Start

September 2026

Fees

£9,790* (UK) | £17,200 (INT)

Duration

1 year full-time

Location

Hendon campus

Entry Requirements

40-64 UCAS points

Why choose a Foundation Year in Arts and Creative Industries at Middlesex?

Have you got a passion for animation, or feel like exploring photography? Are you a film maker? Fancy writing scripts for TV? Is illustration your thing, or do you crave the freedom of a fine artist? Want to devise your own fashion brand? Interested in graphics or advertising, or are you captivated by the world of interiors? Can you build gaming worlds, imagine characters or create stories? Join us to discover you own creative pathway on our exciting and flexible year of study that forms part of your 4 year degree programme.

This programme welcomes students from all different life stages: post A-level (or equivalent) students, mature students returning to education, practising creatives ready to refresh their practice, and individuals exploring a change of career - all wishing to discover their creative direction and prepare for BA study.

What you will gain

The foundation year is an essential part of the learning process. You will be encouraged to apply an investigative and individual approach to all aspects of your work through specially designed projects requiring visual and academic research. Given the freedom to experiment and explore new, different and challenging ways of working you will have the opportunity to experience the value of making mistakes without the pressure of being numerically graded, thereby encouraging you to freely develop your talents. This programme will provide a strong skills base and creative outlook in preparation for your next years of study and future career.

What you will learn

During this foundation year you will build a broad range of transferable skills taught through project based workshops and explore our world class facilities, experimenting with different techniques and mediums.
Through a series of specially designed creative projects we will introduce you to the creative process method of working and help you understand the importance of research to inspire and enrich your practice.
Industry inspired specialist projects will develop your creativity and help you define your direction of study.
You will learn how to present your work produced throughout the year in a professional digital portfolio and display your work for exhibition.
Explore creative London through a series of visits to galleries, exhibitions, museums, and studio sessions and reflect on your experiences, recording and capturing your journey in a visual diary.

Choosing a foundation programme

A collage of images of Arts and Creative student's work

The foundation is a flexible year. Apply by choosing the programme direction of your choice with the freedom to change direction during the foundation year. Apply via UCAS using the appropriate code below:

Arts and Creative Industries Lookbook

Take a closer look at an inspiring collection of artwork created by MDX BA Foundation students.

Download the Lookbook (PDF)

5 great reasons to pick this course

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Excellent teaching and support

A highly experienced and supportive team of industry-based tutors and technicians who will inform, guide and support you through the foundation year with regular feedback and assessment.

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Flexibility

Discover passions and identify your strengths within the creative industries and focus on a future pathway for study, allowing students to change direction within the year.

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Explore creative London

Join our experienced contextual studies team for an exciting introduction to the museums, galleries and exhibitions of London through a diverse selection of field trips and industry visits. Be inspired, reflect and document what you see.

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Access to our World-class facilities

With full access to our wide range of art, design and media facilities, our expert technical staff will help and support your projects, introduce you to new methods and approaches, and enable you to realise your ideas.

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Guaranteed BA progression at MDX

On successful completion of the foundation year you will automatically progress directly on to one of the BA programmes without the need for a further interview.

Student stories and experiences

two students sit in bedroom studying together

Accommodation - Q&A with student housing services manager, Lisette Metcalfe

Student life

Find out how student life is at Middlesex.

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Diversity at Middlesex University

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About your course

The Foundation year is an essential part of the learning process. The Arts and Creative Industries Foundation year is a contemporary and inspirational multidisciplinary programme, carefully compiled of four modules, that encourages students to explore the aspects of different creative directions. With a diagnostic approach, and in preparation for BA study, this programme aims to: expand creative thinking, develop a strong base of essential and transferable skills and techniques, clarify industry careers for future focus, build confidence, and help students choose a suitable direction in the creative industries and clarify career opportunities.

Compulsory

Explore London as a creative centre of art, design, and media through a series of visits to galleries, exhibitions, museums, and studio sessions. Our contextual studies team share their expert knowledge through these informative field trips, seminars, and talks, providing knowledge of contexts and issues that will inform and inspire your developing practice. Visual diary with 1500 words embedded.

