University of Sunderland

Glass and Ceramics

* Exceptions may apply.  Please see Fees and Finance for further information.

Introduction

Glass and Ceramics encompasses Fine Art, Design and Crafts, leading to a broad set of career routes. Previous experience in glass and ceramics is not essential. We welcome applications from those considering a career change as well as foundation students and school leavers. Therefore, our students are diverse in terms of age, background, and nationality.

Many of our graduates set up businesses and sell their creations through galleries, shops, craft and design fairs, or take commissions. The skills of our graduates also enable them to work in museums and galleries, education, retail management, environmental planning, community work, industrial design, arts administration, arts therapy, events organisation and publishing. Graduates also often continue to study on our MA and PhD programmes.

Our programme is distinctive in four key ways:

• You will be taught by award winning internationally known staff - all recognised professional designers, artists, curators or writers. This means you will benefit from the latest ways of working as well as from our contacts to help launch your career.
• You will work in excellently equipped studios based in the National Glass Centre, so you can access many events and exhibitions in the building. Open plan working areas allows you to learn and share knowledge freely.
• You will be offered ‘real world’ professional opportunities, which could include the chance to show your work in public exhibitions, undertake internships, work on real commissions, and competitions – all of which will help you to build a professional CV. A recent example is second year student who undertook a glass design internship leading to work experience in a glass factory in Bolivia.
• You will learn in a supportive creative community and be encouraged to become nationally, even internationally, networked during your time on the course.

We do not teach students to make a particular style of work and you will be encouraged to explore the potential of glass and ceramics to suit your personal career aims. This will allow you great freedom to develop a diverse and distinctive personal profile so that you stand out in relation to other graduates from more generic courses.

Early in the course you will learn basic techniques as well as the ‘science’ behind a material. Lectures include art history and talks by graduates and visiting artists to offer career advice. Study trips allow you to experience international work in your field. Recent trips include: Prague, Berlin and New York. In your second year, you will develop your techniques and more personal ideas. You will also be encouraged to apply for opportunities to enhance your career prospects. In the third year, you will make a major body of work for exhibition and have the chance to show work at the national ‘New Designers’ exhibition in London.

The Glass and Ceramics department is home to the Institute for International Research in Glass (IIRG). Directed by Prof. Sylva Petrova, IIRG was set up in 1998 to promote the activity and facilitate research in glass on a global level. It is the prime instrument of the University's interaction with the National Glass Centre, with national and international organisations to create new opportunities for collaborative enterprise and funding. We have also recently launched CARCuos  - Ceramic Arts Research Centre University of Sunderland (http://carcuos.wordpress.com/)

Through IIRG and CARCuos, artists and designers are invited to give master classes and lectures. Working with a variety of materials in a diversity of ways, imparting such artistic and technical knowledge to students is both informative, and provides a valuable insight into professional practice.

Interested? Why not come to one of our taster days where you can tour our facilities, meet staff and students and get a ‘hands on’ experience?

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Course Content

Level 1
Introductory and Workshop Practice Modules in:

• Hot Glass
• Kiln Glass
• Architectural Glass
• Ceramics
• History of Art and Design
• Drawing

Level 2

• Studio Project through Hot Glass
• Kiln Glass
• Architectural Glass or Ceramics
• History of Art and Design
• Workshop Practice in Programme of Choice
• Professional Practice
• Study Project or
• Negotiated Personal Study

Level 3

• Personal Project
• Studio Personal Project Materials
• Professional Practice
• History of Art and Design

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Entry Requirements

Candidates suitability for the programme is measured to a large extent through a portfolio of images of previous and current work. Portfolios should be brought to interview or in the case of overseas applicants emailed or sent in advance.

Our typical offer will be 220 points from a minimum of 2 A levels/AVCEs or equivalent (e.g. 1 x AVCE double award).

We accept a maximum of 20 points from Level 3 Key Skills.

We also require three passes at GCSE grade C or above which must include Mathematics and English Language or a minimum of Level 2 Key Skills in Communication, Application of Number.

BTEC National: 220 points from a minimum of a 2 unit award.

Foundation Studies in Art and Design: Satisfactory completion of a BTEC Diploma Foundation Studies in Art and Design.

Access Course: We would require successful completion of a Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Access programme and that you would have a minimum of GCSE grade C Mathematics and English Language.

Scottish Highers: Our typical offer is for 220 points.

Irish Leaving Certificate: Our typical offer is for 220 points.

Non-standard qualifications Tel: (0191) 515 3000.
Applicants with non-standard qualifications may qualify for entry through relevant work experience. Applicants in this category may be asked to attend an interview and present a portfolio of evidence.

Direct Entry to Level 2/3: Candidates wishing to be considered for direct entry to Level 2/3 of a programme should contact the Helpline, Tel: (0191) 515 3000.

