UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Photography

The full title of this award qualification is UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication. University of the Arts London (UAL) Awarding Body supports innovative approaches to programme design and specialist delivery models within broader contexts. Therefore Pre-Degree students at Arts University Plymouth are offered the opportunity to pick from five creative pathways including; Art & Design, Fashion & Textiles, Film, Animation & Media Production, Graphics, Illustration & Game Arts, and Photography.

The UAL Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma in Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication provides students with a high degree of professional flexibility that can be mapped across various progression routes including freelance careers, creative and industrial employment, business development opportunities, university and higher-level apprenticeships.

No matter whether you are a filmmaker, photographer, designer, illustrator, artist, or something else entirely, this qualification provides an in-depth introduction to the creative industries, along with a broad foundation of related knowledge, skills and attributes that are part of the creative process. This provides you with an opportunity to develop your creative practice in a professional and agile manner, and work across different subject areas. It allows opportunities to collaborate, understand the wider aspects of creative practice and gives you the opportunity to explore, test and experiment in your chosen specialism, as you start to develop the employable and industry skills that will help you build a career.

This Level 3 Photography course is a two-year equivalent to A-levels, this Extended Diploma route provides a dynamic environment for aspiring photographers to develop technical and creative skills, supported by a team of professional photographers with nearly 50 years teaching experience between them.

You’ll have access to some of the best photographic resources in the region, including industry standard digital camera and lighting equipment, professional studios, darkrooms and traditional film, and there will even be the opportunity to develop skills in underwater photography.

You’ll also benefit from regular visiting speakers on photography, such as Amber Leach from The Liberty Pearl Photo & Film Collective, Tom Oldham and Nicholas White, becoming a self-confident, skilled, and principled learner.

With a clever balance of theory and practical work, this course is a collaborative platform for you to explore a range of topics and themes – and you will be encouraged to bring your outside interests into your photographic projects and assignments.

You will study the fundamentals of digital camera controls and techniques, alongside Adobe Photoshop and other specialist software. You will gain core skills in the use of professional lighting and studio-based equipment, whilst developing knowledge of portrait, fashion and still life/product photography. There will be regular trips and opportunities to develop location techniques and practical workshops using traditional film and analogue-based equipment, darkroom practice and mixed media.