Build your skills and explore our world class facilities with the support of our experienced technical team. Experiment with different techniques and mediums through a series of introductory project-based workshops, and creative day projects, designed to introduce you to the creative process method of working and help you understand the importance of research to inspire and enrich your practice. A combination of project-based workshops, diagnostic projects and Industry week.

Through a series of specially designed creative briefs, each student will develop their own personal style and recognise their strengths and preferred direction. This flexible programme allows students to test different directions as our Industry-based tutor team support creative investigation, and offer specialist guidance to prepare students for the creative pathway ahead. 2 x 3-week specialist projects.

The final module focuses on a major project in your chosen direction. A longer and more involved project challenges students to put into practice what they have learned throughout the programme. You will also have the opportunity to build an extensive portfolio of work showcasing your best works from the year.

For more details about this course, please download the Arts and Creative Industries Foundation Year course specification (PDF).

Teaching

The foundation year is a full-time programme where you have access to the foundation studio 5 days a week plus evening and weekends if they wish. We split the group into manageable teaching cohorts with 3 focused teaching days throughout the week to deliver a mix of 1-1 feedback, briefing, seminars, workshops, project reflection. The rest of the week the you will be either working on your projects independently in the studio, workshops or off campus. If you have a have part-time job to support your studies, the flexibility of these allocated focused teaching days ensures that you will not miss any important studio/workshop sessions, allowing you to work independently in your own time to meet the deadlines outside of these specified teaching days.

You will be based in our exclusive foundation studio in the Ritterman Building at our Hendon campus where you have dedicated space to work on your creative projects. We believe that working alongside other students studying different disciplines enriches the learning process and strengthens the artistic outcomes.

Timetable

Your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Our excellent teaching and support teams will help you develop your skills from research and practical skills to critical thinking. And we offer free 24-hour laptop loans with full desktop software, free printing and Wi-Fi to use on or off campus.

The foundation year is assessed on 100% coursework with no exams.

Coursework is assessed against project brief requirements and learning outcomes for each module. These are delivered/specified at the beginning of each project and made available on MyLearning. All four modules are assessed individually as completed within the timeline specified. There is a pass or fail is given for each module accompanied by written and verbal feedback. Module_1 is the contextual studies module, where a maximum of 1500 words is required and embedded within a visual diary to reflect the visits and tasks set throughout the module. Modules 2-4 are project-based and should follow the creative process. All completed projects journeys, from initial ideas to final outcomes are documented and delivered digitally by each student for assessment to meet the deadlines specified.

To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback.

Students using film equipment at Middlesex University

Foundation students have full access to all the facilities to help support and develop their ideas. Learn more

Student taking photo in photography studio

We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place. Our facilities

Careers

This Foundation Year course offers you a route to degree-level study. Our courses are designed with your career in mind, which is why we're ranked 1st in the UK for Course Quality and Employability (Uni Compare Rankings 2026).

Our employability service Careers and Futures will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally. As an alumni, we offer you lifetime career support so we can help you as your progress.

MDXcelerator student start-up support

Want to be your own boss?

If you want to start your own company, our MDXcelerator student start-up support offers the opportunity to pitch your idea, gain expert mentoring, and win funding to launch your business.

Our MDX graduate competencies are the fundamental building blocks in preparing our students for their professional careers. They were developed by our Careers and Futures service through extensive research and collaboration with global, national, and local employers, as well as input from student groups across our campuses in London, Dubai and Mauritius.

The competencies are:

Leadership and Influence
Curiosity and Learning
Communication, Empathy, and Inclusion
Collaborative Innovation
Resilience and Adaptability
Problem Solving and Delivery
Technological Agility
Entrepreneurial Mindset

Find out more about graduate competencies at Middlesex.

Students at Middlesex span 122 countries and you will be part of our thriving global network. After you graduate, you'll join our alumni network. You will get access to:

Lifetime careers support from the Careers and Futures employability service;
A 20% discount on further postgraduate study, or 10% discount for alumni from our academic partners;
Raise your personal profile as one of our featured alumni;
Continued limited usage of the Sheppard Library;
Exclusive MDX alumni networks to connect with your peers.

