Art & Design Pre-Foundation: prepare your portfolio

Guaranteed entry onto the Art & Design Foundation

Art & Design Pre-Foundation is ideal for...

• International students who need to improve their English;
• UK or international students who have not taken Art & Design as a major subject at high school;
• International students who do not possess the portfolio necessary for direct entry to the Art & Design Foundation

Once you have successfully completed the Pre-Foundation you will be able to apply for our prestigious Art & Design Foundation at Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts.

At Cambridge School of Viusal & Performing Arts you will benefit from:

• specialist creative school with exceptional facilities
• individual work space for every student, available 7 days a week
• teaching by professional artists, sculptors and designers
• dynamic mix of nationalities bringing creative inspiration from different cultures.

About the course...

Read more about the Art & Design Pre-Foundation
Why study Art & Design Pre-Foundation with us?
What disciplines are available?
View a sample timetable

It starts in Cambridge

Our Pre-Foundation will prepare you for the Art & Design Foundation in just 1, 2 or 3 terms. Depending on your academic requirements and English level, you can start in September if you are joining the 3 term programme or January for the 2 terms and April for the 1 term.

During the course, you will be thoroughly prepared for Foundation entry by studying the core subjects and by being introduced to discipline available on the Foundation through a series of intensive workshops.

Every student who has taken the Pre-Foundation course has gone on to complete the Art & Design Foundation successfully.

Learn from a team of inspiring artists and designers

"No tutor I've worked with since has matched the dedication and spirit of my tutors at CSVPA." - Michelle Ng, former student

Our approach to creative learning is unique, highly personalised and guaranteed to ensure you meet your full potential.

Our tutors are all professional artists, designers and practitioners.  They include a pattern cutter who has worked for Betty Jackson and also currently working for ASOS and the London College of Fashion.  We also have an Artist in Residence at the University of Cambridge and an Award-Winning sculptor in metals.

Encompassing a wide range of skills and talents, our tutors all share a passion for the creative arts, a dedication to sharing their knowledge and skills with their students and a unique ability to uncover your individual talents.

Enjoy world-class facilities

"The facilities here are brilliant compared to other centres and universities. You have your own Mac - no waiting, no restrictions, no pressure - you get your own space. With this space I have freedom. I can express myself." - Yukie Lam, current student

CSVPA is open seven days a week, twelve hours a day, providing a state-of-the art learning environment and individual work space for every student.

Built over three floors, the Campus includes Mac computer suites, fashion studios, sewing machine and dye rooms, woodwork, metalwork, photography and fine art studios.

Opening the door to unrivalled destinations

"I have achieved beyond my own expectations. After CSVPA nothing but doors of opportunity opened up to me and I had the confidence to walk right through them and even knock on the closed ones." - Hany Ahern, former student now working in New York

Our Foundation students progress to the leading art and design schools around the world, including: London College of Fashion, Central St Martins, Istituto Marangoni, Parsons New York, University of Japan, New York Film Academy, Kingston University and University College Falmouth.

View our student results

Take a look at our facebook page to view some of our students’ work - and become a fan!

Back to top

Art & Design disciplines

Three Terms
If you have not completed high school and you know you want to pursue a career in art & design but need an academic qualification for entry onto the Foundation Diploma, then the Three Term Pre-Foundation course is the route for you. You will leave the programme with an AS level in Photography or Art Video, an AS level in Art, Craft & Design, plus the option to take an A level in your own language.

One & Two Term Options
If you have completed high school and are an international student needing to develop your art & design skills further then you should join either the One or Two Term Pre-Foundation course.

	1 or 2 terms	3 terms
Compulsory Subjects
Life Drawing	✓	✓
Visual Studies	✓	✓
Academic English	✓	✓
Compulsory AS Level
Photography or Art Video		✓
Art, Craft & Design		✓
Optional A level
Own Language		✓
Disciplines
	Compulsory	4 disciplines over 8 wks, then reducing to 2
Graphics	✓	✓
Textiles	✓	✓
Fine Art	✓	✓
3D	✓	✓
Photography or Art Video	✓

Back to top

Sample timetable

Every Art & Design Pre-Foundation timetable is different depending on what you are aiming to achieve. If your main focus is improving your English, you will spend more time in English Language classes. If your English is fluent and your mainfocus is improving your portfolio, all of your time will be dedicated to this.

The sample timetable below gives a rough idea of a typical week for a student.

	9am-10am	10am - 1pm	1pm - 2pm	2pm - 3pm	3pm - 5pm
Monday	English language	Drawing Skills	Lunch	Fine Art	Fine Art
Tuesday	English language	Photography	Lunch	Textiles	Textiles
Wednesday	English language	Photography	Lunch	Fine Art	Fine Art
Thursday	English language	Life Drawing	Lunch		Studio Practice
Friday	English language	Textiles	Lunch		Studio Practice

Back to top