International Applicants: Tel: +44 191 515 3000.

All applicants will be interviewed.

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Fees and Finance

The fees for this course are as specified in the table at the top of the page.

Please note that different fees apply to students studying for "Equivalent or Lower Qualifications" (ELQs). For more information about ELQs, please see the page Information for applicants who already have an HE Qualification.

For information about University scholarships and bursaries please see the page Fees and Finance.

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Teaching and Assessment

A variety of learning and teaching methods are used to deliver the programme. Demonstration of techniques, Lectures, seminars, group crits and tutorials are all used. This diverse approach allows students with differing learning styles to flourish and interact.

• Practical sessions teach the basic processes needed to produce work in the materials
• Demonstrations advance students knowledge of processes and techniques
• Lectures by staff and visiting artists provide a chance to see how professional artists work
• Seminars encourage debate, enabling students to discuss theirs and others work with confidence
• Tutorials provide and opportunity to investigate topics and ideas in depth

Throughout the programme there are opportunities to advance your professional abilities, there are numerous entries into competitions and live projects which exercise professionalism. There is the chance to exhibit work in the Dry run exhibition in level 2 and in the Degree show in level 3.

Assessment of students takes a variety of forms. Practical coursework is assessed through discussion with students about the work, there are also essay submissions, seminar presentations and written tests all of which build into a challenging portfolio designed to inform students about their progress and improvements.

Feedback to assessment is discussed personally with students to ensure understanding and all efforts are made to ensure clarity thought the process.

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Work Experience

The university has close links with national and international industries as well as many small glass and ceramic companies.

Students will be encouraged to enter competitions and undertake projects.

Recently a student was runner up in the Bombay Sapphire competition. Such competitions build confidence, experience, skills and raise the profile of our students.

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Career Opportunities

Graduates not only become successful makers in ceramics or glass but also pursue a diverse range of careers.

Many students benefit from external agencies expertise and financial support. Graduates set up their own businesses; become artists in residence or assistants in another artist's studio.

Other opportunities include designing for industry, continuing in postgraduate study, or becoming a teacher through the postgraduate certificate route.

Our students upon graduating, may join Creativitiworks enabling them to utilise our equipment and facilities to produce work for exhibitions, projects and commissions.

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Supplemental Information

We do not require any previous experience of glass and ceramics. We look for curiosity and an enthusiasm to learn about glass and ceramics. Although you may study ceramics at school, glass is rarely offered so the course has a series of introductory modules which give first-hand experience of each subject; throwing and hand-building ceramics; blown and sandcast hot glass; kiln formed glass processes; and architectural and stained glass.

In addition you will learn cold working processes involved in glass, including polishing and surface decoration.

Having completed these modules you will have developed ideas, basic technical skills and an understanding of health and safety procedures, as well as beginning to have an awareness of contemporaries in your field. At the end of the first semester, you can opt to continue in one or more of the four disciplines.

If you have only a limited experience of glass and ceramics, you might try a Taster Day. This involves a tour of our facilities, and slide show, in addition to first-hand experience of some of the areas, perhaps 'having a go' at blowing glass, as well as watching students at work.

For more information contact Sylvie Vandenhoucke on 0191 515 3039 or Ingrid Fairfax, External Affairs Officer on 0191 515 3593.

All suitably qualified applicants are interviewed, or in the case of overseas students invited to send slides or other evidence of their creative ability and experience.

At interview you should bring a portfolio of work to demonstrate the range of your experience, including alongside finished work; sketch books, note books, preparatory work sheets, and examples of 3D work (or photographs if this is not possible).

We look for evidence of creative ability, competence in handling a range of media, motivation, curiosity and above all enthusiasm for the subject.

We often consider the portfolio more important in selecting applicants than formal qualifications.

After your BA (Hons), you may decide to continue your studies at postgraduate level and take the MA in Glass.

See the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media website for Glass and Ceramics case studies.

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Facilities

*World Class Web/Design Tools*
The University of Sunderland has made a significant investment in providing students with access to the latest releases of Adobe products.

Selected PCs within the St Peter's and Murray Libraries have been pre-loaded with the Creative Suite 4 (CS4) Adobe Design Premium Suite for your exclusive use.

CS4 Creative includes key products such as Indesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver as well as Photoshop and a range of many others.

Further information is available from:

http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/creativesuite/design/
For information regarding locations of PC or Macs within your own faculty that have access to Adobe products please contact your Faculty IT Support.

If you are interested in purchasing Adobe products for your own PC/Mac Adobe offer significant savings for student purchases via any of its approved re-sellers.

Please visit:

http://www.student-software.co.uk/

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Related Courses

• Glass
• Glass

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