Foundation Diploma in Art and Design - UCA Community ...

Pre-Interview InformationCourse title:Length of course:Mode of study:Entry Requirements:UAL AB Foundation Diploma in Art & Designone yearfull time A portfolio showing creative abilityPlus one of the following qualifications: 80 tariff points, normally from one GCE A level OR Progression Diploma (Level 3) in a related subject area OR Advanced Diploma (Level 3) in a related subject area Access Diploma (in appropriate subject) BTEC National Award Other relevant and equivalent UK and internationalqualifications are considered on an individual basisPlus Four GCSE passes at grade C or above, including English or KeySkills Communication Level 2.For students whose first language is not English, UCA requireevidence that you have achieved IELTS 6.0 or equivalentWhat to bring to your interviewYou will need to bring your portfolio which should show visual evidence of a range of relevant skills. Youneed to make sure that your portfolio is logically organised and shows your ability to develop a project oridea. We appreciate evidence that you have taken care putting your work together.For the Foundation Diploma in Art & Design course, your portfolio should include- Books/Sketchbooks/Worksheets- Evidence of written work/research/essays- If it is not practical to bring the work you can provide the work in a digital format (e.g. CD/DVD)or upload to a sharing website like Flickr or YouTube ensuring that if the account is passwordprotected that you bring the password with you.- Ensure you know your work and be prepared to discuss your ideas that you have developedwithin your portfolio- Be prepared to talk about any aspect of creative activity you have been involved in such asmusic and performance- Make sure you can talk about a visit that you have made yourself (not a school visit) to acultural location or event such as a museum or collection, a garden or place of entertainment –even a holiday location that expanded your cultural awareness.At the end of the interview you need to have made us aware why you think a creative career is the onefor you – even if you have no idea what particular role or job you will occupy yourself with eventually.You need to show that you are looking actively and critically at the world around you and are ambitiousto find ways to change and improve it.1

Interview formatWhen you arrive on the day, you should report to the Main UCA Reception desk.Interviews will be conducted by the course leader or senior lecturer from the school.As part of your interview, you will be expected to discuss your portfolio.There will be a short introductory talk and you will be shown around the building.Each candidate will be given a short intensive interview.It is important to us that candidates find the interview as useful and enjoyable as it can be. We welcomeany questions that you feel you need to ask. It is very important to us that you feel you have beenlistened to and treated well at all points during your visit. We know that most of our students come to usthrough personal recommendation.Course InformationThe UAL AB (University of the Arts Awarding Body) qualifications are a specialist range of Pre-U (Pre-University) studies to aid progression to Higher Education within art and design. These replace theBTEC Edexcel courses that we used to run. UCA is one of a very few centres across the country thathave been invited to teach these qualifications. Our view is that they are significantly better qualificationsthan other level 3/4 alternatives for art and design. By opting for the UALAB course you are immediatelyupgrading your profile in respect of your application to BA study. The success rates for our Pre Ucourses on all our campuses are significantly above national benchmarks –and in some cases are100%.The Foundation Diploma year continues to be a very important preparation for BA study in the creativearts area. Universities are happy to accept students straight from school, but reports show that thesestudents are under-equipped for BA work, do not achieve their potential or even drop out from theircourses. The best universities do not accept students onto creative BA courses without a FoundationDiploma or equivalent. UCA expects all applicants for its BA courses to have undertaken an FD orequivalent. We do not accept students onto HE courses with A levels alone except in very exceptionalcircumstances.This is a practical course which allows you to experience a broad range of art and design activities,concentrating on the skills you need for your chosen area and developing your confidence incommunicating ideas, opinions and creativity. The course helps students to build an appropriateportfolio and evidence of experience within a specialist area in order to make a successful application toHigher Education. The final stage of the Foundation course is taken at level 4 – which is equal to firstyear Degree. Students are guided through the application process to University and undertake to makesure application to suitable HE courses within UCA is successful wherever possible. Our students alsomake successful applications to HE courses throughout the country and overseas.The course is delivered through a blend of group teaching, tutorials, lectures and self-managed studywith study skill support available. The course establishes a framework for learning centred on the needsof the student identifying and planning work to be undertaken. As you become more self-confident, youwill progressively negotiate your pattern of study in relation to personal interests and the direction ofyour work. Tutors are all practising artists with National or International profiles and are committed tohelp all students to achieve the qualification.Assessment is carried out through a combination of formative and summative assessment points. Unitswill be marked through portfolio presentation matched against the learning outcomes and assessmentcriteria. Peer assessment will also take place regularly through group-critiques. Units on the ExtendedDiploma remain open throughout the course so that improved learning can be rewarded as studentsgain experience and confidence both with themselves and the subject.This course offers an opportunity to study at a specialist Art and Design University with excellent studiofacilities, specialist teaching and access to out-standing resources both internally and externally throughlocal and overseas field trips and live projects.Employability & Progression:95% of our students progress to Art and Design degree courses within UCA and throughout the UK. Wehave a careers advisor who can help students take up an apprenticeship or seek an alternative coursein another subject. Our web site is full of examples of work done by our students on courses at all levels2

