UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

Why study the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at University College Falmouth?

Foundation course leaflet (1.77 MB)

Falmouth is a great place to study Foundation. The region has an established art scene and this popular, intimate course has an excellent track record going back nearly 40 years.

We encourage you to explore various ways of working and thinking so that you can see where your strengths lie, enabling you to make a decision about which particular art, design or media direction to follow. We then start to lead you along this pathway, familiarising you with the terrain until you are ready to independently set off towards your specialist art, design or media destination.

Tell me more about the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design course

For some of you this course bridges the gap between secondary and higher education, expanding and deepening your knowledge. For others, this will be a great chance to diversify into new fields or refresh your skills. Whoever you are, you'll find the experience will challenge your attitudes, change your ideas and introduce new approaches to creative practice and learning.

Taught by passionate staff who are visual practitioners with a range of expertise, this course introduces you to the fundamental skills required to become a successful artist, designer, maker or media practitioner. As the course progresses, emphasis changes from project work set by tutors to student negotiated projects and finally to self-written projects. As well as developing individual initiative, you'll also work in groups to strengthen your communication and negotiation skills.

The course contains units in art and design research methods, art and design ideas development, art and design materials and methods, and evaluation and reflection.

The course will introduce you to fine art, including life drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking and illustration, 3D design (including ceramics, product design and spatial/interior design), visual communication (including graphic design, typography, packaging, and design for print and computer graphics), media (including photography, video/animation and computer skills), fashion and textiles (including fashion design), computers (including desktop publishing, drawing and painting packages) and the history of Art & Design.

"The broadness of the Foundation course allows you to experiment in your own unique ways, opening up many opportunities for the future. The atmosphere is exciting and inspiring - a year's not long enough!." Georgia Gendall, Foundation Diploma 2010

Facilities

At Falmouth, you'll have your own workspace in stages two and three. Although modest in size, these spaces give you somewhere to work and think. We have our own dedicated Foundation workshops and you'll have some access to advanced technical facilities in other parts of the College when needed.

Funding and Money

Before applying, all students should carefully read the Foundation Diploma Funding Guide, which is available in Student Fees and Funding .

Do I have to pay course fees? You don't have to pay any fees if you are under 19 years of age on 1 September in the year you are starting the course. If you need further information on this, or feel that you may have to pay fees, then please call the Admissions team on 01326 214350 or 214351.

Can I get financial help during my course? You may be able to claim either the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) or the Adult Learning Grant (ALG). Both are based on your household income and can pay up to £30 a week during term time.

Can I get a Grant or Loan? No. The Foundation Diploma is a Further Education course (like A-levels), not a Higher Education course (like degrees), therefore grants and loans aren't available.

I'm looking to move to Falmouth in order to do the course, is there any help available? There isn't really any help available to relocate, other than through the Residential Support Scheme. This is only available to students who currently live more than a one hour commute from their local college. Full details are in the Foundation Diploma Funding Guide.

If you have any further queries, please contact our Bursary Adviser on 01326 213744.

Answers and advice about the course

If you have any queries about the course please visit our HelpMe Forum

HelpMe Forum: Foundation Studies in Art, Design & Media

For more information about the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at University College Falmouth, please email admissions@falmouth.ac.uk or telephone Admissions on 01326 214350 (full-time students) or 01326 214351 (part-time students)

Educational Opportunities

• Graphic design
• Fashion design, illustration, photography
• Illustration
• Textiles, surface design
• Fine art - sculpture, painting, printmaking
• Photography
• Architecture
• 3D Design

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from students with appropriate qualifications, prior relevant learning or experience, or demonstrable interest and knowledge in a subject. We welcome students of all ages, from all countries, backgrounds and cultures.

Application forms need to be completed by the last Friday in January in your intended year of study (28 January 2011). Once you've submitted your application form you'll be asked to complete a project. On receipt of your project, you will then be invited for interview in mid February.

UAL Foundation Diploma application form (497.33 KB)

Please note: The part-time Foundation Diploma is full and will not be accepting late applications.

Interview & portfolio

The interview will last four hours, during which you will undertake a practical making and drawing project, have a campus tour with student ambassadors from the Foundation courses, and have a one to one interview with a member of staff.

If you’re invited to interview your portfolio should include examples of a range of your work – around 20 pieces should be enough. We want to see a range of your drawings including some examples of observational work. We also like to see examples of creative development through different stages of research, exploratory drawing, and general experimentation as well as more finished examples.

Your portfolio should also include an essay relating to art and design issues, sketch books and design sheets as well as models, prototypes, material experiments and finished pieces.

Please note that EU and international students will not normally be required to attend an interview and may either submit a portfolio of work online or in the form of photographs, slides or CD/DVD.

Interviews will be held during the last two weeks of February. Applicants must ensure they are available during this period, as due to the volume of applicantions we receive, alternative dates are not offered.

Career opportunities

We have an exceptionally high success rate at placing students on degree-level and other Higher Education courses in graphic design, fine art, photography, illustration, theatre design, architecture, textiles, 3D design, fashion, costume design and history of art and design, amongst others.

Download application

UAL Foundation Diploma application form (497.33 KB)

The deadline for submitting an application for the Foundation Diploma is 30 January in the year you would like to come to Falmouth. Once you have submitted your application form, you will be asked to complete a project; the first stage of the selection process. This will take about 10 days to complete so it is a good idea to send in your application form at a time when you know you will have 10 days to devote to the project, and in advance of the January deadline. Once we receive the project, we will be in touch to invite you for an interview.

Please note: The part-time Foundation Diploma is full and will not be accepting late applications.