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UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
The UAL Foundation Diploma is a great route to prepare students for undergraduate study at the UK’s top arts universities.
This mutli-disciplinary one year course is divided into three mandatory units all of which must be passed to be awarded the Diploma.
The range of art and design disciplines taught at RIC include Fine Art, Graphic Communication, Fashion and Textile Design, Photography and lens based media, 3D and Ceramics (from September 2026). The course is taught in our new, purpose built Gowers Art Centre in Northbank.
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A Top Visual Arts Boarding School
Imagine a school where the arts are at the centre of the curriculum and creativity is found in every corner of the campus.
A school with a creative buzz where you’ll be taught by practicing designers and makers, artists, filmmakers, illustrators and photographers. You’ll be studying alongside those who share your enthusiasms and interests.
A school which doesn’t force its students into a house style but helps your own practice develop individually, guiding you towards an impressive portfolio as well as top results.
Already our top university destination, our new relationship with UAL Awarding Body builds on this success. As a longstanding A level provider our award-winning art department can now offer qualifications accredited by UAL. Many of our students progress to UAL and other major creative universities. This Foundation Diploma is a natural development from the Pre-Foundation and is a welcome addition to our portfolio of creative arts courses.
Diverse creative direction
Students on the foundation programme work on modules in the following subject areas:
Fine Art: drawing, painting, mixed‑media, sculpture, ceramics, installation, printmaking.
Graphic Communication: advertising, packaging design, design for print, illustration, communication graphics, branding, multimedia.
Fashion & Textile Design: fashion design, fashion communication, styling, branding, fashion illustration, fashion textiles, costume, digital textiles, printed and/or dyed fabrics and materials, domestic textiles, wallpaper, interior design, constructed textiles, art and installed textiles.
Photography/Lens‑based Media: portraiture, landscape, still life photography, documentary photography, photojournalism, fashion photography, experimental imagery, multimedia and photographic installation, interactive media including web, app and game design, motion graphics, design for film and television, moving image (video, film, animation).
Ceramics and 3D: From September 2026
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The art rooms have a welcoming, university feel, with much of the work on display of university standard with real individuality and flair.
Course Outline
Unit 1: Diagnostic Investigation into Creative Practice
Through projects students explore a range of media, materials and techniques in response to set themes whilst developing critical understanding of contemporary art & design practice through a contextual studies programme.
Unit 2: Developing Specialist Practice
Developing Specialist Practice is taught and assessed at Level 3. Students will undertake projects where they start to specialise their practice and will be supported to complete a UCAS application and develop a portfolio of work for university applications. Alongside this, students will continue to follow a contextual studies programme to develop their critical understanding of current practice.
In the first two parts of the course students will explore a wide range of creative skills and disciplines including drawing and visual communication, digital illustration, a range of 2D disciplines (painting, printmaking etc), photography and image manipulation, 3D design and moving image and animation.
Unit 3: Consolidating Practice
This is taught and assessed at Level 4. Students are required to complete a final major project, which is a self-directed brief that will showcase their skills and creativity in their preferred media, and area of critical exploration. This project will culminate in a public exhibition which the students, themselves, will curate.
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Key Facts
Age: 17+ Group size: Average 8 students.
Entry Requirements: 5 GCSEs or equivalent or successful completion of our Pre-Foundation or completion of Year 12 equivalent in your home country.
English Language Level: 5.5 IELTS or equivalent.
English language support is offered and timetabled if required to ensure admissions criteria of university destinations can be met.
Course Length: 1 academic year (3 terms).
Personal Tutor: Academic and university application support.
Course content: This is a full-time course. It includes at least 16 hours per week of specialist art tuition and unlimited studio time during college hours.
Fees: Fees are charged at the intensive GCSE and A level course rate. Boarding is charged separately.
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How to Apply
Contact our friendly admissions team for more information or to arrange an informal interview. For the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design we also require 3 pieces of recent artwork to be submitted digitally on application.
