Access to Higher Education: Art and Design

Summary: This course provides an excellent preparation for study on a wide range of art degree courses.








Course description: Do you enjoy drawing, being creative, thinking about the visual? Would you like to extend your ideas and develop a range of skills? Are you interested in eventually studying for a degree in art and design? If you have had some recent involvement with art and design, and enjoy independent learning this could be the course for you.
You will spend two days a week in our well equipped studios working with enthusiastic and committed tutors, who are all practicing artists, across a range of disciplines. You will also study Contextual Studies for 2.5 hours/week which will help prepare you for the theoretical element of all degree courses.  It will include lectures, discussion groups, essays and practical work.  Our aim is to help you develop a critical awareness of why you do what you do rather than just showing you how to do something.
The course is divided into three stages:
The first stage introduces you to skills and new ways of thinking about observation drawing, painting, textiles, 3-dimensional design, printmaking and an introductory project.  The project will help you to develop, analyse, evaluate, sustain and resolve your ideas.
The second stage consists of a thematic and self-elected project, which you can develop in any media or direction than you wish in consultation with your tutors.
The third stage consists of a final major project which gives you the opportunity to design, plan and take much more responsibility for the direction of your work.
As part of the course there are study trips to galleries and museums.
The Access to Higher Education Diploma in Hospitality and Tourism, as validated by CAVA,  is a qualification which prepares students aged 19 years and over, without relevant qualifications, for study at degree level.  This programme has been specifically designed for mature students who wish to study art based subjects at a higher level and is widely recognised by UK universities and colleges. However we advise that if you are hoping to go on to do a degree course at a specific university it would be useful to contact them to check that the Diploma you have chosen is in an appropriate subject area and is recognised by the university or college.









Entry requirements: Applicants should be able to show examples of recent work done over the last three years, including drawings, and evidence of your enthusiasm in any other medium.  All applicants will be interviewed and asked to bring a written review of an exhibition or visual arts programme seen recently. Interviews run from February – July.  Please apply as early as possible as the course is in demand.
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading), the required minimum is:

IELTS (SELT): 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)

Or GCSE English A*-C

Or equivalent qualification. Please contact the Advice Shop for advice and guidance 
International candidates are also actively encouraged to access the International Students webpage.









Assessment: Assessment is seen as a positive process. Your work will be assessed throughout the course, both internally and by an external moderator.  At the end of each studio module you will present a folder of work for discussion and grading. The final major project is exhibited as part of the Arts Festival at City College in June/July which is open to the public.
The Contextual Studies units are assessed through essays, presentations and practical work.  In order to gain a full Access Certificate, you must pass all the course units.









Academic progression: Over the past 17 years, past students have successfully gained places on a wide variety of BA and MA art and design courses, both nationally and in Europe.









Career progression: Successful students aiming at self-employment have set up their own studios.  Some students have also used the course to enhance their employment prospects in the creative industries.









Costs: Please contact the Advice Shop  for information on fees and financial support which may be available. We recommend you also check our Finance pages for further information including student travel offers.