Craft Practices

Foundation Degree Arts - Furniture

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Applications open
Duration: Two academic years (36 weeks each year) full time
School: Arts
Location: West Dean
Scholarships and bursaries: See available funding

The Foundation Degree in Arts, specialising in furniture, is designed to give you well-rounded woodworking theory and craft skills to set up as a professional self-employed maker or craftsperson, to continue your studies in higher education or to find employment in the creative industry sector.

Furniture making projects become more challenging as the course progresses and may incorporate your own designs. In the second year, students may choose to continue to develop their furniture making and finishing proficiency to support progression into the BA Craft Practices or the Conservation Studies programmes.

Learning Environment

  • Low student: tutor ratio
  • Workshop access 8.30am - 9pm, seven days a week*
  • Interdisciplinary environment
  • Visits from practising crafts-persons and specialists from the heritage and private sectors
  • Visits to museums and active links with heritage bodies
  • Work placements and work-related projects

You can expect

  • To develop excellent practical skills
  • To learn how material properties influence practice and making
  • To learn historic making techniques in a modern woodworking context
  • To learn from dedicated and experienced tutors who are practising professionals and well- connected in the sector

Interdisciplinary study

Students are encouraged to collaborate with other College departments, making the most of the wide range of specialist knowledge, materials and equipment that is available.

Read more about studying Furniture

Course structure

Learn more about the programme structure of each semester and the breakdown of study blocks.

Course units

Year 1 / Semester 1 (18 weeks)
  Christmas vacation  

HC-M1
Materials Technology
delivered in pathway workshop and cross-curricular

  10 credits
(common)
HC-D1
Drawing and Aesthetics
 

10 credits

(common)

HC-R1
Study/Research Skills
  10 credits
(common)
MID-YEAR ASSESSMENT
Year 1 / Semester 2 (18 weeks)
  Easter vacation  

HC-M2
Materials Technology (Metal/Wood)
delivered in pathway workshop and cross-curricular

10 credits

(common)

HC-H2
History of Craft
20 credits
(common)
HC-C2M1/C/F/ME
Craft Skills
2-20 credits
(subject specific)
SUMMER ASSESSMENT
Year 2 / Semester 1 (18 weeks)
  Christmas vacation  

HC-P3
Professional Skills incl. work placement

20 credits
(common)

HC-R1
Study/Research Skills

HC-C1M1/C/ME
Craft Skills

10 credits
(common)

1-30 credits

(subject specific)

MID-YEAR ASSESSMENT
Year 2 / Semester 2 (18 weeks)
  Easter vacation  

HC-P4
Professional Portfolio
student led

60 credits

(common)

FINAL ASSESSMENT

Contact hours

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, external trips and visits and workshop practicals. In addition, you have personal tutorials with your subject tutor.

At level 4 you typically have around 18-19 contact hours per week, typically consisting of:

  • 4-5 hours of lectures
  • 1 hour of seminars
  • 8 hours of supervised workshop practicals
  • 1 hour of one-to-one meetings/tutorials

At level 5 you typically have around 16-17 contact hours per week, typically consisting of:

  • 3-4 hours of lectures
  • 1 hour of seminars
  • 7 hours of supervised workshop practicals
  • 1 hour of one-to-one meetings/tutorials

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshop or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Overall workload

Level 4: 53% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 633 hours
Independent learning: 567 hours

Level 5: 50% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 600 hours
Independent learning: 600 hours

International study trips

The College continues to monitor travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with regards to any international travel. At this time, all international travel which includes study trips will be subject to agreement by the College.

Term Dates
Harry Morris alumni at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation

Careers

Graduates have gone on to work in the sector, both as employees and self-employed, to pursue their studies in higher education, and some have established a high profile for their own designs and craftsmanship. In 2018, 75% of students were in work or study six months after graduation.

“During my two years at West Dean studying Furniture, I dedicated most of my time starting my company and preparing to work for myself after graduation.”

Harry T Morris, FdA Furniture

Read Harry's full alumni profile
School of Art Credit Thom Atkinson.jpg

School of Arts

Explore and expand your work in a uniquely immersive environment with its own connections to art history. Our School of Arts students enjoy specialist studio spaces dedicated to painting and drawing, sculpture and tapestry and textile-based work as well as exceptional exhibition space.

