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Description
Why study Art and Design (General Foundation & Specialisms)?
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design (DJCAD) at the University of Dundee has a world renowned reputation. The one year General Foundation in Art and Design is a fitting starting point for creative and motivated people who wish to develop the fundamental skills to prepare them for entry to the nine subject specialist art and design courses on offer at DJCAD (listed below).
The modules in the General Foundation course have been carefully devised to enable you to gain a broad experience, awareness and skill level which will help you to decide on your choice of Honours degree specialism for the subsequent three years. After completion of this one year course, you will submit a portfolio of work to be assessed for progression onto the specialism of your choice.
Our students come from a range of countries, age groups and backgrounds. Although the majority already have developed portfolios, we also welcome intelligent, creative, motivated people who are interested in moving into a vocation in art and design.
If you have already completed a recognised art and design foundation course elsewhere you should apply directly to one of the specialisms which begin in Level 2. All other applicants should apply for the BA/Des Art and Design (General Foundation) course.
Studio CultureYou will benefit from a challenging and coherent programme of instruction, guidance and exploration, providing you with a positive sense of direction towards
a future in art and design.
The studio culture encourages sharing of ideas and understanding, and nurtures a supportive work and social environment. The majority of your time will be spent on studio based activities and learning fundamental practical and critical skills, creating a transition between work that you have carried out at school or on a previous course and potential future study in a specialist art and design subject.
Skill DevelopmentThe focus of the General Foundation is the development of your ability, skill and critical faculties. The process of acquiring sound basic skills includes consideration of creativity, aesthetics, visual awareness, and analytical and critical thinking. Knowledge and a sense and understanding of the history, theory and practice of art and design are cultivated, allowing you to understand how art and design practice has developed and how it is positioned within todays society, culture and creative economy thus enabling you to place yourself, your work and aspirations in context.
At the end of the course you will be able to:- confidently use an array of artistic techniques
- identify which discipline you want to pursue
- understand the historical trends and turning points in art and design
General foundation course students also have a full day study visit to exhibitions in Scottish centres such as Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is also a study visit to London giving you the opportunity to broaden and enrich your cultural experience.
"Not only did we have very professional equipment and facilities in the department, but we were also taught in a way that I found to be very helpful. We were able to use other departments' facilities and staff expertise. The art history and theory program offered a broad range of possibilities to develop artistic work and gain experience."
Jessica Treffler, BA (Hons) Time Based Art, 2004
The Art and Design (General Foundation) course will prepare you nicely for your chosen specialist subject. Graduates from Duncan of Jordanstone have gone on to have successful careers in the following fields (to name just a few!)
- artists (exhibiting and making work nationally and internationally)
- web design
- game design
- visual effects
- packaging design
- branding
- television & motion graphics
- advertising
- textile design
- fashion
- art therapy
- museum and gallery curation
- journalism
- interaction design
- account management
- film direction
- film editing
- gallery management
- teaching
- illustration
- interior/architectural design
- lighting
- tv & film set design
- animation
- jewellery manufacturers and designers
- consumer electronics
- medical products
- Animation
- Art, Philosophy, Contemporary Practices
- Fine Art (Digital Media, Drawing & Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture)
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Interior & Environmental Design
- Jewellery & Metal Design
- Textile Design
- Time Based Art & Digital Film
* Please note: the majority of students will proceed to the specialist programme of their choice. However successful completion of the course does not confer the automatic right of entry to the second year of a specialist degree programme. Entry to the second year is competitive, by submission of a portfolio of work and is subject to the number of places available. So in other words, you will need to work hard!
Detailed Course Facts
Application deadline January 15 Tuition feeThe fees you pay will, in most cases, depend on your current country of residence.
The fee shown is annual, and may be subject to an increase each year.
Fee category
Fees for students starting September 2015
Scottish students
£1,820 per year of study (for Sept 2014 entry). Fees for September 2015 will be confirmed by the Scottish Government in early 2015.
