Art & Design Foundation (Full-time) (CertHE)
Our Cert HE Art and Design Foundation course at Swansea College of Art, UWTSD is designed for those eager to explore their creativity through experimentation and creative practices. This intensive 1-year course offers a comprehensive introduction to art and design, establishing a strong basis for your creative future.
During the course, you will engage with a broad range of artistic disciplines and design areas, helping you to discover your passions and refine your skills. Whether your interests lie in fine art, graphic design, textiles, photography, or elsewhere, our programme will provide the foundation you need to succeed. The curriculum is primarily visual and practical, with some written work to enhance your understanding of key concepts, contexts, and techniques.
A key feature of our course is the focus on portfolio development. We understand the importance of having a strong portfolio when applying for further studies, our experienced tutors will guide you through the process, helping you to create a portfolio that showcases your best work and highlights your unique style.
Throughout the year, you will have access to our specialist workshops, which are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. These workshops cover a wide range of media and techniques, from traditional methods to contemporary practices. You will have the opportunity to work in our well-equipped studio spaces, allowing you to experiment and develop your skills in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Degree course preparation. By the end of the year, you will have gained the skills and confidence needed to progress to a degree in art and design. The course content is tailored to ensure that you are well-prepared for the demands of higher education, with a solid understanding of both the practical and theoretical aspects of art and design.
Students on the Art and Design Foundation course are eligible for the same student funding as those on degree programmes.
Course details
- On-campus
- Full-time
- English
Tuition Fees 2023/24 and 24/25
Home (Full-time): £9,000 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £13,500 per year
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Our philosophy in teaching and learning is rooted in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and technical skills. We believe in a hands-on, explorative approach, allowing students to engage with diverse artistic practices and develop their unique artistic voice.
Our Art and Design Foundation course is taught entirely at Level 4, providing a clear progression from A-Level studies. This structure allows students to take the time to consider BA specialist options within the context of a full art school experience.
We maintain the ethos and magic of Foundation, enabling students to build a bedrock of experience and skill while discovering new areas they might not have had a chance to explore previously. This foundational approach is essential for success at the degree level and vital for making informed decisions about a future career in the creative industry.
Our studio-based teaching and learning approach is characterised by enquiry and learning through drawing, making and process, writing, research, presentation, and discussion.
Introduction to Art and Design: This established course is a core part of at Swansea College of Art (UWTSD), with a history going back more than 100 years old, you will start with a broad introduction to art and design. This initial phase focuses on experimentation and creative practices, building a solid foundation and allowing you to explore new areas.
Developing Technical Skills: throughout the course, you will have access to our beautiful studio in the ALEX building whilst also working across the Alex and Dynevor Campuses, accessing specialist workshops and state-of-the-art facilities. This hands-on experience with both traditional and modern equipment will enhance your technical abilities and understanding of various artistic disciplines.
Portfolio Development and Specialisation: As the course progresses, the emphasis shifts to portfolio development and degree course preparation, including a final year exhibition. You’ll be introduced to specialist study areas including Fine Art, Visual Communication, Lens-based Media, 3D Design, Fashion and Textiles. This includes preparing for further studies or careers in fields like Illustration, Graphic Design, Games Design, Digital Arts, Animation, Film and Video, Photography, and more. Working alongside degree students, you will gain invaluable experience and insight, ensuring you make well-informed decisions for your future career in the creative industry.
Compulsory
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Course Disclaimer
-
We listen to student feedback and insights from industry and from professionals to ensure that course content is high-quality and up-to-date, and that it offers the best possible preparation for your future career or study goals.
For this reason, there might be modifications to the content of your course over time, to keep up to date with changes in the subject area or in the sector. If a module is no longer running, we’ll make sure to keep you informed, and work with you to choose a different suitable module.
testimonial
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and support by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Accommodation
Swansea College Of Art Summer Degree Shows
This annual exhibition is a highlight of the Swansea College of Art calendar, where students from all creative courses display their final projects – the culmination of years of learning and refining their crafts.
Art & Design Foundation Facilities
The Foundation course is based in a beautiful large open plan studio in the recently renovated ALEX Design Exchange which is where the course originated over 100 years ago. We work across the Alex and Dynevor Campuses offering our students full access to purpose-built workshops, facilities and resources in the art school.
