Level 3 UAL Diploma in Creative Practice (Art, Design & Communication)
Course Code: P259983
Key Information
Course type:
Vocational
Campus:
Highbury Campus
Next Start Date:
10 Sept 2026
Duration:
1 year
Attendance:
Full-time
Fees:
Free
The UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice (Art, Design and Communication) is perfect for students looking to pursue a specialist career in the creative industries. It has been designed to provide a strong foundation for progressing to a broad range of creative subjects at further and higher education, or creative apprenticeships.
Your course will be delivered through a series of projects, allowing you to learn lots of new skills and giving you the opportunity to work independently to a brief from the outset. The projects have a vocational setting, such as working on a marketing campaign or creating work for an exhibition. Some of the projects are for real clients which gives you valuable professional practice and real work skills.
Projects include:
- the creative process
- developing creative practice
- responding to a set brief.
You will mostly be working in the art and design studios, sometimes you may be working in the photography studio or in one of our Mac suites and you may get the opportunity to work off-site on a project, with real clients. You will meet artists and visit galleries, as well as exhibiting your final design project at the end-of-year showcase. In the past, students have spent time at the Aspex Gallery; meeting artists, learning about progression options in a gallery setting, and exhibiting their work.
Students have enjoyed visits to galleries and exhibitions including the V&A Museum, Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery.
You will need five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language, Maths and a creative subject, or a full Level 2 qualification at Merit grade, with literacy and numeracy at the appropriate level. A willingness to work in the industry and the ability to succeed are equally important. All places on this course are subject to an interview with a portfolio of your creative work.
The course is full time and you should expect to be in College for three to four days a week. You will be required to conduct at least 10 hours per week of independent study on top of your College timetable. We do have open access areas and the library for independent study or you can work from home during this time.
You will learn in a variety of ways, including from demonstrations, skills workshops, and formal lessons and you will have the opportunity to work independently in the art studios with one-to-one support from your lecturer.
Coursework will be assessed by your lecturers and the grades are developmental. Your final major project will be assessed by the awarding body and your work will be graded at either Pass, Merit or Distinction.
Most students will progress to a Level 3 UAL Extended Diploma in Art and Design. The Extended Diploma comprises Year 2, and once completed, is the equivalent of three A Levels. The Diploma, completed in Year 1, is the equivalent to one and a half A Levels.
Level 3 UAL Diploma in Creative Practice (Art, Design & Communication) available start dates:
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