This exciting three-day-a-week programme caters for students returning to education. It runs over two years: the first for the General Art & Design course and the second for Access to Higher Education course. Previous qualifications or art experience aren’t essential, and you’ll be on a well- established route to a wide range of degree-level art and design courses— ideal for those starting their first careers as well as those looking for a career change. Most students follow the full two-year programme. However, if you have previous art and design experience and a clear idea of your preferred specialism, you may go straight into the second year of the programme. We’ll help you decide on the right route at your interview. The programme will help you develop skills which build on your own strengths and interests, and you’ll get lots of individual guidance and support in putting together a portfolio of work as well as finding the right degree course for you. Your fellow students will be adults of all ages, and will include people with a huge variety of experience, skills and abilities. This rich mixture of students provides a supportive atmosphere where you will learn from one another as well as from course tutors. General Art & Design (one year) • Drawing • Colour • 3D Work • Computer Graphics • Photography • Ceramics • Print-Making • Contextual Studies/Art & Design History • Information and Research Skills. You will have the chance to discover your own strengths and talents, and begin to decide on your future specialism. Finally, you will focus on your major project, developing your own response to a given broad theme in your own choice of media. Access to Higher Education (one year) • Skill Development & Visual Awareness • Portfolio-Building • Visual Studies • Broad-Based Project • Self-Directed Briefs • Contextual Studies: your own practice in relation to other artists and designers. Working with industry / community You will have the option to complete live briefs, which may be competitions or community projects. Recent students have completed a variety of very successful projects, both individually and in groups. Study visits There will be a minimum of three one-day visits per year to galleries, museums and sculpture parks. Resources Your main base will be a large art and design studio. You will also have access to our extensive computer suites, well-equipped print-making facilities, photographic studios and darkrooms, and a range of 3D workshops (ceramics/glass, casting, metalwork, and woodwork/plastics).