UAL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice

The Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice is designed to help you explore, experiment and grow as a creative thinker.

Whether you’re into painting, illustration, photography, sculpture, product design, drawing, model making, animation or a bit of everything, this course gives you the freedom to try it all. Through hands-on projects and real-world briefs, you’ll build industry-relevant skills while discovering your own unique style and process.

You’ll delve into the creative journey, from initial ideas and research to results and final outcomes. You’ll present your work in a portfolio that’s ready to support your next steps, whether that’s university, entry level employment or internships.

Your study programme will consist of: 

• Your chosen technical qualification
• GCSE English and maths if you are yet to achieve a grade 4 or above
• Personal Development sessions which focus on developing work-ready skills (such as CV writing), independent life skills (such as money management) and personal, social and professional growth. 
• Work experience or industry placement (course dependent)

To find out more about GCSE English and maths, personal development and work experience, take a look at our Employability page.

This course is ideal for students who:

• Enjoyed creative subjects at GCSE
• Prefer coursework and practical projects over exams
• Want to experiment with different creative disciplines
• Are unsure which area of the creative industries they’d like to specialise in

To qualify for this course, you will need a minimum of: 2 GCSEs at grade 4-9 (including English and maths) and a Level 2 Diploma in Art & Design or a design related subject.

Unit 1: The creative process

• Through introductory projects and workshops, you will explore a range of materials and mediums, experimenting with illustration, photography, painting, sculpture and much more.
• You’ll understand how artists and designers are influenced by the world around them and how these influences shape your own creative voice.
• You’ll study the stages of the creative process, from researching and experimenting to refining and presenting. From idea to outcome!
• You’ll learn how to respond to a brief with intention and plan timelines for creative projects.

Unit 2: Developing creative practice

• Reflect on your work to understand your strengths, refine your style and develop your creative voice
• Sharpen and perfect your techniques with practice and exploration
• Learn how professional creatives think, problem-solve and overcome challenges in their work
• Learn about the different factors that can impact a project, such as: time, resource or skill constraints

Unit 3: Responding to a set brief

• To assess your skills, you will respond to a set brief, planning and creating a project from start to finish
• You’ll research your project, develop your ideas and consider the ethical and environmental impact of your response

Throughout this course, you will build a portfolio of work that showcases your development, skills and creative process by responding to a set brief.

There may be several visits to London galleries and local workshops throughout the academic year. You will be allocated a certain amount of free printing, after which a small fee will be incurred. You can purchase more printing credits on our online store, which can be found here.