Integrated Foundation Year BA/BSc(Hons)
Develop your skills by entering the creative industries on an Integrated Foundation Year degree.
Course overview
If you’re interested in taking on a new subject that you’ve not had the opportunity to study in depth before, or have been out of education for a while, then our Integrated Foundation Year courses might be for you. These four-year courses include an introductory year to help you build the core skills needed for specialist degree-level study.
This is a chance for you to let your imagination run wild and explore your creativity, expand your professional skills and develop enhanced subject knowledge in the domain you want to study. We’ll help nurture your expertise in problem solving, risk-taking, designing and making as you develop your abilities through five core modules.
After your foundation year, you’ll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skill set and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.
You will:
- Develop technical, design thinking and production skills in your chosen specialism
- Learn teamwork, leadership and project management skills through a variety of learning environments
- Develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills through the development of unique and innovative projects
- Complete your chosen degree over a four-year period
Course details
In your foundation year, you'll study five core modules: three short modules in the first study block and two in the second (one short, one long). These are all designed to help you explore the foundational elements of both creative practice and your chosen specialism. You'll gain relevant technical skills, learn to experiment and take risks, develop an understanding of professional practice, have opportunities to work across disciplines and collaborate with other students on live project briefs.
After your foundation year, you'll have a deeper knowledge of your subject, a clear understanding of your strengths, a developed practical and technical skillset and the confidence to excel in your chosen degree subject when you join other students for the rest of your course.
Modules (foundation year)
You'll begin your foundation year by working collaboratively with others to explore themes of the future. You'll take risks, experiment through play and be supported to break through barriers.
You'll take subject-specific workshops and develop essential technical and practical skills in your area of study. You'll also enhance your analytical and organisational abilities.
You'll work with your peer group to think beyond discipline by addressing a societal or global issue. You'll then showcase your work to your peers and deliver and accompanying evaluation of your process.
You'll enhance your creative and practical skills in your subject specialism by responding to typical industry briefs, underpinned by focused research and experiments. You'll also gain industry insights through guest lectures and workshops.
You'll develop your unique identity in your specialism through the production of a self-initiated body of work. Your final project will be the bridge to your next year, fully supported by evaluative reviews and critical analysis of the work you have created.
The modules above are those being studied by our students, or proposed new ones. Programme structures and modules can change as part of our curriculum enhancement and review processes. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the Course Leader.
From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details on each specialism course page.
Choosing your specialism
When you choose to study an Integrated Foundation Year degree, you'll need to choose the subject you wish to specialise in before applying. For instance, you might want to study Computing for Games BSc(Hons), and you'll be able to choose the Integrated Foundation Year route.
You can view all the courses that offer an Integrated Foundation Year option, below.
Integrated Foundation Year specialisms
Animation BA(Hons)
Bring your ideas to life through the world of animation. We’ll support you in developing original,...
Commercial Photography BA(Hons)
From creating photographs and films for high-end advertising and marketing campaigns to producing vi...
Computer Science BSc(Hons)
New immersive realities, data-rich and informed interactions, automations and ever-more connected cl...
Computing for Games BSc(Hons)
Learn how to shape the games of the future by studying game development through the lens of computer...
Costume Design for Film & Television BA(Hons)
On this dynamic course, you’ll cultivate the practical, creative and theoretical skills needed to ...
Creative Advertising BA(Hons)
Turn your ideas into powerful advertising campaigns with impact.
Drawing BA(Hons)
Become a rigorous and innovative critical thinker and practitioner. Build your skills, expertise and...
Esports & Livestreaming BA(Hons)
Immerse yourself in Esports culture on this degree, which offers a unique opportunity to be at the f...
Fashion Design BA(Hons)
Turn heads and change minds as you steer the fashion industry toward a more sustainable future. Work...
Fashion Marketing BA(Hons)
Blend your flair for communication and eye for fashion into a successful career as a fashion markete...
Work by Alice Marple Horvat
Fashion Photography BA(Hons)
Develop your unique artistic voice and springboard into the industry as an innovative fashion photog...
Fashion Styling & Art Direction BA(Hons)
Influence the shape of fashion as you take on the world of fashion styling. On this future-focused c...
