FERN English Academy and Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design have teamed up to offer a foundation course helping non-native English speakers into tertiary level arts and design studies.FERN English Academy and Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design have teamed up to offer a foundation course helping non-native English speakers into tertiary level arts and design studies.The One Year Certificate of Arts and Design (Foundation) is a stepping stone for those who have a low level of English and no arts portfolio for entry into arts and design study at tertiary level.

According to FERN Director of Studies Nimi Kaur, it's a fantastic opportunity particularly for international students who are passionate about art.

"This bridging programme means that students who have a lower level of English can join this course, improve their English and be doing some art right from the beginning of the year," says Kaur.

During the first semester (February to July) students will spend four days a week at the centrally-located FERN English Academy (as Whitecliffe students) and one day a week at Whitecliffe. In that time they will earn an NZQA-accredited English qualification from FERN and passes in courses in Elementary Painting Techniques and Elementary Drawing from Whitecliffe.

In the second semester (July to November), students will be based full-time at Whitecliffe and graduate with a Certificate of Arts and Design (Foundation) and a portfolio to support their entry into Whitecliffe or any undergraduate tertiary arts and design institution in New Zealand. Successful students may go on to study at the certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or degree level in Fashion Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design and Photography, Film/Video.

Available to both permanent residents and international students, a minimum level of IELTS 4.5 is required for entry into the programme.

The first two students to complete their combined FERN/Whitecliffe studies are about to graduate. Deborah Jong Won from Korea and Yanki Luk Ka Yan from Hong Kong have both applied for the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree at Whitecliffe for 2007. Deborah hopes to study Fine Arts and Yanki Fashion Design.

Although the bridging programme has been in place this year on a trial basis, due to the success of these two students and the demand for the course, an official FERN/Whitecliffe partnership and the One Year Certificate of Arts and Design (Foundation) will be launched in February 2007.

Image: Yanki Luk Ka Yan and Deborah Jong Won