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Covid-19 (Coronavirus): Plymouth College of Art information
In line with UK Government restrictions, Plymouth College of Art has temporarily suspended face-to-face teaching for all students (pre-degree, undergraduate and postgraduate) until further notice. Please read our current guidance for students, staff and applicants below. If you have any questions or concerns and cannot find the information you need within our FAQs please email health@pca.ac.uk
Applying to study in September 2020 or 2021?
The new term might seem like a while away, but time will move fast and a fresh start in our city by the sea is something to look forward to. Explore our courses, book an Online Open Day or Digital Drop-in session or email liaison@pca.ac.uk if you would like some personalised advice on your next steps. See how our students are coping in lockdown and why they chose Plymouth College of Art on our Youtube channel.
Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Response | Friday 29 May 2020
Following UK Government guidance, on Thursday 19 March Plymouth College of Art temporarily suspended all face-to-face teaching. Ambitious work is well underway across each of our campuses to create a safe and secure working and learning environment. In close consultation with health and education authorities, we are creating clear protocols for safe working to support your study, including access to specialist facilities and opportunities to engage in person with other students and staff.
We anticipate that it is very unlikely that we will be able to reopen our undergraduate and postgraduate buildings in June, and that we will continue to deliver HE teaching online until the end of this academic year. We look forward to sharing academic timetables and further detail for pre-degree students with you soon.
Supporting students
At Plymouth College of Art, we are committed to both academic achievement and student experience across the college community. We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students on the level of support and connection they continue to receive. Here are just some of the measures we’ve put in place to support our current students:
- Deadline extensions for all degree and masters level coursework submission and blanket Extenuating Circumstances applied for all HE students.
- No detriment approach to degree calculations, ensuring no Level 6 (final-year) student is unfairly disadvantaged.
- Online inductions including an interactive programme of interdisciplinary workshops, live stream presentations from the college Principal and Students’ Union, module briefings and virtual demos from our Learning Lab technicians.
- Free and open access to our Virtual Library Counter and online database housing over 30,000 e-books and e-journals and 1000+ film and television items, plus bookable advice sessions and flexible loans.
- Complimentary hardware and software, including Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Drive, and specialised materials and equipment.
- Online Student Support and wellbeing appointments, including one-to-one counselling and mindfulness sessions.
When will I start?
In recognition of the exceptional circumstances in which students work is being taught and assessed, we are pleased to share revised Autumn term start dates for new and continuing HE-level students.
- Extended BA and BA (Hons) (Level 4): On-campus Induction w/c 5 October / Hybrid delivery w/c 19 October
- BA (Hons) (Levels 5 & 6): Online welcome back w/c 5 October / Hybrid delivery w/c 19 October
- Postgraduate Applicants: On-campus Induction w/c 12 October / Hybrid delivery w/c 19 October
- Postgraduate Returning Students: Online welcome back w/c 12 October / Hybrid delivery w/c 19 October
Whilst end of term and reading week dates are yet to be confirmed, you can find last year’s calendar on our Key Dates page as a guideline. We will be in touch with students, applicants and offer holders as soon as possible with confirmed term dates. Thank you for your patience.
What to expect
Our students and staff are all missing being on campus and having the freedom to work across the whole array of facilities that the college offers, but what holds our creative community together is more than technology or physical spaces.
What unites us and is unique is our curriculum and the combined depth of experience of our expert academic and highly specialised technical staff. Where other institutions are using digital tools out of necessity, our core values as an agile, independent art school will give you a headstart when it comes to thriving creatively in our contemporary digital society. When you enrol or return to us this year, we’re committed to ensuring that our hybrid of physical and digital teaching will safeguard your creative practice against future interruptions and make sure you’re well placed and networked with industry to adapt to any global changes that may follow.
How will I study?
From video-streamed visiting lecturers and roundtable discussions with industry pros to online peer-to-peer crits and technical workshops — our creative community has responded to the digital environment with ingenuity. In fact, many students have told us that they feel like they’re receiving a more personalised learning experience than ever before.
The new term will see a hybrid delivery of modules integrating online delivery for teaching and resources, alongside a blended approach to practice-based delivery on-campus. Our planning for the next academic year will allow students to begin or resume their studies with access to our resources at the earliest opportunity, once it is safe for our community to do so. We will prioritise student access to our industry-standard facilities and equipment, in small groups if necessary, to ensure the learning outcomes of study programmes are met.
Accommodation
When you choose Plymouth College of Art you have the opportunity to choose from a variety of dedicated halls and houses or other private options. Find out about our recommended providers and read our letter to local landlords in support of PCA:SU’s campaign for flexible tenancies.
If you are concerned about signing a tenancy agreement to join us in October, we understand the additional stress that this could cause at a time of so much uncertainty. Please rest assured that there is no shortage of student accommodation in Plymouth, either through our preferred accommodation providers or privately. For an informal discussion about your options please email liaison@pca.ac.uk
You may need to get medical advice if you've recently travelled from somewhere with a higher risk of Covid-19.
Frequently asked questions to support staff, students, visitors and prospective applicants to Plymouth College of Art.
This is a general overview of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and where you can find information about it.
Where students, staff and the public can get further information and support from Plymouth College of Art.
Details on the additional flexibility Plymouth College of Art is able to offer HE students in relation to coursework and deadlines at this time.
How to tell us if you have a confirmed diagnosis of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Information on the impact to our provision, Short Courses, Young Arts, Plymouth Arts Cinema and other events due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.
What to do if you need to self-isolate or care for a dependant in relation to Covid-19 (Coronavirus).
How you must factor the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak into your work, study or research travel plans.
