This course gives you an introduction to a broad range of art, design and media disciplines and to gradually develop an area of specialism in your chosen field of practice. You will be supported to develop a professional portfolio of work and the knowledge and expertise that will demonstrate your abilities and match your aspirations for employment or further study.
The course is designed and informed by an experimental and hands-on approach toward art, design and media practices and to give you an insight into the creative industries. You will be introduced to a range of media, materials, techniques and contemporary art, design and media contexts and the module content will offer assignments that can be addressed across media areas or allow you to develop a potential area of specialism, e.g.:
During your first year (Level 4) you will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of skills and develop a broad understanding of important contextual ideas and practices that inform contemporary practice.
In your second year (Level 5), you will develop a more specialist approach to practice and develop a portfolio of work and knowledge that will expand your understanding of professional practice in this field and allow you to identify and locate a more independently driven practice in preparation for Level 6. In addition, you will explore the professional contexts for developing careers in this sector by undertaking ‘live’ industry focussed and offsite projects and explore a range of platforms for showing your work including festivals, exhibitions, galleries and online and physical publications.
In your final year (Level 6) you will undertake a significant research project into a subject relevant to your emerging practice as an artist or designer and be supported to develop a more self-directed portfolio of work that is both underpinned by your research and exemplifies your skills, knowledge, and conceptual concerns. You will be expected to increasingly complete and present work to a professional standard and support your creative and conceptual decision making in relation to professional models of practice relevant to your subject.
Entry requirements are subject to regular review. The entry requirements applicable to a particular academic year will be published on the University website (and externally as appropriate e.g. UCAS)
Typical entry requirement:
Use the UCAS Tariff calculator to check your qualifications and points. If you’ve got other qualifications or relevant experience, please contact The Gateway for further advice before applying.
-International entry requirements and application guidance can be found at www.wlv.ac.uk/international/apply.
Other Requirements:
Those meeting the entry requirements may be shortlisted for a Portfolio Review. Applicants will also be required to provide satisfactory reference. Learners must have studied a minimum of two years post GCSE level. However, it is expected that some applicants will be mature students with work experience, who wish to further their career development. These applicants will be processed through standard procedures, which may involve an interview as part of the process. Please see www.wlv.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply/guidance-for-mature-applicants for further information.
International entry requirements for non-EU learners:
Applicants for whom English Language is not their first language are expected to achieve a minimum IELTS Score of 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any component, or the nationally recognised equivalent. Please see www.wlv.ac.uk/international/international-academy/english-at-the-international-academy/language-entry-requirements for more details.
Our intensive online pre-sessional courses are available to any applicants who can demonstrate that their current English is at least IELTS 5.0 equivalent. To find out more about our online Pre-sessional English and Academic Skills courses, visit www.wlv.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate-credit-pre-sessional-english-and-academic-skills.
This course will introduce you to a range of approaches to art, design and media and provide a contextual and theoretical understanding of the sector to seek employment in the creative industries, develop your own entrepreneurial practice or progress on to an appropriate Higher Education course in Art and Design.
This course is designed and informed by an experimental and hands-on approach to making but will also explore key concepts that might inform your practice in areas such as identity, ethical and social issues. As you progress through your course you will increasingly take control of your media, subject matter, and research to develop an individually defined portfolio of practice and knowledge.
The course is modular and provides a framework of practical and theoretical study such as contextual practice, vocational media skills and independent projects. From this course you will be able to:
The primary aim is to introduce you to undergraduate study in a familiar environment and small group setting that will directly foster your engagement with the other people on your course. Furthermore, it provides opportunities for you to begin to build a portfolio of work that could be used to launch your further study or be used in support of your career progression and preparation for job interviews, festivals and funding opportunities.
The studio-based approach means that there is significant supervision, support and guidance from tutors who will get to know each of you. You and your tutors will work together, with further supervision from the University link tutor and University module tutors, to identify your career interests as you lay the foundation for your subject specialism.
Job roles students can progress on to include:
