What You Will Study
Do you enjoy drawing, being creative, thinking about the visual? Would you like to extend your ideas and develop a range of skills? Are you interested in eventually studying for a degree in art and design? If you have had some recent involvement with art and design, and enjoy independent learning this could be the course for you.
During the course you will work from observation and first-hand material through drawing and painting using a range of media and colour and will complete a development project looking at how you research, experiment, develop and resolve an idea or body of work. You will also look at and reference other artists and designers who have influenced you. You can draw upon any of your previous works in printmaking, 3D - sculpture and modelling, textiles - work with cloth and materials, collage or mixed media work.
You will spend two days a week in our well-equipped studios working with enthusiastic and committed tutors, who are all practising artists, across a range of disciplines. You will also study Contextual Studies for 2.5 hours a week which will help prepare you for the theoretical element of all degree courses. It will include lectures, discussion groups, essays and practical work. Our aim is to help you develop a critical awareness of why you do what you do rather than just showing you how to do something.
Entry Requirements
You will need to have achieved, or be working towards, GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above.
Objective
You will be given a digital skills assessment and will be offered a short course to improve this area of your knowledge if this is deemed suitable.
Please note that, should you require further study in English, Maths or Digital Skills, these sessions will be offered at both our City College Norwich campus and at our Paston College campus in North Walsham.
How You Will Be Assessed
Assessment is seen as a positive process. Your work will be assessed throughout the course, both internally and by an external moderator. At the end of each studio module you will present a folder of work for discussion and grading. The final major project is exhibited as part of the Arts Festival at City College Norwich in June/July which is open to the public. The Contextual Studies units are assessed through essays, presentations and practical work. In order to gain a full Access Certificate, you must pass all the course units.
The course is divided into three stages: the first introduces you to skills and new ways of thinking about observation drawing, painting, textiles, 3D design, printmaking and an introductory project. The project will help you to develop, analyse, evaluate, sustain and resolve your ideas. The second stage consists of a thematic and self-elected project, which you can develop in any media or direction than you wish in consultation with your tutors. The third stage consists of a final major project which gives you the opportunity to design, plan and take much more responsibility for the direction of your work.
As part of the course you will also take part in study trips to galleries and museums.
The units you will study include: Introduction to Drawing, Introduction to Colour: Theory , Practice, Introduction to Contextual Studies: Reflective Evaluation, Introductory Project, Contextual Studies Modernism, Thematic Project, Self-elected Project, Post Modernism, Higher Education Study Skills and Final Major Project: Exhibition and Evaluation.
Course Progression
The Access to Higher Education Diploma in Art and Design is widely recognised by UK universities. If you are planning to study a degree course at a specific university, it would be useful to contact them to check that the Access course you have chosen is in an appropriate subject area and is recognised by the university or college. Please be aware that university entry criteria can change at any time.
Where Your Course Can Take You
This course could help you progress to the following careers: Graphic Design, Photography, Fashion Design, Architecture, Animation and Illustration, Games Design, Interior Design, Art Therapies, Textiles and Sculpture.
Fees
Please contact the Advice Shop for information on fees and financial support which may be available. We recommend you also check our Finance pages for further information including student travel offers.
We were awarded a TEF Silver rating overall in 2023, achieving this for both student experience and student outcomes.
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