Foundation Year in 3D Design
Designed to help you transition to your BA degree, this specialist course will build your confidence and give you the opportunity to explore different design pathways
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Viewing course details for 2024 year of entry
- Attendance
- Full-time
- Start
- September 2024
- Fees
- £9,250 (UK) £16,600 (INT
- Duration
- 1 year full-time + 3 years full-time
- Course Leader
- Beverley Speight
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
- Entry Requirements
- 56-64 UCAS points
- School / Department
- School of Design
Why choose Foundation Year in 3D Design at Middlesex?
This specially designed course enables you to make an informed choice about which design subject you wish to study at degree level, giving successful students the opportunity for guaranteed progression onto a named BA programme at Middlesex University.
Passionate about art and design but not sure which path to follow? This specially designed flexible course, taught by industry-based academics, will help you choose a visual arts pathway, paving the way to a BA degree at Middlesex. You will have the opportunity to experience different career directions in Interior Design or Interior Architecture. After successfully completing the course, you are guaranteed entry on to one of our design BA courses.
What will you gain?
With the support of teachers who are experts in their fields, by the end of this course you will have had the chance to explore and develop your design skills, and create an extensive portfolio, before exhibiting your work at the end-of-year show.
After successfully completing the course, you'll be ready to progress on to a full-time bachelor's degree such as BA Interior Architecture or BA Interior Design.
We have 145 years of experience delivering professional, creative and technical education that prepares students – like you – for success in global careers.
What you will learn
The Foundation Year in 3D Design is a creative and inspiring multidisciplinary course designed to encourage you to explore different aspects of design.
It will build your confidence and help you identify your strengths and develop skills and techniques. The course explores different creative pathways and clarifies industry specialisms to help you choose a career path in the creative industries.
In the first part of the course, you'll experiment and explore techniques and develop skills within 3D Design, tackle specialist projects, then specialise and work towards your final portfolio of creative work and exhibition. Alongside this, you'll have the opportunity to explore London as an inspirational creative centre of design and visual arts through galleries and museums visits, and reflect on your experiences.
By joining us on this course, you'll have the opportunity to:
- Learn from an experienced and supportive team of tutors and technicians who also work in the creative industries
- Receive support from a specialist observational and life-drawing team offering traditional, experimental and technical approaches to drawing
- Get guidance from a contextual studies team with diverse knowledge covering different art, design and cultural areas
- Build an exciting and varied portfolio of design works
- Exhibit your work at the end of the year
- Receive regular one-to-one feedback all projects and written assessments on modules.
How to apply
If you are interested in studying the Foundation Year in 3D Design you must apply to one of our four-year degree courses. Successful completion of the foundation year guarantees entry onto your chosen design degree.
We offer the following courses:
| Course Title | UCAS Code |
|---|---|
| BA Interior Design with Foundation Year | WF23 |
| BA Interior Architecture with Foundation Year | KF12 |
3 great reasons to pick this course
About your course
The foundation year is an intensive experience which will enhance your creativity and introduce you to the broad and diverse world of design, visual arts and creative industries.
You will focus on learning specialist techniques and be introduced to new workshop skills, develop your knowledge in research and writing, and compile a creative portfolio. We encourage you to expand your own processes and make your own decisions, enabling you to develop your design practise and encourage independent thinking and aesthetic style. You'll be asked to interpret industry style briefs and expand your individual research study, allowing you to develop your creative identity for your portfolio.
At the end of your foundation year, you will have developed a strong portfolio that will showcase your work and reflect your future professional direction.
Modules
Here is a brief overview of what you will study each year
Core modules
This module encourages you to explore and experiment with new techniques and media through practical workshop inductions. You will develop and expand your research skills by making full use of the resources available at Middlesex University, revealing how research can inform and enrich your design practice. You will acquire a breadth of practical skills and research capabilities that will enable you to develop your ideas.
The module will develop experimentation and encourage exploration to widen and inspire your creative practice and conceptual thinking. From master-class sessions you will gain valuable knowledge of and insight into the creative industries, to clarify and develop a greater understanding of the variety of design specialisms, and begin to identify future career opportunities and directions after study. This module aims to build your subject knowledge through experimentation and increasing awareness to a level to be able to make a design subject choice.
