Foundation Diploma Art & Design
An intensive one-year course which will help you discover your creative potential.

What is a Foundation Course?
An intensive one year course that allows you to discover your creative potential by experiencing a wide range of art and design disciplines and that helps you to identify the creative path you wish to follow.
It is the established route to an Art and Design Degree programme from A Level, Extended Diploma and AVCE Art & Design courses, preparing you for the demands of specialist programmes in Higher Education.
What will it enable me to do?
Make an informed application to a specialist art or design degree course.


What will I do?
Explore the visual world through drawing, 3D and image making while experimenting with a variety of media.
Study art & design, discuss contemporary visual practice and investigate popular culture.
Plan and make creative designs, models, photographs, drawings, paintings, prints, and sculptures.
Participate in technical workshops, projects and regular life drawing classes.
Use study trips to galleries and artist's studios to inform individual creative practice and broaden awareness of art and design approaches.


- High staff/student ratio ensuring maximum support
- Wide range of facilities and specialist staff
- Excellent progression routes to a wide range of creative courses
- Lecturers are practicing artists and designers
- Excellent purpose built facilities, set in an inspiring country estate location
- Level 3 course that has been assigned Showcase Centre Status by ABC Awarding Body 2015 - 2018
Tregye Campus
Built as a country estate in 1809, Tregye was bought by Truro College in September 1999. The country house is set in its own grounds with mature gardens and exotic trees, including the famous ginkgo tree, which lends its name to the art building. The grounds provide extensive views of the countryside reaching down to the Fal estuary.
Tregye is within a short traveling distance of Loe Beach, six miles from Mylor Yachting Harbour and seven miles from the Truro campus. The site is four miles from Truro City Centre, and there is a local bus service running regularly to and from Truro. The closest bus stop to Tregye is approximately half a mile away in the village of Carnon Downs. Car parking is available on site.

How can I join the course?
Normally you will be 18 years old and have achieved at least one of the following:
- A two-year A Level programme + 5 GCSEs at A to C (Level 4 - 9)
- Extended Diploma in Fine Art or a named Design Pathway
- AVCE Double Award in Art & Design
Applicants over 21 may have the requirements of formal qualifications waived. All applicants will attend an interview with a portfolio of work.
If you are aged 19 or over when you start the course in September then you will be expected to pay the appropriate course fee. You will need to take our an Advanced Learner Loan or pay the entire cost yourself.
How to Apply
Download the application form and return it to: Truro College, College Road, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3XX.
(Your information will be used only to contact you regarding your course and not for marketing purposes. We will not share your details with any third parties unless legally required to do so for funding purposes.)
You will be called for an interview, where you will be expected to bring evidence of your interest in art and design and visual ability that could include: drawings, paintings, photographs, sketchbooks, textiles and any three dimensional work. We will be particularly interested in working drawings and designs, which indicate the way you work through ideas.
Further information may be obtained from the Art & Design Curriculum Secretary on 01872 267030.