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Foundation in Art & Design

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 4 Years
  • Full-time
  • 07/09/2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site - Aberdeen
Awarded by:
Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Course summary

Gray’s Art & Design Foundation 1st year has been devised to allow you the opportunity to explore your creativity through a wide range of experiences, gaining an understanding of the broader subject headings within Fine Art and Design before identifying the most suitable direction for your creative journey.
You will engage in a series of core and multidisciplinary projects where you are encouraged to look at your creative process, unpacking and critiquing it before applying that learning through selected course specific experiences.

Key activities are delivered through a combination of lively environments such as; individual Studio space, shared Drawing rooms, Lecture theatres and a wide range of practical Workshops. This connected and structured learning will promote a greater understanding of the sustainable, critical and creative skills that you will need to flourish as a future professional practitioner in the Creative and Cultural industries.

Gray’s close-knit community means that throughout Year 1, you will be working in partnership with staff who will support and nurture you through this decision-making process. Providing you with tutorial guidance to help you identify where your strengths and motivations are. They will assist you in making the most appropriate choice for your intended area of study over the remainder of your time at university.

So, at the end of Year 1 and through those conversations with staff, you will choose one of the courses below as the course to study from Year 2 onwards.

BA (Hons) Fine Art (Painting, Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Time-based Media)
BA (Hons) Communication Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography)
BA (Hons) Fashion and Textile Design
BA (Hons) Product Design, Ceramics, Jewellery

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:
WW12
Institution code:
R36
Campus name:
Main Site - Aberdeen
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Standard Qualification requirements

UCAS Tariff - Not accepted

A level - CC

to include Art & Design (or a creative design and/or media subject e.g. Media Studies) and English (or a written subject requiring the use of English e.g. History).

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

in a relevant discipline

Access to HE Diploma - M: 45 credits P: 15 credits

pass 60 credits to include 45 at level 3 at grade merit in a computing discipline

Scottish Higher - BCC

to include Art & Design (or a creative design and/or media subject e.g. Graphic Communication, Media Studies) and English (or a written subject requiring the use of English)

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points

to include Higher Level Visual Arts and English (or a written subject requiring the use of English).

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017) - H3, H3, H4

to include Art (or a creative design and/or technology subject e.g. Graphic Communication, Media Studies) and English (or a written subject requiring the use of English)

Scottish HNC - Pass

in a relevant discipline

HNC (BTEC) - P

in a relevant discipline

Foundation Apprenticeship (SCQF Level 6) - Pass

may be considered in combination with Scottish Highers

T Level - M

in a relevant discipline

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Scottish Higher - CCC

to include Art / Design (or a creative design and/or media subject such as Graphic Communication, Media Studies) and English or a written subject requiring the use of English

Additional entry requirements

Interview
Portfolio

English language requirements

Applicants whose first language is not English should have an IELTS of 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5, or an equivalent.

English Language Requirements https://www.rgu.ac.uk/study/international-students/english-language-requirements

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

 RGU is fully committed to widening participation to extend access to learning and enable talented individuals from under-represented groups, particularly those from deprived areas, to achieve their ambitions through higher education, whatever their circumstances.

Learn more on the Robert Gordon University website

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
EU£18300Year 1
Scotland£1820Year 1
England£7220Year 1
Northern Ireland£7220Year 1
Wales£7220Year 1
Channel Islands£7220Year 1
Republic of Ireland£7220Year 1
International£18300Year 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 following course-related costs are not included in the course fees: The cost of books that you may wish to purchase. Costs associated with your placement / study abroad Accommodation and Living costs Printing Studio fund: £60 Year 2, £60 Year 3, £60 Year 4 £50 - £150 Materials £250 Field Study (optional) £750 International Travel (optional) £300 Camera (optional) £1,000 Laptop (optional) £350 Tablet (optional)

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