Orientation to Art and Design

Course detail

Many international students would like to study art and design in Britain. They are unable to do so because their national education systems do not give them the opportunity to develop the portfolio of art work needed to apply to study at a UK art college. This nine-week course combines studio and workshop practice with one day's English Language teaching per week* giving you the chance to build your portfolio and continue your English Language studies while living and working in central London. The course works with the college's International Office to ensure that the curriculum is regularly updated so that, upon successfully completing the course, entry to a foundation-level course is very likely.

*For students who do not require English Language studies additional projects will be set to allow you to continue your portfolio work.

Aims of the course

The objective of this full-time programme of study is to enable you to develop the necessary knowledge and practical skills for entry on to a foundation-level course. This includes observational, analytical and research skills, the control of materials and processes in the realisation of ideas, the capacity to evaluate your work and the work of others and to establish communication skills with particular reference to language used to discuss work in the studio. The curriculum is regularly reviewed by academic staff to ensure that it is meeting the criteria required by foundation-level admission tutors. A very large percentage of students who successfully complete this course will be successful in their application to the Foundation Diploma courses at Central Saint Martins or a foundation-level course elsewhere.

Course dates

Autumn term
Course 1: 2 October - 1 December 2017, 9 weeks
Monday - Friday 10am - 4pm

Spring term
Course 2: 16 April – 15 June 2018, 9 weeks
Monday – Friday 10am - 4pm

Summer term
Course 3: 25 June – 10 August 2018, 7 weeks
Monday – Friday 10am – 5.30pm

Course structure

At the beginning of the course you are given a timetable of projects, which enables you to prepare for tasks that lie ahead, and will help you evaluate and digest completed work. Beginning with basic drawing and observational skills, the coursework will progress through painting and colour theory, life drawing, 3D construction projects, clay and plaster casting, architectural drawing, photomedia and design for the body. There will also be projects based around visits to local museums and galleries. All projects must be completed and the final part of the course will involve producing an exhibition of completed work. Progress on the course is regularly evaluated through tutorials that are scheduled as part of the timetable. Students are asked to provide their own materials for drawing - all other specialist materials are provided.

English language

The English language tuition will emphasise speaking and listening skills especially within the context of English used in the art college environment. It will also include discussions about specialist art and design subjects and visits to museums and galleries.Students entering the course are given a timetable of projects, enabling them to prepare for tasks that lie ahead as well as evaluate and digest completed work. All projects must be completed. Progress on the course is regularly evaluated through tutorials which will be scheduled as part of the timetable.

New structure

Due to student demand, we have condensed our summer Orientation to Art and Design course into 7 weeks. This means that you will still have the same number of teaching hours, but you will be expected to be in college for longer each day. The main reason for this change is to give international students longer to renew their visa between the end of the Orientation to Art and Design and the start of the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. We hope that this will improve students experience on both courses. If you would like to give us any feedback on this change please send us an email to

Staff

Course Leader: Martin Blake