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Art and Design Foundation Year

  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Margaret Street
More about Birmingham City University

Course options

2026-2027
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Course summary

This foundation year course has been specifically designed to support successful progression onto our suite of Art and Design degree courses, by allowing you to strengthen the creative skills you have developed during your previous studies.

It is ideal preparation for those who are returning to formal study or who are progressing from non-arts backgrounds, as well as those who have not met the entry requirements for degree-level study.

Working in a lively and energetic environment, you will be given the freedom to expand your knowledge of practical skills, creative exploration and conceptual development, underpinned by broad critical understanding, academic writing and emerging theoretical principles.

There will be a range of opportunities to work on collaborative projects aimed to develop employability partnerships and to identify the role of developing practitioner. BA teaching staff from across our art and design courses will work with you throughout the year to prepare you for progression.

After successful completion of the foundation year, you will have the opportunity to progress to one of the following courses:

  • BA (Hons) Art and Design with Creative Technologies

  • BA (Hons) Digital Animation

  • BA (Hons) Fine Art

  • BA (Hons) Graphic Design

  • BA (Hons) Illustration

  • BA (Hons) Photography

  • BA (Hons) Product Design

What's covered in this course?
Throughout the year you will be challenged with projects that question your current creative experiences and explore a breadth of experimentation to broaden your technical and critical understanding.

You will be encouraged to analyse methods and materials appropriate for creative development and to question your position in relation to historical, contemporary and future world scenarios. Both practical and written research tasks will be supported by one to one tutorials and small discussion groups to help you constructively build academic and social confidence.

The two first semester modules will form the building blocks for future work and will explore core principles of creative practice focussing on, the development of technical confidence, research, study skills and productivity.

The two final semester modules will give you greater autonomy, encourage positive integration between research and practice, challenging decision making and technical competency. This semester is designed to empower you with independent learning skills appropriate for your future BA studies.

Ways to study this course

Campuses

  • Margaret Street

Study options

  • BA (Hons) • Full-time • 4 Years

Start dates

  • 09/2026

Apply by
14 January

This is the equal consideration deadline. You can still apply after this date, but your application may not receive guaranteed consideration.

Application codes

Course code:
1265
Institution code:
B25
Campus name:
Margaret Street
Campus Code:
M
Points of Entry:
Foundation

Birmingham City University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

See why these ratings were awarded
What does this TEF outcome mean?

How to apply

Apply by
14 January

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Course code:
1265
Institution code:
B25
Campus name:
Margaret Street
Campus Code:
M

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - 80 points

A level - CDD

80 UCAS tariff points from three A Levels. Grades CDD (or equivalent). AS Level: Must be in a different subject to A Levels. A maximum of four subjects will be considered

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

80 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.

Access to HE Diploma

Pass with 60 credits, 45 credits at level 3. Accepted subjects: Arts, Media and Publishing subjects preferred but other subjects also considered.

Scottish Higher

80 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

80 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)

80 UCAS tariff points. Diploma accepted with one A Level or equivalent level 3 qualifications. Extended Certificate accepted with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications.

Scottish Advanced Higher

80 UCAS tariff points from three Advanced Highers (DDD) or two Advanced Highers (DD) plus two Highers (DD)

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points

Obtain a minimum of 24 points overall

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

Minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points, achieved in five Higher level subjects

GCSE/National 4/National 5

This course does not require evidence of GCSE qualifications. Please see A Level, BTEC and other level 3 requirements below.

T Level - Pass (C and above)

Pass overall (C or above on the core). All subjects accepted but Digital Production, Design and Development; Craft and Design preferred.

Welsh Baccalaureate: 80 UCAS tariff points. Considered with three A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualifications

OCR Cambridge Technical qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points.

NCFE CACHE Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points.

WJEC Level 3 qualifications: 80 UCAS tariff points. Considered with two A Levels or equivalent level 3 qualification(s).

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma: Pass overall.

Foundation Studies (Art and Design, and Art, Design and Media): Pass overall.

Historical entry grades data BETA

This section shows the range of grades students (with UK A-Levels or Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diplomas) who received offers were previously accepted with (learn more). It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place. Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

LocationFeeYear
England£9535Year 1
Northern Ireland£9535Year 1
Scotland£9535Year 1
Wales£9535Year 1
EU£18570Year 1
International£18570Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

*The Government is proposing to apply an inflationary increase to regulated tuition fees for 2026/27 and the University is planning on increasing fees to that maximum level once confirmed.

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