Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice Art, Design and Communication 2025-26

This Level 3 programme allows a learner to specialise in their chosen discipline in order to progress into the industry, or onto higher education.

Formative briefs are brepared by clients and staff, in order to enable learners to develop their own creative brief for their final project. Project work is designed to extend enquiry, apply a research driven approach to practical skills, and improve problem solving skills and analytic approaches.

There are also opportunities to engage in art outside of college at competitions and experiences!

The programme is 'learner responsive', meaning we build client based projects around the learners who have chosen this route of study.

The Extended Diploma in Creative Practice focuses on any specialist area of Art and Design that you wish to progress, whether this is in 2D, 3D, 4D art, working as a community artist, arts educator or administrator.

You will be given guidance over the development of projects, but will be encouraged to work autonomously. You will choose how you wish to present your work for the client and for assessment.

• Animator
• Art Director
• Costume Designer
• Craft Artist
• Graphic Designer
• Photographer
• Videographer
• Web Designer

... and so much more!

Following successful completion of the Extended Diploma, learners can apply for a place on a BA (Hons) in Art and Design (with a choice of specialist areas). Alternative choices include employment as an artist or gaining an apprenticeship.

To gain a place on this programme, you will need a Merit or Distinction at Level 3 Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication, along with GCSEs in Maths and English at grades 4-9 (or a willingness to work towards those grades).

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

There are 2 formative units delivered in a project and graded as Pass / Fail. You are required to achieve a Pass at BOTH units to progress onto the final project.

The brief for the final project is written by the learner, with all work being completed in a suitable format such as visual imagery, audio and video recordings, photographs and annotations, sketchbooks and animations, uploaded as a digital portfolio and graded as 'Pass / Merit / Distinction'.

The course is assessed internally by an Assessor, before being Internally and Externally Verified to check the marking is consistent.

September 2025

The Level 3 Extended Diploma is a 1 year full-time programme, following on from the 1 year Level 3 Diploma. Study will be across four days each week.

This full time study programme may also be available to study on a part-time basis if you are aged 18 or over on 31st August. Please check with Student Services for more details.