Art and Design Foundation Studies Level 4 (25/26)

This 1 year course is aimed at post A-Level students and is a pivotal qualification, providing a transition from general education to specialist art and design education. It enables you to make an informed decision when applying to Higher Education, seeking employment within a related industry or developing your personal creative practice. During the course you explore the principles of art and design and discover your strengths and interests before opting for a fine art or design-based specialist pathway. The course incorporates traditional and digital approaches to image making while also examining the history of art and design. The course is taught through studio and workshop activities supported by a formal lecture programme. Assessment is continuous throughout the year.

The course is designed for students at least 18 when starting the course. If you are 18, the requirements are a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or grade C, including Maths and English, and one A level, or equivalent Level 3 qualification, preferably in a relevant creative subject. You will also need to provide evidence of your creative practice in the form of a portfolio of work. If you are 19 or over, you only need to provide suitable evidence of your creative practice in the form of a portfolio of work.

The Level 4 Art and Design course enables you to select and develop your creative practice within a chosen field and prepare your portfolio based on a solid under-structure of knowledge and core creative skills.  The course is divided into three parts:

Part One:   Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice.
Develop an understanding of skills and context related to working within the broad field of Art and Design. You explore Research Methods, Developing Ideas, Materials & Processes and Evaluation & Reflection within the context of drawing blocks, project blocks and contextual studies. Part One finishes with a Diagnostic Tutorial during which you make your choice to specialise in a Fine Art, Design based discipline.

Part Two:  Developing Specialist Practice.
Two main agendas; to act as an introduction to your chosen specialist area and to prepare you for progression into higher education or professional practice. You will begin to deal more specifically with materials, processes and working methodologies associated with your chosen discipline while also focusing on the UCAS application process or looking to find employment.

Part Three: Consolidating Practice.
In this last phase of the course, you will be supported to manage your own personal learning development. In negotiation with your personal tutor, you develop and write your own project brief and extend your research, experience and technical skills within your chosen specialist pathway. On successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Level 4 UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design.

The course is designed to be dramatically different from any of your previous experiences in Art & Design. You will start the process of taking responsibility for your work and development within your chosen specialist pathway. The course requires a high level of commitment that will allow you to question and reconfigure your understanding of, and relationship with, art and design. You will learn by: Challenging your preconceptions both inside and outside of Art & Design. Thinking, working outside of your comfort zone. Taking responsibility for the development of your work and working process. Taking creative risks and learning as much from your failures as from your successes. You will discuss and analyse your work and develop a critical stance. Talking about your work is just as important as making it! Developing a knowledge and understanding your subject through Contextual Studies. Learning to manage your time and establishing a self-disciplined relationship with attendance, punctuality, reliability and the ability to meet deadlines. Paradoxically however, in spite of all the rules and regulations the course is an incredibly empowering and liberating experience which allows you to grow personally as well as within an art and design context. The full-time Foundation Diploma course starts in September and in broad terms you work in the studios during half the week and are set tasks to work on independently when you are not in college. Assessment is continuous with a major external assessment at the close of the summer term. experience which allows you to grow personally as well as within an art and design context. The full-time Foundation Diploma course starts in September and in broad terms you work in the studios during half the week and are set tasks to work on independently when you are not in college. Assessment is continuous with a major external assessment at the close of the summer term.

Most students progress directly onto degree courses across a broad range of art or design disciplines, while others use the qualification as an experience in its own right.

Materials We aim to provide basic materials, however you may need to source some equipment which is specific to your own creative practice. Study Trips The cost of study trips to locations either inside or outside the UK are additional to any enrolment fees. You will be notified of them well in advance. If you cannot afford any of the additional cost, you may be eligible for a bursary or financial help through the learner support fund.