Film BA(Hons)
Immerse yourself in the world of film, where time, space, form and creative ideas translate into mea...
Fine Art BA(Hons)
This highly-respected course aims to support the development of your practice as it evolves over the...
Game Animation BA(Hons)
Gain experience of working to a real-time animation pipeline and graduate with a rich portfolio of w...
Game Art BA(Hons)
Work in multi-skilled collaborative teams and graduate as a confident, industry-ready game artist. ...
Game Development BA(Hons)
Join a community of people who have a passion for games. From day one, you’ll work as you would wi...
Graphic Design BA(Hons)
On this course, you’ll join a collaborative community that will support you to develop your distin...
Illustration BA(Hons)
Become adept at problem solving and creating your visual language on this Illustration degree, renow...
Immersive Computing BSc(Hons)
New immersive realities, data-rich and informed interactions, automations and ever-more connected sy...
Marine & Natural History Photography BA(Hons)
Harness your passion for photography and filmmaking to inspire audiences about nature and the enviro...
Marketing Communications BA(Hons)
In a world where technology is transforming how we live, work and play, marketers must be fast, flex...
Photography BA(Hons)
On this dynamic course, you’ll explore the world of contemporary photography and develop a unique ...
Post Production & Visual Effects BA(Hons)
Take your first steps in building a career on this industry-focused course, which covers all aspects...
Documentary & Editorial Photography BA(Hons)
On this fast-paced degree, you’ll learn to use the power of photography to communicate with a glob...
Television & Film Production BA(Hons)
Discover how to create everything from high-end dramas with full scale crews through to fast moving ...
Work by Beth Somerville
Textile Design BA(Hons)
On our textile design degree, you’ll be part of a vibrant, supportive community of multidisciplina...
How you'll learn
Our Integrated Foundation Year degrees are designed to equip you with the skills you need to thrive in the creative industries. At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.
- Foundation year assessments are 100% coursework based
Assessment will take place at the end of each module, and you'll get feedback and evaluation throughout the year. You'll be assessed through visual, verbal and written assignments, including your portfolio and a reflective journal. In your foundation year all assessments are pass/fail to encourage students to take risks and engage with the feedback provided.
Students studying on courses with an Integrated Foundation Year must successfully complete and pass all foundation modules before they can progress to the next stage of their course.
Facilities
Our industry-standard facilities, spread across two campuses, are carefully designed and developed to ensure you're more than equipped to succeed in your chosen specialism. Explore all our facilities.
Staff
Specialist staff from your course discipline will contribute to the learning and teaching on your Integrated Foundation Year degree. Our lecturers are often practising professionals and academic researchers who can give you first-hand knowledge of the creative industries. Depending on your course, you may be taught by the following staff members.
Duncan Cameron
Senior Lecturer & Course Leader for the Falmouth Integrated Foundation Year
I have been an art lecturer since joining the then new art Foundation Programme at Strode College in...
Adam Blackmore
Lecturer, Game Art & Animation (Integrated Foundation Year)
I teach Game Art & Animation on the IFY Course here at Falmouth. Prior to this I have been invol...
Gina Burney
Lecturer: Illustration & Graphic Design (Integrated Foundation Year)
Gina Burney is an illustrator/graphic artist, workshop facilitator and lecturer. She graduated with ...
Kate Lowe
Lecturer Photography Integrated Foundation Year Degree
I am a photography educator and joined the IFY team in June 2023. Back in 2011, I began my career as...
Roger Troup
Lecturer Integrated Foundation Year Film and Television
I teach on the Integrated Foundation Year Course in Film and Television. Although I began my care...
Cassie Henderson
Fashion and Textiles IFY Lecturer and Module Leader
Fashion and Textiles Foundation Year Lecturer and Module Leader, specialising in Knitted Textile Des...
Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.
Careers
From exhibitions to award wins, positions in leading creative businesses to launching their own ventures, our graduates are blazing a trail. Read about our graduates from across the course specialisms.
Falmouth graduate’s vodka brand design wins Bulletproof 100%Proof competition
09 August 2023
Graphic Design BA(Hons) graduate Murray Harden has won this year’s Bulletproof 100%Proof competiti...
Monty and Alex at the Bleach Magazine launch at Cornish Bank in Falmouth.
