Foundation Art Falmouth or Bath Spa or Edinburgh College or UAL.

Hello, Which of these has anyone done? I could do with some advice on the experience. I really would be grateful for any advice such as what the course is like and how the accomodation/campus it. Thanks

Reply 1

greentiger

15

Falmouth university shares a campus with Exeter Penryn students, there isn’t much to do in Falmouth really but it’s a nice area. Cornwall transport is awful too you could be waiting an hour or more to get busses to and from places.

Bath Spa has frequent transport between Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas. The campus is beautiful and even though it isn’t directly in the city of bath, there is a bus every 15-20 minutes (It may be more frequent but I can’t fully remember!!) For creative subjects it’s very highly respected.

UAL i’ve heard it’s harder to get to know people as it’s less of a campus university and more spread out. Some love it and some don’t, as the hussle and bussle of the city can become overbearing.

I hope this helps a little bit as it’s purely from people I know at those unis currently. I don’t know anything about Edinburgh though!

Original post by Psleeman

Hello, Which of these has anyone done? I could do with some advice on the experience. I really would be grateful for any advice such as what the course is like and how the accomodation/campus it. Thanks

These are very different things. UAL offers a foundation diploma, Falmouth and bath spa a foundation year, ed college a foundation degree.

What subject do you eventually want to graduate in and do you have any thoughts about what you would do long term?

Reply 3

Psleeman

OP

2

Thank you, very helpful. Ultimately a degree in textiles is the idea. Anyone know anything about the Foundation Art in Edinburgh College? Thank you!

Original post by Psleeman

Thank you, very helpful. Ultimately a degree in textiles is the idea. Anyone know anything about the Foundation Art in Edinburgh College? Thank you!

Can you give a bit more information about why you're looking for foundation routes instead of going straight into a degree?

It's a bit difficult to advise without knowing your priorities.

Your list of universities is quite eclectic - it doesn't really help us understand what you're looking for to offer useful advice

Is it this that you're looking at at Edinburgh College: https://www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/courses/browse/ual-art-and-design-foundation-diploma-cr1dadfy24 if so that's a Foundation Diploma - there's a FAD FAQ thread at the top of https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=113 which might help

Reply 5

Psleeman

OP

2

Thank you. I am looking for some advice on CSM foundation now. Has anyone done it and how was it? Class sizes etc? Thank you.

Original post by Psleeman

Thank you. I am looking for some advice on CSM foundation now. Has anyone done it and how was it? Class sizes etc? Thank you.

There is no CSM foundation any more. UAL has combined both of their old fad courses together (and doubled their intake) on a new (old LCF) campus. There’s likely to be substantial organisation problems for the guinea pig year starting in September

Reply 7

Psleeman

OP

2

I have been accepted to CSM foundation course. Thanks for the information. So the location will be in Archway campus - any idea about the sizes and feedback on the course generally?

Reply 8

Psleeman

OP

2

Thanks again - what is the student teacher ratio in CSM for FAD? I have heard some poor stats of 60 students and 2 teachers, is this true and is this the same for Bath Spa or Falmouth?

Reply 9

greentiger

15

Original post by Psleeman

Thanks again - what is the student teacher ratio in CSM for FAD? I have heard some poor stats of 60 students and 2 teachers, is this true and is this the same for Bath Spa or Falmouth?

Not sure about Falmouth, but Bath Spa’s average class size is 16 students!

Original post by Psleeman

Thanks again - what is the student teacher ratio in CSM for FAD? I have heard some poor stats of 60 students and 2 teachers, is this true and is this the same for Bath Spa or Falmouth?

As explained. There is no CSM FAD course anymore. The course at archway or lime grove is not taught by CSM staff anymore.

With UAL doubling their intake this year I suspect that staff numbers will be an issue.

Original post by Psleeman

I have been accepted to CSM foundation course. Thanks for the information. So the location will be in Archway campus - any idea about the sizes and feedback on the course generally?

Hello,

UAL Staff Rep here! I have spoken to our FAD Programme Director and she has confirmed the following:

'The foundation will be taught across two sites next academic year (Lime Grove and Archway). The teaching staff are going to be made up of the current CSM and CCW tutors. We will have approx the same staff student ratio as we currently have on our respective FADs. There is a lot of planning to combine the current good practice on both the CCW and CSM FADs on the new UAL FAD'

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if I can provide further clarification on anything.

Best wishes and good luck with your future studies!
Georgia

(edited 9 months ago)

Original post by PQ

As explained. There is no CSM FAD course anymore. The course at archway or lime grove is not taught by CSM staff anymore.
With UAL doubling their intake this year I suspect that staff numbers will be an issue.

Hi PQ,

I can confirm that our FAD courses will still be taught by CSM staff and will be joined by tutors from Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon College of Arts. So there shouldn't be any staffing issues!

Thanks!
Georgia

(edited 9 months ago)

Reply 13

Psleeman

OP

2

Thank you, so what will the student teacher ratio be like?

Reply 14

Psleeman

OP

2

Original post by University of the Arts London Staff Reps

Hi PQ,
I can confirm that our FAD courses will still be taught by CSM staff and will be joined by tutors from Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon College of Arts. So there shouldn't be any staffing issues!
Thanks!
Georgia

Where is this information about this? What will be the student teacher ratio? Thanks, P

Reply 15

Infinia

5

Original post by PQ

These are very different things. UAL offers a foundation diploma, Falmouth and bath spa a foundation year, ed college a foundation degree.
What subject do you eventually want to graduate in and do you have any thoughts about what you would do long term?

Hi, Could you please explain to me the difference between a foundation year and a foundation diploma? Most Fine Art BAs require a foundation year. Is it an absolute MUST or do students sometimes get accepted into the second year? If so, what would be the criteria? Does completing the first year of a 4-year BA Fine Arts course give me the qualification to apply to another art school, joining the second year, if for some reason, I am not happy with the one I'm on? Or is this why you make a distinction between a foundation year and a foundation diploma - I would guess a diploma allows that flexibility whereas a foundation year doesn't? Thank you in advance. It's not straightforward trying to decipher the path...

(edited 6 months ago)

Original post by Infinia

Hi, Could you please explain to me the difference between a foundation year and a foundation diploma? Most Fine Art BAs require a foundation year. Is it an absolute MUST or do students sometimes get accepted into the second year? If so, what would be the criteria? Does completing the first year of a 4-year BA Fine Arts course give me the qualification to apply to another art school, joining the second year, if for some reason, I am not happy with the one I'm on? Or is this why you make a distinction between a foundation year and a foundation diploma - I would guess a diploma allows that flexibility whereas a foundation year doesn't? Thank you in advance. It's not straightforward trying to decipher the path...