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It helps that we were encouraged to be honest with each other due to the course that we are studying. The only issue is that other students and tutors had difficulty knowing, even though your past helps others in the field. If you have a disability, do not study here! When you are driven to want to take your life, then this institution should not be teaching. The safeguarding team is questionable and doesn't know the meaning of being congruent, which is part of their training for being a counsellor. This institution is lucky that the student was treated against their wishes, otherwise CSG would have to answer why a student took their own life. However, reading the staff statements, the public services prove a coverup. This complaint will continue for a while until answers are found and apologies from the right people are given. No member of staff should go into the toilets and take a student into a class by their arm, especially when the student wants to go home due to being in distress, as this could be classed as an assault. The catering and study support staff are great, although the building is old and cold. The main canteen food is questionable and that part of the building should be knocked down.
The course is read from slides and you are not taught academically. You pay the same to study in a college as in a university but the teaching is not academic. This course is taught in a counsellor's way of talking and not direct/professional. You are asked to be open and honest, and the class students get to know you fully. The tutors do not get to know their students so they don't understand them and if that student needs help, they can be misunderstood. This course should be taught in a university but if not then they should only charge what the nearest college charges which is less than half of what CSG charges.
I can't recommend the BA Photography at Carmarthen School of Art, Coleg Sir Gâr, highly enough. The teaching, which combines practical knowhow with art history, philosophy and cultural context, is first class. The tutors are knowledgable, inspiring, thoughtful and caring and provide a wonderfully encouraging and safe space for students to flourish into confident, accomplished photographers. The enterprise element of the course provides a good opportunity to develop the commercial side of the student's practice, setting them up to hit the ground running when they leave. Support continues after graduation with a strong alumni and Graduate Resident programme. I studied at Carmarthen School of Art as a mature student and graduated with First Class Honours. I can honestly say it was one of the best things I've done in my life. I feel so lucky to have been able to attend such a fantastic degree programme on my doorstep in West Wales!
The college provided an excellent level of contact with the lecturers and the course leader was always on hand to answer questions and give support and feedback. Taught time and the amount of assessments in the first and second years is high which makes you work hard but the results show in the third year when you focus on your own practice.
I personally found Carmarthen School of Art a very positive experience and friendly. The staff and students became my extended family for the 3 years. I found my tutors with my dissertation are very experienced, knowledgeable and approachable. I felt everyone became one family and made my learning and development an enjoyable experience. The skills and knowledge I obtained from the degree has provided me with the position of work immediately after the course, which I am grateful for.
Overall the course was excellent. A lot of assistance by tutors. Feedback regularly which helped me develop as a better photographer.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Carmarthen School of Art. The course leader arranged exceptional thought-provoking guest lecturers who aided our creative thinking and provided direct access to industry professionals. The tutors' practices are inspiring. The course has a fantastic technician who is extremely helpful. The support I received from the team was exceptional, especially given the impact of Covid.
The best aspects of the course are the sense of community and support offered by the Photography team. The split between contact time and independent study worked well, with two days of in-person lectures and the rest allowing for independent study. You are encouraged to explore a range of photographic genres, which is insightful. Frequent progress reviews from the lecturers and peer feedback/roundtable sessions were invaluable.
The facilities are amazing for both photography and 3d as you have access to everything that you might need and technicians for both that can help you when needed. Don’t let the outside of the building fool you as the inside has everything you want and need for your studies. Sadly The students union was not very good within my final year as it was never marketed well so students never knew when was open but this union’s was run by trinity st David so I don’t believe college sir gar had anything to do with this.
Doing multidisciplinary I was worried that I would struggle with getting on with classmates and with support from my tutors to learn the skills that I need but this was so far from the case. Everyone in this uni was lovely and so friendly and my tutors were amazing at supporting me with my work and helping me with developing my skills in both of my subjects. The lecturers are amazing at what they do and are so passionate about their subject making it very special to learn from them and there teamwork when working together make it a very easy environment to be apart off. Also being someone who is dyslexic the one to one that tutors do within projects are amazing and a big help.
In a good location as it is on campus so very close to where you study with is very useful for someone who has lots of equipment on time to take to classes. The cost of accommodation isn’t too bad for the convenience of where it is. A lot of the time one of the main doors into the building was broken meaning anyone could walking into the building and this did happen when I was living there. WiFi did work most of the time but did struggle in some rooms like lounge. I wasn’t happy with property management as being a Coleg sir gar student I didn’t have access to trinty app to report a problem with my room or flat making it very hard when my bathroom light would always break or shower as I would have to go and tell a porter with did always mean it would get fixed because it wasn’t on record of being broken.
It is a friendly, collaborative and hugely supportive place to study with passionate tutors and students. Some of the more 'corporate' requirements of the University of Wales Trinity St David's (to which the college is affiliated) can be a bit frustrating at times but they hardly impact on what is a seriously top-class learning experience. In my particular course the contact time is fantastic and the teaching expertise is unparalleled.
