Free Level 3 Art and Design Course in Penzance – Penwith College

CostFREE
Duration2 years
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start1 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyUAL Awarding Body

About this course

Free Level 3 Art and Design Course in Penzance. Classes run at Penwith College, full-time during the day. You'll need four GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English Language, English Literature, or Maths. A merit in a relevant Level 2 Diploma may also be considered. Over two years, you'll explore a wide range of art and design media, develop your own visual language, and build toward a substantial final project. The course covers both individual practice and collaborative work.

Who this course is for

In this course, you will be challenged to investigate a diverse range of Art and Design media, develop your own innovative visual language and unleash your creative potential, both as an individual and a collaborator. Do you have a lively, enquiring mind? Do you enjoy developing your ideas through creative exploration of different media, expanding your skills and building toward a final project? This course provides an opportunity for those who have an interest in the visual arts to explore, develop and test their creativity within a qualification structure which is stimulating and demanding and provides a supportive transition from further to higher education. The Creative Practice Level 3 Extended Diploma offers a fantastic opportunity for you to explore a range of exciting creative techniques and processes, through a series of vocationally relevant projects.

This course is aimed primarily at those who have recently completed their secondary education and is a practically based programme that covers a broad range of Art and Design subjects. The qualification has been written with the support of University of the Arts London Institutions including Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, Chelsea College of Art and Design, London College of Communication, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Art.

The course will prepare you with the skills and creative thinking these institutions and other HE institutions require for their undergraduate courses. The course will give you the knowledge, skills and understanding to explore, develop and test your creativity in areas such as fine art, graphics, 3D, textile processes, ceramics, printmaking, drawing, mixed media image creation, specialist design software, contextual studies, and photography.

Entry requirements

You will need 4 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above to include either English Language or Literature and/or Maths. A merit on a relevant level 2 diploma can also be considered.

In addition to general entry requirements for L3 Diploma courses, a keen interest in drawing to develop your creativity, as a design stimulus and as a means of gathering creative ideas and making them visible is absolutely essential.

What you will learn

  • You'll explore a diverse range of art and design media, from drawing to mixed media.
  • You'll develop your own visual language and creative identity.
  • You'll investigate ideas through experimental and exploratory processes.
  • You'll build drawing skills as a tool for generating and communicating creative ideas.
  • You'll work independently on personal projects and collaboratively with others.
  • You'll plan and produce a substantial final project that brings your learning together.

How you will learn

You'll learn through studio-based practice, creative projects, and critical investigation of different media. Assessment is through a portfolio of work and a final major project, which you develop over the course. You'll receive feedback on your work throughout, helping you refine your ideas and skills. Classes are delivered in person at Penwith College during the day.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. Penwith College will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Graphic designer: create visual content for brands and media.
  • Illustrator: produce artwork for publishing, advertising, and digital platforms.
  • Textile designer: design patterns and fabrics for fashion or interiors.
  • Art technician: support artists and educators in studios or galleries.
  • Photographer: work commercially or in editorial and creative industries.
  • Visual merchandiser: design retail displays and in-store environments.
  • Animator: create moving image content for film, games, or online media.

What you could study next

  • BA (Hons) Fine Art or Graphic Design: a degree at university, building on your Extended Diploma portfolio.
  • BA (Hons) Illustration or Animation: specialist degree routes for those with a focus on image-making or moving image.
  • Higher National Diploma (HND) in Art and Design: a two-year higher-level qualification if you want to continue in further education before a degree.
  • University of the Arts London Foundation Diploma in Art and Design: a one-year course that prepares you for specialist degree study.

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