Entry requirements

At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way.

Qualifications

UCAS points: 40-64 UCAS points
Access requirements: Overall pass: must include 45 credits at level 3, of which all 45 must be at Merit or higher
Combinations: A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications that total 40-64 UCAS Tariff points

We'll accept T Levels for entry onto this course (and our extended courses with a foundation year) with GCSEs in line with UCAS tariff calculation.

We'll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don't quite get the grades you hoped for, we'll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.

If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.

Our entry requirements page outlines how we make offers.

Portfolio

Entry onto this course requires a creative portfolio review.

For any questions around portfolio submissions, please email Course Leader Beverly Speight.

Personal Statement

Find out how to make an effective personal statement.

Mature students (over 21)

We welcome applications from mature candidates, including those without formal qualifications, provided you can demonstrate relevant experience and ability.

You can apply now via UCAS using the code ???.

Need help with your application? Check out our undergraduate application page.

Register your interest

Our communications are designed to support you in deciding your future and keep you up to date about student finance, employment opportunities and student activities available at Middlesex University.

Chat with a real student about life at MDX

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Student Testimonial

Middlesex University students in photography studio

"The workshops presented me with a wonderful opportunity to try out new techniques. I have incorporated them into my practice wherever possible. I particularly enjoyed photography and printing as I had very limited experience in these areas prior to my foundation year."

Adam, student

Fashion student looking at garments in studio

"It was the right choice for me. I loved trying new equipment, learning printing techniques and using all the resources here. They are what drew me here in the first place."

Lucy, student

Students working in creative space on campus

"After coming to the UK for the first time, it was wonderful to visit London on the trips. I also loved having the opportunity to experiment in different workshops. Going into the unknown has given me confidence in myself."

Flavia, student

Fees and funding

The fees below are for the 2026/27 academic year:

UK students¹

Foundation Year (FY): £9,790

Full-time: £9,790*

Part-time: £81 per taught credit

International students²

Full-time: £17,200

Part-time: £143 per taught credit

*Changes to tuition fees from the 2026-2027 academic year for UK undergraduate students

For the 2026/27 academic year, the maximum annual tuition fee applicable to UK undergraduate students for approved providers will increase to:

£9,790 for standard full-time courses
£11,750 for full-time accelerated courses
£7,335 for part-time courses

For courses with an integrated foundation year, the first-year fee is £9,790 for courses in science, engineering and creative and performing arts, and £5,760 for classroom-based courses.

Maintenance loans will also rise each year in line with inflation.

Accordingly, these are the fees that will be charged by the University for UK undergraduate students in the 2026/27 academic year subject to parliamentary approval taking place in early 2026.

UK Government information on tuition fees for UK undergraduate students in the 2027/2028 academic year

The changes below will apply from 1 August 2027. The government intends to lay regulations implementing these changes in early 2026 and will be subject to Parliamentary procedure. Further information can be found at GOV.UK's tuition fee changes webpage.

For the 2027/28 academic year, it is anticipated that the maximum annual tuition fee applicable to UK undergraduate students for approved providers will increase to:

£10,050 for standard full-time courses
£12,060 for full-time accelerated courses
£7,530 for part-time courses

This means that if you start your studies in September 2026 on a standard full-time course, you will pay an annual tuition fee of £9,790 for your first year which will then rise to £10,050 for your second year of study starting in September 2027.

Subsequent tuition fee rises for UK undergraduate students

Depending on the duration of your study, your tuition fees for subsequent academic years beyond the 2027/28 academic year may therefore be subject to further inflationary increases by the UK government in due course. This means that the fee set out above is likely to be increased again for the 2028/29 academic year.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students directly in writing at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which the rise may apply.

The following course-related costs are included in the fees:

Free access to the resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
Free printing for academic paperwork
Audio-visual equipment available for loan, including digital stills cameras, digital video recorders, digital audio recorders.

To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you. Find out more about undergraduate finance and all of our scholarships and bursaries.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.

Important information

We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.