Art and Design - UCAS Foundation Diploma Level 3

What opportunities will this course give me?

This is your pathway into university study in art & design and from there a career within the creative industries. This one-year programme is designed to prepare you for entry to degree-level art, design and media programmes. Taught within a highly motivated but supportive environment, the programme helps you develop both the conceptual and practical skills you will need to progress to university and make the most of the next level of your education.

We have strong links with world leading undergraduate arts provider University of the Arts London (UAL). Giving our learners direct access to further study at these London based art schools. For the last 17+ years we have maintained a 100% success rate in applications to university. Previous students have gained places at courses within all art, design and media disciplines at leading universities throughout the UK including Goldsmiths, London College of Fashion (UAL), Chelsea College of Art (UAL), Central St Martins (UAL), The Slade School of Fine Art (UCL) and Glasgow School of Art.

This course provides the opportunity to gain valuable UCAS point to aid in the application process to higher education within art & design:

Pass= 80 UCAS Points.
Merit= 96 UCAS Points.
Distinction= 112 UCAS Points.

The course is structured to support extensive professional and vocational understanding and offers regular opportunities to present and exhibit work. Some of these methods will include producing: digital and paper based portfolio, seminars, critiques and public exhibition.

What will I be learning?

The Pre-degree Foundation Diploma offers an opportunity to explore the full range of art disciplines and career opportunities available within the creative industries. If you are unsure of what aspect of art, design and media you would like to study at university, then this programme will help you make an informed choice through practical experience supported by critical understanding. You will be taught within a studio environment with access to specialist equipment, facilities and workshops, each student is provided with a designated work station within the art studio. You will have hands-on experience in all the art disciplines from fine art, illustration, graphic design, fashion, textiles to photography, animation and digital video production.


The course structure is into three core sections: Exploratory; Pathway & Confirmatory each section reflecting stages of the design cycle.

Exploratory: Learning Skills and Context. This initial stage you will work across a broad range of specialist workshops to explore a series of visual problems and themes.

Pathway: Development and Progression. This stage enables you to start to focus on a specific pathway within art & design. Students will be encouraged to work increasingly independently responding to a series of open assignments. This focus on specialist practice will lead to the production of a digital and paper based portfolio in preparation for your degree course interviews.

Confirmatory: Project Proposal and Realisation. (Level 4 unit) In this confirmatory stage you will work with a specialist personal tutor to write and direct an independent Project Proposal. Students will initiate and research a substantial body of work in response to a subject defined in their proposal and realised through a public exhibition. It is at this point the final grade for the qualification is established.

As part of a series of set assignment briefs, students receive regular feedback through tutorials and group critiques. The open briefs are designed to encourage independence and facilitate an individual response to complicated and challenging visual problems. Students receive feedback at the end of each assignment and are formally assessed at the end of each of the three programme stages, receiving both verbal and written feedback. Students will also take part in a seminar programme. Final grades are awarded in response to the work produced during the Project Proposal and Realisation stage. This requires students to professionally present their work in a public exhibition. It is at this stage students will determine their overall grade as Pass, Merit or Distinction. Students are expected to attend all taught sessions and have additional access to facilities during self-directed study periods.

Why is this course for me?

Eastleigh college provides a unique environment where art and design students can engage in a clear balance of contextual theoretical analysis and hands-on practice in a purpose-built studio space. Our course is delivered by highly experienced lecturers and artist practitioners, who have clear connections with the design industry and contemporary innovation within the art and design world. This atmosphere creates a buzz to the creative learning environment which gives students a sense of freedom and individual growth. This environment is coupled by the playful structure and stimulating project challenges set through the course by the personable delivery of the lecturers, who are more than on hand to help and guide over and above, at all times.

The art department has a range of studio spaces open for you to use during self-directed-study and during workshops; including a large studio space used for group work, seminars, lectures and some workshop sessions.

Our 3D / Sculpture workshop has an extensive range of specialist equipment for working both resistant and nonresistant materials including spot welder, vacuum former, sheet metal folder / cutter and a laser cutter for generating 3D outcomes.

For chemical photography and black and white film processing, students make use of the Dark Room, including 9 Enlargers for photographic printing. Our generous photographic studio hosts professional lightings setups to professionally record students' work and facilitate experimental fashion photo-shoots.

Our Print Studio is equipped with a variety of printmaking equipment including an Etching Press for dry-point etching, a Roller Press for surface and lino printing, stencil Screen-Printing facilities, plus the Sublimation Heat Presses used for dispersing printing.

The Fashion studio contains Sewing machines, an overlocker, a cutting table, and mannequins to assist with garment play and construction.

The Textile studio facilitates a range of workshops: exploring felting, Batik, Shibori, resist techniques, dye processes, weave, knit and crochet.

The department hosts two Apple Mac design suites with professional software packages such as Adobe Creative Cloud software, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects and Premiere Pro. Software-controlled tools, such as a laser cutter and large-scale vinyl printer enable large-scale experimental play.

Eastleighs Foundation diploma in Art & Design is long established with an outstanding reputation in terms of both qualification achievement grades and progression destinations to leading Art and Design Higher Education institutions. We are a medium sized bespoke course usually between 40 and 60 learners, which allows for staff to support each student with real focus and individual time. This allows for the development and preparation of personal tailored portfolios for Higher Education applications and Interview.

What do I need to sign up?

This programme is intended for students aged 18 and over who hold a minimum of one A Level, two AS Levels (one of which should be in an Arts related subject) or an Extended Diploma in Art and Design. Entry is subject to a portfolio review and interview, in which the student and work presented must evidence commitment, potential and ability. Applicants should have GCSE Maths and English Language at grade 4. (C) or above. This is a requirement of most universities and Higher Education programmes. Mature students may be considered on the quality of portfolio alone and are encouraged to apply.

Is there anything else I need to know?

Students are offered a range of study visits to galleries and museums in cities such as London, Brighton and Oxford. Specifically there are organised visits to: Frieze Art Fair (London), to explore the commercial and industrial operation within the creative industries. Students will also have the opportunity to visit the UCAS Create Your Future Fair in London, this is a Arts Universities and specialist arts institutions Higher Education fair to help students investigate potential courses for further study Additionally there are opportunities to visit exhibitions and places of relevant interest these have included Oxford, Bristol, Brighton and Bath.

Students have access to a full range of artists materials and equipment and have the opportunity to purchase college A1 portfolio packs to aid in their portfolio building and interview preparation.

Students have the opportunity to engage in live briefs and international exhibitions and gain professional industry experience whilst studying on the course.

For learners aged 19+ the price is upon application only, and after receiving information, advice & guidance.

Application Information

Please note that all courses are subject to minimum numbers and course descriptions may be subject to change. A place on your chosen course is not confirmed until all of the necessary enrolment paperwork is signed and any relevant fees are paid. The team will be in touch to discuss this with you, once your application has been processed.

Course Code

ARFDE3

Need some further advice?

Contact the Learner Recruitment Team for further guidance - email bebetter@eastleigh.ac.uk or call 023 8091 1000.