of study. This is a University that will look after you and your learning from entry at 16 years old to BA,MA and Doctoral level study. We have an expectation that our FE students will choose to progress toour wide range of BA courses. Our HE staff work closely with our FE students to make sure that theyare well aware of the very high quality of the student experience at Degree level on UCA campuses.Students undertake a number of projects outside of the studio including book and fanzine fairs, fashionshow, exhibitions and live projects with Turner Contemporary Margate, Mascalls Gallery PaddockWood, the Towner Gallery Eastbourne and the new Jerwood Gallery in Hastings.Visiting lecturers are often practising artists/designers including graphic designers, jewellers andexhibiting artists. Maidstone is particularly strong in the areas of Fashion/Textiles and 3D, Photo-mediaand Fine Art.Taster days are organised for students considering direct application to our Degreecourses.General InformationAbout UCA: Oscar-winning film makers, world-renowned fashion designers, television presenters,celebrity jewellers and Turner Prize nominees are just some of the high-profile graduates from theUniversity for the Creative Arts.As a specialist university, we have created a unique community for our students, where like-mindedpeople can share in the creative process and inspire one another. Collaboration between courses isencouraged, with fine artists studying with budding film-makers, and fashion designers workingalongside architects. In this way, our students benefit from exposure to a range of disciplines. As an FEstudent in an HE environment you have the benefit of engaging with Art and Design education at thevery highest level. This will be a significantly different experience from one you could have at anordinary FE college.UCA Maidstone: The County Town of Kent, Maidstone is notable for its bars and clubs and for one ofthe very best student experiences in the South East. High speed trains come right into the centre of thetown and make London St Pancras less than an hour away. Excellent road connections mean that thecampus is also very reachable from south London and other large towns in West Kent. Maidstone hostsseveral large and important cultural festivals throughout the year. Accommodation is available at areasonable cost and students have the choice of living in the urban or rural community.The campus is a short walk from Maidstone centre and provides purpose-built studios, workshops andlecture theatres. It boasts nearby halls of residence, the George Rodger art gallery, a shop, café andnewly refurbished bar. The library at Maidstone is very special with its own collection of learning materialcollected during over 100 years of providing art and design education for the local community. OurHigher Education courses are run at the local TV studios and provide vocational opportunities that FEstudents can also benefit from.Many of our students like Maidstone because it is safe and friendly, very convenient for London basedstudents and has a thriving artistic community. Students come to us from the very widest areas of WestKent and East Surrey and Sussex. We are supported with very strong links with schools and collegesacross the area. Maidstone is the county town of Kent. The town centre has recently undergone a multimillionpound face lift. There are several very large shopping centres in the town along with Theatresand cinemas and weekly street markets. The surrounding landscape along the Medway valley is verybeautiful and the Parks and leisure facilities are among the best in the country.Arriving on the day:Directions by road - From London and East Kent exit the M20 at junction 5 (Aylesford) and take theA20 towards Maidstone. After 2 miles turn right at the traffic lights into Queens Road (look for thefootbridge over the road). At the top of the hill, just before the zebra crossing, turn left into the entranceof the Oakwood Park campus. Follow the road down and the University is on the right. Park in anyappropriate parking bay on the campus – but make sure you get a parking permission slip fromReception and place it on view in your car. If there is an issue with the place you have found to parkthen the receptionist will advise you.Directions by rail - Travel from London Victoria to Maidstone East station, then by taxi to theUniversity. The High Speed train goes from London St Pancreas to Maidstone West station which isonly ten minutes’ walk from the campus.3