Rest of UK students
£9,000 per year, for a maximum of 3 years, even if you are studying a four year degree. See our scholarships for rest of UK applicants.
EU students
£1,820 per year of study (for Sept 2014 entry). Fees for September 2015 will be confirmed by the Scottish Government in early 2015.
Overseas students (non-EU)
£12,950 per year of study. See our scholarships for international applicants.
Not specified Start date September 2015 Course Starts September Duration full-time 12 months Languages Take an IELTS test- English
Course Content
How you will be taughtThe majority of the teaching and learning on the General Foundation course takes the form of studio practice, which includes:
- informal lectures,
- demonstration,
- and individual and group tutoring.
Staff members have a friendly approach and welcome requests for help and advice.
What you will studyThe core values and philosophical ethos of the course are encapsulated in the teaching of both the fundamental elements of art and design practice, namely drawing skills (including life drawing), making and digital imaging as well as generic skills (writing, research methodologies etc.) to support you in whatever career path you decide to take in the future.
These core values will enrich and expand your personal visual language and contribute in a diagnostic context towards helping you make an informed choice of specialist study. Having enjoyed the enriching experience of working within a vibrant community of emerging artists and designers in the General Foundation, progression to Level 2 the specialist courses requires demonstration of appropriate knowledge and skill and the potential to successfully pursue independent study.
Level 1- Fundamental creative skills (drawing, painting, making, demonstrations)
- Technical skills (practical workshops and digital imaging)
- Key generic skills (analytical and critical skills, research skills, confidence and motivation, presentation and communication skills)
- Contextual studies introducing historical and contemporary debates and practice
- Foundation skills in the various art and design specialisms
- Elective choice (including philosophy)
- An optional cultural study visit (major Scottish cities and London) enhances the learning experience
For a more detailed description of the modules in Level 1, please see the DJCAD website
This General Foundation will encourage experimentation, encouraging you to take risks in trying new things. It also aims to cultivate your understanding of the range of art and design disciplines that you may progress to in the future and the associated future career opportunities.
How you will be assessedYou will be assessed through the studio course work including supporting work such as digital outputs, blogs, reflective journals and also through demonstrating your understanding of contextual studies. There is continuous formative feedback through the studio tutorials and at the end of each module. A formal assessment occurs at the end of semester 1 and again at the end of semester 2.
DrawingThroughout the general foundation course you will encounter a constant preoccupation with the importance of drawing (including life drawing), a grasp of which is regarded as an integral factor in any of the art and design related areas. Two aspects of drawing are emphasised: firstly the practice and exercise of drawing in order to expand your perceptive and expressive skills and secondly, the constructive use of drawing to give form to ideas and to visualise solutions to problems.
The Objective Drawing and Computer Imaging module (which includes life drawing) is studied weekly. At the end of Semester 1 you will choose a specific degree specialism.
In Semester 2 you will be given the opportunity to engage in projects which allow you to focus on your choice of degree study specialism. Progress is monitored as an integral part of the teaching process. Module tutors will conduct an assessment of completed work and supporting studies at the end of each part of the module and aggregate these assessments to provide a final mark for the module.
Requirements
Courses starting September 2015
Level 1 Entry
- SQA Higher
- GCE A-Level
- ILC Higher
- IB Diploma
- Essential Subjects
Other Qualifications
- SQA
- Scottish Baccalaureate
- SWAP Access
- EDEXCEL
- Advanced Diploma
- Welsh Baccalaureate
- European Baccalaureate
Work Experience
No work experience is required.
Want to improve your English level for admission?
Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.
- ✔️ Flexible study schedule
- ✔️ Experienced teachers
- ✔️ Certificate upon completion
📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.
Related Scholarships*
- Academic Excellence Scholarship
"The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."
- Access Bursary
Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.
- Alumni Bursary
Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students
* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Dundee.
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