Art and Design Foundation Year

ART AND DESIGN FOUNDATION YEAR

YOUR STEPPING STONE

TO A DEGREE IN ART OR DESIGN

If you’d love to make your name in the vibrant world of art or design, but feel you really want to develop a solid grounding before deciding which route to take before joining one of our degree courses, the Art with Foundation Year or Design with Foundation Year is a good place to start.

Studied full-time, our Foundation courses in Art or Design will prepare you for further study. They’ve been created to give everyone from school and college leavers to mature students that vital stepping stone onto a BA (Hons) course.

You’ll learn in a relaxed, supportive and professional workshop and studio environment, with plenty of practical, hands-on project work to help you discover and explore your abilities, and decide what you’d like to do next.

Michael Branthwaite, Award Leader - Art Foundation Year Tim Forrester, Award Leader - Design Foundation Year

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Most important of all, you’ll be taught by enthusiastic, highly experienced lecturers who’ll use their teaching expertise and industry knowledge to help develop both your creativity and artistic technique.

Our courses offer challenging and often diverse projects, live ‘world of work’ briefs, opportunities to develop your individual voice through making work that matters to you, contextual seminars that help you make sense of your work, off site activities and trips to exhibitions - all to broaden your knowledge, give you new opportunities and prepare you for progression to whatever route you decide to choose.

Over the following pages you can read all about a Foundation Year in Art or Design with us. To find out even more visit: www.staffs.ac.uk/art

OUR FOUNDATION YEAR PROVIDES AN ESSENTIAL ‘STEPPING STONE’ TO ANY PROSPECTIVE STUDENT WISHING TO PURSUE A CAREER IN ART OR DESIGN. WE CATER FOR A RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS, FROM SCHOOL LEAVERS TO RETURNING STUDENTS. WE ENSURE THAT LEARNING IS CONDUCTED IN A MATURE AND RELAXED ENVIRONMENT, WITH PROJECTS THAT ALLOW INDIVIDUALS TO DISCOVER AND EXPLORE THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE PATHWAYS. Timothy Forrester Senior Lecturer

ART FOUNDATION YEAR UCAS code: W102

DESIGN FOUNDATION YEAR UCAS code: W101

WHICH FOUNDATION COURSE IS FOR YOU? Whether you decide to take a Foundation Year in Art or Design largely depends on your interests and aspirations.

CHOOSE A FOUNDATION YEAR IN ART...

If you enjoy the abstract or conceptual side of art, this course may be your best option. Students who complete the first year of study of this course go on to degree level study in areas such as Fine Art, Photography, and Animation to name just a few.

CHOOSE A FOUNDATION YEAR IN DESIGN IF YOU...

This route is for those who have an interest to progress into areas such as 3D Design, Graphic Design, or Surface Pattern and Textile Surfaces.

Both courses have a number of shared modules to help you develop a core set of skills to enable you to progress and specialise within the field of Art or Design.

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

CONTENTS: 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 15

Introduction Key Facts Why Staffs?

Our Brilliant People A Better Campus Choose More Open Days Application Process

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HERE ARE JUST A FEW REASONS WHY WE BELIEVE YOU SHOULD STUDY WITH US. TO REALLY FIND OUT IF WE’RE RIGHT FOR YOU, PLEASE COME ALONG TO ONE OF OUR OPEN DAYS. WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU.

KEY FACTS OVER 95% STUDENT SUCCESSES!

We are proud that both of our Foundation Year courses equip students with the knowledge and skills they’ll need to successfully complete their studies and progress to an Art or Design BA (Hons) degree with us.

PURPOSE-BUILT STUDIOS

Come and see for yourself, we have some of the best Art and Design studios in the country. Study with us and you’ll have your own personal workspace for the duration of the course.

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FIRST-CLASS FACILITIES

We’ve invested in impressive equipment to help develop your skills and to enable you to progress. Our workshop facilities include 3D (wood, metal and plastics), digital imaging, surface decoration, ceramics and our Technology Hub is home to our hightech laser cutter.

GO LIVE!

We believe that completing ‘live’ projects is one of the best ways to hone your creative talents and gain a taste of the professional experience you’ll need when you graduate.

That’s why we’ll arrange real-world challenges with local museums and galleries – challenges that could also result in opportunities to display your work.

