Access course or foundation year - requirements and differneces?
I am 27 and recently went to get some advice at my local education centre about what to do with my life.
I did not do well in school as I was removed from mainstream education 2 weeks into year 9 due to me being bullied and I wasn’t able to choose any options or continue with mainstream education. I couldn’t even take GCSE’s at the schooling alternative I went to.
I did go to college at 18 to study performing arts but only at a Level 1. At 24 I started working as a marketing assistant at a members only tennis club where I worked for a year, this role included photography, managing and creating content across all social media platforms as well as content creation for a sponsor of the club. I also did other things such as creating newsletters, slideshows, and basically everything that was created digitally.
Fast forward to january 2025 and I am 27 with a dream of working in the creative industry. I have had jobs outside of being creative for the past year or so and it’s just not for me. Only issue is the jobs I want to apply for are asking for graphic design degrees.
I have been thinking of getting into graphic design for a number of months now as I started to create branding projects in September last year, I also invested in a ipad to level up my designs with illustrations, as well as this I have recently signed up for an adobe illustrator subscription to get some adobe experience, along with purchasing some design books. I now have over 5 completed projects both illustration and branding projects on my online portfolio and am working on my 6th!
I have always wanted to do something like art & design and was always a talented drawer and great at coming up with ideas as a young child, I was just robbed of my opportunity to go through school properly and I have struggled on and off with my mental health from the age of 18 but I now feel very stable in my life and feel confident I in what I want to do and my ability to do it.
I have been informed that I can do an access course, only problem is the only college that does an art & design access course is 2 hours away from where I live and would have to get 2 trains and 2 busses just to get there (I don’t drive) and the contents of the access course is basically everything I did in my role as a marketing assistant.
What is the difference between an access course and a foundation course? I would much rather so foundation course. I have 1 year of experience in a creative field and a portfolio of creative work. As I mentioned I have an iPad, adobe illustrator and I also have my own DSLR camera and have been taking photographs as a hobby since the age of 16.
I have a C equivalent in English, an Art & Design BTEC, Level 1 Performing Arts, but I only have a D equivalent for maths. I have seen that there are no entry requirements for the foundation course but could someone explain the differences between an access course and foundation course.
So sorry this is so long! I just wanted to give an accurate story of my experience and grades so I can get relevant advice.
Thank you if you got this far.
I did not do well in school as I was removed from mainstream education 2 weeks into year 9 due to me being bullied and I wasn’t able to choose any options or continue with mainstream education. I couldn’t even take GCSE’s at the schooling alternative I went to.
I did go to college at 18 to study performing arts but only at a Level 1. At 24 I started working as a marketing assistant at a members only tennis club where I worked for a year, this role included photography, managing and creating content across all social media platforms as well as content creation for a sponsor of the club. I also did other things such as creating newsletters, slideshows, and basically everything that was created digitally.
Fast forward to january 2025 and I am 27 with a dream of working in the creative industry. I have had jobs outside of being creative for the past year or so and it’s just not for me. Only issue is the jobs I want to apply for are asking for graphic design degrees.
I have been thinking of getting into graphic design for a number of months now as I started to create branding projects in September last year, I also invested in a ipad to level up my designs with illustrations, as well as this I have recently signed up for an adobe illustrator subscription to get some adobe experience, along with purchasing some design books. I now have over 5 completed projects both illustration and branding projects on my online portfolio and am working on my 6th!
I have always wanted to do something like art & design and was always a talented drawer and great at coming up with ideas as a young child, I was just robbed of my opportunity to go through school properly and I have struggled on and off with my mental health from the age of 18 but I now feel very stable in my life and feel confident I in what I want to do and my ability to do it.
I have been informed that I can do an access course, only problem is the only college that does an art & design access course is 2 hours away from where I live and would have to get 2 trains and 2 busses just to get there (I don’t drive) and the contents of the access course is basically everything I did in my role as a marketing assistant.
What is the difference between an access course and a foundation course? I would much rather so foundation course. I have 1 year of experience in a creative field and a portfolio of creative work. As I mentioned I have an iPad, adobe illustrator and I also have my own DSLR camera and have been taking photographs as a hobby since the age of 16.
I have a C equivalent in English, an Art & Design BTEC, Level 1 Performing Arts, but I only have a D equivalent for maths. I have seen that there are no entry requirements for the foundation course but could someone explain the differences between an access course and foundation course.
So sorry this is so long! I just wanted to give an accurate story of my experience and grades so I can get relevant advice.
Thank you if you got this far.
Reply 1
An access course is designed to take people who haven’t taken GCSEs and bring them up to level 3 (A levels equivalent).
