Animation BA (Hons)
You'll develop your own style and career path, learning the…
Art and Design Foundation Year
Build your confidence, develop your portfolio and explore your creative future with an integrated foundation year in art and design.
Find your creative direction
Whether you’re returning to education, changing direction, building confidence or developing your creative practice, our integrated foundation year gives you the space to experiment, explore and grow before progressing onto a full degree.
Study in specialist creative studios at Park Campus in Cheltenham, work alongside practising artists and designers, and discover where your creativity could take you.
Course overview
The integrated foundation year is designed to help you build creative confidence while exploring different art and design disciplines before progressing onto a degree at UoG.
We offer creative degrees in a range of subjects including Animation, Fine Art, Photography, Graphic Design and Computer Games Design.
You’ll experiment with materials, processes and ideas while learning what it means to study creatively at university level.
Worlds
Explore different ways of thinking, making and communicating ideas while developing your own creative voice.
Futures
Start thinking about your creative future through practical projects, collaboration and introductions to different creative industries and disciplines.
Multiplayer Mode
Collaborate with other creatives, share ideas and develop teamwork and communication skills through workshops and group projects.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Test new ideas and discover where your strengths and interests lie through self-directed creative projects.
Curiosity
Develop creative confidence through experimentation, observation and making. Explore drawing, materials, visual research and creative play.
Teaching styles
During your foundation year, you’ll learn in a number of different ways including:
- Studio workshops
- Tutorials and critiques
- Creative projects
- Group discussions
- Lectures and demonstrations
- Hands-on experimentation
You’ll also get access to a wide range of creative tools and facilities including:
- Darkroom photography
- Ceramics and 3D making
- Printmaking
- Alternative photography processes
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Digital studios and creative software
Throughout the year, you’ll build the confidence, portfolio and practical skills needed for degree-level study.
Not quite ready for degree-level study?
You don’t need to have everything figured out yet.
Our integrated foundation year is designed to help you develop your creative skills, strengthen your portfolio and prepare for undergraduate study in a supportive and inspiring environment.
It’s ideal if:
- You want to build confidence before starting a degree
- Your qualifications don’t currently meet degree entry requirements
- You’re returning to education after time away
- You’re looking for a more practical and creative route into university
- You want time to explore different creative disciplines before specialising
You’ll experiment with ideas, materials and processes while developing the academic and technical skills needed for degree-level study. And because you’ll already be part of University of Gloucestershire from day one, you’ll feel connected to our creative community from the start.
Learn by making
From sketchbooks and photography to digital design, printmaking and visual storytelling, you’ll explore creative practice through hands-on projects and workshops.
You’ll learn in specialist facilities at our Creative Campus in Cheltenham, including:
- Art studios
- Photography suites
- Mac labs and digital studios
- Gallery and exhibition spaces
A foundation year that gives you options
The integrated foundation year sits at the beginning of a full undergraduate degree. When you apply, you’ll choose one of our courses with the ‘integrated foundation year’ option. For example, BA (Hons) Fine Art (with integrated foundation year).
During your foundation year, you’ll build core creative skills while exploring your interests and strengths. As you progress, you’ll have opportunities to refine your direction and think more clearly about the area you’d like to specialise in.
One year to:
- Discover your creative direction
- Build confidence
- Develop your portfolio
- Explore creative disciplines
- Improve academic skills
- Prepare for degree-level study
Your foundation year journey
Semester 1
Explore and experiment
Your first semester is all about curiosity, experimentation and creative confidence.
You’ll explore a wide range of materials, processes and techniques while building core creative and academic skills.
This is your opportunity to test ideas, try new disciplines and discover what excites you creatively.
Semester 2
Develop your direction
As your confidence grows, you’ll begin shaping your own creative pathway.
You’ll work on more self-directed projects, collaborate with other students and start thinking about where your creative future could take you.
By the end of the year, you’ll feel more prepared to progress onto degree-level study with a stronger sense of direction and a growing portfolio of work.
wanted: creatives
Be part of a creative community
At Park Campus, you’ll study alongside artists, designers, photographers, filmmakers and creators in a connected creative environment.
You’ll have opportunities to:
- Exhibit your work
- Visit galleries and exhibitions
- Attend talks and events
- Collaborate across creative subjects
- Learn from practising creatives and visiting professionals
Artwork exhibitions and our wider creative community help connect your ideas to the world around you.
Apply now
Browse our art and design courses below and select the one you’d like to apply for with the integrated foundation year option directly via UCAS.
During your foundation year, you’ll experiment with different disciplines and develop your portfolio. You’ll have opportunities to reflect on your interests, strengths and future goals with support from tutors.
After successfully completing your foundation year, you can continue onto your chosen degree pathway, or choose a different creative direction depending on your interests and goals.
Starting university later? You’re not alone
Many of our students join us after taking a different path into higher education.
Whether you’ve been working, raising a family, building a career or rediscovering your creativity, the integrated foundation year offers a supportive way to take the next step.
You’ll join a welcoming creative community where ideas, experiences and perspectives are valued.
See where creativity can take you
Explore our studios, meet current students and chat with lecturers at an open day.
Discover what it feels like to study in our creative community at Park Campus.
FAQs
An integrated foundation year is an introductory year at the beginning of a full undergraduate degree. It helps you develop the creative, academic and practical skills needed for degree-level study.
No. You’ll need to apply for one of our degree courses with the integrated foundation year option through UCAS.
Yes. The integrated foundation year is designed to support students from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds.
Yes. Throughout the year you’ll create practical project work that helps develop your portfolio and creative confidence.
After successfully completing the year, you’ll continue onto the full undergraduate degree.
Not necessarily. The course is designed to help students develop skills, confidence and creative practice before progressing onto degree study.
Your creative journey starts here.
Build confidence. Experiment with ideas. Discover your direction.