If you're looking to progress onto a degree in any creative subject, but you're still deciding what to specialise in, then the Foundation Diploma in Art, Design & Media Practice at UCA Farnham is an ideal choice.
This year-long course will help you improve your skills and knowledge across a wide range of art and design subjects. If you're looking to move on to a degree, you’ll be able to build a strong portfolio to take with you, so you can hit the ground running and realise your full potential.
The first part of your year will be spent investigating different areas of art and design, identifying your strengths and personal interests to help you grow as an artist or designer. As the year progresses, you’ll have more freedom to specialise and direct your own route through the course, resulting in an exhibition of your work at the end of the year and a unique and varied portfolio to take into your undergraduate degree.
You’ll have access to the facilities at UCA Farnham, and will be supported by subject specialist lecturers who are active within their own fields as professional designers, artists and researchers.
Working alongside our undergraduate and postgraduate students as part of our uniquely creative community, you’ll be able to observe at close-hand the range of degree options available to you.
As a foundation student at UCA, you’ll be on campus for at least three days a week and will be given your own dedicated studio space. If you’re expected to be studying English and/or Maths as part of your programme, you’ll attend for some additional hours.
Once you finish this course, you will be awarded the Pearson BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art, Design & Media Practice.
| Length of study | 1 year full-time |
|---|---|
| Campus | Farnham |
| Entry requirements | 5 GCSE A*-C and/or grade 9-4 plus 32 UCAS points |
| Course entry options | Sept 2021, Sept 2022 |
The first part of your year will be spent delving into different areas of art and design, identifying your strengths and interests.
Learning Skills and Context
Through a structured programme of drawing and visual studies, you’ll identify your skills, strengths and interests. You’ll also develop practical abilities in 2D and 3D, helping you to make an informed choice for specialist study.
As the year progresses, you'll have more freedom to specialise. This helps you to grow as an artist and determines in which creative direction your academic path and future career may lie.
Development and Progression
You'll choose to specialise in one pathway from graphic design, illustration, photography, film, 3D design, fashion, textiles and fine art.
Proposal and Realisation
You’ll bring together all your newly developed skills, knowledge and understanding in art, craft, design and communications to plan and fulfil a major project, resulting in an exhibition.
UCA supports weekly 1-2-1 and small group tutorials for 16 to 19 students who are studying English, Maths and other courses where learning has been disrupted, particularly where they have experienced additional disruption to learning because of their specific needs and disabilities. Tuition is focused on ensuring students receive formative and summative assessment and clearly understand assignment briefs, grading criteria and the additional support availability to them. This is for any students who have not achieved grade 5 or above in at least one of those subjects at this level by age 16. Support is prioritised for students who have not achieved a grade 4 in English and/or Maths, however, any young people with a grade 4 that also need catch up support may be considered.
Tuition fees
Currently, if you are an UK or EU student under 19 years old on the 31 August before your course starts, you don’t have to pay any tuition fees.
Additionally, you don't have to pay tuition fees if you are an UK or EU student aged between 19-23 on the 31 August before your course starts, and you are studying for your first full level 3 qualification.
The fees for 2021 entry are:
Additional course costs
In addition to the tuition fees please see the additional course costs for 2021 entry.
Further information
Find out more about our course fees and any financial support you may be entitled to:
These fees are correct for the stated academic year only. Costs may increase each year during a student’s period of continued registration on course in line with inflation (subject to any maximum regulated tuition fee limit). Any adjustment for continuing students will be at or below the RPI-X forecast rate.
See our Student regulations
Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.
At UCA Farnham there are studio spaces for all pathways of the pre-degree and foundation courses; 3D workshops with machines for working a in range of materials with dedicated technical support; digital media suites with both Macs and PCs loaded with design software; and open access print studios.
Pre-degree studios, UCA Farnham
Pre-degree studios, UCA Farnham
3D workshop, UCA Farnham
Print studios, UCA Farnham
After completing this course, most of our students progress to a degree course at UCA.
View all of our undergraduate degree courses
This course is part of our Diploma 2 Degree scheme which guarantees you a place on one of our undergraduate degrees after you have completed this course.
The process is simple and stress-free, letting you bypass lengthy application processes and avoid UCAS fees. There’s also no need for you to attend an interview.
More details about the scheme can be found on the Diploma 2 Degree pages.
Instead of further study you may also choose to progress directly into employment or do an apprenticeship in the industry.
Along with your portfolio, the standard entry requirements* for this course are:
ONE of the following:
- One A-Level (or two AS-Levels) with a minimum of 32 UCAS tariff points preferably including an art, design, media, photography, design technology or a related creative subject.
- 32 UCAS tariff points from BTEC/UAL Extended Diplomas, Extended Certificates, Subsidiary Diplomas
- 32 UCAS tariff points from a combination of BTEC/UAL Subsidiary/ Extended Certificate and A Levels
- IB (International Baccalaureate) with a score of 24 or above
AND
Five GCSE passes at grade A*-C and/or grade 9-4, including English language/literature and a minimum of grade 3/D in mathematics.
Other relevant and equivalent Level 3 UK and international qualifications are considered on an individual basis, and we encourage students from diverse educational backgrounds to apply.
*We occasionally make offers which are lower than the standard entry criteria, to students who have faced difficulties that have affected their performance and who were expected to achieve higher results. We consider the strength of our applicants’ portfolios, as well as their grades - in these cases, a strong portfolio is especially important.
To view the equivalent entry requirements for your country please select it in the list below.
For this course, you’ll be required to submit an online portfolio via your UCA Applicant Portal. Include creative work in a variety of media that shows your interest in art and design - this could include paintings, drawings, photography, ceramics or design work. You can include film or video work but make sure it's no more than three minutes in duration. We also like to see examples of written work, such as an essay, case study, evaluation or exhibition review. Further information on how to compile and upload your portfolio will be provided once you have applied. If you receive an offer, you’ll be invited to attend an Offer Holder Webinar where you can meet the course team and learn more about the course.
Our deadline for applications is 31 March - if you can apply by this date then we guarantee to consider you. But, if we still have places available after this date, we'll consider late applications, too.
