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.
As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.
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,...
Work by Hannah Mittelstaedt
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 interactions, automations and ever-more ubiquitous systems are sh...
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.
Documentary & Editorial Photography BA(Hons)
On this fast-paced degree, you’ll learn to use the power of photography to communicate with a glob...
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)
Develop your filmmaking abilities, honing your practice and deepening your understanding of cinema. ...
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)
Graphic Design is one of the most versatile visual disciplines, embracing words and pictures, form a...
Illustration BA(Hons)
Become adept at problem solving and creating your visual language on this Illustration degree, renow...
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 BA(Hons)
Today’s fast-paced media landscape is calling out for brave and flexible storytellers. On this Med...
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...
Software Engineering BSc(Hons)
Use your talents for creative problem solving and lateral thinking to excel on this BSc Software Eng...
Television & Film Production BA(Hons)
Discover how to create everything from high-end dramas with full scale crews through to fast moving ...
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/artist, workshop facilitator and lecturer. She graduated with her BA(H...
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...
Lucy Stent
Game Programming and Game Development Foundation Lecturer
Lucy has been at Falmouth University since 2016. during her years here she has won many scholarships...
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.
Natural Innovation: the Falmouth designer reimagining textiles with biomaterials
11 July 2025
Alice Selwood is a multitalented creative. After graduating from Falmouth’s Textile Design BA in 2...
"Creative autonomy is worth more than fleeting validation": Meet Pete Jordi Wood
24 March 2025
Meet Pete Jordi Wood, aka Basic Witch. A graduate of Animation BA and Illustration: Authorial Pract...
From the Royal Opera House to Broadway: an interview with textile designer Sara Lowes
17 March 2025
From creating headdresses for the costume archive of London’s Royal Opera House, to designing mous...
Q&A with Graphic Designer, George Sutton
12 February 2025
George Sutton is a practicing designer - and alumni of Graphic Design BA - with an eye for cross-sec...
Graduate Spotlight: Textile Designer Lucy Martin
03 February 2025
Nature-loving textile design graduate Lucy Martin’s career has got off to an exciting start. Hot o...
Credit: Oliver Holmes
From CHANEL to Queen Camilla: a catch-up with Textile Design graduate Beth Somerville
10 December 2024
2023 was a big year for Textile Design BA (Hons) graduate Beth Somerville. From being named overall ...
Aimee Shardlow: Fine Art Graduate starts her own business
09 December 2024
Fine Art Graduate Aimee Shardlow tells us about her experience as an independent artist living near ...
Anna at Palazzo Monti, 2024.
Fine Art graduate joins The Great Women Artists Residency in Italy
21 November 2024
Maltese artist Anna Calleja’s career is endlessly inspiring. Since graduating from Fine Art BA(Hon...
More Rookies recognition for animation alumni
30 August 2024
Graduate Gihan Fernando has received some of the highest accolades at the Rookie Awards 2024.
From Sustainable Product Design student to inspiring sustainability leader
22 July 2024
Charlie Clarke is a rising star in the world of sustainability. Since graduating from Falmouth’s S...
Sustainable Product Design student bags multiple industry awards
09 July 2024
Sustainable Product Design BA student Kit Rose has picked up two coveted awards at The Manufacturer ...
Games Academy alumni release their latest game on Nintendo Switch
07 June 2024
Studio 316, a Cornwall-based games studio which comprises of five former Falmouth University Games A...
From a BA and MA to LGBTQ+ fairytales and a PhD: meet Pete Jordi Wood
16 May 2024
Pete Jordi Wood’s creative career has well and truly blossomed since graduating from Animation BA ...
Mohini Chandra, 'Imaginary Edens/Photos of my Father' in 'Entangled Pasts, 1768-now', Royal Academy, London, 2024
Falmouth artists feature in Royal Academy of Arts exhibition on art, colonialism and change
24 April 2024
Works by esteemed Falmouth alumnus and Fellow Hew Locke OBE and Fine Art MA (Online) Module Leader D...
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...
Knights of Borria set to launch new game ‘Leximan’ with major European publisher
19 June 2023
Falmouth University game studio Knights of Borria to launch new game 'Leximan' with publisher Marvel...
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.
