Foundation Studies - Undergraduate Pathway in Design

Design at Brunel is ranked 2nd in London and 5th in the UK (Complete University Guide 2018). In the this pathway you will gain the skills and knowledge on core concepts needed to understand 2D design, 3D Design, Specialist Design Project and technical Design. With the fast- changing pace of design advances, you will experience learning at an individual as well as group level.

The principal aim of the programme is to enable students to linguistically and academically negotiate the transition from school to university and be prepared for the demands of an undergraduate degree programme in an appropriate Design related discipline.

The programme syllabus is designed around the acquisition of core academic skills and literacy development that underpins successful higher education outcomes: academic research, ICT, critical thinking, design thinking and the promotion of self-awareness.

These form of assessments is considered fundamental to a student’s ability to communicate ideas and evidence with clarity, relevance and logic in a planned and organised manner. Students learn through a combination of formal, interactive lectures in relevant content areas, interactive seminars, practical workshop sessions and IT-enabled self-study opportunities: practical application of theoretical knowledge allows students to develop further skills and understanding of relevant topics and concepts.

Through the course, students will be encouraged to engage appropriately with peers and tutors as members of an academic community. This will involve the development of critical self-awareness and personal literacy as students become more attuned to their identity as global citizens. This is an intensive programme with a minimum 16 hours per week and a corresponding number of ongoing assessment tasks designed to provide a scaffolded structure for students at this entry level to Higher Education.

Summative assessment methods are varied to ensure appropriate assessment of learning outcomes. These methods include: individual and group assignments; oral presentations; and closed-book final examinations. The assessments are designed with the following strategy in mind: class tests develop the skills necessary to demonstrate a broad understanding of the course syllabus and problem-solving skills. Oral presentations provide opportunities for advancing communication skills and written assignments including case studies and reports are underpinned by a critically aware research and data gathering process (to aid research literacy). Reflective assignments encourage students to engage in critical self-awareness and on-going improvement both linguistically and academically.

This pathway leads to the following Brunel University London degrees:
Design Pathway
Industrial Design and Technology BA
Product Design BSc
Product Design Engineering BSc
Digital Media Pathway
Digital Design BSc
Visual Effects and Motion Graphics BSc