Foundation in Arts and Education

  Institution: The University of Nottingham

Programme Description

The Foundation in Arts and Education programme is designed to provide you with the level of academic literacy, skills and confidence to pursue an undergraduate degree in the arts and social sciences. It is offered by the Centre for English Language Education (CELE), housed in the School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

The programme provides an entry route for degree courses offered by the Faculty, especially international communications studies, international relations and education. A substantial amount of the content is devoted to oral and written communication, IT and study skills, and certain modules will also give a general grounding in subject-specific content.

What is the Foundation in Arts and Education?

The foundation programme runs full-time for either three semesters or two semesters. The three semester programme is ideal if you have completed a minimum of 11 years of formal education. The two semester programme is suitable if you have completed at least 12 years of formal education but need to enhance your skills in order to undertake an undergraduate degree.

After you have successfully completed the foundation programme you can go on to study one of our undergraduate degree programmes.

How you are taught

The course is taught in small groups, with much of the course taught in groups of 16 or fewer. You will be taught in innovative ways, designed to help you learn to think issues through for yourself instead of reciting facts. You will benefit from an emphasis on discussion, exploration and evaluation of issues, as well as presenting ideas in the style and format expected at university level. This interactive and student-focused teaching style will help you to become an independent and active learner.

You will take part in lectures, seminars and workshops, and follow a similar timetable to a typical undergraduate. Assessment is through exams, coursework essays, portfolios,and oral presentations.

Course structure

Each semester consists of 15 weeks, with 10-12 weeks of teaching and two weeks of examinations. If you study for the three-semester programme, you would take all modules. If you opt for the two-semester programme you would take the modules for the second and third semesters.

The Foundation programme has three annual intakes.  The three-semester programme commences in April and July; the two-semester programmes starts in September.

Progressing to degree level

On successful completion of the Foundation programme, you can choose from the following undergraduate courses depending on your academic performance and interest.

• Modern Languages and Cultures
• Politics, History and International Relations
• Education
• English

If you come to the course with a strong level of mathematics,you may also apply to other degrees.  Please check the entry requirements on the course.

Entry Requirements

Modules

First semester

Second semester:

You will also choose four optional modules from a range of subjects, including communications, media, politics, education,  applied psychology, IT, business and English language.

Third semester:

You will also choose five optional modules from a range of subjects, including communications, media, film, politics,  education, IT, digital media, business and English language  and literature.

Career Opportunities

Education:

For those progressing to a degree in Education:

Careers in education are available in four main areas: public and private schools, colleges, and universities; supplementary and alternative education providers; education products industry including multimedia and conventional material development, ICT, and publishing; and education services including consultancy, research, investment services, and technology service.

English:

For those progressing to a degree in English:

The creative, analytical and communication skills developed during an English degree will equip you for the changing demands of the 21st-century workplace.

English graduates have a wide range of career choices open to them. Just a few include broadcasting, journalism, communications, the creative industries, research, publishing, teaching, lecturing, advertising, marketing, management, business, banking, law, government service, human resources and public relations.

Modern Languages & Cultures:

For those progressing to a degree in Modern Languages & Cultures:

An international communications degree is your passport to a wide variety of rewarding professions. Likely career paths include: TV, film, radio and print – producers, reporters, journalists, editors, researchers; advertising, marketing and PR – copywriters, creatives, account executives; teaching and research; publishing, translation and interpreting; government service, civil service, diplomacy, embassy work; politics, think tanks, non-governmental organisations (NGOs); international business; management, HR, recruitment and consultancy; and arts or heritage administration and management

Politics, History & International Relations:

For those progressing to a degree in Politics, History & International Relations:

Our degrees will equip you for a career in a wide variety of fields including foreign ministries, international organisations, international businesses and finance, non-governmental and aid sectors, international media and journalism, local and national government, think-tanks, policy advice and lobbying.

Source : The University of Nottingham