Art and Design Practice - Level 3 National Extended Diploma
Start Date: 1st September 2025
Code: PFFB02088
- Further Education
- Full-time
- Ballymena
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Essentials
Duration: 2 Years Full-time
Start date: 1st September 2025
End date: 4th June 2027
Information Event: Yes
Course fee: FREE (Eligibility criteria may apply)
Course Content
This course is ideal for people seeking a career in Art and Design. Across the year, our students will learn the core elements of art and design including Graphic Design; Product Design; Drawing skills; Critical & Contextual Awareness; and Investigation of materials, techniques & processes in 2D & 3D.
The course will focus on exploring the visual arts in practical ways, to provide the learner with the skills that are needed to operate in a modern commercial environment. So there will be an emphasis on developing drawing, photography and software skills as well as 3D design techniques in a range of contexts.
The course will also focus on practical working methods, such as effective research and decision-making techniques, to create an awareness of modern, professional creative industry production processes, from initial brief and concept right through to final product design and manufacture.
The course will also help learners to develop presentation & communication skills essential within the contemporary art and design world & creative industries in general.

Essential Skills
All full-time students at Northern Regional College have the opportunity to improve their English, Maths and ICT skills and gain qualifications. The qualification you take will depend on the qualification you already have. If you do not have a grade C or above in GCSE English, Maths or ICT, you MUST complete Essential Skills; this will form a compulsory part of your timetable. If you are planning to go on to further study (for example university), please check if a GCSE qualification (rather than Essential Skills Level 2 equivalent) is required. For those who have a GCSE grade D in Maths or English, we offer a GCSE fast-track course.
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