Foundation in Art & Design Level 4 Diploma
BackCourse Information
What does the course involve?
The UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design is a one year intensive course designed to maximize your opportunities to learn through discovery, experimentation and exploration. This is transitional and we will expect you to be receptive to new ideas, media and ways of learning.
The course's overarching aim is to prepare you to the highest level possible for progression to a university degree or to an employment opportunity. This is achieved by the study of specialist pathways which reflect the opportunities available at degree level, both locally and nationally. With our expert guidance and support you will be able to develop your subject specific portfolio in preparation for your UCAS application.
Study outline
This course has three stages and students will move through a dynamic, broad diagnostic phase across creative workshops into one of the following pathways:
· Fine Art, Painting, Printmaking and Sculpture
· Fashion and Textile Design
· Graphic Design, Illustration and Digital Arts
· Photography and Lens Based Media
· Architecture and Interior Design
Stage 1 Creative Practice
Exploration into new ways of working and thinking and introduction to contemporary practitioners.
Stage 2 Specialist Practice
This pathway stage is divided into different disciplines such as Fine Art, Fashion and Textiles, Graphics and Illustration, Photography, and Architecture and Interiors, and includes The Portfolio Project.
Stage 3 Consolidating Practice
Students write their own proposal for this final major project working in the discipline and style they wish. This stage will determine the grade they will achieve for their final assessment.
Critical and contextual studies are integrated within the course and ensure that you will develop a thorough knowledge of both historical and contemporary Art and Design, this will help you critically review your own practice and development. Life drawing, live briefs and guest speakers are also seen as key developmental aspects we include in the programme.
Progression
This course is the ideal route into a wide range of design-related and creative industry degrees subjects such as: Animation, Architecture, Art Therapy, Games Design, Graphic Design, Fashion, Film Making, Fine Art, History of Art, Interior Design, Photography, Textile Design, and Theatre Design.
Students, who wish to enter employment directly could work within the creative industries, including crafts, furniture, jewellery, set design, film and animation, visual effects, video games, museums, galleries and heritage, publishing and libraries, product design graphic design and fashion, architecture, advertising and marketing.
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Entry Requirements
A minimum of three A Levels which must include Art and Design Grade C or a BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design or Media Production at Merit level. You will also show a portfolio of work.
Can I take additional qualifications?
Suitably qualified applicants will be able to complete A-Level qualifications alongside the Diploma in order to acquire additional UCAS points. These may include Photography, Art History or Critical & Contextual Studies. Alternatively there will the option to study towards the Extended Project Qualification.
How will I be assessed?
Throughout the one-year programme, students will complete a range of projects and assignments which will be assessed via portfolios of work. An overall grade is awarded at the end of the course following the assessment of a Final Major Project.
What are the costs?
There are no charges to study on any of our courses. However, you will be asked to contribute to the cost of resources in the form of studio fees which provides sufficient sketchbooks, folders, canvases, inkjet prints and MDF boards. This studio fee is priced at £60. £40 of this amount goes towards general art materials used throughout the year, while the remaining £20 is used for student's individual ‘Art Packs’.
Students should budget for trips to galleries and museums in order to gain maximum benefit from this course, we aim to keep costs below £15 for each trip.
What is the duration?
This is a one year course.
What students have said about this course
"I started Foundation Art not really knowing what my choices were or what route I wanted to go down. It really opens your eyes to all types and styles there are to explore, the tutors were so great and helpful"
"Studying Foundation Art Level 4 opened my eyes to all medias of art, allowing me to experiment with new styles and learn new techniques that I previously would never had the confidence to try – I am so thankful that Foundation pushed me to constantly try new media making me discover how much I enjoyed areas such as textiles that 2 years ago I never would ever attempted, and I'm going to be studying Textiles Print at London College of Fashion – even I didn't see that coming!"
"The Foundation course allowed me to gain more confidence in myself as well as skills in the subjects I love! I was able to explore new techniques and learn how to grow as an artist. I would love to relive the experience again!
"It was a fantastic year of trying new things and allowing me to choose with confidence the future path I wanted to take"
"The course is perfect for those who want to learn about art in depth. You study such a wide variety of things and as someone who previously focussed on being a portrait artist I enjoyed that."
How do I apply?
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