Free Level 3 Art and Design Course in Manchester – The Manchester College City Campus

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 full-time at The Manchester College City Campus, five days a week during the day. The course runs for one year and covers all areas of visual arts, from illustration and photography to ceramics, printmaking, fashion, and 3D product design. You'll work on live briefs set by industry professionals, experiment with materials and processes, and build toward a final project shown at an end-of-year exhibition. Manchester's creative scene is part of the learning, with partnerships at venues including Manchester Art Gallery and The Whitworth. A strong level 3 art and design qualification for anyone ready to develop their creative practice.

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 explore a wide range of visual arts disciplines, including painting, illustration, photography, printmaking, ceramics, jewellery, film, and fashion and textiles.
  • You'll work on live briefs set by industry experts across specialist creative areas.
  • You'll experiment with materials and processes to develop your own ideas and concepts.
  • You'll build a body of work toward a final project and take part in a public end-of-year exhibition.
  • You'll engage with Manchester's creative sector through partnerships with galleries and cultural organisations.
  • You'll develop skills in problem solving, collaboration, and independent creative thinking.

How you will learn

You'll learn through studio-based practice, live project briefs, and hands-on experimentation with materials across multiple disciplines. Assessment is through a portfolio of work and a final major project, which is exhibited publicly at the end of the year. You'll attend full-time during the day at The Manchester College City Campus.

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: create visual content for brands and media
  • Illustrator: produce artwork for publishing, advertising, and digital media
  • Photographer: work in commercial, editorial, or fine art photography
  • Textile designer: design patterns and fabrics for fashion or interiors
  • Printmaker or studio artist: produce and sell original artwork
  • Visual arts technician: support studios, galleries, or educational settings
  • Creative arts assistant: work in community arts or cultural organisations

What you could study next

  • Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Level 4): the standard entry route into art and design degree programmes at UK universities.
  • BA (Hons) in Fine Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photography, or a related subject: a three-year degree that deepens specialist practice and opens professional creative careers.
  • Higher National Diploma (HND) in Art and Design: a two-year higher education qualification available at many colleges, with degree top-up options.

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