Art, Design and Communication at Banbury and Bicester College is exciting, practical, and industry focused.
We offer a bespoke creative pathway tailored to your preferred specialism.
You’ll be taught by industry-trained, expert practitioners within our extensive specialist Makerspace facilities to explore and gain experience in the following areas:
- Printmaking
- Textiles
- 3D Design
- Digital Photography and Editing
- Darkroom Processes
- Ceramics
- Painting and Drawing
- Graphics
This course is the UAL Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication.
The qualification is accredited by the highly regarded UAL Awarding Body. Among the benefits, students have the opportunity to have their work shortlisted to appear at the annual UAL Awarding Body exhibition at Chelsea College of Art.
What you'll learn
Art, Design and Communication at Banbury and Bicester College is focussed on developing personalised pathway, allowing you to undertake a broad and multi-disciplined programme of study.
Whilst learners may take this qualification in a specialist subject, it is also ideal for those who have not decided which discipline or subject area within art and design they wish to specialise in.
The creative industries need people with a mix of technical and creative skills. It relies on people that know how to work as part of a team, but still have that independent mindset, which you’ll grow through setting your own challenges.
If you’re ready to specialise in an area, we’ve got you covered too! Our specialist subjects include:
- Fine Art
- Fashion
- Photography
- Graphic Design
- Visual Communication
- Textiles
- Illustration
- Advertising
- Printmaking
- 3D Design
- Ceramics
Whatever your area of interest, you’ll be taught by industry-experienced practitioners in professional-level facilities.
In the first year of this course, you will study for the Diploma. Once that Diploma is successfully achieved, you will be invited to continue on to complete the full Extended Diploma in the second year of the course.
Please note: Fees will apply if you are 19+ at the beginning of your studies and have previously completed a Level 3 qualification or are 24 and above. All fees are charged on a yearly basis. Please see our Fees Policy for further details or get in touch to discuss your options!
How you'll learn and be assessed
Study what you want, how you want. 
Art, Design and Communication at Banbury and Bicester College provides an opportunity to explore, develop and test creativity through stimulating and demanding practical exploration.
It focuses on developing understanding and application of the creative process to enable the development of creative ideas and outcomes.
A mix of internal and external practical assessment.
There will be one external assessment taken at the end of the first unit, which is set and marked by UAL Awarding Body.
There’s also one internally-assessed project (coursework), marked by the centre and moderated by UAL Awarding Bod.y
The two-year Extended Diploma is the equivalent of three A Levels.
Throughout the course, you will be required to complete additional tasks, including research, on your home study days.
UAL Awarding Body believes in transformative education. They design and award creative qualifications that empower and inspire educators to help students reach their potential.
UAL Awarding Body is regulated by Ofqual, Qualifications Wales and CCEA Regulation and currently offers qualifications in Art and Design, Fashion Business and Retail, Creative Media Production and Technology, Music Performance and Production and Performing and Production Arts. They are also the UK’s leading provider of the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. Their qualifications have high retention and achievement rates because they are flexible, responsive and relevant to industry needs, and facilitate student progression.
Progression
The majority of students completing this qualification may progress into:
Our Level 4 Foundation Art and Design, employment, or University.
This qualification will support students to develop a portfolio of work enabling them to make applications to appropriate entry-level roles in different universities, training programmes, apprenticeships, or self-employment. It will prepare students for a wide range of careers in the creative industries and related subjects depending on the chosen specialism, but could include employment opportunities in areas such as:
- Interactive arts
- Graphic communication
- Advertising and Marketing
- Fashion / textile design
- Three-dimensional design
- Photography / lens-based media
- Media
- Curation and exhibition management
- Fine art
Art and Design at Banbury and Bicester College is focused on developing a personalised pathway, allowing you to undertake a broad and multi-disciplined programme of study. Whilst learners may take this qualification in a specialist subject, it is also ideal for those who have not decided which discipline or subject area within art and design they wish to specialise in.
Entry requirements
You need to have 4 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including English and maths, with a keen interest and evidence in the subject (example of work or portfolio).
