Course permanently closed
We are no longer recruiting for entry to this course. If you are looking for ways to prepare yourself for undergraduate study at UAL, find out more about our pre-degree courses or explore our UAL Preparation for BA Online course.
Course overview
The Foundation Plus Diploma in Art and Design at UAL is an intensive 13-week pre-degree course . It prepares you for a specialist undergraduate degree in art and design. We offer this course to BA course applicants who would benefit from an intensive development of their skills and creative practice before their BA.
Fast paced projects, specialist teaching, contextual studies and access to our workshops will help you build on your existing skills. You'll gain confidence and prepare for the academic level required on a BA at UAL.
You'll attend Wimbledon College of Arts for four days a week and attend half-day online. We offer a range of pathways and specialisms, including Fashion and Textiles; Fine Art; Communication Design and 3D Design.
FAD Plus takes part during the summer from mid-June and ends before the start of the undergraduate term in September. You need to successfully complete the course to gain entry to your BA at one of UAL's 6 colleges. You'll then gain an accredited UAL Awarding Body (UALAB) Level 3 Foundation Diploma.
Benefits of Foundation Plus
- Gain a diploma in 13 weeks: the short length of the course means reduced living costs compared with longer courses.
- Supportive teaching: learn in small groups and attend bespoke workshops for your specialism.
- Join the UAL community: meet students progressing across all 6 colleges.
- Specialist Foundation tutors: learn from staff with experience in preparing students to progress to our undergraduate courses.
- Get to know UAL: learn the processes and systems of study at UAL such as our libraries, workshops and support services.
- Keep your BA offer secure while you develop the necessary skills to take up your place at UAL.
- Gain an accredited Level 3 UALAB qualification with academic results above the UALAB average.
Course structure
The UALAB Level 3 Foundation in Art and Design comprises 3 parts:
Part 1: Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice
Assessed during Portfolio/interview/application stage. Parts 2 and 3 are taught and assessed during the 13-week course.
Part 2: Developing Specialist Practice
Through a range of activities, you’ll learn more about your own creative ambition. Your specialism will emerge as you take on more tailored projects.
Part 3: Consolidating Practice
This part of the course gives you the opportunity to take control of your own learning. You’ll come up with an idea for a project, research, write and evaluate your proposal. You’ll then produce a body of work for your final assessment.
Application and interview
You cannot apply to Foundation Plus directly. When you apply to an undergraduate course, you will present a portfolio of art and design work, including research and development of ideas.
The interviewer, recruiter or reviewer may suggest you need Foundation Plus as a condition of getting on to the course.
Successful applicants receive 2 offers simultaneously at the interview or review stage: 1 offer for the Foundation Plus, and 1 conditional undergraduate offer at UAL. You must successfully complete the Foundation Plus to progress to the undergraduate course.
Portfolio requirements
You must be able to demonstrate, through your portfolio and interview, that you have already achieved the equivalent of the first part of the Foundation qualification and therefore do not need to repeat this stage.
Successful portfolios include evidence of:
Suitable subject choice
You must have a suitable subject choice for your undergraduate degree and demonstrate commitment and suitability to your chosen subject area. You should be prepared for study in a specialist pathway.
Contextual awareness of your subject
You should be able to demonstrate specific subject contextual awareness. For example, a Foundation Plus and BA Architecture applicant must have a range of contemporary architectural references in their project development and show that they have analysed and understood them.
Range of approaches, ideas and methods
Your portfolio should show how you have used a broad range of approaches appropriately and effectively. There must be a range of ideas explored in the development of each project. Whilst Foundation Plus is a specialist route of application, the portfolio needs to show that you have explored art and design more broadly than their undergraduate subject.
This includes using a range of materials, methods and visualisation skils to explore and solve creative solutions. For example drawing, photography, modelmaking or collage.
Reflection and analysis
You should show evidence of planning, recording, analytical, reflective and evaluative skills which support your own learning. If you have examples of written reflection, this should be included with the portfolio. Your personal statement should also include a reflective rationale for your undergraduate subject choice.
Visa requirements
To receive a Student Route visa for the Foundation Plus course, you will need to have the following by mid-May:
- A qualification document (High School Diploma / IB / A Level).
- An IELTS for UKVI.
If this is not possible you will have to:
- Study the Foundation Plus course with a Standard Visitor visa.
- Return home after the Foundation Plus course is completed.
- Apply for a Student Route visa for the undergraduate course.
As the Foundation Plus course finishes a few days before the undergraduate course starts, you must apply for a visa using a Priority Service.
Visa options if you are studying in the UK
If you are currently studying in the UK you have 2 options for a visa to study the Foundation Plus course:
Option 1 - Use your current visa
You may be able to use your existing visa if you can provide a letter from your current school confirming that:
- Your current visa covers the entirety of the Foundation Plus course.
- They have no objection to you studying the Foundation Plus course on the end of your current visa as the Foundation Plus course will not interfere with the end of your exams at school.
- They do not intend to cancel your visa after your last exam.
Option 2 - Obtain a Standard Visitor visa
If you wish to use this option:
- You may need to return home to make the Standard Visitor visa application.
- At the end of the Foundation Plus course you will need to return home to make your Student Route visa application.
Read further guidance and information on Standard Visitors visas.
Please contact UAL Student Services if have any questions about visas.
Enrolment
To enrol on Foundation Plus you will need to meet the IELTS requirement of the undergraduate course.
To enrol on the undergraduate course, you will also need to pass Foundation Plus and meet all other conditions of your undergraduate offer (e.g. academic results).
Foundation Plus requires that you have already met the language requirement of your undergraduate course. This is usually a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, with no paper scoring lower than 5.5, but requirements vary between undergraduate courses.
Entry requirements and assessment exemption
The UALAB Level 3 Foundation in Art and Design comprises 3 parts. In Foundation Plus part 1 exemption is assessed during the application process, based on the portfolio and interview. Parts 2 and 3 are taught and assessed during the 13-week course.
Progression to UAL
Students who successfully complete the Foundation Plus Diploma will have met the terms of their undergraduate offer. We issue your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) once you have accepted your unconditional offer of a place at your UAL College, met the conditions of your offer and paid your deposit. After a short break you will be able to enrol on your undergraduate course.