This course could change your life! The course challenges all students to develop both practically and creatively. It strikes a perfect balance between more commercial aspects of photography on the one hand and the use of photography as an artistic medium on the other. Each student is assisted to find their own identity as a photographer as the course progresses. This means that the course feels tailored to you personally, rather than (say) assuming that all students want to follow the same photographic journey. There is also a strong emphasis throughout the course on each student's future direction of travel (work, employment, further study etc.) and how what they are learning feeds into that. The full time course requires about two to three days in college, though that differs from semester to semester. On top of that, students can expect to spend time researching photographers and other artists and planning and taking shots in response to briefs given to them by tutors and a few external businesses. The quality of teaching is very high with lots of contact time and plenty of feedback and support. Tutors and technicians are friendly, extremely approachable and highly experienced. There is a strong sense that everyone is there to help you achieve your goals. The facilities are impressive with loads of opportunities to borrow equipment and use the photo studios. Collaboration is encouraged and photography students often find themselves working with other creatives within the college (e.g. fashion shoots). Opportunities to work in the wider community (sometimes paid for) are also regularly made available. There is a highly successful visiting lecturer programme where external photographers and other practitioners and artists come in to the college to share their own real world experiences. In the later stages of the course, in particular, these visiting experts are used to assist with individual feedback and advice, which is an invaluable added extra. Students are expected to get involved in getting their work in front of the public at all stages, including through college social media takeovers, creating and editing hard copy publications, submitting work to awards and competitions and planning and putting on physical exhibitions. This aspect is challenging but also hugely rewarding and staff are extremely knowledgeable and supportive so that noting feels too daunting. Overall, this is an exceptional course at an amazing art college. It is taught with positivity, compassion and a sense of humour. If you embrace all it has to offer it is life-changing.
From the start I had never thought I would have felt a connection to a college like Carmarthen School of Art. From the staff to the course you are in one big family, where you can be yourself and go further with your creativity and mind on the photography course. The Staff, Huw, Dan, John are steering the ship of the course further then you could imagine, pushing you to go further with development skills, creativity and support your own individual direction in photography.
Communication and to further yourself, which is encouraged by the lecturers and college itself. Course hours vary and free time to work on coursework is flexible and encouraged, within and outside of the college. Smaller classes give the opportunity for more one to one time, and the support you can receive each week.
Great place, to study and great support from staff and lectures though out the college. Very friendly people to be around the college.
The course is great and we'll taught by the lectures and brilliant place to get support of lectures, from feedback and progress into your chosen filed. Lectures are very supportive in your work and very friendly to get along with and have a laugh with.
Although Carmarthen School of Art is a small campus, it has excellent facilities and the teaching is exceptional. The tutors are lovely, helpful, and creative people themselves who are actually passionate about what they’re teaching. As students we have access to studio and workshop spaces with two full days a week on campus to work independently, making use of our studio spaces and the facilities available to us, as well as the time outside of teaching on days we have it timetabled. Tutors are friendly, supportive, and encouraging, and technicians are always available to help too. Learning support at the college is excellent and the Access Centre who handle DSA assessments are fantastic too, if I had this much support while I was at school I would have had a much better experience. The school of art doesn’t have its own students Union but seems to share one with neighbouring UWTSD campus which is fine, but I feel out of place going there as someone who lives at home and commutes to college rather than living in student accommodation nearby. Many students do this (live at home not in student accommodation) and it feels like we miss out on some of the student experience as we’re not on or nearby campus/the students Union, so it’s harder to find time or feel like it’s my place to be part of SU activities. If you expect somewhere big and busy like London you’ll be disappointed, but as someone who finds large cities overwhelming CSoA is perfect for me. Overall I’m really enjoying my degree, there are lots of trips to galleries (within the local area and further afield like London), I feel supported and encouraged by my tutors and learning support, studio spaces and facilities are excellent, students are listened to through student reps, and I wholeheartedly recommend Carmarthen. Before my degree I also did a foundation course here which was fantastic and set me on course to find the degree and career I want.
Tutors are friendly, encouraging and supportive. The course content includes a wide range of skills and room for developing your own style and creative practice. Though the college is small, the facilities are excellent, and students have access to workshop and studio spaces 5 days a week. Even when there isn’t timetabled tutor contact time, tutors are always contactable and are very supportive if you miss anything or feel behind and need a tutorial or some support to catch up. Compared to other art colleges I’ve heard people’s experiences of, there is a lot of tutor contact time here.
I live at home and commute, so I don’t live in the town. There’s a Tesco, and Aldi, a Lidl, and a Morrison’s (if you’re willing to go to the other side of town), as well as a health foods shop in the town, Home Bargains, Wilko’s, Poundland, etc. On Abergwili road there’s a shop called Chris Thomas & Sons which sells fruit and veg at very reasonable and affordable prices. For nights out there are a few nice bars in town like Cwrw which will often have live music. The town is nice for charity shops and shopping.
I loved it at Coleg Sir Gâr so much I didn't want to leave! The overall experience of studying there was just about the best 3 years of my life, something I will never forget. A fab warm friendly college who has its students backs! Tutors over flowing with knowledge theyre wanting to share with the students.
Dark room available if your interested in film. Many Apple Imacs, printing facility and access to a very knowledgeable technician
2nd to non. The support staff are amazing. They give you confidence in your own ability, helpful and available when you need support. Can't praise them enough.
Great student union
Close to bus and trains shops and night life.
N/A
Great support with amazing tutors. Covid hit in my final year, I was lucky to have the majority of my study in class. Amazing wealth of knowledge in this college, the tutors are always willing to assist the students and are also available to listen too. No question is too trivial and each student is treated with respect.
21
The college has many guest speakers in to give lectures. The tutors introduce students to a variety of accessible websites and are involved with Business Wales.
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