UCSH Additional Information

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Apply now for September 2024 at University Centre St Helens

From Higher National Certificates and Diplomas (HNCs and HNDs) to Foundation Degrees and Honours Degrees, we have a range of full-time and part-time degrees and qualifications to ensure you are ready to take on your ultimate career or secure an important promotion.

At University Centre St Helens, you will have unrivalled access to experienced lecturers, not to mention smaller class sizes and lower tuition fees, which all contributes to your student experience.

You will also benefit from modern facilities and learning spaces, including our multi-million-pound libraries, newly refurbished engineering workshops with the latest industry-standard equipment, a study hub, common room, IT suites, and our very own Starbucks.

This course is suitable for adults aged 19+ and those who are aged 18 who have achieved at least one A Level, or equivalent.

The Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media Practice is an intensive one-year course that bridges the gap between college or university. It will enable you to develop the necessary skills and portfolio to apply to a range of art and design degree courses. As you start this course you will be experimenting in a range of areas of art and design, including fine art, fashion and textiles, 3D design, graphic design and illustration.

The various creative projects you will undertake will allow you to explore new ideas, materials, processes and technologies. Individual diagnostic projects and tutorials will help you to identify your main areas of interest and make an informed application to a degree course with the support of an experienced lecturing team.

The purpose of the course is to enable you to have a broad experience of intellectual and practical skills; progressively taking control and tailoring the course to your individual learning needs, personal ideas and specialist direction. At the end of this course, direct progression onto University Centre St Helens Creative Arts degrees is available to those who meet the required academic standard.

This course is designed to ensure that you have ample opportunities to expand your creative, theoretical and contextual skills. The foundation course is a diagnostic course, it will enable you to understand your strengths and areas for development and ultimately will help you decide which area you would like to specialise in. It introduces you to a wide range of skills and disciplines.

When will I start the course and how long will it take?

This course starts in September and will take one year to complete.

The course takes place at St Helens College, Town Centre Campus, St Helens, WA10 1PP.

What will I study?

During this course, you will cover the following areas:

• Exploratory Stage
  You will experience a range of assignments and short project briefs, dealing with different materials, skills and basic broad techniques.

You will then develop the skills you have learned in the initial stage and begin to narrow your focus towards your chosen interest (fine art, fashion/textiles, 3D design, or graphic design/illustration). You will begin to explore the skills, attitudes and techniques specific to your pathway, in readiness for the confirmatory stage. You will be formatively assessed at at least two points in the exploratory stage using a range of assessment methods and with on-going feedback from tutors and peers.

• Confirmatory Stage
  At this stage you will work in your specialist discipline. A final project is required and you are expected to devise your own brief, develop independent outcomes and exhibit your work at the end of the course.

In addition to the above stages, you will be supported with your applications to university and portfolio compilation for interviews.

How is it assessed?

You will be continually assessed throughout the duration of the course through practical work, essays, journals and presentations. Work is also reviewed through seminars, group critiques and academic tutorials. The result of your final major project determines your overall grade for the course, which is externally verified at level 4.

Do I need any previous qualifications to start this course?

This course is suitable for adults aged 19+ and those who are aged 18 who have already achieved one A Level, or an equivalent qualification.

You should have at least one A level or an equivalent qualification as well as four GCSEs at grade 4 (equivalent to grade C) or above.

All qualified applicants will be invited to attend an interview. This is designed to be an informal meeting, providing you with the opportunity to see if the course is suitable for your needs. It also gives the course team the opportunity to discuss and explore your career interests. You will need to bring with you examples of your latest work.

What are the course fees?

The fee for this course is £5,421.

If you are under the age of 19 at the start of this course you are entitled to free tuition.

If you are aged 19 or over, you could also choose to apply for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover your course fees enabling you to study now, pay later. Loan eligibility isn't dependent on income or employment status and there is no credit check. Loan repayments don't start until you have finished your course and earn over £25,000 per year. For more information, please visit our dedicated Advanced Learner Loan page.

What can I go on to do once I have completed this course?

The Foundation Diploma provides an excellent introduction for those students who wish to pursue a career in the creative arts industries. The vast majority of students choose to go on to study reputable degree courses throughout the UK including undergraduate study at University Centre St Helens.

I'm interested in this course, what should I do next?

If you will be aged 18 as of 31st August 2023, please complete our 16-18 application form here, selecting 'Art and Design (Foundation Diploma 18+ only)' as your course choice.

If you will be aged 19 or over as of 31st August 2023, please complete our adult application form here.

However, if you still have questions in relation to this course and wish to receive further information, please submit your enquiry here.

Please note, we have taken our utmost care to describe and show course information as accurately as possible. St Helens College reserves the right to amend, remove and add courses in the future. This information cannot be considered contractual and advertised course fees are subject to change.

Applications for 2024 entry are now open.

Full-Time

Full-time degree applications to University Centre St Helens are made through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) via www.ucas.com.

