Access to Art & Design

What it's all about?

This exciting three-day-a-week course, (or alternatively part-time two-evenings-a-week course) caters for students returning to education. Previous qualifications or art experience aren't essential, and you'll be on a well-established route to a wide range of degree-level art and design courses - ideal for those starting their first careers as well as those looking for a career change.

Most students follow the full two-year programme. However, if you have previous art and design experience and a clear idea of your preferred art and design specialism, you may go straight into the second year of the programme Access to Higher Education, allowing you to complete your Access course in one year. We'll help you decide on the right route at your interview.

Your fellow students will be adults of all ages, and will include people with a huge variety of experience, skills and abilities. This rich mixture of students provides a supportive atmosphere where you learn from one another as well as from course tutors.

Access to Higher Education is also available as a part-time course. It is aimed at people who may have work or family commitments during the day and delivers the same quality of education and preparation for higher education but delivered in a more flexible way, two evenings a week, over two years.

Course content

Access to Further Education (First Year)

You'll cover drawing, Colour, 3D Work, Computer Graphics, Photography, Ceramics, Printmaking, Contextual Studies/Art & Design History, Information & Research skills. You'll have the chance to discover your own strengths and talents, and then begin to specialise in a chosen area, working individually and on group projects. Finally, you'll focus on your major project developing your own response to a given broad theme in your own choice of media.

Access to Higher Education (Second Year)

Skill Development and Visual Awareness, Portfolio-Building, Visual Studies, Broad-Based Project, Self-Directed briefs, Contextual Studies: your own practice in relation to other artists and designers.

Assessment

Assessment is replaced by a system of evaluation, which will involve you in the process. At the end of each module you will hand work in, together with your own written observations; the course tutor then gives written feedback on this.

Live briefs

You'll have the option to complete live briefs, which may be competitions or community projects. Recent students have completed a variety of very successful projects, both individually and in groups.

Resources

Your main base will be a large, art and design studio. You'll have access to our extensive computer suites, well-equipped print-making facilities, photographic studios and darkrooms, and a range of 3D workshops (ceramics/glass, casting, metalwork, woodwork/plastics).

Study visits

There will be a minimum of three one-day visits per year to galleries, museums and sculpture parks.

Progression & career opportunities

We have an excellent record of success in helping students achieve their ambitions. In recent years, students wanting to progress to degree-level study have all won places on Higher Education courses of their choice, including highly competitive local and national courses. Some of these students progress to degree or foundation degree courses here at the College.