Why study an art and design foundation (FAD) year?
Hello everyone,
As many of you are making decisions about what to study at university I often find myself suggesting the art and design foundation year (FAD). So I thought I would create one post highlighting all the benefits I found in doing a FAD course.
Firstly FAD is a one year course that is free if you start it before you turn 18. You can find these courses at both colleges and universities. You learn lots of new skills and experiment on projects with a range of mediums, as the course progresses you start to specialise more on your chosen medium. Courses can be different at different institutions so make sure to do your research!
Some benefits are ...
- Helps you make a decision and explore options. During FAD you get to try a range of different mediums and develop further the ones you already practice at a higher level. This can help you get a better idea of what you enjoy. Sometimes students even decide that they don't want to continue with art in higher education, so great if you are unsure or stuck between courses.
- Time to research. You have an extra year to visit open days and research universities and courses. This will really help you come to a clear decision. Plus the teachers often have great advice on choosing a course and university.
- Portfolio Building. You can work on your portfolio and make it more specialised to your chosen course, giving you more chance at getting accepted at your top choices.
- Location consideration. This gives you potentially an extra year at home if you choose a local course, as sometimes students aren't quite ready to move out. Extra time to prepare may help. Or if you choose to move for the course it gives you a taster of what it is like to live away from home for a year and see if it is the right option for you before you do it for 3+ years.
- Bridge between a-level and uni. During a-levels you study at level 3 then at uni level 4, FAD you start at level 3 and then do level 4 making you much more prepared for the projects and independence at university.
- Make friends! I made friends with a great group of people during FAD that I still meet up with now, it's a great way to spend a gap year.
I hope this helps summarise some of the benefits and if you have any questions or anything to add feel free to reply below
-Grace (Kingston Rep)
As many of you are making decisions about what to study at university I often find myself suggesting the art and design foundation year (FAD). So I thought I would create one post highlighting all the benefits I found in doing a FAD course.
Firstly FAD is a one year course that is free if you start it before you turn 18. You can find these courses at both colleges and universities. You learn lots of new skills and experiment on projects with a range of mediums, as the course progresses you start to specialise more on your chosen medium. Courses can be different at different institutions so make sure to do your research!
Some benefits are ...
- Helps you make a decision and explore options. During FAD you get to try a range of different mediums and develop further the ones you already practice at a higher level. This can help you get a better idea of what you enjoy. Sometimes students even decide that they don't want to continue with art in higher education, so great if you are unsure or stuck between courses.
- Time to research. You have an extra year to visit open days and research universities and courses. This will really help you come to a clear decision. Plus the teachers often have great advice on choosing a course and university.
- Portfolio Building. You can work on your portfolio and make it more specialised to your chosen course, giving you more chance at getting accepted at your top choices.
- Location consideration. This gives you potentially an extra year at home if you choose a local course, as sometimes students aren't quite ready to move out. Extra time to prepare may help. Or if you choose to move for the course it gives you a taster of what it is like to live away from home for a year and see if it is the right option for you before you do it for 3+ years.
- Bridge between a-level and uni. During a-levels you study at level 3 then at uni level 4, FAD you start at level 3 and then do level 4 making you much more prepared for the projects and independence at university.
- Make friends! I made friends with a great group of people during FAD that I still meet up with now, it's a great way to spend a gap year.
I hope this helps summarise some of the benefits and if you have any questions or anything to add feel free to reply below
-Grace (Kingston Rep)
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Mature student applying for fine art?
- Is it too late to do fashion at university?
- What are each of the Art Foundation courses in London like?
- I have a question
- Choosing art therapy or fine art uni options
- Can I do a 1 year foundation course at one uni if I have a deferred offer to another?
- Transfer to UCL architecture
- Alevel and career choices
- Access course or foundation year - requirements and differneces?
- Deffering a year to do a Foundation Diploma
- Art and Design foundation year
- year 12 textiles supercurriculars
- French vs Art
- What do I put in my architecture portfolio if I don’t take art?
- recommendations for foundation art courses in london?
- Looking for friends - UAL FAD f&t Costume Store
- Which subjects are best for Fashion Design?
- Tuition fees for UAL post-alevel art and design foundation course.
- What course should I do within the arts?
- UAL foundation course or Kingston product and furniture degree?
Latest
Trending
Last reply 2 months ago
Graduate diploma in Art at RCA or Goldsmiths - is it worth it?Last reply 6 months ago
RCA Offer Holder - Every programme accept more than 100 students?Last reply 6 months ago
Art Foundation Diploma 2025 Personal Statememt help!! (UAL, Kingston, Oxford Brookes)Articles for you
How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
