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Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Art foundation in London area

64 replies

onedayoranother · 12/02/2022 17:30

My daughter is in lower sixth and the pressure is on. She's taking Art, History snd Psychology, and her intention is to do an art foundation year. She would like to go near home which limits us to London. While there's plenty out there about the difficulty on getting into individual universities, I can't tell how this works with a foundation year. I know some (UAL for example)) say if you get on to their foundation course you will be offered a degree place, so I would imagine the competition is tough. I've narrowed it down to Camberwell , Kingston, Kings, City and Guilds (though less keen as she wants to do animation). Maybe less competition at C& G as you have to pay. Any others ? Ravensbourne perhaps. She is not necessarily tied to staying in London for her degree (animation), however she might, and if getting on a particular foundation year leads to a degree at that university it's an important decision.
Am I correct in that it is pretty much down to her portfolio? Her GCSEs were mostly 8s and a couple 9s and a 7, too soon to predict A levels but I expect something like two As and a B. She is also doing an EPQ. But the art unis don't seem to have particularly high grade requirements.
My worry is that with applications to universities you pick a safety, an aspirational etc but can't tell how that works with foundation years (and what if she doesn't get in to any)?!? She is talented though.

OP posts:
Motnight · 12/02/2022 17:34

Your dd should be doing the research here, and making her decisions. Your role is to support her.

Changingmyname123 · 12/02/2022 17:40

Kings don’t do Art or Art foundation degrees, have you looked at UCA? They have foundation year in Epsom & other campuses in Farnham/Kent

EnjoyingTheSilence · 12/02/2022 18:06

Dd is applying for foundation year now. Ravensbourne have an open day Sat next week and she says is really well known for digitise. Equipment is really good.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 12/02/2022 18:07

@Motnight she’s 16/17, nothing wrong in helping her

Motnight · 12/02/2022 18:35

[quote EnjoyingTheSilence]@Motnight she’s 16/17, nothing wrong in helping her[/quote]
Absolutely, but it sounds like the Op is doing all the research. Her dd needs to take an active part in this so she knows that she's making the right decision for her.

DelphiniumBlue · 12/02/2022 18:43

LCC at Elephant & Castle? It's part of UAL.
DS2 went there a few years back, at the time his offer was almost entirely portfolio based, I think the only condition was one A Level at E grade+. Just as well in his case.... However I'm not sure that such low offers are still encouraged - you'd need to check.

onedayoranother · 13/02/2022 08:29

Thanks all.
@Changingmyname123 I mean Kings Education, which is a sort of A level/art and design foundation/Oxbridge prep college (as I have heard it 'doesn't matter' where you do the foundation course). UCA is too far to commute from home, though their degree program worth a look for the following stage.
@DelphiniumBlue that is where she could do a degree course, but UAL foundation is either Camberwell or St Martins (for animation/graphics it would be Camberwell).
@Motnight of course she is, but I don't know of any parent of a 16 year old who isn't very involved with the research and asking for advice from people who have either been through the process (main idea behind my post) and have children on a course now or recently. Anyone can look up the websites but that doesn't tell you what it's really like, and she doesn't do social media so don't think she's aware of places like TSR, which I haven't found helpful myself anyway.
@EnjoyingTheSilence interesting - where else is your child applying and is it mainly portfolio based as I believe? Does she know how competitive it is to get on the courses?
I did not grow up or go to uni in this country and my eldest went the vocational route so this is new to me, and few of my friends have had their kids go to art foundation (one did go to City & Guilds, and subsequently got in to Central St Martins for fashion, another to Bournemouth- not a consideration for now - but only lasted a week as mostly online and her university provided living situation terrible). I wasn't looking for a list but more what experiences others have gone through and how their child has found a particular course (ie, not well organised, not geared to X type of art, fantastic (or not) teachers etc etc).

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 13/02/2022 10:31

@onedayoranother
It is perfectly reasonable for you to help research this. It’s quite complex!

LCC (UAL) at Elephant and Castle is a good place to start. Look at their pathway that leads to animation. Her GCSEs are fine but you need to establish how they choose candidates for the course. If it’s portfolio then she needs to know this. Never leave it to the last minute.

Central St Martins is another to look at. I’d also look at Camberwell too. This will give you both an all round picture of what’s required and the pathways available. My DD went to LCF after A levels. She did both Art and Photography. You need a portfolio for the degrees and they don’t judge academic results very much. I think DD had to get CC. She did 3 A levels and greatly exceeded that requirement though. However putting together the portfolio for the degree is the big thing and the foundation year helps with that. It’s less stressful than doing it at school. As UAL offer different foundation strands, I do think they are the place to start. We found their guidance concerning portfolio content and presentation very useful too.

Imdoingitnow · 13/02/2022 10:40

Art teacher and ex camberwell student. The whole point of foundation courses is to introduce you to a broad range of areas within the subject area - eg textiles fine art, graphics ceramics drawing animation art history so that the student can find their strengths and get help to develop that further. Go for one that does this. Visit as many as you can. Get a feel of them. Keep an open mind

TizerorFizz · 13/02/2022 10:56

@Imdoingitnow
I think it’s fair to say that some DC do know the areas of art they prefer post A level. That’s why not everyone wants or needs to do a foundation. I think the focussed ones really help with the portfolio. My DDs degree wouldn’t have cared if she had done ceramics or not. What they cared about was her portfolio geared towards her course.

