Foundation - London Metropolitan University

Foundation

Courses including a foundation year at the School of Art, Architecture and Design attract a wide variety of students who produce a broad range of work and who go on to many different destinations.

There is currently one general course including a foundation year :

Art and Design (including foundation year) BA (Hons)

Many of our degrees are available as pathways that include a foundation year:

Whether you choose a broad title or a more specific pathway, over the course of the foundation year you'll engage with different modes of creative practice – both intensively within your own subject area, and in the context of the other subject areas.

The foundation year is about engagement, production and gaining enough direct experience to confirm your initial choice of subject area. You'll be excited, guided and tested by confronting what it actually means to be an artist, architect, fashion designer, furniture maker, jeweller, filmmaker, textile designer, interior designer, product designer, animator or graphic designer; to be a thinker and a producer.

The cross-discipline element of some projects allows you to reflect on your own practice and production in the context of others’ relationship with your area of creative practice. This comparative and contextual experience is an explicit framing that the School offers all of our students. The majority of students at foundation level continue to degree level at the School (the foundation level offers a direct route onto the degree courses).

Almost all creative practice has an element of presenting work to a variety of audiences. Throughout the year, you'll develop different aspects of your work by presenting to fellow students, tutors, industry professionals, experienced critics and finally to the public at the end-of-year show.

"I chose London Met because it was one of the few universities with a good diagnostic foundation year. The course is demanding but well worth the effort." National Student Survey

Degrees including foundation year courses

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Architecture (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This London Met architecture course with foundation year offers an alternative route if you can't meet the architecture degree entry requirements. Apply now.

Art and Design (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

Explore a range of subjects during an initial foundation year, and develop the skills you require to progress onto one of our art or design undergraduate degree courses.

Creative Writing and English Literature (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

London Met's Creative Writing and English Literature degree course with foundation year is the perfect starting point for a career in the creative industries. Apply now.

Fashion (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

Our Fashion (including foundation year) is an alternative route into higher education if you can't meet the requirements to enter the three-year undergraduate degree.

Fashion Photography (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This course is designed to help you build a portfolio of work and gain the necessary skills to begin an undergraduate degree.

Fashion Textiles (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

Our Fashion Textiles (including foundation year) BA (Hons) is designed to help you build a portfolio and make more informed decisions about your work.

Graduating student Laura Warren prepares for a shot.

Film and Television Production (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

The built-in foundation year of this course is designed to help you gain the skills you require to study film and television production at undergraduate level.

Fine Art (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This four-year degree degree with an in-built foundation year is ideal if you don't meet the necessary requirements to enter a three-year undergraduate degree in fine art or painting.

Graphic Design (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This four-year course has an in-built foundation year for those who don't have the entry requirements to start a standard three-year undergraduate degree in graphic design.

Illustration and Animation (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This four-year degree is an excellent choice if you don't have the necessary qualifications to apply for our traditional three-year degree in illustration and animation.

Architecture and Interior Design Extended Degree

Interior Architecture and Design (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This Interior Architecture and Design course includes a foundation year to help you build a portfolio while preparing to start your undergraduate degree. Apply now.

Interior Design (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This London Met's Interior Design course includes a foundation year to help you enter an undergraduate degree. Apply now and start your degree in London.

Interior Design and Decoration (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

This Interior Design and Decoration course includes a foundation year as an alternative route into an undergraduate degree. Apply now and start your degree.

Photography (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

Ideal if you can't meet the entry criteria for a standard three-year degree, this photography course includes an intensive foundation year to prepare you for undergraduate study.

Textiles (including foundation year) - BA (Hons)

Our Textiles (including foundation year) BA degree has a built-in foundation year that will give you the chance to explore broader art subjects alongside textiles.

Recent Successes

Cass Foundation Show 2019

Student vs Google

Cass students make their art public in Window Wanderland

Flashticine!

People

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Manuela Barczewski

Senior Lecturer in Architecture

John Cash

Associate lecturer in Foundation and senior lecturer in Interiors

Keith Beckles

Associate lecturer in the School of Art, Architecture and Design

Shamoon Patwari

Head of the Foundation programme

Simone Maier

Module Leader for Critical Creative Practice in the School of Art, Architecture and Design

James Steventon

Senior Lecturer (Foundation)

Subject areas

An art piece displayed in the Private View of the Making Matters exhibition.

Architecture

Cities

Culture

A view in autumn outside an industrial building and with an arched panel

Fine Art

Interiors

Visual Communication

Theatre Arts

English Literature and Creative Writing

News from the School

Guardian League Tables 2023: London Met interior design courses rank third in UK

London Met’s Interiors courses cover an exciting range of future-thinking projects, with a particular emphasis on sustainable and environmental design.

Generosity and architecture

London Met academics Sian Moxon and Jane Clossick publish chapters in a new book exploring how generosity in architecture operates in, and questions, socioeconomic and political systems

EYE 2: a new Instagram exhibition from London Met Art students

An Instagram-based exhibition by Spring entry foundation students at the School of Art, Architecture and Design will run from 25-30 July 2022.

Architecture graduates premiere new documentary at the Barbican

'Nubia Way: A Story of Black-led Self Building' tells the story of London’s first black-led housing co-operative. The premiere takes place at 7pm on 20 July.

Architecture at London Met scores highest for student satisfaction in the capital

The results were published in the latest Complete University Guide.

Dwelling on the Future

Hannah Parr reports on a celebration event for a new book by architect and academic Pierre D'Avoine, which explores the design of dwelling environments.

Unity and celebration through colour

London Met grad Yinka Illori served as headline speaker for Design London, and transforms the city’s pedestrian crossings for the London Design Festival.

London Design Festival: London Met students and alumni contribute new street sculptures

The ‘designpost’ sculptures aim to capture the spirit of one of the festival’s dedicated design districts.

'Enough Already' - Unit 08 Masters of Architecture students exhibit research on the nature of reuse

Christopher Smith, recent MArch graduate and Unit 08 alumnus, explores the recent exhibition and the process of building it.

The Forest is the Museum

25 January to 30 March 2020

Arts organisation run by Cass foundation lecturer presents new exhibition by Abigail Lane and Lala Meredith-Vula.

Aldgate Winter Fair and Lantern Parade

Aldgate Square

Cass Students and Staff celebrated at the annual Aldgate Winter Parade.

the words 'material movement' over abstract collage

EXHIBITION: Material Movements

13 September - 20 October

Cass Fine Art alumnus exhibits new as part of group show launching during London Festival of Design

a book lying on a exterior cobbled floor

The Cass Session 5 is published

Latest yearbook celebrates student work and achievements in 2018-19 academic year.

illustration of person reclined on bed drinking in futuristic environment

Cass tutor named overall winner at World Illustration Awards

Anna Mill claims top prize at the prestigious annual event for her work on the graphic novel Square Eyes.

Cass Foundation Show 2019

24-31 May 2019

Annual exhibition of student work promises to surprise, delight and break new ground and includes roof top structures.