LEARN FROM INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Study with us and you’ll learn from Art and Design experts who know all about making a living from their skills.

Our lecturers still work on a range of external and commercial projects and you can count on getting their firstclass support, guidance and advice.

GAIN A DEGREE OF EXPERTISE

We’ll be there to guide you every step of the way. Along with your course leaders, you will have the opportunity to talk with degree level students and staff to help you pick you ideal BA (Hons) degree.

WE PUT YOU FIRST

Choosing to study with us means you are a name and not a number.

Our students often come to us when they graduate to thank us for their Foundation Year experience.

WORK-READY WORLD-READY

When you progress onto one of our honours degree courses, we’ll also equip you to become ‘The Staffordshire Graduate’ – a world-ready professional, with the knowledge, attributes and expertise that employers look for.

VISITING ARTISTS

Painting, drawing, sculpture, photography… During the year you’ll be able to attend guest lectures along with our BA (Hons) students. With visiting national and international artists, you’ll share in a wealth of creative knowledge.

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF CREATIVITY

Despite having another four years until their ‘Show & Tell’, students on BA (Hons) Foundation Art and Design were determined to experience the thrill of curating a public exhibition this year. ‘Out Side In’, an exhibition exploring ideas about atmospheric places was put on by students in

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

Staffordshire University’s UniQube Gallery. Tasked with making artwork in response to the brief, the students also had to manage curating the exhibition as well as advertising the event to the public.

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WHY STAFFS? Fine Art, Animation, Product or Transport Design, 3D Design, Crafts, Ceramics and many others.

Taking a Foundation Year in Art or Design could open the door to a wide range of exciting and inspiring courses at degree level.

Complete your Foundation Year in the School of Art and Design at Staffordshire University and you’ll learn in first-rate studio facilities and you will be in good company.

As you’ll discover when you visit us, we also know how to bring the teaching spaces in our impressive studios to life. ‘Team Project’ work whereby our Foundation Year Art and Design students collaborate on a joint project, display their work, which this year includes 40-metrelong wall drawings, the construction of three-metre-high cardboard structures and a paper landscape of London.

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REAL EXPERTISE, FROM SCULPTURE TO FURNITURE… Our Award Leader in Art works in sculpture and installation, he is also Creative Director and a collaborative Arts Project Specialist. He’s exhibited nationally and internationally, including a sculpture commission for the Wirksworth Festival and a site-specific video installation for the Olympolis Project at Platamonas Train Station in Greece.

Our Award Leader in Design is one of Britain’s most innovative furniture designers whose work has received both national and international acclaim. He’s achieved great success working in Milan and has run a vibrant furniture design practice in the UK. His work is regularly featured in leading design publications worldwide and he’s exhibited internationally at top events, including London Design Week, Salone del Mobile and Euroluce in Milan.

CHOOSE YOUR DIRECTION To prepare you for a degree in Art or Design, we’ll give you a good understanding of the full range of areas in which you could specialise. That way, you’ll be able to make the best decision about which course is for you.

Along the way, you’ll learn a whole range of practical skills and concept generation through the development of ideas. You’ll also get a balanced understanding of the contexts and issues in Art or Design, as well as plenty of research and study skills to prepare you for degree-level work.

PROJECTS AND WORKSHOPS To keep your learning fresh and varied, you’ll get involved in a range of projects, practical workshops, demonstrations, lectures, individual activities and group sessions. We have an experienced team of technicians and technical instructors who will support you and help build your skills base.

We also run a Theory and Practice module that will help build your confidence in the studio to pursue your personal interests, while also giving you a wider perspective of the Art and Design arena.

LOTS OF SUPPORT You’ll find we’re committed to giving you excellent support. Not least because we understand that if you’re going to reach your full potential as an Artist or Designer, you’ll need plenty of confidence and selfawareness. To help you build these skills, we’ll provide one-to-one tutorials and online discussion forums.

IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE HAVING A PROJECT THAT INTRODUCED YOU TO THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD AT THIS POINT IN YOUR EDUCATION. IT WAS ALSO A GREAT CHALLENGE THAT REALLY PUSHED US TO BE THE BEST WE POSSIBLY COULD. Alice Hackett Art Foundation Year

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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OUR BRILLIANT PEOPLE Sikander Pervez, Solo Exhibition. The New Art Gallery, Walsall.

