The UAL Foundation Diploma is a highly intensive and stimulating course designed to give students a fulfilling and rewarding learning experience, and to prepare for university undergraduate studies.
Students benefit from regular one-to-one teaching with a variety of specialist teachers who maintain their creative professions alongside their teaching commitments at Kings.
Our high teacher-to-student ratio enables individually tailored experiences for our students.We organise regular opportunities for students to work in larger groups and with other art specialists, such as the Art Residential currently taking place in Bristol at the University of the West of England Bristol (UWE).
Regular events are planned throughout the year with the aim of providing opportunities for students from the different Kings colleges to work collaboratively and to share good practice such as the joint Art/CSS, and Mid-FMP presentations and group gallery visits.
Spread over three terms, the course is 80% Art and Design, supported by 20% Communication Study Skills (CSS) including IELTS.
Colleges
Start dates
Length
Lessons
Portfolio requirements
Other entry requirements
The programme can be taken at Level 3 or Level 4.
All students take 3 Units across 3 Terms. Level 3 students take Units 1,2 and 4 and Level 4 students take Units 1,3 and 4.
Term 1 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Unit | Unit learning outcomes | Sample teaching and learning activities | Unit week |
Unit 1 (level 3) — Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice
|
1. Apply, integrate and contextualise
research methods and activity within
a creative practice 2. Identify, select and safely use appropriate materials, methods, media and technologies in relation to a variety of creative practices 3. Develop ideas, solve problems, and apply learning strategies within the context of a range of diverse creative practices. 4. Understand the conventions and application of critical evaluation and reflection for a range of audiences and purposes |
Induction (1 week) | Week 1 |
Project assignment 1 |
Week 2-3 | ||
Project assignment 2 |
Week 4-8 (Half term) |
||
Unit 1 summative assessment personal statement/critical writing Residential - London West End Gallery Tour (1 week) |
Week 9 | ||
Term 1 and 2 | |||
Unit | Unit learning outcomes | Sample teaching and learning activities | Unit week |
Unit 2 (level 3) or Unit 3 (level 4) — Developing Specialist Practice
|
1. Research and contextualise creative
ambitions within specialist practice 2. Apply research methodology and use technical skills and practical experimentation to develop ideas within a specialist practice 3. Use self-reliant learning strategies to develop ideas and solve complex problems within the context of specialist practice to inform and realise creative solutions 4. Use critical evaluation and reflective skills in order to take responsibility for own learning and development 5. Review and apply presentation skills in order to communicate their creative practice to a selected audience |
Project assignment 3 Connectivity (3.5 weeks) Formative assessment |
Week 1-4 |
Set research based project— students visit exhibitions connect with construct/deconstruct | Week 4 | ||
Christmas holiday Students work on the RSB |
|||
UCAS/E/Hard Portfolio preparation Indesign/Photoshop |
Week 5-6 | ||
Project assignment 4 Evaluation and Reflection Join Art/CSS presentatio on Unfold Students will have two practice runs with both their art tutors and their CSS teacher before the presentation date Formative feedback |
Week 7 | ||
Project assignment 5 Constructing/Deconstructing (6 weeks) Joing presentation/crit Unit 2 summative assessment Unit 2 standardisation |
Week 8-13 | ||
Term 3 | |||
Unit | Unit learning outcomes | Sample teaching and learning activities | Unit week |
Unit 4 (level 4) — Consolidating Practice
|
1. Initiate and develop a creative
project proposal using a range of
critical and contextual. perspectives
and approaches 2. Use research, analysis and evaluation to develop ideas and solutions for a creative project. 3. Use appropriate methods and specialist skills in the realisation of a creative project. 4. Integrate practical, theoretical and technical understanding to solve complex problems in order to realise a creative project. 5. Plan, organise and maintain records of progress in the production of a creative project 6. Maintain records of critical analysis, reflection and evaluation to inform own learning. 7. Use appropriate techniques and methods to communicate and present a creative project to an intended audience. |
Final Major Project | Week 1-2 |
Pitch proposed project to teachers and fellow students Confirm proposal—write it up using the UAL template |
Week 3 | ||
PPT/PDF Mid FMP joint presentation Location TBC. Joint teachers' assessment |
Week 4 | ||
Project proposal deadline Include evaluation and bibliography |
Week 5 | ||
Experimental investigation — using materials, techniques and processes to test and develop ideas. Continue planning and production; apply skills, knowledge and techniques to develop creative objectives/outcomes Create a finalwork/body of works. |
Week 5-7 | ||
Hang exhibition and prepare a presentation which includes a printed up documentation of the FMP: encompassing research, development of ideas, experimental investigation, planning and production, evaluation and reflection. | Week 8 | ||
Internal Assessment and private view | Week 9 | ||
External assessment and show down | Week 10 |
From September to January students are supported by art staff and the UCAS coordinator during the UCAS application process. This support will include subject-specific advice regarding courses and universities, guidance on how to write Personal Statements and filling in UCAS forms correctly. All references are written by the art tutors. Applications are completed and sent by the first January university deadline and for January entrants by end of March.
Thank you for your enquiry.
We'll be in touch soon.
The Kings Admissions Team