Undergraduate art and design courses require more than just technical skill or a polished portfolio. Universities want students who can reflect deeply on their process, engage critically with artistic traditions, and explore the cultural and philosophical dimensions of their work.
This is where our university preparation resource comes in. It offers a curated range of learning materials to give you a more critical understanding of art & design subjects, acquaint you with the latest essential issues and events, and make you stand out as a candidate.
University preparation: Art and design courses
Click on the buttons below to take you to the university preparation padlets. You’ll find mini-lessons and other resources exploring the very latest issues, events, and controversies linked to art and design courses.
Use these to help students link learning to the real-world, develop a more profound relationship with potential undergraduate courses, and enhance authentic critical thinking abilities.
University preparation: sample version
The UP padlets offer students a wide selection of mini-lessons and other resources that explore and unpack the latest issues and events related to the course, enabling students to link learning to the real-world, develop a more critical eye, and demonstrate their interest in the subject.
The advice on the final slide of the presentation provides specific advice on how the story will help to deepen their knowledge, introduce them to key thinkers, and relate to wider issues going on in the world. Check back every month for new stories. To access all the UP padlets join us here!
Help your learners to exit their echo chambers!
Our online and in-person workshops offer the usual support for students writing the essay and exhibition, and TOK departments designing great courses.
But our training sessions go much further than this: by focusing on authentic critical thinking, they demonstrate how to help learners confront, rather than confirm, their biases and assumptions, and exit their echo chambers. This makes them accessible and relevant for all teachers, whatever their subject or programme. Read more here.