Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
The Foundation Diploma in Art & Design will enable your process of thinking and making to develop within a vibrant and diverse creative environment. Palace Studios includes two large specialist studios, comprising spaces over 160m2, designed to meet the needs of modern art, design and media students plus high windows for natural light.
“Studying art at school was so structured and prescriptive, telling you what to do and when, ticking boxes, but at Arts University Plymouth you’re encouraged to pursue what interests you and see how far you can push it. At Arts University Plymouth my study never felt like a chore, I was excited every day to come in and throw paint at things, to work in a constructive environment that made me feel like I belonged.” — Max Davies, Foundation Diploma in Art & Design graduate
It’s not just the community that will have you falling in love with Arts University Plymouth, our Palace Studios campus is just around the corner from the beautiful Barbican waterfront, a stone's throw from entertainment and leisure centre The Barcode, and only five minutes walk from our main-site, Tavistock Place.
To get you ready for joining us in September, we recommend you check out all the information about starting with us below.
Please note the university will be closed on Monday 19 September due to the State Funeral of HRH Queen Elizabeth.
We want you to have the opportunity to kickstart your creative journey with us as soon as you possibly can, which is why we give you early access to our online resources and community. In mid-August, we'll invite you to enrol as a student so that you can do this and start to discover more about us. We'll send this as an email to the account you used when you made your application; so make sure it's up-to-date! If you need to update any information, then please email admissions@pca.ac.uk
Induction Week Timetable
- Monday 5 September
9.30am -4.30pm: On Campus Induction Day
12:30-1:30pm: Break
- Tuesday 6 September
9.30am -4.30pm: On Campus Studio Carousels
12:30-1:30pm: Break
- Wednesday 7 September
9.30am -4.30pm: On Campus Studio Carousels
12:30-1:30pm: Break
- Thursday 8 September
9.30am -4.30pm: On Campus Studio Carousels
12:30-1:30pm: Break
- Friday 9 September
9.30am -4.30pm: On Campus Studio Carousels
12:30-1:30pm: Break
We have recently sent all Arts University Plymouth offer holders a letter detailing our plans for the Autumn, including timetable information.
You can find a copy of this letter below.
For an alternative format of this letter, please email hello@pca.ac.uk.
Example timetable for Foundation Diploma*
- Monday
Self directed study
- Tuesday
10.00am - 12.00pm On Campus
12.00 - 1.00pm Break
1.00 - 4.00pm On Campus
- Wednesday
9:30am - 12.00pm On Campus
12.00pm - 1.00pm Break
1.00pm - 4.00pm On Campus
- Thursday
9:30am - 12.00pm On Campus
12.00pm - 1.00pm Break
1.00pm - 4.00pm On Campus
- Friday
Self directed study
*You will receive your full study programme class timetable in the induction weeks.
The Students' Union is here to represent you and make sure your voice is heard during your time as an Arts University Plymouth student. They support student-led clubs and societies and run events throughout the year too.
Find out more about their support and services on their website, and keep up to date with the Students' Union on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Tik Tok.
Student Discounts
TOTUM brings you over 200 UK student discounts and comes with 1-year FREE ISIC, unlocking over 42,000 international discounts. Get your TOTUM card now. You can choose from a range of cards that last either one, two or three years. Simply select "Arts University Plymouth Students' Union" when you sign up!
Freshers
Freshers is here to give you a massive welcome to the city and the university. We want to make sure you have the best start to Arts University Plymouth and we want to help you all settle in.
Our Student Union Student Ambassadors will be on-hand to help you move into Host accommodation, The Old Dairy and Frobisher House, and will be at all of our events to answer any questions you might have and help you meet people from all areas of the AUP community.
We want to be as inclusive as possible so we're planning events to suit everybody, from tours of the city to exciting bar nights in the Students' Union, as well as events for LGBTQ+ students, mature students and more. Our events are open to all incoming and returning students, meaning you can meet a great mix of people you’ll regularly see in the hallways.
We plan to have everything from paid trips at local attractions, to admission-free events both on campus and around the city, to help you get to know your new home.
Sign up for Freshers events! We also recommend checking out their blog for a guide for Doctors, Dentists and more.
