This course gives you an introduction to a broad range of Art, Design and Media disciplines and to gradually develop an area of specialism in your chosen field of practice.

The course is offered at your local college to enable you to participate in higher education learning within your local or regional context. It is a means of the University and the College bringing the course to you or within easy reach of your home. The primary aim is to introduce you to undergraduate study in a familiar environment and small group setting that will directly foster your engagement with the other people on your course. Successful completion of this course could ease your onward transition to the university should you wish to top up to a specialist degree.

The studio based approach means that there is significant supervision, support and guidance from tutors who will get to know each of you. You and they will work together with further supervision from the University link tutor and university module tutors, to identify your career interests as you lay the foundation for your subject specialism.

What happens on the course?

The inclusive and student led environment fosters experiential learning, risk taking and creative curiosity as fundamental to developing an arts practice.

The course is designed and informed by an experimental and hands-on approach toward art, design and media practices and will give you an insight into the creative industries. You will also explore key concepts that might inform your practice in areas such as identity, ethical and social issues.

Learning activities will include; Specialist Workshop Training, supervised studio practice, peer reviews, group projects, seminars, lectures and tutorials. As you progress through your course you will increasingly take control of your media, subject matter and research to develop an individually defined portfolio of practice and knowledge.

The college values studio culture and aims to ensure its studio spaces and equipment are suitable for a range of creative arts and media practices which means that there is a great deal of flexibility for you to choose topics of personal interest. Applied practice is at the core of what you will experience.

On completion of your Foundation Degree it is recommended that you top-up by completing a specialist level 6 course leading to a BA (Hons) in your chosen field. This will further strengthen your portfolio, skills and critical thinking and could lead to post graduate study.