Foundation Art And Design

The UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design is a pivotal qualification, which provides a transition from general education to specialist art and design education.

Our Foundation Art And Design courses are available at Level/s 4

The programme builds on students’ prior experience, linking skills already acquired with ideas and challenges, which will increase their independence and enable them to demonstrate a full understanding of the relevant standards necessary to progress to Higher Education or to an alternative career path. It will demonstrate awareness of the different perspectives, approaches and ethics within diverse creative practice.

  • Research, analyse and evaluate relevant information as part of their creative practice.
  • Understand, adapt and safely use appropriate practical methods and skills for creative practice and production.
  • Explore solutions to complex problems through the application of practical, theoretical and technical understanding.
  • Take responsibility for research, planning and time management to access and action progression opportunities.
    Use critically evaluative and reflective skills in order to take responsibility for own learning, development and decision-making.
  • Effectively communicate and present ideas and creative practice to appropriate audiences.

There will be opportunities for industrial trips and visits, and a number of guest speakers will be invited in to contextualise your learning.

English & Maths

If you haven’t achieved a GCSE Grade 4 (C) in English and/or Maths you will be required to either; take a Functional Skills qualification if you have achieved a Grade 1 or 2, or retake the GCSE if you’ve achieved Grade 3. You will be fully supported by our specialist team ahead of taking the exam.

The course is predominantly taught face to face and students will learn about the following topics:

Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice
In this unit, students will undertake a diagnostic investigation into visual language and creative practices. This exploratory investigation allows students to become familiar with and experiment within a wide range of (art, design, craft and media) creative disciplines as part of their journey to, or reinforcement of, specialism in Unit 2 or Unit 3.

Developing Specialist Practice (Level 4)
This unit will provide students with the opportunity to reflect on the knowledge, skills and practices they have developed in Unit 1 of the qualification, and to define their creative ambitions by encouraging a holistic approach to a range of activities, which will support, contextualise and position their creative endeavour within their chosen specialist practice.

Consolidating Practice
This unit aims to provide students with an opportunity to take control of their own learning and demonstrate their achievement by independently initiating, researching, completing and evaluating a project proposal and realisation within their chosen professional context.