Pathways

The National Diploma in Art and Design, can be joined from the GNVQ as above or directly from school in September after having gained four subjects at GCSE (Grades A-C) and a portfolio of work.

The one year Foundation course in Art and Design would be the one to choose if (in addition to a portfolio of work) you were finishing your A levels or changing your programme after one year but had already gained five subjects at GCSE.

Importantly, because of the flexible and integrated nature of SOVAPAís structure, it is possible to change your course once you are a student with us. Under guidance from your tutor, arrangements can be made to change courses at the appropriate time. For instance, you might start off on the GNVQ Intermediate course, successfully complete that then join the two year Diploma course, but later find that perhaps Performing Arts or Media studies are more suitable for you. Your final level 3 studies would then be in a specialism appropriate for you and during your time at SOVAPA you would have experienced a huge range of creative possibilities.

So, as you can see, Media, Performing Arts and Pop can be included in this progression.

If you choose to apply to Higher Education you have the option of moving on to a two year Higher National Diploma (HND) or a three year BA(Hons).

This can be done from the second year of any of our BTEC courses

Either way you will make your application under guidance and support from SOVAPA, have an interview in April/May at your chosen University taking with you a folder of work completed on your course so far.

Or you could apply by what is known as Route A, in November.

Both HND and BA(Hons) are professionally accepted qualifications and the stepping stone to a career in Art and Design.

Our record of placing students on Higher Education is second to none. Consistently over the past ten years our students for the Foundation, Art and Design and Media Courses have succeeded in the majority of the 30 specialist areas available and often at centres of excellence where competition can be very high.

Interestingly, universities still prefer students to have had the experience of Art School and to have benefited from the breadth of work available from a BTEC course. We are confident, once you have undertaken one of our exciting courses, that you will understand why!

However, if you decide not to pursue an educational path in art and design, the qualifications offered at SOVAPA can provide credits towards alternative areas of future study and progression.