Ruskin school of art

I am considering applying for a BFA at Oxford, and am predicted AAA, with my art teacher moving my fine art grade to an A*. They recommend you do a foundation year but I don't think all students who go there did one.
I am put off a foundation year because I want to move to the city to do it but you don't get student loans(stupid). If I used my A level art in a portfolio and wrote a really good statement would I be likely to get in? Is it safer just to do a foundation year? It would be so so helpful if anyone here is doing or has done BFA at Ruskin!!!

Reply 1

Samwhitts

3

Original post by Ellis’s

I am considering applying for a BFA at Oxford, and am predicted AAA, with my art teacher moving my fine art grade to an A*. They recommend you do a foundation year but I don't think all students who go there did one.
I am put off a foundation year because I want to move to the city to do it but you don't get student loans(stupid). If I used my A level art in a portfolio and wrote a really good statement would I be likely to get in? Is it safer just to do a foundation year? It would be so so helpful if anyone here is doing or has done BFA at Ruskin!!!

My daughter is interested in Ruskin next year and is doing a foundation in sept at C&G or UAL. We met a student at the Ruskin open day who hadn’t done a foundation who said there were a small group who hadn’t. However she said they found it hard as straight into independent study and didn’t have the fundamentals that students that had done a foundation had. One of her A level course friends got a place for sept without a foundation, but he is a year older, an international student and exceptionally talented.

Reply 2

thelilyopela

8

Original post by ellis’s

I am considering applying for a BFA at Oxford, and am predicted AAA, with my art teacher moving my fine art grade to an A*. They recommend you do a foundation year but I don't think all students who go there did one.
I am put off a foundation year because I want to move to the city to do it but you don't get student loans(stupid). If I used my A level art in a portfolio and wrote a really good statement would I be likely to get in? Is it safer just to do a foundation year? It would be so so helpful if anyone here is doing or has done BFA at Ruskin!!!

Hello, I applied this year and got in without having a foundation year.
Often, it's expected that if you apply foregoing one, your current and past portfolios need to be what they consider 'exceptional', or at the very least, better than the part of the cohort who did, both artistically and academically - hence why they have higher grade requirements (and make up only up to 20% of the class).
To answer your question, I'd only recommend applying without having done the prerequisite if your academic background heavily supported you in applying or preparing for the course - from 6th form, I've been used to the sort of intensive, theory-based practice and range of materials they provisioned, so amongst other reasons I decided not to pursue a foundation year. Or if you know that you've experimented and did art enough outside of school to make up for the lack of such.
Because contrary to popular opinion, being seen as 'more talented' because of not having had the year taken doesn't give you much of an advantage - compared to the benefits of having the year to explore and plan your portfolio at a foundation course.

Good luck! :smile:

(edited 12 months ago)

Reply 3

Aegb

5

I would recommend a foundation year. It will help you to understand more what's your practice as an artist. Foundations are free for students under 21 years if I remember correctly so if you can sustain yourself in a big city is really worth to take it. I never met anyone regretting the extra year for foundation. good luck!

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