Creative Practice

at Burton and South Derbyshire College

FdA

Location

Burton and South Derbyshire College

Burton and South Derbyshire College

UCAS code

W900

In partnership with Burton and South Derbyshire College, we're offering you the chance to pursue a foundation degree in Contemporary Creative Practice

This vocational course is designed to meet the needs of the creative and cultural industries and includes the practical skills, knowledge and expertise required to succeed in the sector. You will have the opportunity to explore a range of different approaches to creative practice and discover subject specialism that appeals to you most. So you may choose to develop your practice in a range of medium and approach. For example, photography, fine art, or textiles - the choice is yours.

You will experience regular engagement with industry practice and have the opportunity to explore and interact with real world situations that are typical of the sector. You will be expected to develop your skills through a range of activities that typically includes most, if not all of the following activities:

  • Live briefs
  • Competitions
  • Exhibiting and selling work
  • Private commissions
  • Creative enterprise activities in teams and/or individually
  • Working on creative projects with charities, the voluntary sector and other organisations

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: FdA Creative Practice

In partnership with Burton and South Derbyshire College, we're offering you the chance to pursue a foundation degree in Contemporary Creative Practice

This vocational course is designed to meet the needs of the creative and cultural industries and includes the practical skills, knowledge and expertise required to succeed in the sector. You will have the opportunity to explore a range of different approaches to creative practice and discover subject specialism that appeals to you most. So you may choose to develop your practice in a range of medium and approach. For example, photography, fine art, or textiles - the choice is yours.

You will experience regular engagement with industry practice and have the opportunity to explore and interact with real world situations that are typical of the sector. You will be expected to develop your skills through a range of activities that typically includes most, if not all of the following activities:

  • Live briefs
  • Competitions
  • Exhibiting and selling work
  • Private commissions
  • Creative enterprise activities in teams and/or individually
  • Working on creative projects with charities, the voluntary sector and other organisations

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: FdA Creative Practice

Course content

This course helps you develop your skills within a range of subject areas including photography, graphics and fine art. As you move through the course you discover the practice that best suits your skills and aspirations . You will develop your technical skills within the subject area and also engage in a range of learning opportunities so you can start to develop and hone your practice within a professional context. In addition you will undertake a series of modules that help you to understand the context and history of your own specialist practice areas. You also will explore how the creative industries operate, and gain insight and knowledge into the range of practical and business skills you need in order to compete and flourish within the creative sector. You will work on your own developing your own practice, and also work within a group responding to live briefs and projects set by a range of external clients.

This course helps you develop your skills within a range of subject areas including photography, graphics and fine art. As you move through the course you discover the practice that best suits your skills and aspirations . You will develop your technical skills within the subject area and also engage in a range of learning opportunities so you can start to develop and hone your practice within a professional context. In addition you will undertake a series of modules that help you to understand the context and history of your own specialist practice areas. You also will explore how the creative industries operate, and gain insight and knowledge into the range of practical and business skills you need in order to compete and flourish within the creative sector. You will work on your own developing your own practice, and also work within a group responding to live briefs and projects set by a range of external clients.

Modules

The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.

Year 1 compulsory modules
Collaborative Working 20 credits
Historical And Contemporary Context 40 credits
Practical Practice 40 credits
Visual Exploration 20 credits
Year 2 compulsory modules
Creative Futures (Life After University 1) 20 credits
Exhibiting Showcase 40 credits
Explorative Practice 40 credits
Industry Communication 20 credits

Location

You will study at Burton and South Derbyshire College but receive a qualification from University of Staffordshire.

Burton and South Derbyshire College is a great place to learn. There’s a real buzz here; inspiring teachers, engaged learners, fantastic state of the art facilities and career-boosting links with leading businesses.

Burton and South Derbyshire College website
Burton and South Derbyshire College logo

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff: 80 points

We welcome a wide range of qualifications and qualification combinations. We assess each application individually, taking in to account any experience and skills you may have in your chosen field. Prospective students will be interviewed in College by members of the delivery team and will be expected to have creative work which supports their application.