The institution code for University Centre St Helens is S51.

Part-Time

If you would like to study for a part-time degree, you do not need to apply through UCAS. Instead, you can apply directly to us using our part-time higher education application form.

What Happens Next?

Your application form will go to our Admissions Team. Each application is treated on its own merit, and we take the time to carefully consider each individual, taking into account a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds, to reach an informed decision. Some degrees require you to attend an interview/audition or to submit a portfolio (if relevant) before an offer will be made.

Entry Requirements

We accept a range of qualifications for entry and also welcome applications from those who wish to return to study after a period out of education and recognise that applicants come from a variety of ages, backgrounds and experiences. 

Entry requirements are typically in the form of UCAS tariff points, however, specific entry criteria for our degrees and higher-level qualification are detailed on our course information sheets. Further information is also available via UCAS at www.ucas.com/tariff-points.

UCAS Extra and Clearing

If you do not receive offers from your five chosen universities, you could get another chance to join us through the UCAS Extra scheme from February, and Clearing in August.

Additional Support Needs

We have a friendly and experienced Learner Support Team, who will work with you and your lecturers to help you to reach your full potential and career aspirations. Our team liaise with current and prospective students to provide information, advice and support about the reasonable adjustments that are available to them at University Centre St Helens.

Our team are also available to support students with applications for the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs). For students who already have a Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) report, this is shared with our Disability Officer, to ensure that the recommendations for reasonable adjustments can be made as required.

For further information, please contact Anne Ignatius, Disability Officer (HE): This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

International Applicants

If you are a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national, you may need to apply for a Tier 4 visa in order to enter and study in the UK. However, please note that University Centre St Helens does not hold a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence to support student visa applications.

Full instructions and further guidance on how to apply is available at ucas.com.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (formally CRB) assist organisations in assessing a candidate’s suitability for a role where the candidate will come into contact with children and/or vulnerable adults. As a result, some of our degrees may require applicants to undertake a DBS check. In the event of a disclosure, the disclosure must be discussed with the Programme Leader prior to entry onto the degree. The Programme Leader will then provide advice relating to placement and future employment criteria within that particular subject area.

Read more: Year of the Rat Collective

COVID-19
Essential Information for Students

Welcome by Simon Pierce, Principal & Chief Executive

We are so pleased to be welcoming all our students back on campus from early September and getting back to normal campus life!

Our priority will be keeping you safe, and looking after your mental and physical wellbeing as we get back to teaching and learning in the classroom.

The below information is intended to inform and support students in understanding the new processes and systems we have put in place to keep you safe.

As you would expect, we have been following Government guidance very closely and have applied social distancing and increased hygiene measures. Our ‘Keeping You Safe’ guide contains additional details including advice and information on different ways of accessing learning and working.

We are confident you will feel reassured with the measures and arrangements we have put in place, but we welcome the opportunity to receive feedback on any issue that may be causing you concern, so please feel free to get in touch and share your thoughts.

Information for our Students

This information provides you with all the details of our reopening preparations and what you can expect to see on campus, and what your day-to-day experience will be.

We hope this information will reassure you and alleviate any concerns you may have about returning to study on campus.

We have followed Government guidance and best practice to produce a COVID-19 risk assessment to enable a safe return to all our campuses.

If Government advice changes as we enter the winter season, we have contingency plans in place. Our plans need to be flexible and are subject to change. If there are any new developments, the College may need to implement these plans quickly; that may mean having to reduce the number of students on campus at any one time and switching to a more online learning model. We will communicate any changes as quickly as possible, and your tutors will be available to answer any questions or concerns you may have should we need to do this.

Keeping You Safe

Measures we have put in place to protect you

Our Keeping You Safe at College guide details all the measures we have put in place to keep you safe.

Click/tap here to view the guide

To limit the volume of students entering the College buildings at the same time, we are staggering some class start and finish times. This will help with the following:

• Help to reduce the volumes of students using the canteen facilities at break and lunchtimes
• Help to reduce the pressure on public transport at peak times
• Help with reducing the number of students in corridors and on stairs at the same time

We have created bubbles and zones within the College to limit movement around the building, and to reduce the number of people you will come into contact with. You will be informed of your bubble and zone along with which entrance to use on your first day.

We have opened up all possible entrances, to avoid students coming in through the same door.

Wearing Face Coverings

We have made the wearing of face coverings mandatory in all public spaces for both students and staff, (unless exempt under Government guidelines), and you are welcome to wear a face covering in the classroom if you wish.

As the wearing of face coverings is mandatory in social, public areas, we will be providing all students with a reusable face mask.

Some of our staff may choose to wear a face covering while in the classroom, so we have provided them with clear face visors to support effective communication.

The use of a face covering by itself does not protect the person wearing it from anyone who may have COVID-19, so we encourage good personal hygiene practices in addition to this. Where you are using a face mask, it should be worn for short periods only and replaced regularly; prolonged use can cause skin soreness.

