Free Level 3 Art and Design Course in Manchester

CostFREE
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 3
DeliveryClassroom based
Start7 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyUAL Awarding Body

About this course

Free Level 3 Art and Design Course in Manchester. Classes run at The Manchester College City Campus, full-time during the day.

You'll work across drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, ceramics, illustration, 3D design, and fashion. The course runs over one year. You'll take on live briefs set by industry experts and build a body of work. Your year ends with an exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery.

You'll finish with an Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication, awarded by the University of the Arts London.

Who this course is for

At The Manchester College, the Creative Arts Team aims to equip artists at an early stage in their career with the tools to be resourceful problem solvers, collaborative, self- sufficient and resilient.

Our goal is to enable young people to shape their creative voice by becoming active learners and active creators in Manchester, a City of expanding opportunity in the Creative Industries.

We engage with many of Manchester’s partners in Visual Arts and Design such as Manchester Art Gallery, The Whitworth Art Gallery, HOME as well as studio based makers and practioners. Live briefs are set by Industry experts across a range of specialist areas such as commissions to create, illustration, film, 3D product design, Printmaking, ceramics, photography, painting, jewellery and fashion and textiles

Our learners exhibit widely in Manchester’s vibrant artistic centre, creating pop up exhibitions in all of the trendiest areas across this amazing city.

You will get the opportunity to be part of the unique Future Creative’s project and exhibit your work in the Manchester Art Gallery.

The Level 3 course will give you experience in all areas of Visual Arts across all disciplines. Experimentation and risk taking with materials and processes will push you to develop confidence to generate your own ideas and concepts. You will work towards a final project that will encompass the skills you mastered over the year in a celebratory end of year exhibition, which is visited by some of Manchester’s cultural headliners.

We look forward to welcoming you to our campuses across the city. Make an application today and we will see you in a few weeks to meet the team!

What you will learn

  • You'll develop skills in drawing, painting, and printmaking.
  • You'll explore photography, ceramics, and 3D product design.
  • You'll work on illustration, fashion, and textiles projects.
  • You'll respond to live briefs set by creative industry professionals.
  • You'll experiment with materials and develop your own ideas and concepts.
  • You'll build a portfolio of work across multiple disciplines.
  • You'll plan and present work for a public end-of-year exhibition.

How you will learn

You'll learn through studio-based practical work and live project briefs. Assessment is through a portfolio of creative work built up over the year. You'll also complete a final major project that brings together skills from across the course. Work is assessed by your tutors against set criteria throughout the year.

What you will need to bring

The centre will provide most materials. The Manchester College City Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Graphic designer, creates visual content for brands and agencies.
  • Illustrator, produces artwork for publishing, advertising, and digital media.
  • Web designer, designs layouts and visuals for websites.
  • Photographer, works in commercial, editorial, or studio photography.
  • Printmaker or studio artist, produces work for galleries and commissions.
  • Fashion or textiles designer, develops patterns and garments for brands.
  • Art and design technician, supports studios, galleries, or schools.

What you could study next

  • BA (Hons) in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, or a related subject at university, the natural next step after this Extended Diploma.
  • Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, if you want a broader exploratory year before a degree.
  • Higher National Diploma (HND) in Creative Arts, a two-year higher education route at college level.

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