Program Overview

International Foundation in Creative Practices

Course Overview

The International Foundation in Creative Practices is a bespoke course designed to help international students prepare for an undergraduate degree in the UK. The course is highly practical and focuses on creative learning, English language development, and cultural discovery.

Course Structure

The course is divided into two semesters:

Semester One

• Exploring Creativity: This unit helps students explore and think about different forms of creative thinking and practice.
• Research, Inspiration and Speaking: English for Academic Purposes: This unit teaches students about research, academic presentations, and written reflections and evaluations.
• Creative Practical Skills 1: This unit introduces students to a range of technical and making practices.

Semester Two

• Creative Practice: This unit builds upon and develops students' knowledge, understanding, and skills of the ideas and practices.
• Research and Writing: English for Academic Purposes: This unit focuses on students' specialist area of study and explores broader cultural and creative work of others.
• Creative Practical Skills 2: This unit enhances students' practical skills, with increased focus on their subject area, in preparation for commencing their undergraduate study.

Facilities

At UCA Farnham, there is a dedicated studio for students on the International Pathway courses. Students also have access to shared facilities, including:

• 3D workshops with machines for working with a range of materials
• Digital media suites with Macs and PCs loaded with design software
• Open access print studios

Key Facts

• Specialist preparation with a student-to-staff ratio of 15:1
• English language and study skills support throughout the course
• Teaching methods include studio work, one-to-one tutorials, lectures, seminars, and practical workshops
• Assessment methods range from presentations and critiques to portfolio reviews
• Academic and student support, including personal tutorials and advice on personal and academic issues

Next Steps

Successfully completing all parts of the course guarantees progression to study one of UCA's undergraduate courses. The course helps students identify the direction of their future studies and prepares them for undergraduate level study.

Fees and Additional Costs

• Tuition Fees: £15,540 for international and EU students (Sept 2025 entry)
• Additional Course Costs: Students may need to budget for books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips, and/or project materials

Entry Requirements

• Course Entry Requirements: 12 years of schooling (with good grades) and strong evidence of ability to successfully complete the programme and progress onto the chosen degree
• English Language Requirements: IELTS for UKVI test with an overall score of 5.0 and 4.5 in each component

Course Specifications

• Course Information: 2025/26 entry
• Student Regulations: Available on the UCA website

Student Work

• Examples of student work from the UCA International Foundation Show are available on the UCA website.