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Art & Design

As part of the course, you experience a diverse range of approaches, concepts, media and techniques related to the following pathways before choosing your specialist area:

  • Art pathway: Fine art, photography, film
  • Communications pathway: Graphic design, illustration, animation, visual effects
  • Design pathway: Fashion, fashion styling, textiles, 3D product design, 3D spatial design, including architecture, interior and set design, crafts.

    When you have chosen your pathway, you will start to create personal art and design work in an experimental and investigatory way, using high levels of evaluation, research and contextualisation to underpin the development of your work.

    You will have access to specialist workshops in printmaking, ceramics and 3D design to enable you to develop your practical skills.

    During the course, you will also take part in a number of exhibitions and presentation scenarios to prepare you for higher education interviews or employment. Teaching staff will be available for feedback and guidance at all times and you will also be assigned a personal tutor from the teaching team who will oversee your progress.
  • Entry requirements

    Minimum Requirements - an A Level supported at grade 9-5 (grade C and above) supported by 3 GCSEs at 4 or above with a reasonable standard of English and Maths must be in evident.

    BTEC/UAL National Diploma/Level 3 Extended Diploma or qualification in a creative subject OR a combination of vocational qualifications and A-Levels supported by appropriate previous accredited achievement.

    Students will need to present a portfolio at interview which demonstrates their visual experiences. Please note that places for mature students are based on an assessment of their creative abilities and not necessarily on academic qualifications.

    Students from other specialist pathways who wish to re-route themselves can also apply with a limited portfolio; individual support will be given before the student enters the course. All other students will need to present a portfolio at interview which demonstrates their visual experiences.

  • Who is the course for?

    This programme is a pivotal qualification which provides a transition from general education to specialist art and design education.

    As part of the course, students will be encouraged to become more experimental and risk-taking in their approach and develop their thinking and idea generation strategies.

    A key goal of the course is to enable students to make an informed decision about whether they wish to progress to higher education in art and design, study a degree in a separate field or prepare them for work/apprenticeships.

  • Study methods

    You will be taught in both a classroom-based environment, as well as in our subject specialist art studios and workshops, such as ceramics, 3D workshop, photographic studio and darkroom and printmaking workshop.

  • How is the course assessed?

    There is no examination on this course. You will be assessed for each unit through assignments and coursework. The grading on the course is Level 3 (GCE Advanced Level).

    Unit work is graded at Pass, Merit and Distinction. Completing coursework to the submission deadline is an important grading factor.

  • Where Next – Job Opportunities

    Career opportunities in the creative arts include:

    • Interior design
    • Visual communication
    • Design in digital media, Fashion (including marketing and styling)
    • Multimedia
    • Photographic practice
    • Design management
    • Costume
    • Print
    • Advertising
    • Branding
    • Product design
    • Furniture design
    • Photojournalism
    • Film/ theatre set design and costume design
    • Architecture
    • Graphic design
    • Marketing
    • Education.
  • Where Next – Further Studies

    The UAL Level 3 Diploma Foundation Diploma in Art and Design is intended for those students wishing to progress to a higher education course in art and design or associated studies.

    However, students who wish to use the qualification as preparation for employment or an apprenticeship, or to extend their outlook and skills prior to studying in another field at higher education level are also encouraged to apply.

  • How to apply

    To apply for a course either click the APPLY NOW button - fill out the form online and submit

    OR download an application form here and post it to the address on the form.
    When we have received your application we will contact you to arrange an interview time.

Course starting Sep 2024

Starts 2 September 2024

Duration 1 Year(s)

Location Richmond upon Thames Campus