UAL Diploma in Art & Design Level 3

In a nutshell

This new and innovative 2-year course helps you to find out what interests you most in art and design and to develop some of the essential skills that underpin creative disciplines.

This course is for you if...

... you’re creative

... you want to develop practical skills

... you want a course that reflects industry experience

What will I be doing?

We are excited to be an approved centre for the University of the Arts London (UAL) awarding body. This course will encourage and stretch you to communicate visually, think conceptually and develop problem solving and practical techniques.

With access to professionally equipped art and design workshops and studios, you’ll learn through experimentation using a broad range of 2D, 3D and Digital Processes. Projects will help you to gain a contextual understanding of art and design and support you to make and articulate your personal journey and interpretations. Throughout your journey you’ll be taught and supported by tutors with extensive skills, knowledge and experience of industrial practice and education within the creative arts. Throughout the year, you’ll be encouraged to develop personal affinities and interests. In term 3, you’ll negotiate a self-initiated project, enabling you to identify a more specialist area of interest, such as Fashion and Textiles, Fine Art, 3D Design, Printmaking, Ceramics, Digital Art or Photography.

You'll be assessed through coursework and, upon completion, you’ll achieve:

• Year 1: UAL Level 3 Diploma in Art and Design
• Year 2: UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Art and Design
• Appropriate supporting qualifications to broaden your skill set
• Skills Activities
• English and Maths

What is expected of me?

To enter the course, 5 GCSEs at grade C and either Maths/Numeracy or English/Welsh First Language, or appropriate Level 2 Diploma qualification at Merit grade with GCSEs to include either Maths/Numeracy or English/Welsh First Language at grade C or above.

Full commitment to attendance is required, as is respect for others, enthusiasm for the subject, self-motivation, creative ability and a desire to succeed.

What comes next?

On successful completion of the One Year Diploma, you have the opportunity to progress onto the Second (Extended) Year, where you may focus on a specialism of your choice, as well as working across media and workshops that will enable you to select your creative pathway in an informed way.

Progression to Higher Education is on successful completion of year two. Here at Coleg Gwent, we offer a wide range of Higher Education courses at Foundation Degree and Bachelor of Arts Level in the creative areas of Illustration, Artist Designer Maker and Photography.

Additional information

Our aim is to make it as easy as possible to secure your place on your ideal programme. We welcome you to our open evenings and taster sessions (see website for current dates), enabling you to experience our creative workshops and visit our well-equipped creative environment.

Photography Pathway

In addition to our Art & Design provision, we are excited to once again be able to offer a dedicated Photographic pathway. This will allow learners with keen photographic interests the opportunity to closely focus on developing their practical camera and studio skills through workshops and assignments, photographic idea generation, historical and theoretical studies through lectures and open discussion, and improve confidence and social skills through, live briefs, continuous feedback, and peer review.

This pathway will offer:

• Both traditional and digital workshops, using our professional state of the art camera equipment
• Portraiture and still-life workshops in our outstanding dedicated photographic studio
• On location workshops during field trips within the beautiful Welsh landscape
• Academic lectures and discussion on contemporary & historical photography
• Opportunity to discuss current affairs and respond photographically
• Gallery and museum visits, in addition to visiting speakers and workshops