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Course details

  • Duration: 1 year full-time
  • Study location: AUB Campus
  • How to apply: Apply directly to us
Three people stand viewing a vertical art installation in a gallery, with framed artworks hung on the white walls.

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course information

  • Discover your direction: The Foundation Diploma gives you the space to explore before deciding where you want to specialise. You’ll experience different creative areas, experiment with different processes and begin to identify the ideas, skills and ways of working that excite you most.
  • Learn through making: The course is active, practical and varied. Learning takes place through studio work, workshops, demonstrations, lectures, collaborative activities, tutorials and independent creative practice.
  • Be part of AUB: Studying the Foundation Diploma at AUB means becoming part of a wider creative community. You’ll be surrounded by students, practitioners and ideas from across art, design, media and performance, creating opportunities for inspiration throughout the year.
  • Work with specialist staff: You’ll learn from experienced tutors, creative practitioners and technicians, who'll challenge and support you as you develop your ideas, practical skills and confidence.
  • Access specialist spaces and resources: Explore AUB’s studios, workshops, technical facilities, digital technologies and specialist equipment, with opportunities to work across different materials, processes and approaches as your practice develops.
  • Develop your portfolio: Throughout the year, you’ll create an individual and diverse body of work that demonstrates research, experimentation, development, technical skills and creative thinking. This will help you build a strong portfolio for applications to undergraduate creative courses or employment.
  • Plan what comes next: You’ll receive support in exploring your future options, from choosing courses and developing your portfolio to preparing for applications. Opportunities to engage with AUB undergraduate courses, staff and specialist areas will help you make informed decisions about your next step.
  • Research, question and investigate: AUB’s specialist Library, learning resources and academic support will help you become a more confident creative researcher, encouraging you to look beyond the obvious and discover new influences, ideas and perspectives.

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.