Wolverhampton School of Art

FD (Arts) Foundation Degree (Arts) Art and Design

Award
FD (Arts)
Start date(s)
September 2024
UCAS Code
AD01, W104, WW12
Course specifications
Course length
Part-time (4 years)
Campus location
South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus
UCAS points calculator

Why choose this course?

This course gives you an introduction to a broad range of Art, Design and Media disciplines and to gradually develop an area of specialism in your chosen field of practice.

The course is offered at your local college to enable you to participate in higher education learning within your local or regional context. It is a means of the University and the College bringing the course to you or within easy reach of your home. The primary aim is to introduce you to undergraduate study in a familiar environment and small group setting that will directly foster your engagement with the other people on your course.  Successful completion of this course could ease your onward transition to the university should you wish to top up to a specialist degree.

The studio based approach means that there is significant supervision, support and guidance from tutors who will get to know each of you. You and they will work together with further supervision from the University link tutor and university module tutors, to identify your career interests as you lay the foundation for your subject specialism.

What happens on the course?

The inclusive and student led environment fosters experiential learning, risk taking and creative curiosity as fundamental to developing an arts practice.

The course is designed and informed by an experimental and hands-on approach toward art, design and media practices and will give you an insight into the creative industries. You will also explore key concepts that might inform your practice in areas such as identity, ethical and social issues.

Learning activities will include; Specialist Workshop Training, supervised studio practice, peer reviews, group projects, seminars, lectures and tutorials.  As you progress through your course you will increasingly take control of your media, subject matter and research to develop an individually defined portfolio of practice and knowledge.

The college values studio culture and aims to ensure its studio spaces and equipment are suitable for a range of creative arts and media practices which means that there is a great deal of flexibility for you to choose topics of personal interest. Applied practice is at the core of what you will experience.

On completion of your Foundation Degree it is recommended that you top-up by completing a specialist level 6 course leading to a BA (Hons) in your chosen field. This will further strengthen your portfolio, skills and critical thinking and could lead to post graduate study.

Course Modules

Additional Information

Everything you need to know about this course!

This course will introduce you to a range of approaches to art, design and media subject areas and the contextual and theoretical understanding of the sector to seek employment in the creative industries, develop your own entrepreneurial practice or progress on to an appropriate higher education course in art and design. You will be introduced to a range of media, materials, techniques and contemporary art, design and media contexts and the module content will offer assignments that can be addressed across media areas or allow you to develop a potential area of specialism, e.g. fine art, graphic design and photography. 

Location Mode Fee Year
Home Full-time £6165 per year 2022-23
Home Full-time £6165 per year 2023-24
Home Full-time £6165 per year 2024-25
Home Part-time £3083 per year# 2022-23
Home Part-time £3083 per year# 2023-24
Home Part-time £3083 per year# 2024-25

The University is committed to a transparent fee structure, with no hidden costs, to help you make an informed decision. This includes information on what is included in the fee and how fees are calculated and reviewed

# Undergraduate part-time fees for 50% rate of study

Key Entry Requirements 

Either: 

  • Access to HE Diploma (60 credits) of which a minimum of 45 must be at Level 3 (48 UCAS point equivalence, minimum 45 credits at pass)
  • Access to HE: 48 UCAS Tariff points 

  • BTEC: Grade profile of PPP 

  • T-Level: Pass grade with a core component profile less than C.  

  • Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted for entry. A minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points will be required. 

  • Other: We also consider applicants who have not achieved 48 UCAS points from prior level 3 qualifications. If you have a keen interest in this subject area or hold relevant experience, please make sure you outline this experience within your personal statement. This can be assessed through an alternative assessment route such as an academic essay. 

Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points 

International entry requirements and application guidance can be found here 

Please note: Those meeting the entry requirements may be shortlisted for an interview at South Staffordshire College.

Progression Information: 

Applicants who successfully complete the foundation year programme can progress onto Level 4 of this course area, you will not be required to reapply or reinterview. 

If you complete this foundation year programme and decide you wish to change your degree subject, you will be required to apply again through UCAS and take part in the course specific interview and selection process for this new course area.  

 

Tuition Fees Loan (Home Fee Status):

Most students will be able to apply for a loans to pay for these subject to eligibility. To find out more information please refer to the government Student Finance website.

Changes for EU students:

The UK government has confirmed that EU students starting courses from 1 August 2021 will normally be classified as having Overseas Fee status. More information about the change is available at UKCISA:

EU citizens living in the UK with 'settled' status, and Irish nationals living in the UK or Ireland, will still be classified as Home students, providing they meet the usual residency requirements, for more information about EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) click here.


Self-funding:

If you don’t want to take out a loan to pay your fees or if you aren’t eligible to receive a loan, you might want to take advantage of the University’s scheme to pay by instalments: See How to pay.

For more information please contact the Gateway.


Your employer, embassy or organisation can pay for your Tuition fees:

If your employer, embassy or organisation agrees to pay all or part of your tuition fees; the University will refer to them as your sponsor and will invoice them for the appropriate amount.

We must receive notification of sponsorship in writing as soon as possible, and before enrolment, confirming that the sponsor will pay your tuition fees.


Financial Hardship:

Students can apply to the Dennis Turner Opportunity Fund.

for help with course related costs however this cannot be used for fees or to cover general living costs.


Bursaries and Scholarships:

In addition the University also offers a range of Bursaries and Scholarships packages

You can find more information on the University’s Funding, cost, fee and support pages.

Telephone

01902 32 22 22

Email

enquiries@wlv.ac.uk

Online

Order a prospectus

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Part-time Course