Wolverhampton School of Art

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

FD (Arts) Full-time 2 years, Part-time 4 years

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FD (Arts)
Start date(s)
16 September 2024
UCAS Code
AD01, W104, WW12
Course specifications
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Course length
Full-time (2 years),Part-time (4 years)
Campus location
South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus
School
Wolverhampton School of Art
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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

Module: 4AD006
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

In this module you will develop research, communication and study skills that will underpin your progress through the course. As an artist and/or designer you will need to understand the history and traditions of the subject and develop the skills to critically reflect on this information in forming your own practice. This module will give you an introduction to some of the important ideas and practices that have informed contemporary art and design and allow you to respond to these ideas in relation to current and potentially more personal issues that might include: race, gender, social and economic status. You will be encouraged to undertake research into artists and designers who reflect these issues, visit exhibitions and attend online talks and lectures to support your learning. You will be set a range of short research and writing tasks during the module to develop your communication skills and ability to discuss complex ideas.

Module: 4AD001
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

In this module you will be learning and developing studio based art and design methodologies linked to broad thematic brief(s). This module will introduce you to core Art and Design studio practice skills and give you the opportunity to experience a range of art & design specialisms. You will be introduced to relevant workshops within the college and be able to practice and hone technical and material skills essential to the production of successful Art and Design outputs. You will have the opportunity to specialise and extend your ideas and skills within a chosen pathway as you progress through the course.

Module: 4AD004
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

This module will enable you to research and consider your emerging field of practice by looking at the wider contextual and professional frameworks that inform it. During the module you will look at different models of art and design practice and how they emerge in relation to a variety of social, political and aesthetic debates, how theory, context and practice can be seen to inform new styles and approaches and how the work is represented and debated. You will have the opportunity to research and present your own work within the context of an exhibition proposal, research poster, magazine article or design pitch.

Module: 4AD008
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

In this module you will have the opportunity to extend your knowledge and experience in one of the specialist pathways offered at this college. You will undertake a self- directed /brief led practice based project through negotiation with subject staff and learn to test, reflect and develop ideas relevant to your emerging specialist field of art and design practice. This module will enable the further development of key Art and Design studio practice skills and knowledge through the process of design and production and use research methods to explore the historical and contemporary context of your work. At the end of the module you will have the opportunity to present your outcomes in an exhibition environment and consider appropriate presentational strategies for your work.

Module: 4AD007
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

This module will introduce you to the range of subject specialist skills required for Art and Design practice. You will work independently and/or collaboratively to produce work which responds to a self directed brief, employer focused assignments, public competitions, commissions or open calls for exhibition. You will utilise skills acquired from semester 1 to create professional and/or industry standard outcomes in your selected subject specialist area. You may submit the final work for an external opportunity if appropriate.

Module: 4AD005
Credits: 20
Period: 1
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

This module concentrates on drawing as a means of visual analysis. You will explore a range of concepts through the process of drawing in the broadest sense. Drawing will include traditional and digital forms, to explore colour, composition, structure and form. Other considerations will include rhythm, dynamics, touch, scale, the body, digital difference and the purposes and role of drawing in the breadth of practice, careers and specialisms taught.

Module: 5AD003
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

This module will enable you to research and explore the subject specific knowledge and requirements that will prepare you for your future employment and/or top-up to BA (hons) level at the University of Wolverhampton. You will be supported to submit a research report that examines the contemporary practice and context of your identified area of employment or study. You will need to ensure that your report is fully referenced and demonstrates how you have accessed a range of appropriate sources to formulate your position.

Module: 5AD005
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

In this module you will have the opportunity to learn how to propose and develop an off- site project (exhibition/ residency/ public art work/ commission work placement) with an external agent. You will be encouraged to analyse your individual skill sets and how they might be useful in project management roles and developing external relationships. You will also consider your individual contribution to the project as an artist/designer in relation to context. You will be expected to document, reflect and report on your individual experiences as part of your personal development planning.

Module: 5AD004
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

In this module you will undertake a specialist project of your own making or respond to a live project/competition set by industry or the wider art & design sector. The work will be assessed against professional standards of production, presentation and subject knowledge. This module is likely to provide a public forum for presenting the finished work such as an end of year college show.

Module: 5VA019
Credits: 40
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

In this module you will have the opportunity to identify and develop your subject specialist learning by proposing a self- directed art project or work on a number of design/ client led briefs based on your art and design specialism as appropriate. You will be expected to test, reflect and develop your ideas through to professional outcomes. You will also be expected to keep a research journal during this module in which you track/ map the relationship between your work and external and professional influences (other artists and designers etc). At formative review points during this module you will be expected to present the development of your project and show how research has informed and supported you to make important decisions about the development of your practice. This module also aims to provide opportunities for you to document and present your work to a professional standard. On completion of this module you will have produced an academic or an industry standard portfolio and have demonstrated the ability to select and present a piece of resolved work for exhibition/ production/publication.

Module: 5AD006
Credits: 20
Period: 2
Type: Core
Locations: South Staffordshire College Lichfield Campus

This module will allow you to focus and develop your knowledge and experience of working with specialist skills and techniques giving you the opportunity to achieve greater depth and understanding. Through this module you will be able to concentrate on your chosen Art & Design discipline/s defined through previous study and apply them to appropriate outputs.

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 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# 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

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