Our Art & Design Foundation Course is a one-year, post-A-Level programme at Hampstead Fine Arts College in North London, preparing students to apply for creative degrees. It leads to a UAL-accredited Diploma in Art & Design, awarded through the UAL Awarding Body.
Under the guidance of experienced practising tutors, you will be introduced to new ideas, skills and ways of seeing the world. We encourage curiosity and openness, and help you find your own creative voice through research and experiment.
If you are new to art and design, or need more time to build your skills, Foundation Plus offers the same course over four or five terms.
Course snapshot
| Provider and location | Hampstead Fine Arts College, Parkhill building, Belsize Park, North London |
| Study modes | Foundation: 1 year (3 terms) · Foundation Plus: 4–5 terms |
| Who it is for | Post-A-Level students and creative learners with A Levels or equivalent |
| Qualification | Diploma in Art & Design, accredited by the UAL Awarding Body (120 credits) |
| Useful links | Fees · Term Dates · Open Days |
Art & Design Foundation Course Structure & Creative Pathways
The Foundation year bridges the gap between A Levels and university. You start by experimenting widely across disciplines, then gradually focus on a specialism until, by the final term, you are leading your own self-directed project. Across the year you complete three sequential UAL-accredited units worth 120 credits in total.
The Three-Unit Progression
| Unit | Timing | Focus | Assessment and credits |
| Unit 1: Diagnostic Investigation into Practice | September–November | Broad exploration: testing materials, media and processes through short diagnostic projects | Internally moderated · 29 credits |
| Unit 2: Developing Specialist Practice | November–February | Choosing a specialism, contextual studies and self-directed briefs | Internally moderated · 46 credits |
| Unit 3: Consolidating Practice | February–May | Final major project, exhibition and degree portfolio refinement | Externally moderated · 45 credits |
Unit 1 is deliberately open. Trying different disciplines helps you discover where your strengths lie before you commit. In Unit 2 you develop specialist technical skills and the contextual knowledge to support them, and in Unit 3 you bring everything together in a resolved body of work.
Choose Your Creative Specialism
All students explore across subjects during Unit 1 before choosing a main pathway. Pathways are areas of study within the single Foundation Diploma, not separate qualifications.
| Pathway | What you can explore |
| Fine Art | Drawing, painting, collage, printmaking and sculpture |
| Fashion & Textiles | Clothes design, dressmaking, textile design and textile art |
| Communication | Graphic design, photography and filmmaking |
Still at school? Our Fine Art A Level and Photography A Level courses are a good place to start building a portfolio.
Studio Life, Portfolio Development & Progression
The studio is the engine of the Foundation year. Intensive, hands-on practice feeds directly into a strong portfolio and university application. By the end of the course, students have turned raw creative curiosity into the technical confidence, critical voice and independence that art schools look for.
Studio Practice & Learning in London
Every Foundation student has their own studio space in our Parkhill building in Belsize Park. Alongside studio practice, all students keep an art journal, take part in life drawing and study contextual and critical studies, so their making is grounded in ideas.
London is part of the classroom. Weekly visits to the city’s museums and galleries feed students’ independent research and introduce them to work they might never otherwise encounter.
Degree Preparation & University Progression
We help every student plan their next step, including:
- Identifying the right creative degree courses in the UK or internationally
- Selecting, editing and presenting work for a degree portfolio
- Writing a strong UCAS personal statement
- Preparing for portfolio interviews
Your degree portfolio is different from the portfolio you show us when applying. We look for potential; universities look for a resolved, well-edited body of work, which is what the Foundation year helps you build.
Foundation students go on to apply for degrees such as Fine Art, Fashion, Graphic Communication, Photography and Film. Each university sets its own entry requirements. Read more on our Universities & Careers page.
Study Formats & UAL Accreditation
| Foundation (standard) | Foundation Plus | |
| Length | 1 year (3 terms) | 4 or 5 terms |
| Best for | Students with A Levels or equivalent and some art and design experience who are ready to move straight to degree applications | Students who have had less experience of art and design and would benefit from extra time to build core skills before the diploma units |
| Qualification | UAL-accredited Diploma in Art & Design | UAL-accredited Diploma in Art & Design |
The right route for you is agreed at interview. Talk to Admissions about Foundation Plus.
Entry Requirements and How to Apply
Admissions are personal and supportive. We look for creative ambition, curiosity and commitment, shown through work in progress as much as finished pieces. Please read the criteria below before preparing your portfolio and booking your interview.
Entry Criteria
- A Levels or a recognised equivalent qualification
- A portfolio, including sketchbooks and work in progress
- International students: a minimum IELTS score of 4.0 for the Foundation Course
Application Stages
- Apply: complete our online application form.
- Portfolio review: our Art department reviews your creative work, sketchbooks and work in progress. If your work is in a non-standard format, contact Admissions for guidance.
- Interview: meet the Principal and Head to talk about your ambitions and the right pathway for you.
Interviews take place throughout the year, so we recommend applying early.
Start Your Application Book an Open Day
See also: admissions guidance · Tuition Fees · Term Dates