Swansea Accommodation
Swansea has a huge student population, and the variety of accommodation available will leave you feeling spoilt for choice. Various purpose-built student accommodation providers provide accommodation in Swansea, and the accommodation team can guide you through your options. It will offer ongoing support throughout your time as a UWTSD student.
Art & Design Foundation Gallery
Bella
Beth
Charlotte
Chloe
Daria
Ffion
Hannah
Lucy
Luke
Nathan
Nathan
Nicky
Riley
Seren
Seren
Susanna
Tim
Further information
-
We are interested in creative people that demonstrate a strong commitment to art and/or design, and therefore we welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. To assess student suitability for their chosen course, we arrange interviews for all applicants at which your skills, achievements and life experience will be considered as well as your portfolio of work.
Our standard offer for this course is 32 UCAS tariff points. We expect applicants to have a grade C or above in English Language (or Welsh) at GCSE level, together with passes in another four subjects. Plus, we accept a range of Level 3 qualifications including:
-
Three GCE A-Levels or equivalent
-
International Baccalaureate score of 32
-
Other relevant qualifications can be considered on an individual basis.
Qualifications are important; however, our offers are not solely based on academic results. If you don’t have the required UCAS points, then please contact the courses admissions tutor or email artanddesign@uwtsd.ac.uk as we can consider offers to applicants based on individual merit, exceptional work, and/or practical experience.
-
-
Each of the 6 modules earns twenty credits, and all will be assessed through Coursework.
Coursework is presented in Sketchbooks/Visual Diaries, Preparatory Work, Workshop & Drawing Class Work, Project Outcomes, Digital Documentation, a Selected and Collated Portfolio, Written Assignments.
Critiques
Group critiques are scheduled regularly to conclude projects and form part of the assessment. They provide the opportunity for formal presentation of outcomes and preparatory work and for peer and staff criticism.
Selected and Collated Portfolio
Students working with staff select and collate a portfolio of work for presentation at interviews for progression onto further courses/other. The main body of the portfolio will be project work and, in particular specialist outcomes and preparatory work. Drawings and project work are selected to show additional skills and ability. Sketchbooks, visual diaries and any 3D preparatory work will accompany the portfolio.
Written Assignments
Formats for written assignments may include essays on proposed themes, exhibition reports, project proposals and reviews. Presentation formats may include: illustrated and fully referenced academic essays and less formal reports and/or blogs
-
Our students have access to a diverse range of equipment and resources, which in most cases are sufficient to complete their programme of study. We provide the basic materials necessary for students to develop their practical work within our extensive workshop and studio facilities.
However, art and design students will likely incur some additional costs to extend their investigation of their personal practice. For example, purchasing their own specialised materials and equipment, joining optional study trips, and printing.
Students are expected to bring their own personal art and design equipment with them when they commence the course. We can advise on the correct equipment needed for your programme of studies and signpost appropriate suppliers if you wish to purchase essential items before or during your studies.
A basic ‘art and design kit’ will cost approximately £100, but you may well already have much of the equipment required, so check with us first. Although we have extensive dedicated digital design studios (PC and MAC) for you to undertake your coursework, you may wish to bring your own digital devices, again check with us first before making a purchase.
-
Students starting this course in the academic year 2024–2025 and who go on to enrol on a full-time degree course will receive a scholarship worth £1,500.
-
The Foundation course is based in a beautiful large open plan studio in the recently renovated ALEX Design Exchange which is where the course originated over 100 years ago. We work across the Alex and Dynevor Campuses offering our students full access to purpose-built workshops, facilities and resources in the art school.
The art school boasts some of the best facilities in the area with both traditional and state of the art equipment available for all students to take advantage of. Foundation students obtain access to specialist study areas such as; Printmaking, Photography dark rooms, Construction in a fully equipped workshop, 3D Printing, Laser-cutting, Ceramics and Glass, Mac and PC Digital work spaces.
We maintain the ethos and magic of Foundation, allowing students to build a bedrock of experience and skill whilst discovering new areas they might not have had a chance to explore previously. This, we believe is essential to success at degree level and vital in terms of making the right decision for a future career in the creative industries.