Getting to know your new home
If you're new to Plymouth, getting to know different aspects of your new home is important! Check out our Discover Plymouth page to find out more about the best bits of our city.
Please note, due to the nature of some activities, there may be some 18+ only events.
Student Support have a broad reach regarding the level of guidance they can offer. Some of the areas include: Registering with a G.P, Wellbeing and Welfare, Mental Health Support, Ear Acupuncture and Mindfulness and Disability and Inclusivity.
We have spaces available for you to speak to councillors in private but also offer group sessions around wellbeing and mindfulness, we always encourage our students to reach out and access this support whenever needed, we are here to help.
Click here to find out more about the support services we offer for Pre-Degree.
Registering with a doctor
In terms of doctors – sign up and stock up! If you are moving away from home to come to Arts University Plymouth, you can register at most general practitioner surgeries in Plymouth by searching the NHS Choices website.
Contact the nearest surgery to your new home and register prior to arrival if possible.
Try to stock up on any of your regular medication before you leave home.
Have your usual remedies to hand, such as cold and flu relief.
More information for International students can be found here.
Please note that student visa applications are currently taking on average 5 weeks to process. The UK Visa and Immigrations service is working hard to process applications to get back to the 3-week service standard. Find out more.
At Arts University Plymouth, we use a host of technologies to support your learning and creative development. While you are with us, you will have access to a collection of Google productivity, collaboration and sharing tools collectively known as “G Suite”, but commonly referred to as “Google Apps”.
Below you will find descriptions of commonly used apps in the Google Suite. We recommend viewing the videos and reading the guides prior to your arrival as you will be using some of the programmes in your first few days with us.
Google Classroom - Classroom is our online learning environment where you will be able to access your teaching material such as module briefs, course information and updates from your lecturers. It also has a built-in chat forum so that you can communicate with your peers and tutors. Download the Google Classrooms app on Google Play or the App Store.
Google Meet - Google Meet is used for video conferencing. You can have quick meetings on a 1 to 1 basis with your peers/tutors or attend a group video call, allowing for open discussions and debate.
Google Calendar - A fully integrated Calendar to keep track of your tutorials, lectures and 1 to 1 sessions. Get notifications and reminders of events - ensuring you don't miss a thing.
Gmail - Gmail is our email system. Access your emails anywhere on your computer or mobile device.
Google Drive - Google Drive is a cloud-based storage system that allows you to work, access and share your documents online... anywhere, anytime.
Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets - These are the basic programmes to support you with your studies and operate in a similar way to that of their Microsoft equivalent e.g. Word, Powerpoint and Excel.
If you need any further help and support with any of these apps then please contact our Learning Technologist, Adam Levi via email at alevi@pca.ac.uk.
Library
The Library is a treasure trove of information and resources, with over 25,000 items comprising physical and digital resources including books and journals (both print and online), DVDs, computer games, a digital video collection and subscriptions to over 130 renowned print publications, our team have you covered. We are on hand to offer you support and advice, online and in-person, at our help-desk on topics such as researching, finding books, referencing, digital literacy and academic practice.
Study Guides and Reading Lists - the Library study guides have all of the resources you will need to succeed on your course, as well as your reading lists, all in one place.
Journals - On this page you will find a list of all the journals that the library subscribes to, plus online access where available.
Academic Skills
Our friendly and experienced Academic Skills team delivers a range of advice, guidance and skills development to support you with your studies. They offer one to one or group support with things like time management and procrastination, essay writing, dissertations, creative writing, referencing, confidence and presentation skills. The team also offer help for students with Dyslexia and can work with other academic staff members to ensure you are fully supported and have confidence in your writing.
Careers & Employability
The Careers team are here to help you strengthen your employability skills and help you discover more about your chosen creative industry. The team can help you with CV's and cover letters, applications, industry experience, work placements and business advice.
If you are a parent, guardian or carer of a pre-degree (post-16) student, click here for more information.
Have a question? Check out our FAQ's below.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for just click the 'Ask Us Anything' button.
Find out about life at our independent arts university from the people who know us best — our real students. From finding the best cafes in Plymouth to course content and employability, our approachable student ambassadors are available to answer your questions on live chat.