Skip to main content
Story

Study Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (FAD) at UAL

A student walks up the stairs at UAL's Lime Grove site. The walls are tiled green.
  • Written byUAL Communications
  • Published date 20 February 2024
A student walks up the stairs at UAL's Lime Grove site. The walls are tiled green.

In 2023, we announced the development of a single site for Pre-Degree Studies at UAL, to be located at our historic Lime Grove site in west London. This decision was made so that we could:

  • bring together the best of our world-famous Central Saint Martins and Camberwell foundation courses into a single UAL foundation taught by our expert academics and skilled technicians
  • respond to the specific needs of our students by enhancing and consolidating the support and services we offer to pre-degree students
  • re-imagine our approach to access and progression; underlining our commitment to making creative education accessible to more people than ever before
  • free up space within Colleges, to offer 3,000 more places to Higher Education students

Our Lime Grove campus is tucked away in a quiet street in the lively area of Shepherd’s Bush, one of the most diverse locations in London. It has been an important part of our estate for over a century, starting with 3 women’s trade schools specialising in dressmaking, millinery, embroidery and hairdressing merging into what was to become London College of Fashion, UAL.

Since that announcement, much work has gone on behind the scenes and we are pleased to provide an update to both current and potential future members of our UAL community.

In the 2024/25 academic year, most of our pre-degree courses will move to the site full time. But for those interested in studying for a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (FAD), we have a slightly different approach to share.

Delivering our FAD in 24/25

We will operate a split-site delivery at our Lime Grove and Archway campuses for 2024/25. For Part 1 (duration of 7 weeks) starting in September 2024, all Diagnostic students will be based at Lime Grove and Specialist students will be based at Archway.

This means that your main location depends on your chosen pathway and mode of study. This may change in Part 2 of the course, depending on the pathway you follow.

  • Part 1 (September-November): All students on Diagnostic Mode will be taught at Lime Grove and all students on Specialist mode will be taught at Archway.
  • Part 2 and 3 (December-May): Your main location will depend on the specialist pathway that you take in the second and third part of the course:
  • UAL Pre-degree Studies, Lime Grove, West London: Fashion and textiles; textile craft; fashion communication; film and animation; graphic design; illustration.
  • Archway campus, north London: Drawing and conceptual practice; painting; sculpture; 4D, photography and time-based media; architecture and spatial design; design for theatre, screen and performance; jewellery, footwear and fashion accessories; product design and ceramics.

What is the FAD?

UAL offers a single FAD programme; an intensive 1-year Level 3 course that gives you the chance to explore your creative practice in different art and design disciplines. It will support your progression onto undergraduate studies, a key aspect of pre-degree studies at UAL.

What does being a FAD student look like at UAL?

Foundation is widely considered the best preparation for progression to an undergraduate degree in the creative arts in the UK.

If you decide to join us for 2024/25, you can expect:

  • To be taught by highly experienced teams and be supported by skilled technicians in all our studios.
  • To have access to our facilities at Lime Grove and Archway. You'll be able to access wood, metal, plastic, plaster, textile, stitch, printmaking workshops, photography and time-based media facilities and a loan store.
  • To take part in studio teaching sessions, technical workshops, collaborative projects, group teaching sessions and additional study support sessions.
  • To build a strong portfolio for application onto undergraduate degrees in art and design subjects.
  • To receive advice to help you progress onto further study, including College visits and talks from undergraduate course teams from across UAL.
  • To have access to all UAL libraries and learning zones located in our Colleges across London.

Best of all, if you successfully complete the FAD, you’ll receive at least 1 offer to a UAL undergraduate course, to start the following September.

Other pre-degree options at UAL

You can find information on other pre-degree courses at UAL here: