Access to Higher Education

Program Overview

Access to Higher Education

Course Overview

The Access to Higher Education course is designed for creatively-minded adults returning to education with an interest in design or digital media, aiming to continue on to an honors degree.

Ideal for:

• Creatively-minded adults returning to education
• Those with a broad interest in film, production, animation, sound design, graphics, illustration, animation, or 3D design

Course Details

• Starts: September 2025
• Duration: 1 year
• Mode: Part-time | Daytime on Wednesday, Thursday & Saturday
• UCAS code: N/A
• Inst. code: Open College Network, London (OCN)

Course Structure

The course is divided into three stages:

Stage 1: Introductory

• Focuses on the core disciplines of design through:
  • Conceptual drawing and technical drawing
  • Contextual studies
  • Digital image production
  • Life drawing
  • Media experimentation
  • Observation skills
  • Recording and research techniques
• Explores the following subject areas:
  • Graphics (graphic design, illustration, and web design)
  • Lens-based media (animation; broadcasting; film and video; digital photography; sound design)
  • 3DD (architecture; interior; product; set and interactive design)

Stage 2: Developmental

• Deepens and develops knowledge of design practice, culminating in working exclusively within the chosen subject area
• Enables students to plan their next steps in entering higher education by developing a specialist portfolio for honors degree interview or their chosen career path

Stage 3: Specialist

• Undertakes and completes a major seven-week project, reflecting on the chosen specialist area and planned progression path

Entry Requirements

• No formal qualifications are required
• Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis through an interview, to assess applicants' skills and enthusiasm to return to education

Progression

• Most students go on to study a degree course, with many staying on at Ravensbourne
• Internal progression award: Foundation and access diploma graduates may be eligible for a one-off cash gift of £500 if they progress directly to an undergraduate degree course at Ravensbourne

Fees and Funding

• Find out more about tuition fees and whether you qualify for financial support during your studies
• Advanced learner loan information
• Scholarships, bursaries, and other discounts

Facilities

• Our facilities are open to every student, including:
  • Fashion atelier
  • Materials library
  • Prototyping suite
  • Print shop
  • TV Studio
  • Production control rooms
  • TV gallery
  • Library
  • Kit Store

Industry Connections

• Industry connection is ingrained into everything we do
• We will equip you for success in the creative and digital industries, ensuring you are truly industry-ready upon graduation
• Our tutors are respected academics and practitioners with substantial experience and industry links

Alumni

• Esther Gbogboade, now a postgraduate student, having progressed all the way from foundation level
• Read her story

Next Steps

• Register your interest
• Book an open day
• Order a prospectus
• Moving from FE to UG
• Chat with our students

Program Outline

• Ideal for: Creatively-minded adults returning to education with an interest in design or digital media.
• Objective: Develop the skills, techniques, and confidence needed for degree-level study.
• Benefits:
• Access to industry professionals through teaching staff.
• Experimentation with various ideas and technologies.
• Graduate with a unique interview-ready portfolio.
• Funding: Advanced Learner Loan available for students 19 and over.

Outline:

Stage 1: Introductory (Core Design Disciplines)

• Conceptual and technical drawing
• Contextual studies
• Digital image production
• Life drawing
• Media experimentation
• Observation skills
• Recording and research techniques
• Subject areas covered:
• Graphics (graphic design, illustration, web design)
• Lens-based media (animation, broadcasting, film/video, digital photography, sound design)
• 3DD (architecture, interior, product, set, and interactive design)

Stage 2: Developmental

• Deepen and develop design practice knowledge.
• Work exclusively within the chosen subject area.
• Develop specialist portfolio for honours degree interview or career paths.
• Collaborative opportunities with staff and students from other disciplines.
• Proposal development for a final project.

Stage 3: Specialist

Teaching:

• Tutors: Experienced academics and practitioners with industry links and expertise.
• Collaborative, diverse community environment.
• Strong industry connections: Apple, Barclays, BBC, Museum of London, etc.

Careers:

• Progression to undergraduate degree courses in:
• Animation
• Architecture
• Digital Film Production
• Digital Photography
• Fashion
• Graphic Design
• User Experience and User Interface
• Applications open and reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
• Interviews assess skills and enthusiasm for returning to education.

Next Steps

• Register your interest
• Book an open day
• Order a prospectus
• Chat with current students

Contact Information Ravensbourne University London

• Address: 6 Penrose Way, Greenwich Peninsula, London, SE10 0EW
• Phone: +44 (0) 20 3040 3500
• Social Media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube