BA (Hons) Illustration with Foundation

This is a four-year programme that provides an additional foundation year, enabling you to develop the required practical, technical, academic, creative skills for your degree. This programme offers access to study at university for those students who may not have the standard entry profile for Year 1. Equally, the programme is designed for those returning to study who have relevant work/professional experience but not the required academic profile for Level 4 entry. It's also suitable for Level 3 learners whose subject choice does not include the necessary background, but who are otherwise academically capable.Your foundation year will:• Welcome you to an engaging, experiential learning environment with a focus on active exploration, experimentation and discovery across a wide range of material, methods and media• Help develop your practical, technical, creative skills through studio and workshop based projects• Provide training in key learning skills for further undergraduate study and build an awareness of practice, context and theory • Give you access to a wide range of enviable specialist workshops, laboratories and facilities across the campus and become part of our vibrant student community through the various opportunities available within the School of Art, Design and Architecture• Enable you to explore and develop your personal interests and strengths as a creative practitionerWhen you join the Foundation year, you’ll also: Learn how to develop your own style, voice and approach to Illustration. The most engaging and memorable illustrations come from people with a bold, clear approach. We don’t have a ‘house style’ – we’ll actively encourage you to discover and develop your own illustrative voice. This voice will help you attract the attention of clients as well as forging your own audience, doing what you love. While developing your personal visual ‘voice', you could also start getting noticed in the professional world by taking part in external commissions and competitions. You will set your work in a global context through inspiring overseas study trips to places such as London, New York and Barcelona. You could also choose to take part in an International Exchange programme in your second year, broadening your cultural references and forging new contacts in the international illustration scene•Be inspired by a varied studio-based culture and practice in our easy-access workshop facilities. Take part in everything from life and location drawing to printmaking and media exploration•Develop your Photoshop, Premiere, InDesign and Flash skills in digital workshops, and explore typography basics, bookbinding, creative writing and more•Gain invaluable knowledge, confidence and professional awareness by seizing work experience opportunities in years 2 and 3. This can range from simple studio visits to longer-term placements and collaboration, such as graduate Kate Mowbray’s placement as a Publishing Assistant with BBC History Magazine•Develop your personal visual ‘voice' and start getting noticed in the professional world by taking part in external commissions and competitions. Get an insight into the world of our award-winning students with freelance illustrator, Jack Teagle•Define your illustrative direction within specific routes such as comic/graphic novels, children’s markets, printmaking, and design for animation/screen – or continue to explore within a broad range of practice•Build up your analogue and digital portfolios and develop your professional profile and confidence, ensuring you’re ready for whatever future direction you wish to pursue, whether freelance, studio-based or within further education such as MA or PGCE courses•88% of students agreed staff were good at explaining things and 88% of students agreed th