Integrated Foundation Year

Overview

From September 2026, you’ll have the option to undertake a specialised Foundation year in a subject area you’re interested in, setting you up for success on one of Arts University Bournemouth's undergraduate courses.

The Integrated Foundation Year, or Year 0, is a chance for you to explore and develop your skills and knowledge at an introductory level before progressing onto your BA/BSc (Hons) degree. By the end of the Foundation year, you’ll have a better understanding of what the subject area has to offer, enabling you to confidently join students on your chosen degree course.

The Integrated Foundation Year gives you the chance to get a grounding across several subject areas.

What to expect from an Integrated Foundation Year

Throughout the Integrated Foundation Year, you'll learn:

How learning is structured in higher education, including expectations around independent study, reflective engagement, and participation in a studio-based learning environment.
Core design and creative thinking methods that support idea generation, iteration, and problem-solving across various art, design and media disciplines.
Visual literacy and material exploration through playful, critical, and experimental use of both digital and physical methods.
Foundational project-management and collaboration skills, including working in teams, planning, communication, and managing simple tasks within a project brief.
Academic research and writing skills, developing the ability to build lines of inquiry through observation, contextual research, documentation, and reflective practice.

Our courses

You’ll need to have an idea of the undergraduate degree you’d like to progress onto after your Integrated Foundation Year, but this isn’t locked down. For instance, you may apply initially to study Content Creation with Marketing but discover a passion for Creative Direction along the way and wish to switch. This will be fine as long as your alternative choice is in the same subject area.

Successful completion of the Integrated Foundation Year guarantees progression to Level 4 (first year) of the degree associated with your chosen pathway.

The Integrated Foundation Year is an option on the following courses within the School of Arts, Media and Creative Industries Management.

BA (Hons) Communication Design and Strategy

Study Communication Design and Strategy at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

BA (Hons) Content Creation with Marketing

Study Content Creation with Marketing at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and open days

hands poking in through holes reaching for a pile up of hotdogs with mustard

BA (Hons) Creative Direction

Study Creative Direction at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and open days...

Billboard in underground tube station for fashion, Re(collection) illustrated adverts.

BA (Hons) Media, Marketing and Advertising

Study Media, Marketing and Advertising at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

Natasha Wilson Fashion Branding and Communication

BSc (Hons) Fashion Management and Strategy

Study Fashion Management and Strategy at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

The Integrated Foundation Year is an option on the following courses within the School of Arts and Communication.

Lady in red dress stands on a chest with smoke coming out from behind her. There is a luggage trunk to her right and a pile of documents to her left.

BA (Hons) Commercial Photography

Study Commercial Photography at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and open days

Gallery space with white walls displaying colourful artwork, red sculptural sofa, and brown perforated room divider panels.

BA (Hons) Fine Art

BA (Hons) Fine Art at AUB is an exciting, multidiscipline course, set within our dynamic culture of making in our purpose-built studios...

BA (Hons) Graphic Design

Study Graphic Design at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days.

Illustration of an overground train on a bridge over a street, with people in the carriages and city buildings either side.

BA (Hons) Illustration

Study Illustration at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days.

Close-up portrait photograph of a person with hair over their face.

BA (Hons) Photography

Study Photography at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

The Integrated Foundation Year is an option on the following courses within the Bournemouth Film School.

Film still of a young musician playing the saxophone with a surprised expression.

BA (Hons) Acting

Study Acting at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days.

Three people standing in dramatic green-tinted lighting against dark background. Person on left holds papers, centre person wears glasses, right person in light blue shirt.

BA (Hons) Acting for Screen*

Study Acting for Screen at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days.

BA (Hons) Animation Production

Our Animation Production course explores the whole production process, and techniques from traditional 2D drawn animation to stop motion.

A person in Elizabethan-style costume looking down towards the floor.

BA (Hons) Costume

Master the skills you need to become a professional maker, tailor and costume supervisor for the film, theatre and events industries

Three people in suits wearing large white masks with single blue and green circular eye designs, standing indoors.

BA (Hons) Costume for Film*

Study Costume for Film at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days.

Close-up of a stack of books with their spines and titles facing the front.

BA (Hons) Creative Writing

Study Creative Writing at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

BA (Hons) Creative Writing for Film*

Study Creative Writing for Film at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

BA (Hons) Film Production

Study Film Production at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

Two people with theatrical make-up and prosthetics look towards the camera touching one another's faces.

BA (Hons) Make-up, Hair and Prosthetics

Study Make-up, Hair and Prosthetics at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

Actor J Walters in black smock having theatrical make-up applied by three BA (Hons) Make-up for Media and Performance students in bright studio with white walls and framed pictures.

BA (Hons) Make-up, Hair and Prosthetics for Film*

Study Make-up, Hair and Prosthetics for Film at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

The Integrated Foundation Year is an option on the following courses within the School of Design and Architecture.

Model on catwalk wearing voluminous dark green puffy sleeves with textured beige lower garment, surrounded by seated audience in industrial venue.

BA (Hons) Fashion

Study Fashion at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

Several copies of MASC Magazine showing different cover designs and photos.

BA (Hons) Fashion Communication

Study Fashion Communication at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and Open Days...

Fashion design mood board with lime green garments, technical sketches, figure studies, and colour swatches on grey background.

BA (Hons) Fashion Technology*

On BA (Hons) Fashion Technology, you'll develop your expertise on the role of tech within fashion at every stage...

BA (Hons) Textiles Design

Study Textiles Design at Arts University Bournemouth. Find out about the course, fees, how to apply, and open days

Take that next step

Whether you’re looking to enter a field or specialism that’s new to you, returning to higher-level study after a break or wanting a more supportive transition from school or college into university life, then an Integrated Foundation Year could be your next step.