Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing & Production Arts 2025-26

The Level 3 Extended Diploma programme challenges you to expand your knowledge and skills, focusing on your main discipline, whilst stepping into a leadership role to facilitate projects, liaise with clients, produce work that is responsive to the brief and prepare yourself for your next steps after college.

Learners have the opportunity to perform onboard the ferry to Holland and participate in the annual Community Pantomime, as well as engaging in auditions with industry professionals. If you are passionate about working in the Arts, then this is the programme for you!

The programme is 'learner responsive', which means we build projects around the learners who have chosen this programme of study.

Typically, you will lead on a practical project and produce an academic piece of writing in response to a question that supports your interest in the arts, and present yourself for audition to a panel of industry specialists. Following this, you will complete a final project in which you will present a project proposal.

• Actor
• Choreographer
• Cruise Ship Entertainer
• Dancer
• DJ
• Producer
• Screenwriter
• Sound Technician
• Vocalist
• Voice Over Artist

… and so much more!

Progression for most learners after successful completion of the Extended Diploma is onto a Degree in Performing Arts / Dance / Drama / Musical Theatre / Production Arts. Alternative choices include employment as a Performer, in Arts Administration or Production, either working for an employer or as a freelance artist.

To gain a place on the Extended Diploma you will need a merit at UAL L3 Diploma in Performing and Production Arts, alongside grade 4 in GCSE Maths and English, or you will need to study maths and English alongside your main programme to achieve the minimum grade 4).

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 3 formative units delivered in 2 projects which are graded Pass / Fail. You must pass ALL units to progress onto the extended project, and the work you complete for this is 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. Assessment includes live performances, video, audio and written submissions, logged through a digital portfolio.

September 2025

This Level 3 Extended Diploma is the second year of the programme, with the UAL Level 3 Diploma in year one; you will study 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.