Students should bring and use their own face coverings, and they must be used in the following areas:

• Travelling to College on public transport
• When entering the building and in social areas such as corridors and breakout spaces
• Whilst waiting for food in the refectories and Starbucks
• In the learning resource centres and library

What We Ask of You

• When you arrive on campus, please use the hand sanitisers that we have stationed at all entrances and other locations throughout the campus.
• Please wash your hands often throughout the day, and especially before and after eating.
• Please follow the directional signage, and keep to your zones, using the appropriate entrances, exits and stairwells.
• Please avoid using lifts so they are available for people with mobility requirements. If you do need to use the lift, it is limited to a maximum of one person at one time.
• Please pay attention to the markings on the floor, and other signage on the walls - these have been put in place to reinforce social distancing and to reduce congestion.
• Please always respect the 2m social distancing rules when you are on campus.

During Lessons

• Please only attend College on the days you have lessons or pre-booked slots in the library.  This is to ensure that we can effectively manage social distancing.
• Please ensure that you arrive on time, and leave the campus promptly.
• Your tutors have completed a full risk assessment of the activities you will be asked to do so you can do them safely.
• You should remain at the same desk for the duration of the session, keeping personal possessions, coats and bags near you.
• Please bring your own pencils, pens, rulers and other learning equipment with you wherever possible.

Canteen Facilities

Our food outlets will be open, but options will be limited for the first few weeks of term.

We will be offering a hot food option and a selection of grab and go choices, including salads, sandwiches and baked potatoes. We will also cater to all dietary needs.

We will be open early serving breakfast options too!

Managing and Reporting COVID-19 Symptoms

If you experience any symptoms of COVID-19 (a new, continuous cough, high temperature or loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell), we will send you home immediately to self-isolate, in line with Government guidance.

If a student is vulnerable and requires personal care or supervision, we will support you until you can travel home safely.

All cases of COVID-19 symptoms while on campus, or having recently been on campus, must be reported to your Tutor immediately.

If a case is reported, every effort will be made to identify staff, students, areas and facilities that the affected individual has been in contact with. We will then take appropriate action to inform staff and students and deep clean areas as necessary.

We encourage staff and students experiencing symptoms to access NHS testing facilities via the NHS website. Please let us know if you are being tested and report the outcome to your tutor or line manager.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team

We understand that you may be feeling worried and anxious at this time, but our Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team is available to offer you support and guidance.

Please speak to your Personal Tutor, or a member of the Safeguarding and Wellbeing Team if you have any concerns.

• James Jordan
  Designated Safeguarding Lead
  0151 481 4679
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• Jeanine Williams
  Safeguarding & Wellbeing Manager
  07545103527 / 01744 623842 / 0151 477 5869
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• Jackie Campbell
  Safeguarding & Wellbeing Officer
  07540672819 / 0151 477 5869 / 01744 623379
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• Susan Littler
  Safeguarding & Wellbeing Officer
  07814667808 / 01744 623379 / 0151 477 5869
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• Paul Johnson
  Chaplain/Safeguarding & Wellbeing Officer
  07768745991 / 01744 623336 / 0151 477 5869
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Finally, we are all responsible for ensuring our campuses and learning spaces are safe and we need your help to achieve this. We kindly ask that you also take responsibility for our campuses and the spaces you work in.

If you see something that does not look right, or the measures that have been put in place are not working for you, please tell us and report it to your tutor, or a member of Student Services.

We look forward to welcoming all our students back this September!

As a University Centre St Helens student, you will be taught by industry experienced lecturers, all of whom make the difference to your student experience and success. From practising painters to MBA qualified business specialists, you will receive expert tuition, as their experiences, knowledge and industry contacts are shared, ensuring you get the very best out of your time with us.

Wayne Robinson

Fine Art Painting Lecture

Lecturing since 1983, Wayne has previously held positions at Cumbria College of Art and Liverpool Hope University. Discovering a passion for drawing, painting and printmaking at a young age, Wayne has exhibited his work in Germany, Malta, Poland, Cyprus and USA.

Gina Manns

Graphic Design Lecturer

Providing students with insight accrued from 10 years’ experience in the graphic design industry, Gina has worked with the world’s leading trade publisher, Penguin, including international brands; Honda and Harley Davidson.

Robyn Wright

Criminal Justice Programme Leader

Robyn joined us in 2018 with a wealth of industry experience from her time spent working in both private and charitable sectors, within the criminal justice sphere. With previous experience in the witness service at a range of Crown Courts, Robyn joins us with specific interests in politics and law.

Rohit Warikoo

Business Management Lecturer

MBA qualified, with over 15 years’ industry experience, including high profile roles in business banking, Rohit brings his extensive experience to the classroom, sharing real-life case studies, knowledge and experience with his students.