The module gives you the opportunity to create your own individual 3D Design portfolio to showcase your originality and professionalism, and to be the final presentation of your extensive and varied creative work.
You will have the opportunity to take your specialist choice to another level by working on an intensive six week major project in your chosen subject area. By this stage , with support of you foundation tutors, you will have a clear view on your progression pathway.
You will develop your portfolio to support and define a proposed area of further study and industry employment. You will select and present your finished work for exhibition.
Contextual modules
This is an introduction to a broad and exciting selection of London’s finest art galleries and museums covering all the specialist areas. The contextual studies team will share their expert knowledge as part of informative field trips and talks. These experiences will provide basic knowledge of contexts and issues that will inform and inspire your developing practice. There is a focus on developing confidence in using academic English language skills in the specific context of the creative industries. You will be asked to produce a reflective visual diary including 1500 words. This module runs parallel with the above modules finishing in Week 19.
This module encourages you to explore and experiment with new techniques and media through practical workshop inductions. You will develop and expand your research skills by making full use of the resources available at Middlesex University, revealing how research can inform and enrich your design practice. You will acquire a breadth of practical skills and research capabilities that will enable you to develop your ideas.
The module will develop experimentation and encourage exploration to widen and inspire your creative practice and conceptual thinking. From master-class sessions you will gain valuable knowledge of and insight into the creative industries, to clarify and develop a greater understanding of the variety of design specialisms, and begin to identify future career opportunities and directions after study. This module aims to build your subject knowledge through experimentation and increasing awareness to a level to be able to make a design subject choice.
The module gives you the opportunity to create your own individual 3D Design portfolio to showcase your originality and professionalism, and to be the final presentation of your extensive and varied creative work.
You will have the opportunity to take your specialist choice to another level by working on an intensive six week major project in your chosen subject area. By this stage , with support of you foundation tutors, you will have a clear view on your progression pathway.
You will develop your portfolio to support and define a proposed area of further study and industry employment. You will select and present your finished work for exhibition.
This is an introduction to a broad and exciting selection of London’s finest art galleries and museums covering all the specialist areas. The contextual studies team will share their expert knowledge as part of informative field trips and talks. These experiences will provide basic knowledge of contexts and issues that will inform and inspire your developing practice. There is a focus on developing confidence in using academic English language skills in the specific context of the creative industries. You will be asked to produce a reflective visual diary including 1500 words. This module runs parallel with the above modules finishing in Week 19.
To find out more about this course, please download the Foundation Year in 3D Design specification (PDF).
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Teaching
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team who have a wide range of expertise and professional experience. These include experienced artists and designers who work in studios, creative and design agencies across London – allowing them to offer current, fresh knowledge and insight. Our large team of experienced technicians and studio demonstrators will support you and guide you through each process as you explore your creativity.
The team includes academics, professional practitioners, and technical staff. Graduate teaching assistants or trained postgraduate research students may also have input into your teaching under the supervision of the module leader.
During your foundation year you'll be taught through regular workshops and instructor-led projects that will quickly help expand your creativity and develop the skills and techniques required to progress through your studies.
You will learn by attending lectures, briefing sessions and practical workshops; these are a great opportunity to discuss what you have learnt in lectures and through independent study with your peers and tutors.
You will receive regular one-to-one tutorials from our specialist staff, allowing you to benefit from their expertise and receive mentorship and guidance as well as taking part in group sessions to share ideas and collaborate with other students.
You will complete 120 credits per year of study, which are broken down into modules of typically 30 credits.
You will be studying at our north London campus in Hendon.
A full-time intensive course 5 days a week on campus with independent study days introduced from module 3 onwards.
We aim to make timetables available to students at least 2 weeks before the start of term on MyLearning.
Typical weekly breakdown
During your first year, your weekly teaching timetable will typically consist of:
- 1 x 4.5 hours drawing day
- 1 x 4.5 hours creative London gallery visits/and/or reflective diary
- 3 x 4.5 hour days studio and workshop based teaching /and independent learning
Please note: the foundation studio is open outside teaching hours for students who wish to work further on their projects.
Outside of teaching hours, you’ll learn independently through self-study which will involve reading articles and books, working on projects, undertaking research, and preparing for assessments including coursework and presentations.
