Discover the fundamentals of photographic image-making and gain access to some of the country's top camera equipment and studios with expert mentorship from real-world professionals.

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 Plymouth College of Art 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

Our Level 3 Photography course is a two-year equivalent to A-levels that we are pleased to offer as part of the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP).

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, while the IBCP will empower you to become a self-confident, skilled, and principled learner, ready to pursue your career on an international stage.

The college and its staff have made the transition into college life an exciting and supportive experience for my daughter. The time spent in college, the online learning and the support offered has been to a very high standard making her learning and self-enrichment an enjoyable time.

Sara, parent of first year student

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.

The International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP) is an internationally-recognised framework of career-related education for post-16 students that seeks to develop confident, critical thinkers who are prepared for modern life and equipped with the cross-cultural skills needed to succeed in their future careers, within the UK and across the world.

As part of the IBCP, you’ll also complete two International Baccalaureate Diploma subjects, choosing from English Literature, Business Management, or Environmental Systems & Societies, and core IBCP skills, preparing you to understand other cultures, to understand how people from other cultures might view you, and how to adopt the best working practices to fit in and thrive in any working environment around the world.

All IB Diplomas and the levels that they are taught are subject to demand - for this reason, applicants must list IB Diplomas on their application in order of preference.

International Baccalaureate World School Status

Character Project