UCAS Tariff: 80 points

We welcome a wide range of qualifications and qualification combinations. We assess each application individually, taking in to account any experience and skills you may have in your chosen field. Prospective students will be interviewed in College by members of the delivery team and will be expected to have creative work which supports their application.

Careers

Following the completion of the foundation degree students may wish to progress on to a BA (Hons) top-up award at Burton and South Derbyshire College. Alternatively, students can also apply to progress to a range of other degree courses at Staffordshire University or at another institution. Alternatively some students set up themselves as individual freelance practitioners, running their own creative business.

Following the completion of the foundation degree students may wish to progress on to a BA (Hons) top-up award at Burton and South Derbyshire College. Alternatively, students can also apply to progress to a range of other degree courses at Staffordshire University or at another institution. Alternatively some students set up themselves as individual freelance practitioners, running their own creative business.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

We know that our students learn in different ways. To help everyone get the most out of their studies, we teach through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor (or equivalent) at least twice a year to help support you in your studies. You will be taught in high-quality learning spaces throughout your course, and of course will have access to virtual learning environments to enhance your learning opportunities. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module will give you a variety of opportunities to receive informal feedback from your tutor. These may include classroom discussions, discussions in the virtual learning environment, presentations, milestone assessments, and practice assessments. Informal feedback is developmental and any grades you may receive for these do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on formal coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats, including one-to-one discussions with your tutor. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Staff

You will be taught by a range of staff from the College who are creative practitioners in their own right. You will also meet visiting guest speakers and tutors who will deliver sessions based on key creative skills and techniques and also their own career and practice.

Teaching

We know that our students learn in different ways. To help everyone get the most out of their studies, we teach through a combination of lectures, workshops, and practical sessions. In addition, you will have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor (or equivalent) at least twice a year to help support you in your studies. You will be taught in high-quality learning spaces throughout your course, and of course will have access to virtual learning environments to enhance your learning opportunities. Many of our courses are accredited or recognised by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies.

Assessment

Your course will provide you with opportunities to test your understanding of your subject informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark. Each module will give you a variety of opportunities to receive informal feedback from your tutor. These may include classroom discussions, discussions in the virtual learning environment, presentations, milestone assessments, and practice assessments. Informal feedback is developmental and any grades you may receive for these do not count towards your module mark. There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module. This includes a range of coursework assessments, such as essays, reports, portfolios, performance, presentations, final year, independent project and written examinations. The grades from formal assessments count towards your module mark.

Feedback

You will normally receive feedback on formal coursework assessments within 20 working days following the date of submission. Examination feedback may take a variety of formats, including one-to-one discussions with your tutor. However, as a minimum, generic feedback will be made available to all students who take written examinations.

Fees

UK and Channel Island students: This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation. If the UK government passes appropriate legislation, the fee for subsequent years of study may increase in each academic year. But this increase will not exceed the rate of inflation as measured by RPIX**. Any change in fees will apply to both new and continuing students. The University will notify students of any change as early as possible. Further information about fee changes would be posted on the University’s website once this becomes available.

**RPIX is a measure of inflation equivalent to all the items in the Retail Price Index (RPI) excluding mortgage interest payments.

Apply

Applications are currently unavailable.

Apply

Applications are currently unavailable.

Rules and regulations

If you are offered a place at University of Staffordshire, your offer will be subject to our rules, regulations and enrolment conditions, which may vary from time to time.

Students of University of Staffordshire enter into a contract with us and are bound by these rules and regulations, which are subject to change. For more information, please see: University Policies and Regulations.

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Fashion BA (Hons)

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Study options
Full-time
Placement year
for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2025

for Social Inclusion

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026

for First Generation Students

The Mail University Guide 2026

in the UK for Games Education

Rookies Games Design and Development 2023, 2025 & TIGA Best Games Intuition 2024, 2025

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021