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Typical entry requirements

Read more about our typical entry requirements.

Key facts

Duration:

One year full-time

Study mode:

Full-time, Part-time

UCAS code:

W90002*

Institution code:

D26

See all the key facts and full entry requirements

UCAS code

W90002*

Duration

One year full-time, two years part-time

Study mode

Full-time, Part-time

See all the key facts and full entry requirements

"The Foundation gave me more time to experiment and exposed me to disciplines I didn鈥檛 even know ‑ it made me realise what I actually enjoyed doing within art and design so making my degree choice was a lot easier." Lys Griffiths 鈥� Fashion Textile Design BA (Hons) student.

Overview

This course gives you the opportunity to freely explore and experiment with a wide range of art and design subjects, helping you to decide which specialism is right for you, or prepare you for your chosen degree. Successful completion of the course will enable you to progress onto a wide variety of undergraduate courses in art and design such as fine art, architecture, product design, fashion design, game art, footwear design, design crafts, comic arts, photography, illustration and many more.

In our range of sector-leading workshops, you will learn by doing. Explore everything from universal principles like colour theory, observational drawing and composition to contemporary techniques like digital imaging, laser cutting and 3D printing. Weekly Digital Arts Techniques Classes and regular life drawing classes will further enhance your learning, helping you to create a comprehensive portfolio of work to support your journey through higher education.

Key features

Personalise your learning on a pathway in fine art, visual communication, 3D design, fashion and textiles and lens-based and digital media.
Enjoy workshop inductions in woodwork, metalwork, plaster, ceramics, laser cutting and 3D printing, fabric manipulation, wet photography (darkroom techniques), printmaking, textiles print, digital art, video and animation.
Exhibit your work at our Art and Design Foundation Show, which is open to the public and attracts hundreds of guests.
Successful completion of the course leads to a UAL (University Arts London) Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design Foundation Studies, which satisfies the entry requirements for undergraduate courses in art and design.

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*Please apply directly via the applicant portal.

What you will study

Year 1

Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice

In this unit, you will undertake a diagnostic investigation into visual language and creative practices. This exploratory investigation allows you to become familiar with and experiment within a wide range of (art, design, craft and media) creative disciplines as part of your journey to, or reinforcement of, specialism in Unit 2 or Unit 3.

Developing Specialist Practice

This unit will provide you with the opportunity to reflect on the knowledge, skills and practices you have developed in Unit 1 of the qualification, and to define your creative ambitions by encouraging a holistic approach to a range of activities, which will support, contextualise and position your creative endeavour within your chosen specialist practice.

Consolidating Practice

This unit aims to provide you with an opportunity to take control of your own learning and demonstrate your achievement by independently initiating, researching, completing and evaluating a project proposal and realisation within your chosen professional context.

Note: All modules are indicative and based on the current academic session. Course information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to review. Exact modules may, therefore, vary for your intake in order to keep content current. If there are changes to your course we will, where reasonable, take steps to inform you as appropriate.

Student work

Open Days at DMU

Join us on-campus, find your new home at 91视频at our Open Day 14 November

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Our facilities

Art and Design in the Vijay Patel building

You’ll be based in our award-winning Vijay Patel building, which provides a collaborative space where our art and design students can develop their ideas and flourish.

In Vijay Patel, you’ll not only benefit from your own studio space, but you will have access to a myriad of workshops and studios where you can explore new techniques and create to your hearts content. In our workshops, you’ll explore woodwork, metalwork, plaster, ceramics, laser cutting and 3D printing, fabric manipulation, wet photography (darkroom techniques), printmaking, textiles print, digital art, video and animation.

An art material shop is also located within the building, which stocks a wide variety of art and design materials to help you with your studies, all at affordable prices.

Our expertise

Lecturer

Saranne has more than 20 years of professional experience as a fashion editor and consultant. She has directed campaigns with brands such as Stella McCartney and Paul Smith and had her work featured in publications including Vogue Italia and Display Copy. Her role as a consultant has seen her working with Helen Lawrence and Richard Nicoll and retailers farfetch.com and thrift.plus.

Lecturer

Lucie has taught on the Art and Design Foundation Diploma since 2008 within the Visual Communication and Design pathway. Lucie studied on the Foundation Diploma herself and found it to be a pivotal experience. Upon graduating, Lucie went on to undertake a BA in Fine Art at Norwich School of Art and Design specialising in printmaking and sculpture, completed her CertEd at Leicester University and finally completed an MA at Birmingham City University in 2017.

Lecturer

Will teaches within the Spatial, Structural and Visual Communication (SSVC) pathway and the Digital Arts element of the course. Having studies on our Art and Design Foundation Diploma himself, Will went on to complete an MA in Fine Art at 91视频along with a PGCE teaching qualification. Alongside teaching, Will continues his practice working with experimental video and photographic techniques as well as freelance illustration work.

