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Is the Art Foundation year still free if you turn 19 half way through the year?

To my knowledge, if you are 19+ there is a fee for Art and design foundation diplomas (Art Foundation), but if you start the course at 18 but turn 19 midway through the year is it still free or do you have to start paying

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Original post by bethadams2000
To my knowledge, if you are 19+ there is a fee for Art and design foundation diplomas (Art Foundation), but if you start the course at 18 but turn 19 midway through the year is it still free or do you have to start paying


I can only share my experience as I turned 19 on my AS year of A levels and panicked it’s no longer be free.

I was told and eventually read up as proof that it’s free as long as you started the course before you turned 19. So you should be fine! But id double check with an official as that will calm your nerves.

I later found out anyway that I was entitled to also a level 3 course for free regardless of my age anyway (as long as it was my first).

Hope this helps!
Original post by bethadams2000
To my knowledge, if you are 19+ there is a fee for Art and design foundation diplomas (Art Foundation), but if you start the course at 18 but turn 19 midway through the year is it still free or do you have to start paying


It's based on your age on the 1st September before your course :yes:
yeah I think if you're 18 when you start it its still free
Heya I’m in the same position wondering the same thing now for next year, right now I’m 18 and in year 13. But my birthday is in October, would I have to pay because when do the courses start in the year?
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by honeymoontea
Heya I’m in the same position wondering the same thing now for next year, right now I’m 18 and in year 13. But my birthday is the 23rd of October, would I have to pay because when do the courses start in the year?

You need to check with your course providers but generally it will be your age either at the start of the course or the start of the academic year - so as long as your chosen course doesn't start very late then you should be fine
Original post by PQ
You need to check with your course providers but generally it will be your age either at the start of the course or the start of the academic year - so as long as your chosen course doesn't start very late then you should be fine

Thanks so much for your reply so fast, I’ll ask the uni on email
Original post by PQ
You need to check with your course providers but generally it will be your age either at the start of the course or the start of the academic year - so as long as your chosen course doesn't start very late then you should be fine


Thanks so much for your reply so fast, I’ll ask the uni on email
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Original post by honeymoontea
Thanks so much for your reply so fast, I’ll ask the uni on email

If you are doing a foundation year at a uni is it still free or is that just at FE colleges.
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Original post by bethadams2000
To my knowledge, if you are 19+ there is a fee for Art and design foundation diplomas (Art Foundation), but if you start the course at 18 but turn 19 midway through the year is it still free or do you have to start paying


hi
Original post by PQ
You need to check with your course providers but generally it will be your age either at the start of the course or the start of the academic year - so as long as your chosen course doesn't start very late then you should be fine

PQ is it free at unis or just FE colleges?
Original post by Scotney
If you are doing a foundation year at a uni is it still free or is that just at FE colleges.

A Foundation YEAR (that's part of a degree) isn't free.

An Art & Design Foundation Diploma (FAD) is a free standing FE course (usually from one of the exam boards: Pearson/BTEC, ABC, WJEC or UALAB) and so is funded like A levels or other FE courses - no fees if you're under 19 at the start of the course (but also no living cost loans), small fees that can be covered by an Advanced Learner Loan if you're 19 or over (but again no living cost loans). That applies even if you're studying the FAD at a university like LAU, AUB, UCA, UAL etc

There's a few provider who offer FAD courses who aren't funded by the DfE (City & Guilds in London is the most notable) and so charge very high fees for their FAD.

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5017684 has more details
Not as related, but how many foundation diploma courses do you recommend I apply for
Because it’s not through ucas I need to keep track of how many just so I know I’ll at least get into one
Also, does anyone have some advice for foundation personal statements? I’ve finished my statement for a creative ba course which is ready for ucas already, but being present in the online open day’s universities are saying that the statements they are looking for are’t like the ucas ones? I don’t know what to make of this too much apart from the fact maybe how they want more of your personality or personal work to shine through

Thank you to anyone who answers ✨
Original post by honeymoontea
Not as related, but how many foundation diploma courses do you recommend I apply for
Because it’s not through ucas I need to keep track of how many just so I know I’ll at least get into one

I'd say 2 or 3 locally and maybe 1 or 2 further afield
Original post by honeymoontea
Also, does anyone have some advice for foundation personal statements? I’ve finished my statement for a creative ba course which is ready for ucas already, but being present in the online open day’s universities are saying that the statements they are looking for are’t like the ucas ones? I don’t know what to make of this too much apart from the fact maybe how they want more of your personality or personal work to shine through

Thank you to anyone who answers ✨

https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/personal-statements/writing-a-personal-statement-for-art-and-design-courses is a general set of advice for a creative PS

For foundation the general content (your creative interests, influences, process) is similar but obviously you're usually applying for a specific degree but a general foundation so something about what you hope to gain from the experimental stage of foundation and the opportunities to experiement in your specialism/FMP (in new media/software/skills) basically tailoring your PS to include some thoughts about what you want to gain (creatively) from a FAD
Thank you very much this is very useful information
Original post by honeymoontea
Thank you very much this is very useful information

Where are you in country?
Original post by FailedTeacher
I can only share my experience as I turned 19 on my AS year of A levels and panicked it’s no longer be free.

I was told and eventually read up as proof that it’s free as long as you started the course before you turned 19. So you should be fine! But id double check with an official as that will calm your nerves.

I later found out anyway that I was entitled to also a level 3 course for free regardless of my age anyway (as long as it was my first).

Hope this helps!

Also level4 FAD but parents will lose any tax credits and child benefit they are receiving if you do level 4.
Original post by Scotney
Where are you in country?

Uk
No I meant London or Leeds or whatever. Could give info for Essex and East/Central London if you were looking there.

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