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Sophia’s pre-degree story: From uncertainty to creative confidence

A student wearing sunglasses and a light jacket stands outdoors in front of a stone building and wooden doors, adjusting their hair in sunlight.
  • Written byJoshua Robinson
  • Published date 19 December 2025
A student wearing sunglasses and a light jacket stands outdoors in front of a stone building and wooden doors, adjusting their hair in sunlight.
Photograph: Sophia Lyu

When Sophia enrolled on the Certificate in Higher Education: Preparation for Design, Media and Screen, she wanted time to explore different creative fields before committing to a path.

“A pre-degree course offered me the freedom to experiment with a variety of artistic fields I was interested in,” she explains. It also allowed her to build strong study habits and learn how to construct a portfolio that reflected her creative strengths.

One of her most memorable experiences was a zine-making showcase. “I remember using old newspapers to put mine together and receiving a lot of praise from both peers and tutors. That experience really boosted my confidence, and I’ve come to love zine-making ever since.”

Over the year, Sophia’s creative process changed dramatically. Before joining the course, she relied mostly on free drawing, but the pre-degree course helped her understand the importance of research. “I learnt to value the research process and how it improves creative outcomes. Treating research as an essential step has really helped me improve both my work and my grades.”

Progression, she says, was “completely stress-free.” She appreciated the clear timetable and the ability to book one-to-one tutorials for personal guidance. When she received an offer for BA (Hons) Illustration and Visual Media at London College of Communication, her dream course, she felt “really grateful.”

Starting undergraduate study felt less daunting thanks to the familiarity she gained during her pre-degree course. “I soon realised I was already well-prepared and familiar with the requirements of undergraduate study and the project-making process. I was confident using workshops and accessing facilities, which made my first weeks much smoother.”

Sophia Lyu: Certificate in Higher Education: Preparation for Design, Media and Screen graduate, now studying a BA (Hons) Illustration and Visual Media at UAL London College of Communication.

Read more about: Taking the step up from pre-degree to undergraduate study at UAL