Imdoingitnow · 13/02/2022 11:29

@TizerorFizz I agree stoat some students know what they want and perhaps they don't need a foundation course. But it's about having that breadth of knowledge and understanding rather than ticking boxes in preparation for an interview

Imdoingitnow · 13/02/2022 11:39

That - not stoat😀

MarchingFrogs · 13/02/2022 12:14

The King's Colleges website states that
All students — UK nationals and international — need to complete an Art Foundation before starting their art-related degree.

Which doesn't actually appear to be the case, looking at the entry requirements for BA Fine Art at UAL, for example?

That would put me off their courses, for a start.

onedayoranother · 13/02/2022 13:14

Thank you everyone. As the degree courses I have looked all offer a foundation year I think they would expect you to have done one, as the applicant would be competing with those who have and therefore their portfolio would be better and more focused on the specific subject (for example have a show reel for an animation degree, which my daughter can do on her own now but would presumably be of a totally different standard if she had done that at a foundation course that offers an animation/media production component).
@TizerorFizz it would be LCC as she is interested in animation, but I imagine they'd want her to have done the foundation year at Camberwell first. I understand @Imdoingitnow that UAL has a diagnostic part to their foundation year for just such exploration and then pathways that you can choose. She's fairly certain she wants to do 2D animation but enjoys other aspects.
@MarchingFrogs the entry requirements for fine art degree at UAL state an art foundation year (or various equivalents) is needed.
Really I wanted anyone who had inside info as to the merits of each course - UAL vs Kingston vs whatever. I know what courses are available, but not how rigorous they are to get in to! I'm assuming from reputation UAL is, but how Kingston or Ravensbourne compare? You know, like how we know how hard is it to get into Bristol vs Loughborough vs Edinburgh vs Southampton universities due to well published rankings but the art foundation Year equivalent!

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 13/02/2022 14:07

I don’t think they rank for art foundation. If she’s only looking at London you just have to apply for what’s available. There’s not much discussion to be had. Prepare a portfolio if they require one. I don’t see the need for huge exploration of every aspect of art and that’s why UAL stream them.

TizerorFizz · 13/02/2022 14:12

Also apply for more than one. I don’t think any foundation course is better than another one but you obviously know what the streams are. The best route is surely to take the stream that leads to the degree course most efficiently and effectively. One assumes the staff will be used to that route and assist accordingly. I think you are over thinking this somewhat.

onedayoranother · 13/02/2022 18:04

Ok thanks for the feedback. There are definitely differences between the courses and was just hoping for anyone's kid's current experience (like I would discount Bournemouth after hearing about it, so wondered about London ones).

OP posts:
TizerorFizz · 13/02/2022 18:56

What’s wrong with Bournemouth? It’s simply a step you take before a degree. It’s not the degree snd lasts one year. Students have to be focussed enough to prepare a portfolio. If she wants London you have the options you have and arts students have different aims so what was great for one wouldn’t necessarily suit another. You might find someone who can say one foundation is better than another, but it’s hugely subjective.

valbyruta · 13/02/2022 19:59

My dc started a foundation year at Ravensbourne but found the teaching and resources really quite poor, and ended up leaving in the second term.

Other friends had better experiences at other London colleges, eg, Camberwell

duchessofmuchos · 14/02/2022 16:28

This subject also of interest to me. DS considering fashion and looking at options. Looks like some routes might require foundation year (eg for admission to CSM) but other routes (eg NTU, or MMU) might be possible with appropriate A levels and a portfolio.

He's going to consider both routes and will visit the colleges to understand more.

From his initial research he's heard that CSM is v competitive to get into, and suits people who are pretty confident and self sufficient. But is good as once pass foundation they guarantee a place on one of degree courses (although that may not be the one you want). He's heard good things about Kingston from prior years.

I don't know anything about the programmes but it surely can't be case that all foundation are the same. They may have the same curriculum and end qualification but the experience must differ according to the tutors - their areas of interest, quality of teaching etc.

TizerorFizz · 14/02/2022 20:16

I would look at the London College of Fashion. It’s also UAL. There are foundation courses in Fashion at UAL. LCF has a lot of practical courses which are quite specialised.

EnjoyingTheSilence · 19/02/2022 17:22

Dd went to the open day at Ravensbourne and liked it a lot more than she thought she would and is now seriously considering going there

Soma · 20/02/2022 11:15

@onedayoranother depending where you live, Working Men's College (WMC), Morley College, City Lit and City & Islington offer FAD. WMC looks pretty good and I heard Morley and City & Guilds are very well resourced.

Does your DD know where she wants to do her animation degree? I think the University of Westminster is the only industry standard approved course in London - www.screenskills.com/information-and-resources/information/screenskills-select/

Also have a look at The Rookie Awards and it will give you both an idea about courses. Hertfordshire has an excellent reputation for 2D animation, although it is supposed to be an intensive course.

discover.therookies.co/schools/best-2d-animation-schools-in-the-world/

discover.therookies.co/schools/top-50-creative-media-entertainment-schools-and-colleges-in-the-world/

discover.therookies.co/schools/2020-best-creative-media-and-entertainment-art-schools-in-the-world/

discover.therookies.co/schools/2019-best-art-schools-in-the-world/

pinkprettyroses · 20/02/2022 11:19

I went to UAL and knew people who did a foundation with them and didn't get onto the degree course.
As much as it does help it is never guaranteed.
Best of luck!

pinkprettyroses · 20/02/2022 11:21

I'd also say in terms UAL vs Ravensbourne , UAL is a much more 'professional' university, but much more independent working/networking is required than Ravensbourne.

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