Course summary

The foundation provides students with non-standard entry points to progress onto BA (Hons) Illustration. Develop skills across a range of media and be introduced to creative best practice in preparation for the first year of the course. You'll have the opportunity to explore creative processes relevant to visual design, animation, illustration, print-making, fine art, and photography. Designed to encourage visual exploration and creative discovery within an engaging and vibrant studio setting. Upon successful completion of the foundation course, you will join the undergraduate BA (Hons) Illustration course equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to successfully complete an undergraduate degree. Your foundation year will:

• Welcome you to an engaging, experiential learning environment with a focus on active exploration, experimentation and discovery across a wide range of material, methods and media.

• Help develop your practical, technical and creative skills through studio and workshop based projects.

• Provide training in key learning skills for further undergraduate study and build an awareness of practise, context and theory.

• Introduce you to the accessible community of experienced academics, practitioners and technical staff that will support you on your studies.

• Give you access to a wide range of enviable specialist workshops, laboratories and facilities across the campus and become part of our vibrant student community through the various opportunities available within the School of Art, Design and Architecture.

• Enable you to explore and develop your personal interests and strengths as a creative practitioner.

• Explore the excellent resources that are on offer to you, including digital software (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects and Animate), 3D software and Virtual Reality immersive media, and traditional life drawing, printmaking in silkscreen, lino, woodcut, etching, risograph, bookbinding, ceramics and letterpress.

• Get insight into the industry from visiting speakers across the breadth of illustration. We have a special annual illustration event – PIE – inviting speakers from around the world; recent keynotes have been Fantagraphics and Flying Eye Books.

• Get noticed. Develop your visual voice and get noticed in the professional world by taking part in external events, commissions and competitions.

• Define your direction. Explore a broad practice or focus on one of our four specialist exit awards: Animation and the Screen, Children's Markets, Comics and Visual Narratives, or Printmaking.

• Go global. Engage with UN Sustainability projects with real world impact. We have options to study abroad on a three-month placement including Japan, Europe, Scandinavia and North America. National and overseas study trips inspire and inform with wider cultural contexts.

• Learn from experts. Work with experienced and award-winning tutors. We invite successful practitioners to work alongside to offer inspirational advice and industry insight.