Your performance may be recorded on video by a member of the panel so that it can be reviewed at a later stage. The actual interview and audition will take about 10-15 minutes.

We look for people who have some experience and knowledge of acting. This practical course is demanding and will appeal to individuals who are dedicated to pursuing acting careers for either stage or screen. When choosing your pieces, it would be beneficial to show a variety of abilities by contrasting the pieces appropriately. In preparing the speeches, you should have read and be familiar with the play/TV/film from which they have been taken so that you understand the character and the context within which they find themselves. You may also be asked questions about your choices and the play/TV/film they come from in your interview. We also expect you to articulate your views in many different forms and to have the ability to carry out academic research and writing.

All masters programmes are delivered over a 12-month period.

All applications for postgraduate programmes are made directly to the School. Application forms are available online or by contacting: interviews@northernart.ac.uk

There is no set deadline for postgraduate applications but we encourage you to apply early enough to prepare for finance and accommodation in good time if required.

Applicants must have one of the following: • Degree at 2:1 or above (If still studying, you should be projected to achieve this grade) • Degree at 2:2 and evidence of postgraduate study (PGCE teaching qualification, PG Certificate or PG Diploma); or evidence of exempting experience; or • Experiential learning in lieu of a degree to be assessed by interviewing panel; Applicants holding other qualifications may also be considered provided that they have appropriate relevant professional experience.

At least one written reference is required to support your application, but it is usual to supply two where possible. One of your references must be relatively recent and preferably from a previous or current academic tutor. We also accept references from previous or current employers as well as other creative practitioners.

Applicants who meet the entry requirements will be required to submit a proposal outlining their intentions for MA study. This will be explored further if invited to an interview. The faculty staff will evaluate the proposal to determine its feasibility in the context of the resources required and the availability of specialist staff to support their chosen area of study. Your proposal should be a maximum of 500 words. This does not need to be detailed but should include: • A title • Your reasons for applying to study an MA course at The Northern School of Art • A description of your current practice • The proposed direction of your MA study (including potential research ideas/themes) • Explain how you intend to develop your proposal into a body of work that is unique Your interview will consist of: 1) Presentation of your proposal. • For MA Creative Design Enterprise: i) Articulate the direction of your practice and/or research ii) Show that you are focussing on your area of interest iii) Demonstrate your own perspective on your chosen area of study • For MA Design History: i) Articulate the direction of your research ii) Where do you see your research focussing? iii) What you think you will bring to the field of Design History • For MA Directing and Performance Practice i) Performance of a Contemporary Monologue (2-3 minutes) ii) Discuss what your chosen project would entail (style, influences and working methods) iii) Discuss current developments within the sector and how your practice fits in 2) Q & A Types of questions that will be asked at interview, but not confined to: 1. Why have you chosen this programme? 2. What are your strengths and weakness? 3. Specific questions about your proposal.

For more information on the application or interview process, please contact the Admissions Team at interviews@northernart.ac.uk or 01429 422 000.

The Northern School of Art wholeheartedly supports the principle of equal opportunities in education and training and opposes all forms of unlawful or unfair discrimination against a person who wishes to access education or training at this institution on the grounds of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, marital status, age, political or sexual orientation, mental or physical disability.

All undergraduate programmes are validated by Arts University Bournemouth. Graduating students will be awarded with a certificate from the Arts University Bournemouth.