UAL LEVEL 3 EXTENDED DIPLOMAPHOTOGRAPHY

Artwork - Olivia Bartlett

AWARD

UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design & Communication

DURATION

2 Years (Full-Time)

UCAS POINTS

Up to 168 (depending on grade outcome)

CAMPUS

Middlesbrough

COURSE DETAILS

Capture the world through your lens.

This two-year photography course is designed for curious, creative thinkers who want to explore photography as both an expressive art form and a professional career path. Whether your interests lie in documentary, fashion, conceptual, portrait, or commercial photography, you will develop the technical skills, creative language, and confidence needed to produce impactful work.

Throughout the course, you will explore how to communicate through visual language, working both in the studio and on location. You will learn how to use different environments to support your creative vision while gaining hands on experience with a wide range of professional equipment, including DSLR, mirrorless, full-frame, and analogue cameras across medium and large format.

Your photographic development will be supported by learning advanced post-production techniques using industry standard software including Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop, and Premiere Pro. Alongside practical work, you will explore the historical and conceptual frameworks that inform photographic practice, enabling you to contextualise your own work and make informed creative decisions.

As part of the course, you will engage with live briefs for local and national clients,
giving you the opportunity to work in real-world situations and gain valuable industry experience.

You will also have the chance to exhibit your work in local, national, and online exhibitions, demonstrating your ability to produce professional standard photographic output.

Guided by experienced tutors and technicians who are active practitioners in the field, you will be supported in building a high-quality portfolio that reflects your personal and professional growth. This portfolio will prepare you for your next steps, whether that is progressing into higher education, securing an apprenticeship, or starting a freelance career in photography.

WHERE COULD IT TAKE YOU?

COURSE INFORMATION

WHY CHOOSE THIS COURSE?

  • Learn technical photography skills in studio and on location
  • Explore digital and analogue processes, editing and retouching
  • Develop your creative identity through practical projects
  • Take part in exhibitions, reviews and collaborative shoots
  • Build a professional portfolio for university or industry entry

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

  • 4 GCSEs (9-4/A*-C)  – (if you have maths/english at grade D/3 you would be required to work towards grade C/4 for these qualifications alongside your course)
  • 1 portfolio of artwork

LEARNER HOURS

Our Further Education study programmes are designed to meet the guided learner hours as per their funding bodies.

AWARDING BODY

This diploma is validated by the UAL Awarding Body, part of University of the Arts London and the UK’s leading provider of creative qualifications at FE level. The Northern College of Art is an approved centre for UAL Awarding Body qualifications. All students are awarded qualifications under their official UAL Awarding Body titles.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

What’s your favourite thing about The Northern COLLEGE of Art?

The college environment being incredibly diverse and welcoming which has allowed me to became and express myself.

Toby Hudson
Level 3 Photography

VIDEO SHOWCASE

IMAGE GALLERY

OUTSTANDING Student Experience

The Northern College of Art had an exceptional history for its further education when formerly known as The Northern School of Art, and Cleveland College of Art and Design prior to that. The institution previously achieved an Ofsted rating of Outstanding in 2009, and held it consecutively across all inspections until the last inspection under the Education Inspection Framework in 2025. The institution is one of only a handful of colleges to make this achievement.

LATEST NEWS

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