Brighton | UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design Factsheet

Section 1: Overview

The UAL Foundation Diploma is a highly intensive and stimulating course designed to give students a fulfilling and rewarding learning experience, and to prepare for university undergraduate studies.

Students benefit from regular one-to-one teaching with a variety of specialist teachers who maintain their creative professions alongside their teaching commitments at Kings.

Our high teacher-to-student ratio enables individually tailored experiences for our students.We organise regular opportunities for students to work in larger groups and with other art specialists, such as the Art Residential currently taking place in Bristol at the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE).

Regular events are planned throughout the year with the aim of providing opportunities for students from the different Kings colleges to work collaboratively and to share good practice such as the joint Art/CSS, and Mid-FMP presentations and group gallery visits.

Spread over three terms, the course is 80% Art and Design, supported by 20% Communication Study Skills (CSS) including IELTS.

At a glance

Colleges

Brighton
London
Oxford

Start dates

September

Length

1 Academic Year (3 terms)

Lessons

Average 21 hours per week (plus homework and private study)

Portfolio requirements

A presentation of your work in a pdf or powerpoint format – clearly organised and laid out with self-directed and/or most recent work at the top
Work can include good quality photographs of: drawings, paintings, sculptures, short films/animation, photography and or any other 2D and 3D processes
Show evidence of research and idea development
Organise your portfolio so that progression is evident for each project – from the beginning of the idea to the development of final artwork
A maximum of three different projects and/or a maximum of 10 different pages/slides
If the portfolio needs more work, we will recommend applicants take Art and Design Preparation programme

Other entry requirements

Academic: Completed 11-12 years of schooling
English: IELTS 5.0 or equivalent. If the level of English is below IELTS 5.0, down to 4.0 applicants will be advised to take 1-3 terms of English Preparation
Minimum age:16.5

Course aims

Developing awareness of different creative practices, approaches and perspectives;
Researching, analysing and evaluating relevant information as part of the creative practice;
Instilling the value of research as an investigative and creative practice;
Exploring solutions to complex problems through the application of practical, theoretical and technical understanding;
Enabling students to explore media and processes within a safe environment;
Encouraging independent creative practices and self-led initiatives;
Developing ideas through investigative practices;
Identifying opportunities for progression;
Using critical visual, verbal and written language to communicate ideas and entire bodies of work effectively to both peers and the wider audience.

Section 2: Content

The programme can be taken at Level 3 or Level 4.

All students take 3 Units across 3 Terms. Level 3 students take Units 1,2 and 4 and Level 4 students take Units 1,3 and 4.

Term 1
Unit	Unit learning outcomes	Sample teaching and learning activities	Unit week
Unit 1 (level 3) — Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice Research and context, visual language, ideas development, skills development, audience identification linked to progression opportunities, problem identification, understanding and investigation, evaluation and reflection To include digital practice, and how practical and other work is recorded and presented to create links between theory and practice This is the first step towards producing the digital and hard copy portfolio.	1. Apply, integrate and contextualise research methods and activity within a creative practice 2. Identify, select and safely use appropriate materials, methods, media and technologies in relation to a variety of creative practices 3. Develop ideas, solve problems, and apply learning strategies within the context of a range of diverse creative practices. 4. Understand the conventions and application of critical evaluation and reflection for a range of audiences and purposes	Induction (1 week)	Week 1
		Project assignment 1 Interrogating the image (2 weeks) Presentation and formative assessment	Week 2-3
		Project assignment 2 Unfold (5 weeks including half term) Presentation and formative assessment	Week 4-8 (Half term)
		Unit 1 summative assessment personal statement/critical writing Residential - London West End Gallery Tour (1 week)	Week 9
Term 1 and 2
Unit	Unit learning outcomes	Sample teaching and learning activities	Unit week
Unit 2 (level 3) or Unit 3 (level 4) — Developing Specialist Practice Apply (specialist) skills, methods and processes: Specialist research and context (placed into broader context — social, environmental, ethical, political, scientific, cultural etc. Including possible links to sustainability) Evaluation and reflection Recording and selection of HE portfolio or show-reel for apprenticeship/job etc. Problem investigation (initiation / exploration) Concept development Communication to an audience (linked to progression)	1. Research and contextualise creative ambitions within specialist practice 2. Apply research methodology and use technical skills and practical experimentation to develop ideas within a specialist practice 3. Use self-reliant learning strategies to develop ideas and solve complex problems within the context of specialist practice to inform and realise creative solutions 4. Use critical evaluation and reflective skills in order to take responsibility for own learning and development 5. Review and apply presentation skills in order to communicate their creative practice to a selected audience	Project assignment 3 Connectivity (3.5 weeks) Formative assessment	Week 1-4
		Set research based project— students visit exhibitions connect with construct/deconstruct	Week 4
		Christmas holiday Students work on the RSB
		UCAS/E/Hard Portfolio preparation Indesign/Photoshop	Week 5-6
		Project assignment 4 Evaluation and Reflection Join Art/CSS presentatio on Unfold Students will have two practice runs with both their art tutors and their CSS teacher before the presentation date Formative feedback	Week 7
		Project assignment 5 Constructing/Deconstructing (6 weeks) Joing presentation/crit Unit 2 summative assessment Unit 2 standardisation	Week 8-13
Term 3
Unit	Unit learning outcomes	Sample teaching and learning activities	Unit week
Unit 4 (level 4) — Consolidating Practice Initiate and develop a creative project proposal using a range of critical and contextual perspectives and approaches Use research, analysis and evaluation to develop ideas and solutions for a creative project Use appropriate methods and specialist skills in the realisation of a creative project Integrate practical, theoretical and technical understanding to solve complex problems in order to realise a creative project. Plan, organise and maintain records of progress in the production of a creative project Maintain records of critical analysis, reflection and evaluation to inform own learning Use appropriate techniques and methods to communicate and present a creative project to an intended audience.	1. Initiate and develop a creative project proposal using a range of critical and contextual. perspectives and approaches 2. Use research, analysis and evaluation to develop ideas and solutions for a creative project. 3. Use appropriate methods and specialist skills in the realisation of a creative project. 4. Integrate practical, theoretical and technical understanding to solve complex problems in order to realise a creative project. 5. Plan, organise and maintain records of progress in the production of a creative project 6. Maintain records of critical analysis, reflection and evaluation to inform own learning. 7. Use appropriate techniques and methods to communicate and present a creative project to an intended audience.	Final Major Project	Week 1-2
		Pitch proposed project to teachers and fellow students Confirm proposal—write it up using the UAL template	Week 3
		PPT/PDF Mid FMP joint presentation Location TBC. Joint teachers' assessment	Week 4
		Project proposal deadline Include evaluation and bibliography	Week 5
		Experimental investigation — using materials, techniques and processes to test and develop ideas. Continue planning and production; apply skills, knowledge and techniques to develop creative objectives/outcomes Create a finalwork/body of works.	Week 5-7
		Hang exhibition and prepare a presentation which includes a printed up documentation of the FMP: encompassing research, development of ideas, experimental investigation, planning and production, evaluation and reflection.	Week 8
		Internal Assessment and private view	Week 9
		External assessment and show down	Week 10

Section 3: UCAS Application

From September to January students are supported by art staff and the UCAS coordinator during the UCAS application process. This support will include subject-specific advice regarding courses and universities, guidance on how to write Personal Statements and filling in UCAS forms correctly. All references are written by the art tutors. Applications are completed and sent by the first January university deadline and for January entrants by end of March.