A foundation diploma in art and design is designed to take people who haven’t taken completed A levels and bring them up to level 4 (year 1 of a degree level).
Both are good for people wanting to prepare for a degree. The difference is in the level of study assumed at the start of the course.
From the sounds of it your work experience could well make you suitable for a foundation diploma. If you have some providers that offer a FAD near you then I would recommend you talking to them about your background and sharing your portfolio to ask for their advice about whether you would be suitable for their course. If they think that you may struggle then an Access is likely to be a better option.
A foundation diploma in art and design is designed to take people who haven’t taken completed A levels and bring them up to level 4 (year 1 of a degree level).
Both are good for people wanting to prepare for a degree. The difference is in the level of study assumed at the start of the course.
From the sounds of it your work experience could well make you suitable for a foundation diploma. If you have some providers that offer a FAD near you then I would recommend you talking to them about your background and sharing your portfolio to ask for their advice about whether you would be suitable for their course. If they think that you may struggle then an Access is likely to be a better option.
Reply 2
Note that a Foundation DIPLOMA in art and design is not a foundation year/degree with foundation or a foundation degree. Those are different qualifications that last longer than a year and lock you into a specific university.
Reply 3
Original post
by Natasha.jdgI am 27 and recently went to get some advice at my local education centre about what to do with my life.
I did not do well in school as I was removed from mainstream education 2 weeks into year 9 due to me being bullied and I wasn’t able to choose any options or continue with mainstream education. I couldn’t even take GCSE’s at the schooling alternative I went to.
I did go to college at 18 to study performing arts but only at a Level 1. At 24 I started working as a marketing assistant at a members only tennis club where I worked for a year, this role included photography, managing and creating content across all social media platforms as well as content creation for a sponsor of the club. I also did other things such as creating newsletters, slideshows, and basically everything that was created digitally.
Fast forward to january 2025 and I am 27 with a dream of working in the creative industry. I have had jobs outside of being creative for the past year or so and it’s just not for me. Only issue is the jobs I want to apply for are asking for graphic design degrees.
I have been thinking of getting into graphic design for a number of months now as I started to create branding projects in September last year, I also invested in a ipad to level up my designs with illustrations, as well as this I have recently signed up for an adobe illustrator subscription to get some adobe experience, along with purchasing some design books. I now have over 5 completed projects both illustration and branding projects on my online portfolio and am working on my 6th!
I have always wanted to do something like art & design and was always a talented drawer and great at coming up with ideas as a young child, I was just robbed of my opportunity to go through school properly and I have struggled on and off with my mental health from the age of 18 but I now feel very stable in my life and feel confident I in what I want to do and my ability to do it.
I have been informed that I can do an access course, only problem is the only college that does an art & design access course is 2 hours away from where I live and would have to get 2 trains and 2 busses just to get there (I don’t drive) and the contents of the access course is basically everything I did in my role as a marketing assistant.
What is the difference between an access course and a foundation course? I would much rather so foundation course. I have 1 year of experience in a creative field and a portfolio of creative work. As I mentioned I have an iPad, adobe illustrator and I also have my own DSLR camera and have been taking photographs as a hobby since the age of 16.
I have a C equivalent in English, an Art & Design BTEC, Level 1 Performing Arts, but I only have a D equivalent for maths. I have seen that there are no entry requirements for the foundation course but could someone explain the differences between an access course and foundation course.
So sorry this is so long! I just wanted to give an accurate story of my experience and grades so I can get relevant advice.
Thank you if you got this far.
I did not do well in school as I was removed from mainstream education 2 weeks into year 9 due to me being bullied and I wasn’t able to choose any options or continue with mainstream education. I couldn’t even take GCSE’s at the schooling alternative I went to.
I did go to college at 18 to study performing arts but only at a Level 1. At 24 I started working as a marketing assistant at a members only tennis club where I worked for a year, this role included photography, managing and creating content across all social media platforms as well as content creation for a sponsor of the club. I also did other things such as creating newsletters, slideshows, and basically everything that was created digitally.
Fast forward to january 2025 and I am 27 with a dream of working in the creative industry. I have had jobs outside of being creative for the past year or so and it’s just not for me. Only issue is the jobs I want to apply for are asking for graphic design degrees.
I have been thinking of getting into graphic design for a number of months now as I started to create branding projects in September last year, I also invested in a ipad to level up my designs with illustrations, as well as this I have recently signed up for an adobe illustrator subscription to get some adobe experience, along with purchasing some design books. I now have over 5 completed projects both illustration and branding projects on my online portfolio and am working on my 6th!
