Start Date
Thu 4th September 2025
Attendance
Full-time
Duration
1 Years
Location
Poole Campus
*Advanced learner loan available
Subject Area
Art and Design
Attendance
Full-time
Duration
1 Years
Location
Poole Campus
Please Note: The deadline for the academic year of 2024/25 has passed. The next intake of students will be in September 2025.
The Level 3/4 Diploma in Foundation Studies – Art & Design is recognized across the UK and also internationally as the primary entry route to the best courses at the most prestigious universities, with more than 15,000 students completing the qualification each year.
This course enables students to develop the skills needed to make an informed decision when applying to art and design Higher Education institutions, or seeking employment within a related industry.
The qualification has been designed to encourage exploration and experimentation. You will learn through projects, assignments, presentations and group discussions which will enable you to develop strong practical and communication skills essential to specialist art and design education.
The aim of the course is to prepare students for Higher Education or employment by allowing skills to be developed and refined in their chosen area of study.
This is a broad and practical programme of study. It allows the student to extend the range of their portfolio via Visual Arts, Fashion and Textiles, Graphics, Photography, 3D Design etc. During this course you will be introduced to contemporary art practice, examining the range of work currently being produced by artists and designers.
You will develop research and communication skills and learn to talk about your work to peers in the form of group critiques and seminars.
You will require a minimum of 5 GCSEs including English and maths Grades 9-4 (formerly Grades A*-C).
We would also require a portfolio of current artwork. This could be examples of drawings, paintings, sculpture, photography, textiles, design etc...
In addition to developing specialist, technical, practical skills which relate to their own identified area of interest, students will also have access to the on-site gallery to mount an exhibition of their final project work.
Students will learn how to:
• Research effectively using a range of methods and approaches
• Generate ideas and develop and improve them
• Work across a range of art and design disciplines, improving their visual communication skills and developing a range of complementary practical skills
• Reflect on and evaluate their work, identifying and analyzing their own strengths and weakness and improving their own work
• Communicate effectively with their peers, both giving and receiving criticism in a constructive and professional manner
• Integrate all of the above to deliver a final major project that confirms their achievement
• Present themselves and their work for an audience, including developing portfolios to support university applications and preparing for interviews.
Bournemouth and Poole College is an approved Centre for UAL Awarding Body, UAL Level 3 / 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
Upon successful completion of the course, most students progress on to Higher Education (Degree or HND in their chosen area of study). After completing the course you will have gained the equivalent of 3 A-Levels along with a substantial portfolio of artwork which will assist you with interviews at university.
Some students may wish to proceed onto the UAL Level 4 Professional Diploma in Creative Enterprise in order to prepare them for a career in self-employment.
Some of the professions you might consider working and studying towards for the future are:
• Fashion and Textiles
• Graphics
• Illustration
• Digital Media
• Visual Arts
• Photography
• Architecture
• Interior Design
• Animation
• Model Making
All students pay an enrichment fee of £50.00 which covers educational visits and additional materials
Students may wish to invest in additional specialized materials. A portfolio for university interviews is recommended
The Design and Creative Arts department provides a bespoke area of study for Foundation students consisting of specialist studio space and iMacs. You will also have access to the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) at North Road, which holds an extensive selection of art, design and photography books and IT facilities.
As part of the student learning programme, you will participate in various external trips, including the UCAS Event Designing Your Future at EXCEL in London.
Students will participate in curating an end-of-year exhibition which gives them the opportunity to display their work in a professional setting.
The UAL Awarding Body only approves institutions to deliver this qualification if they are able to demonstrate significant expertise in and commitment to creative arts education.
Awarding Body:
University Arts London
Curriculum Area:
Creative and Digital Industries - Art and Design
Start Date
Thu 4th September 2025
Attendance
Full-time
Duration
1 Years
Location
Poole Campus
*Advanced learner loan available