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Course details

  • Duration: 1 year full-time
  • Study location: AUB Campus
  • How to apply: Apply directly to us
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Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course information

The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design sets out to help you discover a preferred area of practice. You'll develop core learning skills and extend your understanding of creative processes in preparation for undergraduate study or employment. This is an intensive course that provides high-level insight into contemporary creative practices and the potential to focus studies into specialist areas.

You'll develop sound understanding of the creative process and skills, which will fully prepare you for progression in our purpose-built Foundation buildings with state-of-the-art studios.

This course is geared towards the preparation of a portfolio of work to support your application to a Higher Education course. Throughout the course, your practical studio work will be supported by a programme of contextual studies in art and design. You can view the full specification from our awarding body, University of the Arts London (UAL).

Please note: fees and funding, including the availability of maintenance loans for the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design are different from our Undergraduate courses. Please visit our Fees and Financial Support page for more information.

Course Duration

1 year (full-time)

Fees

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Apply

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Stage 1: Exploration and Discovery

Stage 1 focuses on exploration, experimentation and discovery. You'll spend two weeks within each of the three curriculum areas, experiencing a broad range of creative disciplines, approaches, materials, processes and ways of thinking.

  • Curriculum Area 1: Contemporary Practice (Fine Art, Photography)
  • Curriculum Area 2: Design Practice (3D, Graphics, Fashion, Costume, Textiles)
  • Curriculum Area 3: Visual Language (Film, Animation, Illustration)

Through each curriculum area, you'll be introduced to new ideas and creative challenges, providing opportunities to experiment, take risks and engage with unfamiliar ways of working. Through this diagnostic experience, you'll begin to identify their individual strengths, interests and creative ambitions.

By the end of Stage 1, you'll have developed a broader understanding of creative practice and will be supported in selecting a specialist area to pursue in the next stage of the course.

Stage 2: Specialist Practice

At Stage 2, you'll be able to focus your practice and develop an individual creative direction within your chosen specialist area.

Building on the experiences and discoveries of Stage 1, you'll explore ideas in greater depth through research, experimentation, development, making and critical reflection. Projects encourage you to become increasingly independent, make informed creative decisions and take considered risks within their practice.

Throughout this stage, you'll develop greater confidence in your chosen discipline while establishing a stronger understanding of your interests, approaches and emerging creative identity.

Stage 3: Final Major Project

Stage 3 brings together the knowledge, skills and creative experience developed throughout the Foundation course through an independently directed Final Major Project.

You'll take greater ownership of your creative practice, developing an ambitious project informed by your individual interests and specialist direction. From initial concepts and research through experimentation, development and refinement, you'll manage the progression of your project towards a resolved body of work.

The Final Major Project gives you an opportunity to demonstrate your development as independent creative practitioners and culminates in the celebration and presentation of your work at the end of the course.