I have always wanted to do something like art & design and was always a talented drawer and great at coming up with ideas as a young child, I was just robbed of my opportunity to go through school properly and I have struggled on and off with my mental health from the age of 18 but I now feel very stable in my life and feel confident I in what I want to do and my ability to do it.
I have been informed that I can do an access course, only problem is the only college that does an art & design access course is 2 hours away from where I live and would have to get 2 trains and 2 busses just to get there (I don’t drive) and the contents of the access course is basically everything I did in my role as a marketing assistant.
What is the difference between an access course and a foundation course? I would much rather so foundation course. I have 1 year of experience in a creative field and a portfolio of creative work. As I mentioned I have an iPad, adobe illustrator and I also have my own DSLR camera and have been taking photographs as a hobby since the age of 16.
I have a C equivalent in English, an Art & Design BTEC, Level 1 Performing Arts, but I only have a D equivalent for maths. I have seen that there are no entry requirements for the foundation course but could someone explain the differences between an access course and foundation course.
So sorry this is so long! I just wanted to give an accurate story of my experience and grades so I can get relevant advice.
Thank you if you got this far.
Hi @Natasha.jdg
As usual, some great advice from @PQ
I can add to that as I am a mature student that did a Foundation Diploma in Art & Design (FAD) at a local college, then progressed to Uni for BA (Hons) in Fine Art.
FAD is a really good course to get you ready for a Uni undergraduate course. Its quite fast paced, but not so much so that you get stressed about the amount of work. Different institutions offer it at both level 3 and level 4. You'll have to ask the colleges you're interested in about what level they offer it at. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and feel I was a little better prepared than my fellow undergrad student that did an access course, but, tbh, FAD was the only option for me that was a realistic commute, so I think that should be part of your decision.
Hope that helps
Andrea. Student Ambassador
Arts University Plymouth Rep
Aup.ac.uk
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Reply 4
Lots of things to consider here.
Some will be specific to you and your location.
Funding arrangements are different for the FE route (Foundation Diploma/Access course - no maintenance element) and getting a university art degree Foundation Year place which is another possible option for you. I'm not sure about differences for disabled student support, but that might also be relevant if mental health might be an issue (eg if DSA think you fit the criteria they may fund a mentor)
My son had a car crash of an educational history, with a very unfortunate set of experiences in FE (and some good ones!) and no Level 3 qualifications and no Level 2 English or Maths. FE Colleges refused to consider him for Foundation... BUT he was accepted onto a foundation year art degree (which guarantees him progression to the Honours art course of his choosing if he passes - of course it was important that the specialism he might (very much does!) want was available at that university) He wasn't thrilled himself about having to do a generalist year but has found it much better than he expected, is thriving academically and well supported. He also has contact with the staff and facilities that he'll be progressing onto. His issues are not ones that he can leave behind and he's had some challenges but I think he's been happier and more fulfilled than for many years. The fees for a university Foundation Year are higher than FE but from what I have seen the value for money in terms of facilities and staff contact time is good.
You might also feel that moving somewhere for four years is more feasible than for one, part time, year.
You might be getting a bit late in the UCAS cycle, but worth thinking about. You've got some useful work and life experience to bring. Take careful note of portfolio requirements. You might have to work hard to get round 'computer says no' admissions re: lack of Level 3.
Some will be specific to you and your location.
Funding arrangements are different for the FE route (Foundation Diploma/Access course - no maintenance element) and getting a university art degree Foundation Year place which is another possible option for you. I'm not sure about differences for disabled student support, but that might also be relevant if mental health might be an issue (eg if DSA think you fit the criteria they may fund a mentor)
My son had a car crash of an educational history, with a very unfortunate set of experiences in FE (and some good ones!) and no Level 3 qualifications and no Level 2 English or Maths. FE Colleges refused to consider him for Foundation... BUT he was accepted onto a foundation year art degree (which guarantees him progression to the Honours art course of his choosing if he passes - of course it was important that the specialism he might (very much does!) want was available at that university) He wasn't thrilled himself about having to do a generalist year but has found it much better than he expected, is thriving academically and well supported. He also has contact with the staff and facilities that he'll be progressing onto. His issues are not ones that he can leave behind and he's had some challenges but I think he's been happier and more fulfilled than for many years. The fees for a university Foundation Year are higher than FE but from what I have seen the value for money in terms of facilities and staff contact time is good.
You might also feel that moving somewhere for four years is more feasible than for one, part time, year.
You might be getting a bit late in the UCAS cycle, but worth thinking about. You've got some useful work and life experience to bring. Take careful note of portfolio requirements. You might have to work hard to get round 'computer says no' admissions re: lack of Level 3.
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