Foundation, Diploma, or Degree?

APPLYING FOR COURSES IN ART SUBJECTS

ART FOUNDATION

Many students who have studied A level Art subjects and who want to study them at a higher level go on to a one year Art Foundation course at a local College (e.g. UCA Farnham, Kingston), some students look further afield… if they can afford to fund living there. It is presumed that you will live at home and be supported at home on the foundation year. It is an inexpensive way of gaining time to decide what to do if you do not feel ready.

Art Foundation is an intensive but rewarding one year course during which you will have the opportunity to work using a range of media and processes you will probably not have used before. Term 1 you will try lots of different things, e.g. computer graphics, spatial design, fashion and textiles, 3D studies using metal, wood ceramics as well as more familiar activities such as photography, drawing and painting. In Term 2 you will specialize in your area of strength in order to build up a portfolio of work ready for your interview at the College you apply to for a 3 year degree course. Courses for B.A. degrees in Art often expect applicants to have done Foundation. You can study for your degree anywhere in the country. You will receive informed advice about this on your foundation course. Many students end up doing quite different courses than they expected eg Graphics when you had not done this at Godalming College.

NATIONAL DIPLOMAS IN PHOTOGRAPHY, DESIGN, TEXTILES ETC.

National Diploma courses are more specialist and vocational two year courses which can lead either to employment or two year Higher National Diploma (HND) or three year B.A degree courses.

Most of our A level Photography students who want to study Photography at a higher level go on to a BA course, but N.D Photography courses such as those offered at City College and Northbrook College are suitable for people who are mostly interested in the techniques and technology rather than academic ideas.

B.A. DEGREE COURSES

It is possible to apply direct from A level, via UCAS Autumn of your second year to many three year degree courses, i.e. Photography and Art degrees (speak to your teacher), Art History or multi-disciplinary Art courses exploring different aspects of art and design, or combination degrees e.g. Art with say English. If you are interested in doing start looking through prospectuses in the Careers Suite.

If you are not sure whether you want to study Art at a higher level you could apply for University this autumn in another subject, e.g. English or Psychology but ask to defer a year. You could then also apply for an Art Foundation course and spend a year finding out whether Art is the right choice for you. It is presumed that you will live at home and be supported at home on the foundation year.