Foundation Art, Design and Media Practice
Course Code
AHF001
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Duration
1 year full-time
Start date
September 2022
Course overview
Study level: Undergraduate
Foundation Year
This Art, Design and Media Foundation Diploma can enable you to explore and experiment across a wide range of creative disciplines.
Additional key points:
- You will have the opportunity to generate exciting work, using our excellent facilities to build your personal independence in developing ideas. You can gain new skills with different materials and techniques, while building a substantial portfolio of work.
- The Foundation Diploma is a one-year, full-time preparatory course to prepare you for studio-based undergraduate Higher Education programmes. We provide broad, balanced and structured teaching to help stimulate your interest in art and design.
- The School of Art and Design is one of the best universities for an employability led curriculum and has an international outreach that supports student growth and design understanding. The Art, Design and Media Foundation allows you to work in spaces alongside inspiring undergraduates and setting your career aspirations early.
- Please note: If you are 18 years of age at the date of enrolment for this course, payment of tuition fees will not be required. For the 2022/2023 intake, this course is currently funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency. Applicants should check our website for the latest information regarding fees before applying or accepting offers. Should these terms change, we would inform all applicants and students as soon as possible.

Global Ready
An international outlook, with global opportunities
Teaching excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Employability
Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeedWhy you should study this course
The School of Art and Design at Coventry University has been producing accomplished creative graduates for over 175 years. We have had a successful track record of producing graduates that have made significant contributions to the world of Art and Design. Our Automotive graduates work across the globe influencing transport of the future and social influencer Mr A Singh has thousands of followers and works as a local creative entrepreneur across the Midlands.
External examiners have praised our “inspiring and motivating studio teaching” and “strong tutorial support”. You will have the opportunity to be taught in a professional studio environment alongside undergraduate students, and postgraduate students and staff, many of whom are currently practising artists and designers, who have exhibited nationally and Internationally. You will also have pportunities to take part in overseas study visits. Students have visited major art and design centres in Europe, recently visiting traditional and contemporary art exhibitions from Birmingham to Amsterdam.
You will have the opportunity to access an extensive range of specialist facilities, including, 3D rapid prototyping, clay modelling, film, photography, video, a large digital print bureau, ceramics, a printmaking workroom, screen printing and letterpress studios, all with excellent technical support.
The foundation course at Coventry University has been the most enriching and surprising year of my life; coming out of school I was flung into a completely new, exciting and challenging way of learning - not only about the subject I was about to study - but in growing and thinking in new ways. Without a doubt, I have come out the end as a more confident and prepared person; ready to tackle my course next year, thanks to this course and its inspiring leaders.

What you'll study
How you'll learn
In a typical teaching week, you will have approximately 13 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. This includes a combination of:
- medium group teaching: workshops, seminars and lectures
- small group teaching: seminar, critiques and tutorials
- studio practice and bookable workshop access
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online activities.
The School of Art and Design often provides opportunities to engage in external or collaborative activities such as competition/Industry briefs and speakers beyond your course studies. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of these opportunities to support your learning journey.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
Assessment
Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve the various learning outcomes. Coursework is assessed using a variety of methods including: presentations, portfolio reviews, essays, reports, reflective logs, e-journals, blogs, displays and exhibitions.
An estimated percentage breakdown of your final grade assessment is as follows:
- Project work
- You will be graded as pass, merit or distinction
Job ready
When you’ve completed your foundation diploma, you will have a broad portfolio demonstrating a range of skills. You will have carefully explored your progression options, which will help you to make an informed decision about undergraduate study. You should be more confident and able to work independently in a professional manner in your chosen pathway.
In 2018/19, 97% of our students progressed on to higher level study both at Coventry University and beyond.
International experience opportunities
We attract staff and students from all over the world, which provides a multicultural environment in which you can experience different cultures, approaches, perspectives and opinions. You will have the opportunity to take part in overseas study visits. In the past, students have visited major art and design centres in Europe and North America.
Overseas study visits/International experiences are subject to availability, competitive application, meeting visa requirements and additional costs.
Entry requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Student | Full time | Part time |
---|---|---|
UK | TBC per year | Not available |
International | 2022/23 fees TBC* 2021/22 fees - £15,000 per year |
Not available |
Facilities
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities is joining two of our school’s completely refurbished Art and Design buildings and adding a range of new facilities, set to open later in 2022. These will include a hyper studio designed for cross-disciplinary projects; immersive studios with cutting-edge virtual reality and mixed-reality technologies. Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities in a unique environment.
Learn more about the facilities you could be using.

Building Redevelopment
We are currently in the process of a major redevelopment of our Faculty of Arts and Humanities buildings. The building will be open to the public as well as students, and will feature an expansive gallery space.

Creative Community Hub
We hope that you are all staying safe in these uncertain times. Creative activities can really help fill the days, while we are spending more time at home and we have some ideas to keep you busy.

Virtual experience
Visit our online degree show where we have brought together the work of over 500 students.
Careers and opportunities
Students who meet our benchmark requirements will be able to progress on to studio-based courses in the School of Art and Design and the School of Media and Performing Arts, as well as institutions throughout the UK and internationally.
Typically, our students have progressed to degree level courses in the following subjects: Fashion; Fine Art; Fine Art and Illustration; Illustration and Animation; Interior Design; Product Design; Automotive Design; Photography; Games Art; Graphics and Architecture. Many of these courses offer the opportunity to complete placement years in industry, providing valuable real-life experience.
The best thing about being a student at Coventry is the range of facilities and the skill set of the tutors and technical staff. I like that the course gives me opportunity to challenge myself and broaden my skills. I was a qualified nurse for 30 years. I had always practised art as a hobby and had wanted to complete a formal qualification and push myself to improve.

How to apply
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UK Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through our application portal.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university through our application portal.
Apply via portalFor further support visit our International hub or download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation, tips for travel and guidance on how to apply.
If you'd like more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
-
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The university will charge the tuition fees that are stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study. The university will review tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s planned exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit from the European Union, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. Coventry University will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance at that time. For international students, the university may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.