Falmouth duo launch dynamic new publication BLEACH Magazine
27 July 2023
With the first issue selling out in less than a month, BLEACH Magazine is clearly onto something. Co...
Monty and Alex at the Bleach Magazine launch at Cornish Bank in Falmouth.
Falmouth duo launch dynamic new publication BLEACH Magazine
27 July 2023
With the first issue selling out in less than a month, BLEACH Magazine is clearly onto something. Co...
Textile Design graduate launches collection with Oasis
06 January 2023
Charlie Taylor tells us about her exclusive collection with fashion brand, Oasis.
Alice Moore on starting her own handwoven textile business
14 December 2022
Textile Design graduate starts her own handwoven textile business.
Graduate shares her experience as an international student at Falmouth University
30 November 2022
Fern Khaoroptham shares her experience of moving from Thailand to Falmouth to study Game Development...
Falmouth alumna exhibiting at Tate Britain
15 November 2022
Falmouth Fine Art alumna Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is exhibiting at the Tate Britain in November 2022.
Graduate spotlight: Cornwall-based printmaker highlights the importance of resilience
05 October 2022
Since graduating from Fine Art BA(Hons) in 2021, Neve Clarke has worked hard to pursue a career in p...
Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2022: Susannah Douglas' entry
Falmouth alumni shortlisted for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize 2022
27 September 2022
Three Falmouth graduates have been shortlisted for this year’s Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize an...
Falmouth graduate longlisted for Dezeen Design Awards 2022
23 September 2022
Sustainable Product Design graduate Libby Challoner has been longlisted for the Dezeen Design Awards...
Alumnus Hew Locke is selected for The Met's Facade Commission
03 May 2022
Esteemed Falmouth alumnus Hew Locke has been announced as an artist for The Met Museum’s 2022 Faca...
Textiles graduate lands role at cutting-edge fabrics company
11 January 2022
BA(Hons) Textile Design graduate Megan Leech has landed a job as a Development Engineer with renowne...
Textile Design graduate wins Oppo Lens of Inspiration Challenge
23 December 2021
BA(Hons) Textile Design graduate Rosie Southerden has won the Oppo Lens of Inspiration challenge. Th...
Fine Art graduates awarded €100,000 prize from Chanel
16 December 2021
Artist collective Keiken, made up of three Fine Art graduates, has been awarded the Chanel Next Priz...
Innovative graduate creates robotically recycled footwear
09 December 2021
Sustainable Product Design BA(Hons) graduate Max Ashwell has created a pair of shoes that ...
Graduate creates powerful advert for Oxfam
26 November 2021
Prior to COP26, Animation & Visual Effects graduate Tim Wheatley created The Cycle of ...
Falmouth graduates compete for a share of £27,000 at prestigious Drawing Award
22 October 2021
The Falmouth School of Art is celebrating a double success at the 2021 Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Pr...
Animated antics: Avy meets Aardman
25 August 2021
Final-year Animation & Visual Effects student Avy shares her Aardman Academy experience after se...
Forest & Clay: Small business flourishes in the hands of Falmouth graduates
02 July 2021
Fine Art graduate Dan Bethell and Fashion Photography graduate Anna Burnett have created Forest &...
Waste not, want not: Graduate business launches sustainable clothing line
20 May 2021
Since her time at Falmouth, Fine Art graduate Lucy Whittaker has been nurturing a new sustainable fa...
How to apply
Apply via UCAS
Ready to join us? You can apply for September 2023 via UCAS. You'll need to reference the course and University code (F33).
You can find your Integrated Foundation Year course code on the individual course page. You can see a list of courses available for entry in 2023 below. Select your course to retrieve your course code and read more about what you'll study in the remaining three years of your degree after your Integrated Foundation Year.
- University code: F33
Applying as an international student?
International students can apply for a course through UCAS, via an agent or directly with the University. Ensure you retrieve your Integrated Foundation Year degree course code from the relevant course page listed below.
Then go to our International applications page for more information about how to apply as an international student.
Integrated Foundation Year specialisms
Animation BA(Hons)
Bring your ideas to life through the world of animation. We’ll support you in developing original,...
Commercial Photography BA(Hons)
From creating photographs and films for high-end advertising and marketing campaigns to producing vi...
