Graduate Diploma in Art, Design and Media

Farnham

Course overview

Our Graduate Diploma in Art, Design and Media is a pre-master's course which is specially designed to prepare you for postgraduate-level study at UCA.

This course has two start dates during the year - September and February – and you will be taught for a total of 30 weeks.

The course is aimed at helping international students who have not previously studied in the UK education system to successfully progress to postgraduate study.

Validated by UCA, this course will help you develop the academic skills and practical subject expertise you will need to succeed at Master's level.

This intensive course enables you to develop, strengthen or even change the subject focus of your first art and design degree (or previous experience) as you develop your portfolio of work. You will also build up knowledge of essential academic research skills and methodologies.

English language support is also integrated into the course, which will improve your English language level in preparation for postgraduate study.

Following successful completion of the course, you will be guaranteed a place on an MA course at UCA.

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Course details

Semester one

The course is made up of two semesters and develops your English language, academic, research and study skills, knowledge of visual and cultural contexts and critical and analytical abilities in relation to your chosen area of interest.

An interdisciplinary teaching approach supports students with a range of different qualifications and previous experience.

Creative Art and Design 1: Exploration
You will learn about the practice and the process of exploration of creative problem solving in relation to both your specialist focus and the broader creative industries in a global context. This will involve peer discussions and debates with the purpose of problem solving, critical questioning and self-reflection. These learning processes will help to inform and lead you to a series of creative solutions that will enable you to explore the transformation of information into knowledge.

Design and Visual Culture with English for Academic Purposes
In this unit you will examine traditional and current ideas in the development of design and visual culture within a contemporary context. The debates during the unit will help you explore the relationship between the types of narratives and the social and cultural identities that can in part be determined by the objects, texts and images that we produce and experience.

Research Methods and Critical Analysis with English for Academic Purposes

This unit runs throughout the 30 week course across both semesters. The aim is to develop and embed effective and practical research methods - introducing students to advanced critical inquiry, academic and critical writing, and independent research. This is delivered concurrently with the theoretical and practical teaching of English language practical skills.

Semester two

The course is made up of two semesters and develops your English language, academic, research and study skills, knowledge of visual and cultural contexts and critical and analytical abilities in relation to your chosen area of interest.

An interdisciplinary teaching approach supports students with a range of different qualifications and previous experience.

Creative Art and Design 2 : Confirmation
This unit builds upon the previous units moving you from exploration into creative practice, creative problem solving and research to engagement with these skills within your selected subject area. The unit involves two projects, one that will ask you to assess and utilise your key skills and subject specialism within a group project and the other where you will design and produce a self-directed major project Your reflective review from stage 1 will be a key starting point for you to take forward action points and interests that you want to continue developing in stage 2.

Design and Visual Culture with English for Academic Purposes
In this unit you will examine traditional and current ideas in the development of design and visual culture within a contemporary context. The debates during the unit will help you explore the relationship between the types of narratives and the social and cultural identities that can in part be determined by the objects, texts and images that we produce and experience.

Research Methods and Critical Analysis with English for Academic Purposes
This unit runs throughout the 30 week course across both semesters. The aim is to develop and embed effective and practical research methods - introducing students to advanced critical inquiry, academic and critical writing, and independent research. This is delivered concurrently with the theoretical and practical teaching of English language practical skills.

Fees and additional costs

Tuition fees
The course fees for September 2021 and February 2022 entry are:

International students - £15,540 (standard fee)
International students - £14,920 (full early payment fee)

Additional course costs
In addition to the tuition fees please see the additional course costs.

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.

Fee discounts & scholarships

All full cost (non-EU) students who successfully complete the Graduate Diploma and progress to a UCA postgraduate course will receive a £1,500 discount on the standard listed tuition fee for the postgraduate course. If the tuition fees are paid in full before enrolment, an additional 4% discount is applied.

Course specifications

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.

Jiahui Ye, Graduate Diploma Art & Design, UCA Farnham

Suhan Li, Graduate Diploma Art & Design, UCA Farnham

Cordelia Ibinaiye, Graduate Diploma Art & Design, UCA Farnham

Yiying Cui, Graduate Diploma Art & Design, UCA Farnham

Student work from Graduate Diploma in Art & Design

Facilities

At UCA Farnham there is a dedicated studio for students on the International Pathway courses. You will also have be able to use the shared facilities at the campus including; 3D workshops with machines for working a in range of materials such as wood, plaster, clay and resin; digital media suites with both Macs and PCs loaded with design software; and open access print studios.

International Pathway studios, UCA Farnham

Print studios, UCA Farnham

International Pathway studios, UCA Farnham

3D workshop, UCA Farnham

Key facts

Our student to staff ratio of a maximum of 15:1 ensures an exceptionally high level of tutor engagement. Art and design teaching methods include studio work, practical skills workshops, educational visits, one-to-one tutorials, lectures and seminars.

English language

Integrated English language study is available in all terms, helping to develop the academic skills required for studying in the medium of English. The course covers the following areas: speaking, listening, reading, writing and language development (vocabulary and grammar) as well as the chance to practise the English and skills learnt through the practical and theoretical tasks, assignments and projects in both semesters.

Teaching methods

Teaching methods include studio work, one-to-one tutorials, lectures, seminars and practical skills workshops. Assessment methods range from group presentations, essay workshops, tutorials and formative critiques. This course will develop your existing practical skills in your chosen subject to enable you to progress to MA level study. You'll also learn about British culture and public arts institutions, and study a range of current cultural and theoretical debates in the visual arts.

Discounts for progressing students

All full cost (non-EU) students who successfully complete the Graduate Diploma and progress to a UCA postgraduate course will receive a 10% discount on the standard listed tuition fee for the postgraduate course. If the tuition fees are paid in full before enrolment, an additional 4% discount is applied.

Academic and student support

You'll receive opportunities to informally discuss points raised in lectures or seminars through personal tutorials. You'll also receive individual support and professional advice on personal and academic issues, including your next steps in your choice of studies or career. You're supported in applying to UCA for your postgraduate degree course, and can receive advice and guidance on visa applications and other pastoral matters.

Sarah Orio

"This course was a very good experience. I was able to learn various skills like time management and idea development that have really helped me in the Masters course. It was a great way to get to know people from different parts of the world as well."

Dates & fees

Course	Start date	End date	Cost (Standard fee)	Cost (Discounted fee)
February course:	31 Jan 2022	16 Sept 2022	£15,540	£14,920

For full details about the term dates please see: www.uca.ac.uk/life-at-uca/term-dates/international/

If you choose to pay your fees in full before you enrol for your course, you will pay the discounted fee. If you choose to pay after you enrol, or pay in instalments, you will pay the standard fee.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements

A recognised bachelor degree or 3 year diploma with a strong portfolio in a relevant subject.

English language requirements

For this course you need an overall IELTS score of 5.5 with 5.5 in each component or an equivalent UK Visas and Immigration recognised qualification.

Your portfolio

For this course we will require an online portfolio for assessment. Your portfolio of work should demonstrate your prior learning, creativity and relevance for your subject area. You can either email your portfolio (ideally in PDF format) or upload your work to a file-sharing website (e.g. You Tube, Flickr, Drop Box). Further information on how to compile a portfolio and the process for submission of your work will be provided on the Applicant Portal.