Pre-Degree WJEC Foundation Studies in Art and Design

This is a pre-degree course for post A Level and Level 3 students, encouraging personal creativity as a basis for developing a portfolio of work. It stimulates curiosity and intellectual development and instils a thoughtful and self-critical approach to study, in preparation for your choice of creative specialism. You will build an expansive portfolio of work to take to your degree interview. You will explore a wide range of media, techniques and processes to increase visual understanding across a range of media. You will then select your specialism and projects to explore in your specialist area to develop your portfolio to suit your progression route before writing an individual Final Major Project to explore and develop your interests and specialist, skills, techniques and ideas.

There are a range of extension opportunities for students studying all courses in Art & Design. Study visits such as London museums and Galleries, Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior exhibitions were provided as well as location visits to source and inspire projects. The Foundation Diploma students have visiting speakers from practising artists and designers and ex students studying at University who talk about careers, courses and present their work to the group or run workshops. Workshops run in the first term to give Foundation diploma students valuable experience of life drawing. All students are supported to enter their work into exhibitions and competitions and have had great success in the past, having work exhibited and winning prizes.

Each year Foundation Diploma students have their own individual Art & Design exhibit in the Summer End of Year Exhibition (June).

6 units. Unit 1-4 are assessed at a Pass only and are develop your skills portfolio for progression, unit 5-6 are your Final Major Project exhibition units and marked as Pass, Merit or Distinction.

5 GCSEs at grade C/4 or above. To include English and Art or Design and Technology, plus an A Level or Vocational Level 3 qualification in an Art and design/ design technology discipline. A portfolio of work would need to be presented at interview.

A £50 studio fee includes the provision of a basic kit bag.

The Foundation course at Gateway College has an excellent reputation, with 100% of students successfully obtaining a place at University or employment in a related field e.g. Graphic Design, Illustration, Surface Decoration, Fashion Design, Textile Design, Costume Design, Decorative Artefacts, Product Design, Jewellery, 3D, interior design, Architecture, Fine Art and Photography.