“... it allowed me to test out new ideas and really find out what I was interested in. When I started my BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art, I felt like I had a clear idea of how to work independently and what was expected of me. It really set me up for the next 3 years.�

Sikander Pervez - progressed from the Art Foundation Year to BA (Hons) Fine Art and graduated with a first-class degree

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“My foundation year in design at Staffordshire University was most beneficial to my degree choice. When I started the foundation year, it was with the intention of doing a degree in Fine Art. Within the first few weeks of the foundation course it became apparent that my interests followed a more design based path and, through various modules and workshops organised by the course leader, I began learning about the Surface Pattern course. If I had not done the foundation year, I would have taken a completely different route, which would not have been right for me and I am now beginning a career in textile and surface decoration; which so far, has proved successful.”

Sarah Pearse Foundation Year in Design followed by BA (Hons) Surface Pattern Design

“I started my foundation year with little idea of what kind of art I wanted to create. Throughout the year I was able to choose and work with different mediums that pushed me to build an understanding of art and also instil a great attitude to producing art. In being given the responsibility and freedom to produce work that I was interested in I made the transition to degree level easier.

I believe completing my foundation lead me to achieve a first in my degree.”

Precious Innes - progressed from the Art Foundation Year to BA (Hons) Fine Art and graduated with a first-class degree

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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A BETTER CAMPUS

AT STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY, WE’RE COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN YOUR FUTURE – LITERALLY. OVER A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS, WE’RE SPENDING MILLIONS OF POUNDS ON OUR UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, SO WHEN YOU JOIN US, YOU’LL BE COMING TO A PLACE WITH EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO START OPENING DOORS AND BREAKING BOUNDARIES.

In recent years, our Stoke-on-Trent campus has undergone a massive transformation, with the students at the heart of our plans. From the amazing Science Centre to environmental improvements, we’re focused on building the best campus for our students.

But whilst it’s all well and good a university saying they care what students think, we’re putting our money where our mouth is.

This all stems from a decision to make Stoke-on-Trent the main campus of Staffordshire University. In 2016 the majority of students from our Stafford Computing and Technology courses will be

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moving to the Stoke-on-Trent campus. So we’re making sure that when you arrive, you enter a university that is fit for purpose. One with a great mix of study and social spaces. One that feels safe and thrives on the friendly reputation we’ve built.

What we found was that a modern edge-of-city campus is ideal. Close enough to the city for the social life, but far enough away to focus on studying. Great transport links around the city, but also great spaces around the campus.

The best of both worlds.

So, starting in Summer 2015, we’ll be working on the College Road and Leek Road sites of our Stoke Campus.

We’ll be creating great social spaces and easy access between the Students’ Union, venues and teaching rooms.

Bringing the best teaching facilities together with fantastic student areas – making it feel safe and easy to jump between your lectures and your life outside University.

As well as that, we’re also investing £12m in a new Computing and Games facility. This project, called Digital Kiln, will merge beautiful learning space with state-of-theart technology to support all sorts of courses from Cyber Security to Games Design.

This investment is continuing the work we’ve already started to create great social spaces and easy access between the Students’ Union, halls of residence, and other facilities. We’ve committed to doubling the investment that’s already started to create enhanced facilities. Come 2016, it’s going to have the buzz and the feel of the edge-of-city campus that students want.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Gunn Healthcare Centres of Excellence This redevelopment work isn’t just happening in Stoke-on-Trent though. Healthcare and Midwifery students won’t miss out with significant further investment in our Centres of Excellence in Stafford and Shrewsbury – adding new student spaces and learning resources to make these campuses totally self-contained and right up to date.

So, with all this to come, maybe it’s time you joined us at Staffordshire University?

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

KEY FACTS WORK STARTS: SUMMER 2015 ADDITIONAL £40M INVESTMENT IN STOKE-ON-TRENT CAMPUS MULTI-MILLION POUND INVESTMENT IN STAFFORD CENTRE OF HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE AND SHREWSBURY CENTRE OF HEALTHCARE EXCELLENCE COMPLETION DATE: AUTUMN 2016.