Your learning will be assessed regularly and is made up of 100% coursework.
Assessments
We'll test your understanding and progress through assessment of the project and requirements needed to successfully met the briefs and to reach the aims and learning outcomes stated for each module.
The assessments follow each of the four modules when you’ll receive written feedback from your tutor. There is no grading system just simply a pass or fail.
There are formal assessments for each module, usually at the end, which will count towards your module and your final outcome. All students need to successfully pass all 4 modules in order to progress onto the next year. The foundation year cannot be repeated.
To help you achieve the best results, we will provide regular feedback after every project.
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North London campus
Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.
Learn moreFacilities and support
Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.
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Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.
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We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.
Our facilitiesStudent support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
Financial support
You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.
We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.
Careers
Our careers and employability service, MDXworks will launch you into the world of work from the beginning of your course, with placements, projects and networking opportunities through our 1000+ links with industry and big-name employers in London and globally.
Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognized with the following awards:
- The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023
- A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023
Global network
You’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network. And after you graduate, we'll still support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.
Entry requirements
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications, including combinations of qualifications together with a portfolio of artwork. Our most common entry qualifications can be found below:
Qualifications
- 56-64 UCAS Tariff Points
- empty col
- A Levels
- DEE/CD - DDE/CC
- BTEC
- MPP
- Access requirements
- Overall pass: must include 45 credits at level 3
- Combinations
- A combination of A-Level, BTEC and other accepted qualifications that total 56 -64 UCAS Tariff points
At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way.
We’ll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don’t quite get the grades you hoped for, we’ll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.
Our entry requirements page outlines how we make offers.
Academic credit
If you have a qualification such as a foundation degree or HND or have gained credit at another university, you may be able to join us in year two or three. Find out how you can transfer courses.
If you have relevant qualifications or work experience, we may be able to count this towards your entry requirements.
Mature students (over 21)
We welcome applications from mature candidates, including those without formal qualifications, provided you have a portfolio and can demonstrate relevant experience and ability.
Qualifications
We welcome students from all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:
Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
Work placements and networking with top London employers
Career support to get you where you want to go after university.
Qualifications
Here are the qualifications relevant for this course:
56–64 UCAS points
We accept a wide range of international qualifications such as A level and International Baccalaureate. If you need help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office.
English language
You'll need good English language skills to study with us. Find out more about our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer an intensive pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you will need a Student Route Visa.
We invite applicants to interview for this course either virtually or on campus. Visit our interview tips page for advice.
Interviews take place on-campus or online over Zoom. The interview will start with a group welcome talk followed by one-to-one interviews. We use the one-to-one interview to find out more about you, to better understand your aspirations and interests, and to explore why you want to study with us.
The one-to-one interview will last around 15 minutes but you should allow one hour for an in-person interview as you will be offered the opportunity to view the facilities and meet appropriate staff and students.
Please bring your full portfolio to the interview.
If you are unable to attend the interview, you can submit a digital portfolio instead so we can discuss it during your online Zoom interview.
We've put together a short video to help you prepare your portfolio of work (YouTube).
Please apply via UCAS using the codes below:
BA Interior Architecture with Foundation Year : KF12
BA Interior Design with Foundation Year : WF23
Need help with your application? Check out our undergraduate application page.
Fees and funding
The fees below are for the 2024/25 academic year:
UK students1
Full-time: £9,250
Part-time: £77 per taught credit
International students2
Full-time students: £16,600
Part-time students: £138 per taught credit
Additional costs
The following study tools are included in your fees:
- Free access to resources, learning materials and software you need to succeed on your course
- Free laptop loans for up to 24 hours
- Free specialist software for your course
- Free printing for academic paperwork
- Free online training with LinkedIn Learning
Scholarships and bursaries
To help make uni affordable, we do everything we can to support you including our:
- MDX Excellence Scholarship offers grants of up to £2,000 per year for UK students
- Regional or International Merit Awards which reward International students with up to £2,000 towards course fees
- Our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad
Find out more about undergraduate funding and all of our scholarships and bursaries.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase undergraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees. Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
Speak directly with one of our Unibuddy student ambassadors
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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.