Pre-Degree
We’ve built a reputation for teaching technical skills, encouraging and enabling creative vision, and supporting all who join our vibrant and welcoming community. From short, evening and weekend courses to academic courses for people serious about developing their artistic practice and becoming professionals, we offer the best quality art tuition to support your development.
We believe the best way to learn is from experts, so our classes are taught by highly skilled, practising artists, including prize-winners, members of leading art organisations and artists with work in national collections. Furthermore, we keep our class sizes small, so that everyone gets a hands-on experience. Our pre-degree courses include a two-year Certificate Programme in either Fine Art or specialising in Portraiture and a one year Fine Art Foundation.
Look through our 2024 Prospectus
For more information please call our office, +44 (0) 20 7407 6969 or complete this Enquiry Form and our dedicated Academic team will be more than happy to talk you through all the options and discuss what might be the best fit for you.
Full Time: 1 year, 3 days per week, plus independent study
Part Time: 2 years, 2 days per week, plus independent study
A pre-degree course for those wanting to study art or design at a higher level. This course develops your skills, creativity, conceptual and critical understanding. Unlike other Foundation courses you will have the opportunity to devise your own individually tailored programme, learning the skills relevant to your goals. You will focus on developing a strong portfolio that will give you a good chance of achieving a place at a sought-after art school or University.
As a full time student you will attend 3 tutored days per week at the Academy and undertake a further day independently developing your individual project work. As a part time student you will attend 2 tutored days per week and on average a half day independently developing your individual project work.
This course offers more contact time with tutors than most other Foundation courses available in the UK. (do we specify how many hours?)
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.
Recommended Pathway: 2 years, 1 day a week, 10.30 am – 4.30pm
Fast Track Pathway: 1 year, 2 days a week, 10.30 am – 4.30pm
Our Certificate Course is ideal if you want to start developing your abilities but have limited time. You will specialise in one of four disciplines: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture or Printmaking, or complete a Fine Art Certificate across multiple disciplines. (maybe swap around the routes, the emphasis on specialising could be misleading)
In joining the Academy you will have access to talks by visiting artists and artistic tutorials with a tutor of your choice. Furthermore you will be invited to exhibit in the end of year Graduate Show upon completion of your Certificate.
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.
Recommended Pathway: 2 years, 1 day a week, 10:30 am – 4:30pm
Fast Track Pathway: 1 year, 2 days a week, 10:30 am – 4.30pm
Our Certificate in Portraiture provides a unique introduction to the exacting discipline of portraiture. Here you’ll begin to learn the skills of portrait painting in small classes taught by practising artists, many of them eminent in their field. (the disciplines aren’t limited to just painting, everything is just portraiture oriented isn’t it?)
In joining the Academy you will have access to talks by visiting artists and artistic tutorials with a tutor of your choice. Furthermore you will be invited to exhibit in the end of year Graduate Show upon completion of your Certificate.
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.