Program Overview

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Art and Design Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

Overview

Explore and engage with a wide range of art, design, and digital design areas in a creative learning environment.

Summary

Foundation Studies Art and Design is an exciting and intensive one-year, practice-based programme that enables students to explore and engage with a wide range of art, design, and digital design discipline areas. The Foundation Art and Design experience builds confidence and supports students to make an informed decision about their specialism for undergraduate progression and future career pathway.

This studio-based programme is taught by core and specialist tutors. It is supported by contextual studies; so, as well as studio-based practice work across a range of discipline areas, written projects and academic tasks are also explored. The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, practical demonstrations, workshop practice, studio critiques, seminars, and individual tutorials.

Final practice-based project work from Foundation Studies Art and Design is exhibited at the Belfast School of Art annual Degree Show in June.

About this course

Modules

Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry, and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling, and student demand.

• SEMESTER ONE
  • AAD009 Drawing in Practice This module introduces students to visual fundamentals with particular emphasis on drawing practices across art, design, and digital design. Students will be encouraged to develop their understanding and knowledge of such practices in order to develop their proficiency in communicating visually in a range of materials and approaches. It is the first module on the course and leads directly into the next module AAD010 Introducing Studio Practice.
  • AAD010 Introducing Studio Practice This nine-week module provides the opportunity to explore the various workshop approaches and practices within Art, Design, and Digital Design discipline areas. This module is divided into three blocks of workshop areas where students explore each of these areas in rotation. This will allow students to make an informed choice for the second semester specialisms and future degree pathway. Students will also develop skills in contextual research and understanding and link these with studio practice areas.
• SEMESTER TWO
  • AAD011 Creative Careers + Sustainable Futures This module will enable students to gain an understanding of professional practice within the creative industries while importantly linking this with global citizenship and sustainable futures. It will allow students to build knowledge and awareness on how to develop into a responsible creative practitioner while building key transferrable skills in preparation for Level 04 study.
  • AAD012 Exploring Studio Practices This twelve-week module offers students a choice of specialism to further their study from a range of practical projects that are representative of undergraduate degree programmes. Students enhance their practical skills with an emphasis on idea development and interpretation within their chosen specialism. Contextual research and writing is embedded into the workshop areas. In addition, students complete their final portfolio of work in preparation for progression to chosen degree pathway.

Associate awards

• Diploma in Professional Practice DPP
• Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS
• Diploma in Professional Practice International DPPI

Attendance

This is a one-year full-time course, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 9:30am —4:30pm and Wednesday 9:30am—12:30pm. The course is made up of four modules, two per semester and are either 20 credits or 40 credits. Each module credit equates to 10 effort hours. Attendance is studio-based with a specific timetable for each module where workshops, lectures, and tutorials are scheduled. At other times, you will be expected to conduct independent studio practice and research.

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The course provides a rich learning environment to achieve the Learning Outcomes of the course. Teaching will be divided into lectures, tutorials (individual and group), critiques (reviews of work), workshop practice, demonstrations, etc.

• Workshops Workshops are conducted by module staff. These sessions provide students with clear guidelines on the usage of specific techniques, materials, and processes. These will provide opportunities for students to reflect on their work, articulate carefully considered criticism, and realise the potential of peer-learning.
• Lectures Lectures will introduce the historical and contemporary practices and discourses across art and design disciplines. Discussing the purpose, roles, and effects of such practices to build knowledge and understanding.
• Seminars Seminars will provide opportunities for students to explore issues emerging from the lecture programme, to listen to contributions from peer group members, to articulate ideas, and to reflect on emerging discussions.
• Tutorials Tutorials (individual or group) will give students advice, feedback, and monitor progress. During tutorials key areas for enhancement will be identified and work strategies will be discussed.

Feedback and Assessment happens throughout both semesters with pass/fail in semester one and continuous assessment contributing to the overall final mark at the end of semester 2. Assessment is 100% coursework.

Core Foundation teaching staff deliver across Fine Art Painting, Design, and Textiles with other tutors contributing from the undergraduate programmes across the school.

There is a showcase of student work at the end of the year as part of the Belfast School of Art, End of Year Graduate show.

Careers & opportunities

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course are now working for:

• The MAC
• Arts Council of Northern Ireland
• Arts Council of Ireland
• Belfast Print Workshop
• Seacourt Print Workshop
• Breakthru Films
• Warsaw
• Trademark Films
• London

Job roles

With this degree you could become:

• Artist
• Designer
• Art Writing
• Curating
• Artist in Residence
• Gallery Assistant
• Printmaking Technician

Career options

On successful completion of the course, students’ progress to Year 01 of their chosen undergraduate degree programme at Ulster University. They can also exit after this year with a Diploma in Foundation Studies Art and Design.

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course, you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

A level

Grades CC

Applied General Qualifications

• RQF Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma / OCR Cambridge Technical Level 3 Extended Diploma Award profile of MPP

We will also accept smaller BTEC/OCR qualifications (i.e., Diploma or Extended Certificate / Introductory Diploma / Subsidiary Diploma) in combination with A Levels or other acceptable level 3 qualifications.

Irish Leaving Certificate

64 UCAS tariff points to include a minimum of five subjects (four of which must be at higher level) to include English at H6 if studied at Higher level or O4 if studied at Ordinary Level.

Scottish Highers

Grades CDDD

Scottish Advanced Highers

Grades DD

International Baccalaureate

Overall profile is minimum 24 points (including 12 at higher level)

Access to Higher Education (HE)

Overall profile of 45% (120 credit Access Course) (NI Access Course)

Overall profile of 15 credits at Merit and 30 credits at Pass (60 credit Access Course) (GB Access Course)

GCSE

For full-time study, you must satisfy the General Entrance Requirements for admission to a first degree course and hold a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or above in English Language.

Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills - Communication will be accepted as equivalent to GCSE English.

English Language Requirements

• English language requirements for international applicants The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Fees and funding

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees

£4,855.00

England, Scotland, Wales and the Islands Fees

£9,535.00

International Fees

£17,010.00

Additional mandatory costs

Students purchase materials for their own coursework.

Consumable workshop contribution of up to £50 is optional and contributes to materials used by students.

Local field trips to museums, galleries, and exhibitions may incur additional costs.

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges), and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.