Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

In 10 months of creative adventure and discovery like no other, our Foundation Diploma in Art & Design course will help you to discover your own creative voice, develop your skills and fully equip you for your journey ahead.

The majority of our students progress to study at degree level before continuing into careers in the creative industries. This course has provided an excellent launchpad for students wanting to go directly into independent practice or other employment. It has also provided some of our students with an invaluable creative gap year for those students progressing to university in other subjects such as engineering, medicine, social sciences, architecture and humanities.

During the course you will have the opportunity to explore a variety of studio and workshop practice including: drawing, textiles, printmaking, small metals, 3D, ceramics, multi-media/digital, film and photography.

A range of exciting projects will allow you to try different approaches to visual thinking and idea development. You will experiment with a variety of techniques and ways of working and then chose a specialist subject area on which to deepen your understanding and refine your own artistic practice. We welcome A-level students and students with a wide variety of other backgrounds and career plans.

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Foundation Diploma & Portfolio Overview

My FAD 10

“At HCA we’re proud to come from a long tradition of specialist arts schools where students are encouraged to be individual, questioning and engage with big issues. The programme is an extraordinary and transformative journey. Whether or not our students pursue a creative arts focus beyond the course, it offers a creative foundation for life.

HCA Principal Abigail Appleton

The art college is just an amazing environment, it's honestly has been one of the best years of my life. I’ve met my closest friends there and completely changed my perspective on art and creativity and my abilities. Why wouldn't you really?

Jack Shepherd

Jack Shepard
My FAD 5

The course has really helped me focus. For years I have been struggling to find a style that suited me. To have access to so many different workshops such as printmaking, small metals, woodwork, illustration has allowed me to experiment with different mediums which in turn has helped me focus my style and has freed up my creativity. Jack Shepherd

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It's the perfect stepping stone before Higher Education, and broadens your creative and academic horizons more than you can imagine.

It has prepared me for higher education in a way A levels never could, and made me realise what it is that I actually enjoy creating. Has given me the confidence to create what I want, without worrying what other people think about it.

My FAD 11
My FAD
My FAD 8

This has easily been my favourite year in education - you have the space to explore your own practice and gain new skills, while also having support when you need it, and you have access to amazing facilities.