FDA Creative Practice Foundation degree at Staffordshire
FDA Creative Practice at Staffordshire is taught part-time at Burton and South Derbyshire College, allowing you to balance study with work or other commitments.
About this course
FDA Creative Practice is a Foundation degree (FDA) at Staffordshire, based in Burton and South Derbyshire College. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For Creative arts and design graduates from this provider, typical earnings around £27,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2021-23. Continuation 90% (2021-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 4 modules
- Collaborative WorkingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
How do today's art practitioners navigate practical constraints and ethical considerations? In this module, youll explore a case study relevant to your field, analysing key factors and presenting your findings to an audience. Youll gain insights into the challenges of reaching audiences, the role of legislation, and ethical requirements. You'll also plan an event or activity, reflecting on your progress and considering how to expand your skills for future academic or vocational goals. This modul
- Historical And Contemporary ContextCompulsory40 credits
Module details
How do contemporary practitioners navigate the dynamic landscape of the creative industries? In this module, you'll delve into a success story within your field, evaluating its achievements and presenting your findings. You will explore how historical influences, legislation, and ethics shape current trends, and consider future developments in design. By reflecting on the social and political contexts of your work, you will enhance your understanding of cultural expectations and refine your anal
- Practical PracticeCompulsory40 credits
Module details
In this module, youll experiment with various mark-making techniques and explore the language of visual arts. Youll learn to communicate your understanding of formal elements and concepts through diverse methods. Youll also consider how trends, technology, and financial factors influence your work. By sharing and discussing ideas with peers and tutors, youll develop a personal style and gain confidence in presenting visual concepts. This module equips you with the skills to navigate and contribu
- Visual ExplorationCompulsory20 credits
Module details
In this module, youll experiment with both new and traditional media, exploring various mark-making techniques. Youll delve into the language of visual arts, learning to analyse and communicate your understanding of formal elements and concepts. Youll also examine how trends in the creative industries, as well as technological and financial influences, impact your work. Through collaborative idea sharing with peers and tutors, youll develop a unique personal style and the ability to effectively
Year 2 4 modules
- Creative Futures (Life After University 1)Compulsory20 credits
Module details
In this module, youll delve into professional responsibilities, teamwork, and strategic planning. Reflect on how your skills have evolved throughout your Foundation degree and plan the next steps to achieve your personal aspirations. A key component of this module is working collaboratively to organise an activity or event that showcases your accomplishments to a broader audience. Youll navigate professional considerations such as health and safety, permissions, funding, and information dissemin
- Exhibiting ShowcaseCompulsory40 credits
Module details
In this module, youll undertake a major brief that showcases your understanding of how arts practitioners achieve success within national and international contexts. Youll work independently to identify projects that fulfil a specific need or aspiration, which could range from industry-directed tasks to significant academic research. Potential projects include revitalising a cultural venue, organising a major event, or conducting in-depth research on a cultural subject. Youll be responsible for
- Explorative PracticeCompulsory40 credits
Module details
This module empowers you to create a project tailored to your career or academic aspirations. Youll develop a comprehensive proposal for an industry-related or academic project, conducting detailed research on relevant opportunities, costs, and potential funding. Your project should include a realistic timeline, defined outcomes, and demonstrate how it will impact your professional growth. By aligning your work with industry standards, youll enhance your prospects for further study or a successf
- Industry CommunicationCompulsory20 credits
Module details
In this module, youll develop a diverse portfolio that includes annotated examples of your work across different contexts and purposes, showcasing your ability to communicate effectively within your chosen specialism. Youll also write a 1,000-word report analysing a key movement, designer, artist, or practitioner who has influenced your field. This report will highlight how their work has shaped contemporary practices and its relevance to your projects. By the end of this module, youll have a co
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
You'll study the foundations of visual art and design, building from core skills in colour, composition and materials through to specialist practice. A course like this typically begins with Visual Studies & Design Principles, Materials and Processes, and Contextual Studies that ground you in the visual language and history of your field. As you progress, you'll develop a sustained studio practice, explore Digital & Emerging Media, and engage with live briefs and real client projects. In the final stage, you'll specialise in a discipline such as graphic design, illustration, fine art, fashion & textiles, or UX & digital, culminating in a major self-directed project and degree show where your work is publicly exhibited. Throughout, you'll develop a professional portfolio and gain experience suited to industry or self-employment.
Who it's for
This course suits those seeking flexible, part-time study in creative practice whilst maintaining other responsibilities. It is designed for learners who wish to develop practical and theoretical knowledge in art and design before progressing to a full degree or entering the creative sector. You should be comfortable with independent project work and willing to engage with both specialist and applied elements of creative practice.
University & format
This Foundation Degree is studied part-time at Burton and South Derbyshire College through the University of Staffordshire, a University founded in 1971. Taught in English and delivered over two years, the course leads to an FDA award recognised nationally as a UK degree-awarding body qualification. The University holds Silver for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023 and is.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code W900). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.
Check fees at Staffordshire →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £27,000 | £26,000 – £32,000 | 25 |
| 3 years after | £25,500 | £14,000 – £28,500 | 20 |
| 5 years after | £24,500 | £15,500 – £32,000 | 25 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-22.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally
National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
continued or completed
continued into the next year or completed their qualification
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2021-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 25; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2021-22. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Art & Design courses at the same study level.
Compared with 1,698 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
Job market & outlook
How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Design studios & agencies
- In-house brand teams
- Games & media companies
- Freelance & self-employed
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Art & Design graduates.
Fine Art TechnicianFirst Choice StaffPharmacy Technician – Brand New State-of-the-Art HospitalCompass AssociatesArtificial Intelligence Engineering ManagerMBN SolutionsArtificial Intelligence EngineerExperis UKDelivery Driver (Part Time 24 hours) - AndoverOcado LogisticsCompliance Business PartnerNashrock Insurance RecruitmentIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
Most graduates were in work or further study, with a median salary of £27,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 9.0 out of 10: continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Staffordshire
Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Burton and South Derbyshire College
969 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Art & Design right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Staffordshire from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Staffordshire; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Staffordshire’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Staffordshire and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Staffordshire
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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