School of Arts

Fees and funding

Course fees are the same for UK and international students

£4,760 per term (£14,280 per academic year)

Lunch, accommodation and other living expenses are additional. Find out more

A £250 course fee and £200 accommodation deposit (if residential) is required to secure your place. Details will be provided to you in your offer. Fees are billed termly in advance. Please see the Terms and Conditions for further information.

Funding

Scholarships and bursaries are available from £500 to £10,000. 

If you are a UK/EU student, you may be eligible to apply for a Student Loan (tuition fees and/or maintenance loans) from the Student Loans Company.

find out more about funding

Entry requirements

UCAS tariff points: 120 Completion of a level 3 qualification, for example: A-Levels, BTEC or Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

Applicants can be considered if they can provide evidence of prior learning and should provide a digital portfolio. You will be invited to a portfolio interview. The portfolio should evidence commitment to the discipline. It could include sketchbooks, technical and material exploration, design work, project development from start to finish, detailed images of finished work. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to include a video of working on a practical exercise as part of the portfolio, of which the College can provide guidance if required (see below). If applicants cannot provide a portfolio, the College will provide a practical exercise that can be done remotely to asses mental agility and dexterity and suitability for this skills based programme.

To guide you through the process of putting together your digital portfolio, we've put together our six top tips; including how to select projects for inclusion, and formatting your portfolio. Read more here.

International students must provide evidence of English language ability to Level B2 (IELTS 6.0), as well as equivalent level 3 qualifications.

How to apply

If you only wish to apply to West Dean, please complete the application form below and email to [email protected]. If you are applying to more than one institution, please apply through UCAS. 

Any questions?
Email [email protected]; call us on: (01243) 818 300 and select option 1, or read more about our Admissions processes.

FAQs

What level of qualification is the Foundation Degree?

The Foundation Degree Arts is a Level 5 qualification and equivalent to the first 2 years of our BA (Hons) in Craft Practices.

Entry requirements ask for a portfolio. What is this and what should be included?

Students need to prepare a digital portfolio to evidence their manual dexterity and their interest in the area of craft practice they have chosen. It could include sketches, images of finished work, videos of them working with their hands. Read more tips on preparing a digital portfolio.

I have no experience and therefore no portfolio – can I still apply?

If applicants cannot provide a portfolio, we will ask you to complete a practical exercise to assess mental agility and dexterity and suitability for this skills-based programme. Assessments take place onsite at the college workshops or remotely when it is not possible to come into college.

What do students do after their Foundation degree?

This course is designed to give you well-rounded theory and craft skills. You can set up as a self-employed maker or find employment in this or a creative industry sector. The Foundation degree is also an excellent first step before progressing to the BA (Hons) Craft Practises if you wished to pursue a career in making, or the Graduate Diploma in Conservation Studies if you wish to pursue a career in Conservation.

 

University of Sussex Logo

Commendations

Commendations from the University of Sussex include:

"The high quality student experience and strength of student representation within the College."

"The introduction of a “maker-in-residence” scheme to the FdA."

"Responding to employer and student feedback in extending the work placement from 2 weeks to 4 weeks to support employability after graduation."

"The range of tailored study trips to suit different student cohorts."

Tutors

Daniel Pateman specialist teacher in furniture design and craft at West Dean College

Daniel Pateman

Subject Leader, Furniture (and Related objects)

Daniel designs and makes furniture to commission inspired by the principles of the arts and crafts movement which had a profound influence whilst serving his apprenticeship at the Edward Barnsley Workshop in Hampshire. He has an affinity for using hand tools and how they creatively contribute to the making process.

Program Advisors

Christopher Claxton Stevens: Decorative Arts Scholar and Consultant
Richard Coles: Antique Furniture Dealer
Kate Gill: Textile Conservator

Joe Orchard - Furniture tutor at West Dean

Joe Orchard

For the past 18 years, Joe has honed his skills as a traditional craftsperson, creating exquisite bespoke furniture pieces. His work has received the prestigious Guild Mark Award and has featured at esteemed events like Masterpiece London.

Program Advisors

Christopher Claxton Stevens: Decorative Arts Scholar and Consultant
Richard Coles: Antique Furniture Dealer
Kate Gill: Textile Conservator