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CHOOSE

MORE AT STAFFORDSHIRE UNIVERSITY, WE WANT TO GIVE YOU AN EDGE OVER THE COMPETITION. WE WANT YOU TO TAKE AWAY SOMETHING EXTRA. SO WE MAKE SURE YOU’LL GET SOMETHING EXTRA WHEN YOU’RE HERE. A LOT EXTRA ACTUALLY. To help you open doors as well as your mind, we’re spending millions of pounds on our edge-of-city campus. When you’re here, you’ll be able to work with brilliant academics and access a whole load of cutting edge facilities; from animation studios to photography darkrooms to surface decoration workshops. Past students have gone on to exhibit at prestigious galleries, museums and festivals across the world.

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You can also get more back with grants, loans and bursaries to help fund your study whilst enjoying a cost of living ranked the third lowest in the UK.

MAKE MORE OF YOUR TIME HERE • Improve your skills with online training platform Lynda.com and access over 3,000 online tutorial videos • Want to get fit while you study? Take advantage of our special student rate gym memberships • Don’t just learn while you’re with us, earn. Take a job at the Students’ Union, become a paid Student Ambassador with Unitemps or turn working while you study upside down with a seasonal role at Alton Towers Resort • Then spend. We’re a hop, skip and a short walk from shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars and clubs • Catch the latest musicals, opera, drama at the Regent Theatre and Stafford Gatehouse

MORE WAYS TO STUDY YOUR WAY • Grants, loans and bursaries to help fund your study • More hands-on, real world learning, fewer lectures • Hit the books whenever you want - access to our 24- hour library • Get all the software you need including access to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite and download Microsoft Office 365 on up to five devices for free • Professional guest lecturers - previous presentations included Microsoft, Marvel Comics and Epic Games

At Staffordshire University, you’re in the best place to do more, with City Centre shops, boutiques, restaurants, theatres, bars and clubs all just a short stroll away.

Plus, with student rate gym memberships and over 100 sports, clubs and societies to join – including skydiving, snow sports and our very own Beard Society – you can experience more too.

So, if you’re looking for a place that gives you exactly what you need to succeed (and more), then open the door and your mind to Staffordshire University.

A CAMPUS WITH MORE TO OFFER • We’ve spent and continue to spend millions of pounds on our edge-of-city campus • We’re a place literally in the middle of things with easy access to Manchester, Birmingham, London • Get your film fix at our on-campus Film Theatre • Take advantage of our brilliant and friendly Student Support team • Stay fit and well with our NHS Healthcare centre with two doctors • Enjoy a cost of living ranked third lowest in the UK

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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There’s only one real way to experience Staffordshire University, and that’s to come and see it for yourself.

University is where you’re due to spend the next few years of your life, so before you decide on somewhere, it makes sense to have a good look around.

That’s where an Open Day comes in. This is your opportunity to get to know the place. Test it out.

Immerse yourself in every aspect of Staffordshire University and see if it’s right for you.

We’ll give you the chance to see everything, from the Students’ Union and the library to the IT suites and our impressive sports facilities. We’ll also show you the halls of residence, so you can start planning exactly where to put your TV and laptop.

You’ll then meet our expert lecturers, see live demonstrations of lab and studio sessions, and delve deeper into your chosen subject with an informative talk.

Advice is available on managing your student finances and ways to fund your study, as well as tips on writing a strong personal statement to include in your application.

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Best of all, you’ll have time to speak with current students about their experiences of Staffordshire University – which means you can hear exactly what it’s like to be at the heart of things in the centre of the country. It’s the best way to get a real feel for life here.

Our Open Days give you an idea of everything Staffordshire University has to offer, so you’ll be ready to make one of the most important – and most exciting – decisions of your life.

LEARN MORE OR BOOK YOUR PLACE AT

www.staffs.ac.uk/opendays GO ONLINE TO WATCH OUR VIRTUAL TOURS

APPLICATION PROCESS NOT RECEIVED THE OFFER YOU WANTED?

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CLEARING

The UCAS clearing process gives students another opportunity to find a place.

MISSED THE UCAS DEADLINE?

Don’t worry, apply via UCAS until the end of June and if we have vacancies left on your course we’ll consider your application. We accept CLEARING applications from mid July.

Visit: www.staffs.ac.uk/clearing

Discover more: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

t: 01782 294400

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For more detailed information on courses or studying at Staffordshire University, visit: www.staffs.ac.uk/undergraduate

www.staffs.ac.uk/socialmedia The information in this guide is correct at time of publication, but may be subject to change.

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