Computer Science BSc(Hons)
New immersive realities, data-rich and informed interactions, automations and ever-more connected cl...
Computing for Games BSc(Hons)
Learn how to shape the games of the future by studying game development through the lens of computer...
Costume Design for Film & Television BA(Hons)
On this dynamic course, you’ll cultivate the practical, creative and theoretical skills needed to ...
Creative Advertising BA(Hons)
Turn your ideas into powerful advertising campaigns with impact.
Data Science BSc(Hons)
This course is no longer available. To join our creative community, explore our similar courses, inc...
Drawing BA(Hons)
Become a rigorous and innovative critical thinker and practitioner. Build your skills, expertise and...
Esports & Livestreaming BA(Hons)
Immerse yourself in Esports culture on this degree, which offers a unique opportunity to be at the f...
Fashion Design BA(Hons)
Turn heads and change minds as you steer the fashion industry toward a more sustainable future. Work...
Fashion Marketing BA(Hons)
Blend your flair for communication and eye for fashion into a successful career as a fashion markete...
Work by Alice Marple Horvat
Fashion Photography BA(Hons)
Develop your unique artistic voice and springboard into the industry as an innovative fashion photog...
Fashion Styling & Art Direction BA(Hons)
Influence the shape of fashion as you take on the world of fashion styling. On this future-focused c...
Film BA(Hons)
Immerse yourself in the world of film, where time, space, form and creative ideas translate into mea...
Fine Art BA(Hons)
This highly-respected course aims to support the development of your practice as it evolves over the...
Game Animation BA(Hons)
Gain experience of working to a real-time animation pipeline and graduate with a rich portfolio of w...
Game Art BA(Hons)
Work in multi-skilled collaborative teams and graduate as a confident, industry-ready game artist. ...
Game Development BA(Hons)
Join a community of people who have a passion for games. From day one, you’ll work as you would wi...
Graphic Design BA(Hons)
On this course, you’ll join a collaborative community that will support you to develop your distin...
Illustration BA(Hons)
Become adept at problem solving and creating your visual language on this Illustration degree, renow...
Immersive Computing BSc(Hons)
New immersive realities, data-rich and informed interactions, automations and ever-more connected sy...
Marine & Natural History Photography BA(Hons)
Harness your passion for photography and filmmaking to inspire audiences about nature and the enviro...
Marketing Communications BA(Hons)
In a world where technology is transforming how we live, work and play, marketers must be fast, flex...
Media Production BA(Hons)
An exciting and market-driven fusion of filmmaking, advertising and journalism, this Media Productio...
Photography BA(Hons)
On this dynamic course, you’ll explore the world of contemporary photography and develop a unique ...
Post Production & Visual Effects BA(Hons)
Take your first steps in building a career on this industry-focused course, which covers all aspects...
Documentary & Editorial Photography BA(Hons)
On this fast-paced degree, you’ll learn to use the power of photography to communicate with a glob...
Robotics BSc(Hons)
Explore the world of artificial intelligence and create interactive robots that respond to the chall...
Work by Beth Somerville
Textile Design BA(Hons)
On our textile design degree, you’ll be part of a vibrant, supportive community of multidisciplina...
We consider all applications on their own individual merit and potential. We invite all applicants to an interview day or audition to give them the opportunity to demonstrate this along with what inspires and motivates them in their field. Applicants will also be able to show their portfolio or give a performance depending on the course. We welcome applications from all subject backgrounds, whether you've specialised in STEM, the arts or humanities.
| Course route | Entry requirements |
|---|---|
| Integrated Foundation Year BA/BSc(Hons) four year degree | 80 – 120 UCAS Tariff points |
For applicants whose first language is English we require you to have or be working towards GCSE English Language Grade 4 (C), or equivalent.
If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard, which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.0 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. We accept a range of in country equivalencies and approved tests.
If you need a student visa to study in the UK, you may need to take a recognised language test. You can read our English Language Requirements for more information.
For starting your studies in 2024
UK applications: 31 January 2024 (for equal consideration)
Applications after the 31 January will be considered on a first-come, first-served as long as there are places available. Apply for this course now.
International fee payers
International fee payers can apply throughout the year. But we recommend applying as early as possible, to make time for visa and travel arrangements.
