UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice Art and Design Pathway

Course overview

Looking to explore your creative potential before choosing a specialist path? This one-year UAL Level 3 Diploma is equivalent to 1.5 Advanced Highers and offers a dynamic, practical introduction to the world of art and design.

Perfect for school leavers or adult returners, the course helps you build skills, confidence and a strong portfolio for progression to a UAL Foundation Diploma, HND, or Degree. Through exciting project briefs, you’ll experiment with traditional and digital techniques, develop transferable skills and learn how ethical and sustainable design principles shape the creative industries.

You’ll study the work of historical and contemporary artists and designers, reflect critically on your own practice, and discover which areas of art and design inspire you most. Our experienced lecturers will guide you in creating a professional portfolio and completing a personal project for your final assessment.

Our students go on to thrive and progress to our UAL Foundation Diploma, HNDs, or directly to degree-level courses across the UK.

Recent offers that our UAL level 3 students have gained in previous years:

• UAL Foundation Diploma at Edinburgh College
• HND 3D Computer Animation at Edinburgh College
• HND 3D Design at Edinburgh College
• HND Contemporary Art Practice at Edinburgh College
• HND Textiles at Edinburgh College
• HND Visual Communications: Graphics at Edinburgh College
• HND Visual Communications: Illustration at Edinburgh College
• HND Visual Communications: User Experience at Edinburgh College
• BEng Hons Architectural Engineering, Heriot-Watt University 
• BA Hons Illustration, Camberwell College of Arts UAL 
• BA Hons Computer Arts at Abertay University
• BDes Hons Product Design at Edinburgh Napier University
• BA Hons Illustration and Visual Media at London College of Communication, UAL
• BA Hons The Art of Computer Animation at Escape Studio, Pearson College 

• Unit 1 The Creative Process
• Unit 2 Developing Creative Practice
• Unit 3 Responding to a set of briefs

How the course is assessed

• You will receive written and verbal feedback throughout the course on portfolio submissions, in group crits, and tutorials.
• You need to pass each part of the course to progress and undertake the extended personal project in part three.
• Final grades of either Pass, Merit or Distinction are awarded on submission of your final personal project.

Number of days per week

• 3 days per week

Entry requirements

• Minimum of four National 5’s or above, including Art and Design and English

Or

• UAL Level 2 Diploma or SQA NC / FA in a related subject.

• You must submit a portfolio of practical artwork that demonstrates your creative potential.
• A good general understanding of the creative process from either a school, college, or previous study and experience.
• Adult learners with relevant employment/life experience/skills will be considered for entry to this course.

Information on Tests / Auditions / Interview Requirements

• All applicants for this course are required to prepare a Portfolio and will be invited to a portfolio review session.
• Specific information on Portfolios and review Sessions for the course you have applied for will be sent to you after you submit your online application form.
• For more information and advice on your portfolio, please read the Art and Design Application and Portfolio Guide. This includes advice on the content, formatting and size of your portfolio, but also information on the portfolio review process, what to do if you don’t have a portfolio and the support available for Teachers supporting School pupils preparing portfolios for Art and Design courses. 
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English Proficiency Requirements

Progression and Articulation Routes

• The UAL 3 Diploma is equivalent to 1.5 SQA Advanced Highers
• You will gain UCAS points at Pass 36, Merit 60 and Distinction 84
• UAL Foundation Diploma within the School of Art and Design at Edinburgh College - dependent on portfolio review.
• HNDs within the School of Art and Design at Edinburgh College - dependent on portfolio review.
• Degree-level study - dependent on each institution’s specific entry requirements.

Career options

• Employment at a junior level within the creative industries 
• Most UAL Level 3 Diploma students progress to either the UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma or HND and Degree-level study before becoming successful Creative Practitioners.

People with creative skills have the sought-after knowledge to find employment in innovative and dynamic careers, such as:

• Advertising
• Animator
• Architect
• Art Director
• Art Educator
• Artist
• Arts Journalist
• CAD/CAM Designer
• Cartoonist
• Contemporary Artist
• Content Writing
• Copywriting
• Costume Designer
• Creative Director
• Curator
• Digital Artist
• Editor
• Engineering
• Engraver
• Entrepreneur
• Event Manager
• Exhibition Designer
• Fashion Designer
• Film Maker
• Footwear Designer
• Furniture Designer
• Gallery Staff
• Game Designer
• Games Artist
• Graphic Designer
• Illustrator
• Industrial Designer
• Influencer
• Interactive Designer
• Interior Designer
• Jeweller
• Landscape Architect
• Librarian
• Lighting Designer
• Make-Up Artist
• Marketing Merchandiser
• Multimedia Designer
• Painter
• Photographer
• Printmaker
• Product Designer
• Programming
• Project Manager
• Props Manager
• PR
• Publishing
• Researcher
• Retail Designer
• Sculptor
• Service Designer
• Set Designer
• Software Engineering
• Tailor
• Teacher
• Textile Designer
• Therapist
• UX Designer
• Videographer
• Web Designer