Where we could take you

Progression

Within the first six months of attending the course you will have the opportunity to take part in our progression event, where you can learn more about the courses on offer at DMU. This event will give you the opportunity to tailor your progression plans and interests according to your art and design specialism. You will gain automatic progression^* onto your choice of more than 30 of DMU’s art and design degrees. These range from Art and Architecture to Fashion and Textiles.

^{*subject to passing the foundation diploma and meeting the degree entry requirements.}

Graduate careers

Our graduates go onto achieve amazing things. Jemisha Maadhavji, a figurative painter, completed her Art and Design Foundation Diploma, bachelors in Fine Art and masters in Fine Art at DMU, graduating in 2022. She has since had her work displayed in the South London Gallery in London, at the BOSS Flagship store on Regent Street and the Humber Street Gallery in Hull and has attracted a myriad of press attention in publications including Vogue Indian and Harper’s Bazaar Art Magazine.

Graduate, Tim Fowler, bolstered the skills he had learnt on DMU’s Art and Design Foundation Diploma at Sheffield Hallam University, where he studied Contemporary Fine Art. Fowler has since established himself as an independent artist, and his work has evolved over the years from buildings, portraits and skulls to now focus on plants. Tim has shown his work in New York, LA, Germany, London and Ibiza and sold work all over the world.

Take your next steps

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Find out about Leicester

We鈥檙e a campus-based university situated in the city centre, with the hub of activity in Leicester right on your doorstep - we鈥檙e one of the few universities in the UK where you鈥檙e getting the best of both worlds.

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Open Days - Book your place

We鈥檇 love to welcome you to one of our university Open Days where you can see for yourself what we have to offer.

Save these details for your application.

Programme title:: Art and Design Foundation Diploma
Programme code:: W90002*

Apply directly to DMU

The 91视频Online Portal is for applicants wishing to apply for our art and design foundation courses. It allows you to save, revisit and review your application before submitting it at any time of the day.

The following should be submitted with the application form:

One current reference on official headed paper or from a professional email address. This can be a work or academic reference and must be signed and recently dated.
Copies of your academic transcripts
Copies of your degree or diploma certificates
Your personal statement

Save these details for your application.

Programme title:: Art and Design Foundation Diploma
Programme code:: W90002*

Apply directly as an international student

Find out more and apply

Visit DMU’s international section and select the course you wish to apply for as an undergraduate or postgraduate student.
Prepare your documents - gather the essentials:
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Personal statement
- English language proficiency evidence (e.g., IELTS)
- Portfolio (if required by the course)
- Copy of your passport
Complete the application - submit via the 91视频Online Portal
Submit the application and supporting documents - you can still receive a conditional offer even if some documents will follow later
Application review and offer - DMU’s Admissions team will assess your application and issue:
- A conditional offer (pending remaining docs, test results, etc.)
- Or an unconditional offer, if all requirements are fulfilled

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements

A good portfolio of work, or evidence of recent experience in art and design and normally One A Level or equivalent, in an art and design subject at a grade C or above, and:

Five GCSEs grades 9-4 including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above, OR a BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

International Baccalaureate: 24+ Points.

We also accept the BTEC First Diploma plus two GCSEs including English Language or Literature at grade 4 or above.

Applicants who are 18 or under must also hold a GCSE Maths and English, grade A*–C (9-4).

All equivalent qualifications are welcome as are mature students with alternative experience

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.0 overall with 5.5 in each band (or equivalent) when you start the course is essential.

English language tuition, delivered by our British Council-accredited Centre for English Language Learning, is available both before and throughout the course if you need it.

Interview and portfolio

Interview required: No

Portfolio required: Yes

To find out more what we're looking for in a portfolio, head to our portfolio advice page.

Key facts

Course title

Art and Design

Award

Foundation Diploma

UCAS code

W90002*

Institution code

D26

Study level

Foundation

Study mode

Full-time

Part-time

Start date

September

Duration

One year full-time, two years part-time

Fees

UK students

2026/27 entry: If you are a UK applicant aged under 19 years on 31 August in the year of entry, you will be exempt from the payment of tuition fees.

For those over 19 on 31 August, fees are £5,421 for full-time and £2,710 for part-time students, however, you may qualify for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover your tuition fees.

International students

For 2026/27 tuition fees for EU and international students will be £16,750 per year

Additional costs

Here at 91视频we provide excellent learning resources, including the Kimberlin Library and specialist workshops and studios. However, you should be aware that sometimes you may incur additional costs, which for this programme could include the following:

Workshop materials: £90

Field trips or visits: £50

For students on this course there will also be a range of optional showcasing activities that will be available to you, the costs of which will vary depending on the opportunities you choose.

Learn more about fees and funding information.

91视频

Art and Design

Overview

1st for Overall Average Student Satisfaction

An 鈥楨xcellent鈥� Five Star Rated University

The Best Careers Support

The First University to Achieve a Silver Race Equality Charter Award

2nd for Sustainability

The Best University for LGBTQ+ staff

The Best Autism Support

25th Best University

11th Best for Accommodation

Top 20 for Employability

Best for Work Experience

What you will study