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Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts

Art & Design (Fine Art & Photography) - Foundation

Cambridge, England, United Kingdom · UCAS W100

  • Level

    Bachelor

  • Duration

    1 year

  • Campus

    Main Site

  • Intl. Tuition

    Fee not confirmed

  • Intake

    September 2027

  • UCAS code

    W100

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Course Overview

**Art & Design (Fine Art & Photography)

  • Foundation** at Cambridge School of Visual and Performing Arts in Cambridge, England, United Kingdom is a bachelor programme designed to give you both rigorous academic grounding and exposure to current practice in the field.
  • Study with academics who are active researchers and industry practitioners, with regular contact through seminars, tutorials, and project work.
  • Develop core knowledge in your first year before specialising through optional modules in later years tailored to your interests and career goals.
  • Build practical, transferable skills — analysis, communication, teamwork, and project delivery — that employers across sectors actively look for.
  • Access dedicated employability support including internships, placements, alumni mentoring, and a careers service that connects students to graduate roles.
  • Join a global student community with extracurricular societies, sports, volunteering, and study-abroad opportunities to round out your university experience.

Career snapshot (indicative)

Photography graduates work as commercial, editorial, documentary or fine art photographers, or in adjacent roles in art direction, photo editing and visual content production across media and advertising.

Student life (indicative)

Cambridge offers a quintessential UK student experience — beautiful architecture, river punting, celebrated student societies, and a lively town centre with great pubs, markets and cultural venues.

The University at a Glance

Student Population

12,000

Staff Ratio

19.0:1

International

12.0%

Career Prospects

Avg Starting Salary

£26,070

First-year earnings

Costs & Living

Intl. Tuition

Fee not confirmed

Check the university's official fee page

City & Location

Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)

Course Curriculum

Year 1

  • Foundations of Art & Design (Fine Art & Photography) - Foundation
  • Academic and Research Skills
  • Quantitative Methods
  • Introduction to Theory and Practice
  • Optional language or breadth module.

Entry Requirements

Subjects

  • Photography
  • Fashion Photography
  • Painting
  • Printmaking
  • Fine art
  • Art history
  • Visual arts
  • Curating

Assessment Methods

Assessment is varied across the programme and may include: Written examinations across foundational modules; Coursework essays and analytical reports; Group and individual projects with presentations; Practical lab, studio, or fieldwork assessments where relevant; A final-year dissertation or capstone project that lets you specialise in a topic of your choice.

Campus & City Life

Student Population

12,000

Total students

Staff Ratio

19:1

Students per staff

International Students

12%

Of student body

Campus at a Glance

City Size

Small city (50k-199k inhabitants)

Climate (indicative)

Cool temperate

Safety Index (indicative)

8.0/10

Transport

Moderate (coach or indirect connections)

Social Scene

Friendly community | Academic / intellectual | Professional / career networks | Creative arts scene

Student Life & City (indicative)

Cambridge offers a quintessential UK student experience — beautiful architecture, river punting, celebrated student societies, and a lively town centre with great pubs, markets and cultural venues.

  • Cambridge offers a quintessential UK student experience — beautiful architecture, river punting, celebrated student societies, and a lively town centre with great pubs, markets and cultural venues.

What Students Love

  • Historic city & heritage
  • Rich arts & cultural scene
  • Great café culture
  • Parks & green spaces

University Stats

Total Students12,000
Student-to-Staff Ratio19:1
International Students12%
Safety Index (indicative)8.0/10

Career & Outcomes

Avg Starting Salary

£26,070

Average first-year salary

Placement Year

✗ Not offered

Industry work experience

Career Outcomes Overview (indicative)

Photography graduates work as commercial, editorial, documentary or fine art photographers, or in adjacent roles in art direction, photo editing and visual content production across media and advertising.

  • Photography graduates work as commercial, editorial, documentary or fine art photographers, or in adjacent roles in art direction, photo editing and visual content production across media and advertising.

Top Industries for Graduates

  • Business
  • Healthcare
  • Education

Study Abroad Opportunities

Y

  • Y

Costs & Living Expenses

Intl. Tuition

Fee not confirmed

Check the university's official fee page

Overall Cost of Living (indicative)

HIGH

This location has a higher cost of living. Budget accordingly for accommodation, food, and general expenses.

Monthly Student Budget (indicative)

Housing£797/mo
Food & Groceries£280/mo
Transport£79/mo
Estimated Monthly Total£1,343
Annual living costs£16,116/yr

Cost Overview (indicative)

In the higher range for UK student costs — expect around $1,700/month (housing $1,010, food $355, transport $100). A comfortable student lifestyle at costs well below London and the South East.

  • In the higher range for UK student costs — expect around $1,700/month (housing $1,010, food $355, transport $100).
  • A comfortable student lifestyle at costs well below London and the South East.