This course is for you if you want to develop and improve your art & design skills for a future career in the visual arts. It will allow you to explore and sample a range of art and design industries, such as interior design and architecture, illustration, fine art painting and also some aspects of graphic design. 

Equivalent to three A Levels, you'll gain the skills, knowledge, and industry connections to take your next step - whether that’s straight into work or onto university.

The course begins with a focus on developing your drawing skills, which support all the other assignments and specialisms investigated as the course progresses. At the end of the course, you will devise your own Final Major Project, developing particular areas of interest in greater detail and focusing on your strengths in preparation for progression to higher education or employment.

As a London college, we are able to arrange visits to museums and galleries throughout your studies. Student work is regularly displayed across the college and at the end of the course your work will be shown at a public exhibition.

You will have timetabled classes over four days each week, including a group tutorial with your personal tutor who will support and encourage you throughout the duration of the course.

You will learn in dedicated art and design studios. We also have computer rooms, equipped with industry-standard software packages, including Adobe Creative Cloud.

Extended Diplomas are made up of two separate qualifications - to earn the maximum UCAS points for university acceptance, you must achieve both. After you've successfully completed Year 1, you'll be enrolled onto Year 2.

You will need:

• Four GCSEs grade 4 or above, including English and maths
  or
• A relevant Level 2 qualification and Functional Skills in English and maths at Level 2

You will also have an interview with our course tutors at enrolment, so we can ensure the course is right for you.

We will also ask you to bring a portfolio of work, demonstrating your drawing and painting skills, including examples of observational drawing.

Your assessments are designed to match what you’ve learned. All your work will be marked by your tutors, giving you a chance to show off your skills in real-world situations.

You’ll be graded on a scale of Distinction, Merit, Pass, or Unclassified. This grading system helps you see how well you’re doing and where you can improve.

You’ll build a portfolio of your coursework, showcasing your progress throughout the course. Plus, you’ll get hands-on experience through practical assignments and receive feedback from your tutors.

After completing this course, you'll be well-prepared for employment, an apprenticeship, or further study, such as degrees at university.

Units covered may include:

Year 1

• Unit 1 - The Creative Process
• Unit 2 - Developing Creative Practise
• Unit 3 - Responding to a Set Brief

Year 2

• Unit 4 - Researching a Specialist Industry Practice
• Unit 5 - Specialist Technical Skills Development
• Unit 6 - Specialist Creative Outcome

Learners will specialise in their area of interest when working on Final Major Project work at the end of each academic year:

• Fine Art
• Illustration
• Fashion Design
• Digital Art
• Graphic Design
• Multimedia Design
• Architecture & Interior Design

School Leavers (16-18)

If you will be 16, 17 or 18 years old on 31 August before your course starts, and you have the legal right to live in the UK for the full length of your study programme, your course will be free.

You may also be eligible for financial help to support with books, travel, course materials and childcare costs – please click here for more information.

As part of your studies, you will be required to maintain a basic art kit, which includes essential tools such as a range of pencips and pens, a ruler, eraser, scissors, glue, a black permanent marker (eg a Sharpie), an A3 sketchbook, and an A3 wallet. These materials will help you to create your artwork and keep your projects organised. We also recommend you purchase a 1TB hard drive to store and transport your digital design files.