The Glasgow School of Art

The Glasgow School of Art is an independent art school in Glasgow, UK, offering undergraduate (BA, BDes, BArch) and postgraduate (MA, MFA, MDes, MArch) programmes. Applicants submit a digital portfolio of up to 15 pages via the GSA Digital Portfolio site after UCAS.

Glasgow, United KingdomIndependent art schoolgsa.ac.uk

Schools and subjects

  • Fine Art (Painting & Printmaking, Photography, Sculpture and Environmental Art)
  • Design (Communication, Product, Textile, Interior)
  • Architecture (Mackintosh School of Architecture)
  • Innovation and Technology (Interaction Design, Immersive Systems, Sound for the Moving Image)

Listed under: film schools, architecture schools, interior design schools, photography schools, fine art schools.

Undergraduate requirements

Degrees

BA (Hons) / BDes (Hons) / BArch (Hons) / BEng / MEng

Portfolio

Digital Portfolio in PDF format, maximum 15 pages, plus a Portfolio Statement (max 500 words / 3000 characters), submitted via the GSA Digital Portfolio site after the UCAS application. UCAS deadline 18:00 (UK time) 13 January 2027; portfolio deadline 13:00 (UK time) Wednesday 20 January 2027. Product Design Engineering is exempt from the portfolio.

English

International students must demonstrate English proficiency; requirements are programme-specific (for example, the International Foundation requires IELTS for UKVI 5.0, minimum 5.0 in each component). Applicants needing a Student Visa require a SELT (such as IELTS for UKVI). The full list per programme is in GSA English Language Entry Requirements 27/28.

International tuition

£24,800 per year (International, including EU), fixed for the duration of the programme, for new students Academic Year 2026/27.

Deadline

UCAS application: 18:00 (UK time) 13 January 2027. Digital Portfolio: 13:00 (UK time) Wednesday 20 January 2027.

Interview

Yes — for most programmes applicants attend a portfolio interview before an offer is made.

Postgraduate requirements

Degrees

MA / MFA / MDes / MArch / MSc / MRes / PhD

Portfolio

Digital Portfolio (PDF format, maximum 15 pages) plus a Portfolio Statement (maximum 500 words) uploaded to the GSA Digital Portfolio site after application. Specifics are on the postgraduate 'How to apply' / programme pages.

English

Programme-specific English Language entry requirements (see GSA English Language Entry Requirements by programme); Student Visa holders need an approved SELT.

International tuition

Not found on the official website (the fee page captured does not clearly list the specific international tuition amount for taught master's programmes).

Deadline

Not found on the official website (the specific postgraduate application deadline is not listed on the captured pages; check the individual course page).

Interview

Course-dependent; portfolio / interview may apply.

Other notes

Foundation / pathway

International Foundation (Art and Design): CertHE, 1 year, SCQF 7, Glasgow, School of Fine Art; requires IELTS for UKVI 5.0 (minimum 5.0 in each component) or equivalent; applies via UCAS (code WW12). There is also a Portfolio Preparation (Creative Practices) programme (direct application, next intake August 2027).

Scholarships

International Merit Scholarships (automatic consideration on offer, based on portfolio, academics and personal statement); Governor's International Undergraduate Scholarship (£3,000 per year for up to 4 years, 5 places); International Clearing Scholarship (£4,000 one-off, 2026/27); GSA Scholarship for South Asia (£5,000, India); North & South East Asia Scholarship (£2,500); and Glasgow School of Art's Scholarship for South Asia, among others.

AI in the portfolio

The GSA Student Guide to AI in Learning and Assessment (in the GSA Handbook) sets boundaries on appropriate AI use; details are available via the GSA Library. No separate portfolio-specific AI rule was found on admissions pages.

Sources for this page

  1. https://www.gsa.ac.uk
  2. https://www.gsa.ac.uk/study-at-the-gsa/undergraduate-degrees/how-to-apply
  3. https://www.gsa.ac.uk/study-at-the-gsa/entry-requirements
  4. https://www.gsa.ac.uk/study-at-the-gsa/fees-finance
  5. https://www.gsa.ac.uk/study-at-the-gsa/postgraduate-degrees/how-to-apply

Taken from the school’s website and checked on 2026-10-27. Schools change their requirements every year; open the official pages above to confirm the current version before you apply.