Pre-degree: Online

Pre-degree: Online

This exciting and comprehensive preparation for undergraduate study is taught entirely online. Lively, creative workshops give you the chance to experiment and explore a range of disciplines before you choose your specialist pathway in either Art, Design or Communication.

Successful completion of the course will allow you to transition to a selection of our undergraduate degrees specialising in art, design and communication. Undergraduate offers are dependent on the work and interests that you have developed during your pre-degree course. You may need to meet some additional requirements in order to receive an offer for your chosen undergraduate course. Progression to fashion, textiles and jewellery subject areas is not supported on this course.

Unit 1: Creative Study Skills

This unit provides an introduction to the course and a wide range of creative study skills. Exploratory workshops will give you the opportunity to experience many subject areas and enhance your research and development skills. Longer projects will enable you to focus on the subject area, media and ideas that interest you the most. By the end of this unit, you will join your specialist pathway and start researching your undergraduate options.

Unit 2: Cultural and Contextual Studies

This unit will develop your cultural awareness and teach you how to apply critical and analytical thinking skills to your research. You'll learn how to articulate well-informed opinions about your research and develop your understanding of contemporary practice in your future disciplines.

Unit 3: Academic Communication for HE Study

This unit focuses on all forms of communication required for undergraduate study at UAL. You’ll develop your reading, writing and listening skills alongside your visual communication skills. You'll learn how to combine these skills in order to communicate your ideas in a range of ways. Task-based sessions focus on building your confidence using various communication methods such as presentations, project crits and interviews.

Unit 4: Personal Project

In this final unit, you’ll work on a self-determined project which brings together all the knowledge and skills you’ve learnt so far. Pathway tutors will support you to develop the skills and approaches required for your future undergraduate course. Group sessions continue to strengthen your core creative and academic skills. This specialist project will demonstrate that you’re ready to progress to undergraduate-level study.

If you successfully complete the course, you will gain a qualification and have the opportunity to progress to an undergraduate course specialising in either art, design or communication.

The course you are offered will be dependent on the quality of the work you have done throughout the course. For some undergraduate courses a portfolio will be required, and for other courses, there may be a written test. You may also be required to attend an interview with an International Academic Coordinator.

For those students who make satisfactory achievements in all parts of the course but have difficulty with the English language, there may be a possibility of improving your English language level through attendance and achievement on the Pre-sessional Academic English program (PAEP) language course run by the Language Centre at UAL. Alternatively, you can take an external four skills English tests such as IELTS or PTE. More information can be found on the Language Requirements page.