Intensive Foundation in Art and Design

Overview & facilities

Ever thought that a year was a long time, but sometimes not long enough?

The intensive Foundation in Art and Design (iFAD) is a unique course, developed to help you progress directly on to an Art and Design undergraduate degree course of your choice at Middlesex University in only twelve weeks. iFAD offers you the opportunity to combine your preparation for a degree course with a gap year; travelling, working and earning to help pay for life at University. Better still, successful completion of iFAD guarantees you a place on the undergraduate subject degree course that you nominate.

The intensive Foundation in Art and Design programme was developed because of the need for a short, creative and diagnostic approach to a career in Art and Design, combined with the opportunity to take a gap year. You may have a fair idea of what you want to do, but maybe looking for reassurance and want hands on experience. You may have no idea of what you want to do, but just know that it has to be in a creative environment.

You may simply want to experience something new and challenging. iFAD offers these opportunities in a concentrated and focused way. Firstly, the course is spread over twelve weeks with each student getting a dedicated work space with one-on-one tuition every day, five days a week. Secondly, projects are tailored to suit individual needs together with group activities such as Drawing and Contextual Studies field trips; small group sizes combined with high staffing ratios allow a far more personal and individual approach.

Finally but very importantly, successful completion of the course guarantees progression onto one of the Art & Design BA Honours programmes at Middlesex University. When joining iFAD, you will have full access to all of the facilities and amenities and have all the same rights and privileges enjoyed by the undergraduates and postgraduates.

The Grove

From September 2011 this course will be taught at The Grove in Hendon. Click here for your virtual tour.

Programme flyer

Content & modules

The course starts with a series of Induction Workshops, including 3D, wood, metal and plastics, ceramics, reprographics and photography, that will give you the confidence and knowledge to use them when you need to and familiarise you with workshop and studio practices and the health and safety requirements associated with specialist areas. This is followed by a Diagnostic phase that varies in length depending on individual needs, in which you will be encouraged to explore and experiment in unfamiliar areas, and that will allow you to make an informed and appropriate choice of undergraduate programme to follow. This is followed by a period of consolidation of your chosen pathway, through personal project work negotiated with your tutors, and which concludes with a Presentation and a public Exhibition.

iFAD is a challenging course that rewards dedication and commitment, and will enable you to build up a body of work that demonstrates your particular skills, creativity and interests. A process of continual review, combined with tutorials and self assessment, is used to monitor and evaluate your progress, helping you make day to day decisions about your work as well as providing guidance on your final BA choice. We ask you to indicate the specialist degree course you are interested in before you start, which reserves you a conditional place, but this can be changed if you, in discussion with your tutors, feel it would be appropriate.

Most of your time will be spent in the dedicated iFAD studio, working on a variety of tasks and projects, as well as using specialist workshops and resources. There will also be regular life drawing classes and you will also go on a number of contextual study field trips in and around London, with its unparalled range of cultural and creative resources.

iFAD Programme Outline

Entry & applying

You would need to submit a portfolio of between 20 to 25 items,initially we ask that this be submitted on a CD/DVD - a subsequent interview may take place if it is deemed appropriate. You will also need 120 tariff points with Grade E Advanced GCE or six unit AVCE,and GCSE passes in five A to C or overseas equivalent.Overseas applicants should possess advanced level English Language skills,IELTS 6.0/TOFEL paper 550.

Portfolio (15 to 25 items, on CD or DVD wherever possible) and possibly interview; 60 tariff points with Grade E Advanced GCE or six-unit AVCE, and GCSE passess in five grades A to C (or overseas equivalent).

Applying

You should apply direct to the University using the application form. 

You will need to submit a portfolio of between 20 to 25 items, initially we ask that this be submitted on a CD/DVD. The basic expectation is that your portfolio should contain a good cross section of your work, it does not have to be just finished pieces; it could contain images/pages taken from a sketchbook or work sheet, that show how ideas were developed, often the preliminary work is more spontaneous than the end result. There should be evidence of your drawing ability and your understanding of visual communication that indicates your curiosity and willingness to experiment. It should also show (if appropriate, because you may not know) examples that  back up your interest in your chosen subject. It should be a reflection of who you are as an artist/ designer.

A portfolio template can be downloaded to assist you.

A completed application form should be sent to:

Art and Design Admissions

Middlesex University
Fenella
The Burroughs
Hendon
NW4 4BT 
Telephone: 020 8411 6680
Email: arts@mdx.ac.uk

Please remember to enclose copies of your qualifications, your portfolio on CD/DVD and your academic or work reference.

English language requirements

You must have competence in English language and we normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification. The most common English Language requirements for international students are IELTS 6.0 (with minimum 5.5 in all four components) or TOEFL internet based 72 (with at least 17 in listening & writing, 20 in speaking and 18 in reading).

Middlesex also offers an Intensive Academic English course (Pre-Sessional) that ranges from 5-17 weeks depending on your level of English. Successful completion of this course would meet English language entry requirements. For more information on applying for the pre-sessional please email english@mdx.ac.uk.

Fees & funding

January 2012 Fees