UK Foundation Degree

[Eihs]

I haven't seen a thread dedicated to Foundation degrees and I know a few people who, like me, are a little confused about them.

It would be really great to hear from anyone who has done a Foundation degree and can give us some advice.

[aph]

Sorry this is a couple weeks since you posted but what the heck..

I'm on the 2nd (final) year of the foundation degree in games art at norwich, basically almost all f.degrees you top-up with another year that makes it a BA Honours. For example in our course history, nobody has ever chosen to leave after the 2 years.

They are more likely to be focused in a broad range of subjects/skill sets in the first year and then you get more focused in the 2nd. Portfolio/major project in the top-up. I obviously haven't done a BA, but from what other courses at our school seem to do, the first year was a lot easier than the BA's.

Also, slightly easier to get on to ..

Good luck =)

[HAJiME]

I stayed at the "crappy" college I was at for a-level for my 1 year foundation, out of convinience at Croydon College, South London.

What was good about it? Focused on ideas, not ability or technique. Freedom to experiment. LOTS of work space. Lecturers that gave you lots of time to talk and expand upon your work.

Bad about it? A bit of a lack of equipment. A lot of arty waffle. No projects set to produce specific outcomes. Lecturers who loathed computers with a burning passion.

[Eihs]

aph: Thank you for the help :) I was thinking of doing the top-up degree option, but I think doing the one year foundation and then going on to do a BA would be better for me personally. I was also considering doing games art but I didn't know if it was right for me... I want to go into concept art (especially game concept art) and I think Illustration seems like the best course for what I want. How is the games art degree? Is it 2D art and 3D art? What other things does it go over? I'm quite curious :P

HAJiME: I was considering doing my foundation at a local college (mainly because of convenience), as the school where I'm doing my A-levels doesn't have a foundation option. Just wondering, have you finished the foundation now? I have a few more questions if you don't mind :)

[dumpling]

I did mine last year at a local college. I felt like it held me back more than anything. Because when I came out of 6th form I was pretty set on what I wanted to focus on (painting). I spent the past 2 years contemplating this and felt pretty set on it, so when I started the pre degree, everything got "reset" again and it was like being back at square 1. I spent the first half of the year doing all sorts of stuff (textiles, 3D design etc.), then specialized in 1 area in the last half. You could say it's good as you get a broader experience instead of being "pigeon holed", as they liked to tell me so much, but you fly through each section so quick that you can't learn anything of that much value, unless you want to go on to specialize in that area afterward. It's good if you are unsure of what area you want to go in, but if you're set on what you want to focus on then it's a waste of time IMO. I felt quite worthless and depressed about traditional painting during my time spent their, though, because it wasn't really looked in favor and it crushed my passion for it for a good while, and the main focus was ideas and breaking traditional boundaries to 'free' yourself up. I did quite enjoy the experience, though, at least towards the end. I had a pretty good fine art teacher who was into traditional painting and he taught me a few good things.

[Eihs]

Burl: Well I think I'm set on what I want to do, but I'm not exactly 100% sure so maybe the foundation will actually help with that...

the main focus was ideas and breaking traditional boundaries to 'free' yourself up

That would probably be quite helpful to me aswell, I think i need to loosen up art-wise and try new things.

Did you go on to do a Degree course after your foundation? If you did, do you think the fact that you did a foundation helped you get in, or that it wasn't significant?

[dumpling]

Did you go on to do a Degree course after your foundation? If you did, do you think the fact that you did a foundation helped you get in, or that it wasn't significant?

Oh that's one thing I forgot to say. I did manage to get into what's supposed to be one of the top art college's in the country. Although personally, University might not be for me, it does provide a good educational stability at the very least, which makes me feel quite safe. I think doing the pre degree did help in this. The work-end is all down to how much you want to put in so that rests on you, but the pre degree helped in that they guide you through the process of applying to the best universities for you, and tailor your portfolio accordingly. My teacher did a great job at finding the right University for me. Not to mention I needed the qualification to go onto the University I wanted too, also.

I think you should go on it. I mean, it's only a year, right? You can always drop it if you don't like it. Plus, a good university would require a foundation degree with your A-levels, anyway.

Good luck with whatever you do. :)

[aph]

Just to say a few things, a good university, a really good one, will see whatever you have got in your portfolio then decide, so I wouldn't say you needed a foundation or any qualifications past A levels if you are good enough. If.

Still, they won't ever admit it but universities and art schools give pre-interviews to each other so that you don't waste a ucas option if they say a definate 'No'. So thats an advantage at certain places.

If you aren't sure what you want to do, Foundation is a good idea, it helped me, I hated 90% of it but it did help haha.
Illustration is a good idea for a BA afterwards if thats what you want to do, but it depends what your work ethic is like, some people need pushing, others are already painting/drawing before the tutors arrive.

Our course does 2d and 3d art, but to be honest I did lots more work (set stuff) on my Foundation, mostly I do the brief, then spend the rest of the time drawing what I like and practicing.

[Eihs]

Burl: Thank you very much for your advice, I think I'm a little more confident in what I intend to do now :)

aph: Thank you for your advice aswell, it really is great to hear the opinions of people who've been there and experienced it :)

[TZA]

Im about to start my foundation on monday at cambridge, sounds like fun, I need to open my art to new ideas and methods anyway, so in that respect it should really help me.

[Nrx]

Im wanting to go on to do illustration but i reacon ill need a foundation first, thing is cos ill be over 19 when i do the foundation ill have to pay the grand i think, so not sure if its worth it or worth just beefing up my portfolio on my own then going straight to uni... argh decisions decisions