Craft Practices - Furniture

Official Course Title: Foundation Degree Arts – Furniture

Study at a specialist college with the assurance of a university qualification. Develop your passions and reach your potential in a small, welcoming environment within a community of like-minded people.

Why choose West Dean?
An international reputation for excellence in conservation and arts education.
94% of students studying at the College felt the programme had enhanced their skills and abilities (2019 student survey)
A rich arts environment and a focus on craft skills with vocational application.
Be inspired by the unique historic character and beautiful South Downs setting.
Located close to Chichester and the South Coast, with easy access to London.

The Course

The Foundation Degree in Historic Craft Practices is designed to give you well-rounded woodworking theory and skills that will enhance your employment prospects or allow you to continue your studies in higher education.

Furniture making projects become more challenging as the course progresses and may incorporate your own designs. In the second year students may choose to continue to develop their furniture making and finishing proficiency or begin to develop basic skills in furniture restoration/conservation.

You can expect

To develop excellent practical skills
To learn how material properties influence practice and making
To learn historic metalwork techniques
To learn from dedicated and experienced tutors who are practicing professionals and well-connected in the sector

Learning environment

Low student: tutor ratio
Workshop access 8.30am-9pm, 7 days a week
Interdisciplinary environment
Visits from practicing crafts-persons and specialists from the heritage and private sectors
Visits to museums and active links with heritage bodies
Work placements and work-related projects

Exceptional facilities

You will work in our specialist furniture workshop which is equipped with a full range of power and hand tools and individual work spaces. Collaboration with other disciplines (e.g. metals and clocks) makes for a uniquely enriched learning environment. Facilities include:

A dedicated finishing area
Separate machine shop
Analytical laboratory
Photography space
IT suite with specialist databases
On-site Art and Conservation Library with thousands of specialist books and journals

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, external trips and visits and workshop practicals. In addition, you have personal tutorials with your subject tutor.

At level 4 you typically have around 18-19 contact hours per week. At level 5 you typically have around 16-17 contact hours per week.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars and workshop or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library and preparing coursework assignments and presentations.

Overall workload

Level 4: 53% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 633 hours
Independent learning: 567 hours

Level 5: 50% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity
Scheduled teaching and learning: 600 hours
Independent learning: 600 hours