This page is for students that are considering the next steps of their education Post-18 i.e after A-Levels. There are many options from continuing your education at foundation or degree level, to part-time study and work, apprenticeships or just trying to get a job directly. Your A-Level in Art & Design will an important asset in any career as you have the capacity to generate ideas, solve problems, prototype and understand the creative process. Traditionally, studying within the arts leads to jobs within the creative industries, which covers everything from film/TV, fashion, media, architecture, special effects, etc. You can read an overview of the creative industries here.
Foundation Diploma | Art & Design
For students that want to study at degree level specialising in an area of Art & Design, the most traditional route is to do a Foundation in Art & Design, which gives you a broader introduction to the different specialist routes known as 'diagnostic'. This is like a series of taster activities / mini-projects. You are then asked to specialise and prepare a portfolio for applying to degree level. It is also possible to specialise at this stage from the beginning if you are clear on your route i.e. you are sure you want to study print-making.
If you are remaining in London, the University of the London Arts (UAL) has a number of courses across its campuses throughout the city and these often lead directly into degree courses at their university sites. UAL is by no means the only provider of foundation courses, but they |
Undergraduate Degree | Art & Design Specialisms
Undergraduate degrees are mostly based around key areas of study in Art & Design so you will apply for degrees that are specialised in areas like Fashion or Illustration. Degrees can be combined so you study a combination of business and craft-based practice. Universities will have a full list of options.
Many arts universities will expect you to have completed a Foundation diploma (see above) before applying for an undergraduate degree. This is because they want you to be clear about your choice of studying for three years in a specialist area, along with the fact that it is expensive and time consuming if students opt out. The links here are by no means exhaustive and you should always do you r own research. A good place to start is the Guardian League Table, which ranks universities based on key info and student feedback. Be aware of relying on testimonies solely from the internet as this won't give you a general picture and always visit the university on Open Days and Degree Shows to get a feel of the course and people running the courses. Many degree shows take place in May-July. |
Apprenticeships | Combined Work & Study
Not all students wish to study at undergraduate level and prefer to get experience in a company straight after leaving school/college. It is possible to get a job (be paid) and study to achieve a qualification ranging from technical qualifications to degree level awards. You can study apprenticeships from the age of 14, but post-18 options are usually the equivalent of a higher level qualification such as a foundation diploma or degree.
This route is becoming increasingly popular as the cost of studying at degree level is high and there are benefits to making industry-level contacts as much of the opportunities available to you as an employee come down to who you know and who employers can trust. Since we are based in Stratford, which is in the middle of one of the largest local regeneration projects in Europe, there are many companies looking for apprenticeships. In particular, we have been approached by the LLDC for students interested in studying Architecture and Civil Engineering as there is a shortage of workers in these areas. |