Programme Specification for Three D (3D) Design FdA (Foundation Degree)
|
Final award |
FdA (Foundation Degree) |
|
Intermediate awards available |
e.g. Cert HE |
|
UCAS code |
TBA |
|
Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
|
Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
Foundation Degrees, Design |
|
Date specification last up-dated |
November 2011 |
Profile
The summary - UCAS programme profile
BANNER BOX:
The Foundation Degree in 3D design is a practical vocational qualification for designers wishing to move into employment at the earliest opportunity. It is also a programme which once completed successfully will give access to the final year of the BA (Hons) Product Design degree at the University of East London. It is a broad based programme giving a wide range of practical design based skills essential for modern designers in the exciting and fast moving design world of the 21st century. Endorsed by design businesses the degree has been designed to give the best opportunities to students who are committed and passionate about their craft.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
There are a number of acceptable entry qualifications for the Foundation Degree but generally, applicants would be expected to be a minimum of 18 years of age and have an educational attainment equivalent to 120 UCAS tariff points at A2, i.e. at least two A levels (grade D), one of which should be a design based subject, a pass at National Diploma or DD in a relevant AVCE.
Other qualifications include GNVQ, BTEC NC or ND etc.
Mature applicants and those applying after a career break wishing to update their qualifications may apply for Accreditation of Experiential Learning (AEL) under the University of East London AEL Policy.
All applicants are expected to be able to provide a design work portfolio.
Before acceptance on the programme applicants will be required to attend an interview and will be asked to bring a portfolio showing current work as evidence of engagement in the subject of 3D Design and an appropriate skills base
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
What is the Foundation Degree in 3D Design?
The Foundation degree in 3D Design is intended for students who would normally not be able or want to commit to 3 or 4 years full time study on a full BSc or BA programme but who have been working in the design industry and wish to improve their qualifications. Additionally, mature students may wish to change their career direction or others may be unsure at the beginning of their higher education of which direction to take within the 3D field e.g. product, furniture, CAD etc.
The Collaborative Partnership between Barking and Dagenham College and UEL
Students will study a range of techniques and general principles to equip them with the knowledge and awareness to pursue a range of career opportunities where the design and manufacture of 3d artefacts is an essential skill. The programme is offered as a collaborative partnership with Barking and Dagenham College and successful completion of the programme offers an opportunity to enter the final year of the BA Product Design Futures degrees at UEL.
In general the Foundation degree will also open the door to advanced entry to other degrees of a similar nature.
Programme structure
The Foundation Degree is full time programme which may be completed in two years. Formal lectures and studio work are scheduled over 18 hours during each teaching week but students are expected to supplement this with up to another 18 hours of private study/research and assignment preparation per week.
The programme incorporates three modules from the UEL Skills Curriculum to effectively prepare students to progress to the degree programme at UEL.
Learning environment
The programme utilises seminar and teaching rooms including purpose built design studios and workshops.
Assessment
A range of assignment tasks are used as appropriate, ranging from practical design projects, written research projects and dissertations, reports in relations to business and marketing plans, portfolio development and presentations.
Some assignments are formative, i.e. they are used to help the student develop and improve their skills and understanding. Others are compulsory and are recorded and used to assess the final mark given at the end of the degree. In all cases the nature and purpose of the assessment is conveyed to the student either through module guides or the project brief etc.
Work experience/placement opportunities
Students are actively encouraged to work with professional practitioners in the placement slots within the programme. Advice and help in obtaining placements is provided as part of the programme.
Project work
Project work is an important aspect of 3D design and each project undertaken will reflect the vocational nature of the programme and where possible will drawn from existing industrial contacts or mirror those which the student is likely to undertake within their chosen area of work.
Added value
-
IS THIS THE PROGRAMME FOR ME?
If you are interested in...
- the design of 3 dimensional products and how they are made
- model making
- computer aided design
- design history
- the marketing and selling of products
- the need for products
If you enjoy...
- design challenges and innovation,
- working in groups,
- using computers for design
- making models of your designs
- drawing and development of 3 dimensional objects
If you want...
To study in a multicultural and cosmopolitan environment
To learn from practising designers
To design for a competitive environment
To make a difference to the environment of others
To work with real clients on real issues
To enhance your career prospects
Your future career
Education in the area of 3D design opens up a wide range of career prospects in various fields such as Product Design, Furniture Design, Architecture and many other related disciplines. Design skills are highly transferable and you will become equipped with an understanding and process of how to research and solve problems, to innovate and manage design issues.
How we support you
All students are able to access all the support facilities available As well as tutorial support from those teaching you Barking and Dagenham College has a library with full learning support facilities. There are design studios and model making workshops with tutor and technical help, computing facilities and up to date software provision.
Additionally for those students who may experience various personal difficulties, there are learning support advisors, counselling and medical help and a personal tutoring system.
Bonus factors
- Close links with industry
- Design competitions to enter
- Close links with UEL
- Opportunity to undertake an additional year at UEL to graduate on a BA Product Design degree
Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- Prepare for a career in 3 Dimensional Design
- Improve your awareness of the interaction between people and 3 dimensional objects in a rapidly changing global environment
- Develop a sense of innovation to make a real difference to the environment of people.
