Pre Degree Foundation Diploma in Art Design and Media

This full-time course will allow you to explore a wide range of disciplines and provides the all important transition between A Levels or BTEC National Diploma onto your chosen degree course. It is also a programme for mature students who want to advance their creative arts studies, or make a career change.

This one-year course is designed to develop your intellectual, creative and technical skills and provide a variety of experiences in order to build a portfolio of work and prepare you for entry into the country's top creative arts higher education institutions.

For the last five years 100% of our applying students have successfully progressed onto University. Previous students have gone on to study the full range of art, design & media disciplines at leading Universities such as Goldsmiths, Chelsea, Brighton and Central St Martins.

What qualifications do I need?

This course is for students aged 17 and over who hold a minimum of two AS Levels, one of which should be in an Arts related subject or a BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design with three units at a merit grade. Entry is awarded upon portfolio interview, which demonstrates commitment and ability. It is recommended that students' posses GCSE (grade C or above), in English Language and Maths, as this is a requirement of application to most HE institutions.

Mature students may can be considered on the quality of the portfolio alone and are encouraged to apply. 

What does the course involve? 

The course comprises three stages:

EXPLORATORY: In this initial stage you will undertake a series of workshops within all of the disciplines working on set assignments. This will enable the process of diagnosing your strengths and therefore specialist area of study.

PATHWAY: This stage enables you to focus on your chosen art discipline. You will specialise in the second part of this stage, and prepare your portfolio for university interview. Students will be encouraged to work independently and are provided with individual work stations to facilitate this process.

CONFIRMATORY: In this stage you will work with a specialist personal tutor to plan and produce an exhibition of your Final Major Project work.

How will I learn? 

Within the above three stages you will cover an exciting mix of various specialist subjects including, painting and drawing (including life drawing), theatre set design, sculpture, fashion, photography (traditional and digital), printmaking, art and design history, cultural studies, graphics, image manipulation, web-design, animation and digital film production. Students will be assessed on their practical art and research skills.

What are the career / progression opportunities? 

This course is designed to provide you with the experience and technical knowledge needed for entry to Higher Education courses at university or college. Diploma or Degrees that can be studied after the Foundation course include many diverse areas in the visual communications industries, including; teaching, professional artist, sculptor, illustrator, graphics and multimedia design, fashion design, textile design, photography, TV and film production, marketing and advertising.

How do I apply? 

Please fill in an Application Form, or request a copy direct from: The IAG and Admissions Team, Eastleigh College, Chestnut Avenue, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 5FS, Tel: (023) 8091 1299.

What else do I need to know? 

Students benefit from a range of day and residential study visits to venues such as London, Bristol, Oxford, Berlin, Paris and New York. They also enjoy specialist workshops and seminars delivered by professional visiting artists. The course includes workshops to help applications to University, including portfolio building, writing a personal statement, higher education finance, and interview techniques. Students will also visit the 'Design Your Future' HE fair in London in November.

Dates for your Diary 

Please visit the School of Art at our next Full-time information events which will be held on Thursday 26 January (4.30-7.30pm) and Thursday 15 March (5.30-7.30pm) 2012.

The College wishes to ensure that it complies with the requirements of the DDA (as amended by the Special Educational Needs & Disability Act 2001). If you are a disabled person, please ensure that we know what you need so that we can make all reasonable adjustments to help you succeed. Please this course description may be subject to change.