What will you learn?
Knowledge and understanding
- Design Principles
- Materials
- Processes
- Design history
- Design criteria
- Ergonomics
- Design Management
'Thinking' skills
- Analysis
- Decision making
- Data manipulation
- Interpretation
- Research
Subject-Based Practical skills
- Modelmaking
- Drawing and sketching
- Market research
- Product branding
- Design skills
- Computer aided design
- Marketing
Skills for life and work
- Decision making
- Research
- Drawing
- Report writing
- Computing
- Model making
- Visual and verbal presentation
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
All programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 360 credits.
Typical duration
The expected duration of this programme is 2 years when attended in full-time mode.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year begins in September and ends in June.
What you will study when
This programme is part of a modular degree scheme. A student registered in a full-time attendance mode will take six 20 credit modules per year. An honours degree student will complete six modules at level one, six at level 2 and six at level 3.
A Foundation degree student will complete six modules per year at level 1 and 2
The following are the core and optional requirements for the single, major, joint and minor routes for this programme.
|
LEVEL |
MODULE CODE |
TITLE |
CREDITS |
STATUS |
|
1 |
ME1661 |
Introduction to 3D Design |
20 |
Core |
|
1 |
ME1662 |
Computer Applications in 3D Design |
20 |
Core |
|
1 |
ME1663 |
Design in Context |
20 |
Core |
|
1 |
ME1664 |
Design Methods and Principles |
20 |
Core |
|
1 |
ME1665 |
Work Based Investigation |
20 |
Core |
|
1 |
ME1666 |
Materials, Processes and Manufacturing |
20 |
Core |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
ME2661 |
Work Based Learning |
20 |
Core |
|
2 |
ME2662 |
Advanced Computer Applications in 3D Design |
20 |
Core |
|
2 |
ME2663 |
Marketing and Business Practice |
20 |
Core |
|
2 |
ME2664 |
Professional Practice – Employability Skills |
20 |
Core |
|
2 |
ME2665 |
Studies in Contemporary Design |
20 |
Core |
|
2 |
ME2666 |
Final Major Project (FMP) |
20 |
Core |
* UEL Skills Curriculum
Requirements for gaining an award
In order to gain an honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level three or higher
In order to gain an ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
- A minimum of 60 credits at level three or higher
In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher and 120 credits at level two or higher
In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at level one or higher.
In order to gain a Foundation Degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 240 credits including:
- A minimum of 120 credits at level one or higher
- A minimum of 120 credits at level two or higher
(A foundation degree is linked to a named Honours degree onto which a student may progress after successful completion of the Foundation degree.)
Degree Classification
Where a student is eligible for an Honours degree, and has gained a minimum of 240 UEL credits at level 2 or level 3 on the programme, including a minimum of 120 UEL credits at level 3, the award classification is determined by calculating:
|
The arithmetic mean of the best 100 credits at level 3 |
× |
2/3 |
+ |
The arithmetic mean of the next best 100 credits at levels 2 and/or 3 |
× |
1/3 |
and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification
|
70% - 100% |
First Class Honours |
|
60% - 69% |
Second Class Honours, First Division |
|
50% - 59% |
Second Class Honours, Second Division |
|
40% - 49% |
Third Class Honours |
|
0% - 39% |
Not passed |
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge and understanding is developed through
- Attending lectures
- Attending project briefings
- Attending project critiques
- Personal research
- Private study
- Visiting museums, galleries and industrial partners
- Using learning resources and the internet
'Thinking' skills are developed through
- Tutorials
- Critiques
- Problem solving
- Analysing data
Practical skills are developed through
- Model making
- Sketching and drawing
- Rendering
- Use of computers
General skills are developed through
- Model making
- Use of computers
- Report writing
- Practical project work
- Personal and team presentations
Assessment
Knowledge is assessed by
- examinations
- coursework
- report writing
- project work
Thinking skills are assessed by
- ability to undertake problem solving
- observing presentations
- ability to analyse data
Practical skills are assessed by
- Visual display work
- Model making ability
- Computer presentations
Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by
- Essays and reports
- Computer literacy
- Model making
- Verbal presentations
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before this programme started the University checked that:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves consulting academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by the University’s Quality Standing Committee.
Once every six years the University undertakes an in-depth review of the whole field. This is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the University's quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback to the University through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module evaluations
- Student representation on programme committees
- Project critiques and tutorials
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- circulating the minutes of the programme committee
- providing details on the programme notice board
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
List the methods that you use e.g.
- Conferences and research
- consultancy
- Industrial liaison committee
- Placements
- Visits
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
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Location |
Which elements? |
Taught by UEL staff |
Taught by local staff |
Method of Delivery |
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Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site (http://www.uel.ac.uk)
- The Barking and Dagenham College website (http://www.barkingcollege.ac.uk)
- The programme handbook (TBA)
- Module study guides (TBA)
- UEL Manual of General Regulations and Policies http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- UEL Quality Manual http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- Regulations for the Academic Framework http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework/
- UEL Guide to Undergraduate Programmes
- UEL School web pages (http://www.uel.ac.uk/cite/)
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
