Any experience of UAL extended diploma in art and design?

[customerisqueen]

Doing some research with DS into options that might suit him better than a levels as well as options instead of 6th form at his school. For Sept 2021

He's interested in aiming for art college and creative options at uni. Interested in potential careers in fashion. (St Martins as dream option, Manchester Met, NTU, Bournemouth) Dyslexic and not motivated academically at GCSE. Can be bright and sparky but spending 80% of his time on subjects that don't motivate him is changing that. He needs to trawl through next 18 months and want him to realise and be excited about what could come next.

Have come across the UAL extended diploma as an alternative to A levels/BTEC. Near to us it's offered by NESCOT, Coulsdon College and also by UCA Epsom.

Interested in any observations about the course if anyone has experience.

TIA

As a qual it's fine, ual are a recognised board in the creative industry.

You do need to check if it has ucas points attached if he wants to go to uni and I would be asking the college about progression, assessment and content to be sure it will meet your child's needs and desired outcomes

Thanks slothbyday - some useful questions for me to explore. The info dies say UCAS points awarded but will also check with possible destination unis.

If it’s moderated by UAL, do they recognise it for their degree courses or foundation courses? One would hope so.

My DD did a fashion degree at LCF which is under the umbrella of UAL. So look at them. They often want CC at A level but the portfolio is THE thing. Look at what alternative qualifications they recognise.

Thanks Bubbles - it looks so. But it's another great question

Just had a look at LCF - did your DD enjoy it? What did she do before ? A Levels? Foundation? And if you don't mind me asking what did she do when she graduated?

DD did A levels and went to university after that. She did say the teaching on her course was variable but other students, on other courses, found it excellent. Her course was fairly new and I’m not sure they really had looked at how well it was working. It’s difficult to know what it is going to be like before you go!

If you live in London, it’s cheaper to live at home because some halls are expensive. As are living costs in subsequent years. However it is recognised as a fashion university on a world wide basis, as is CSM.

She went off the idea of working in fashion! So did all sorts of jobs. However she is now an intern with a British bespoke tailor and loves it again. She has been involved with organising the catwalk show and producing the clothes so is learning a lot. Just needs that paid job in fashion!

You do need to be aware that the uk turns out a lot of capable grads. Getting a job afterwards isn’t so easy. A lot is achieved through forging personal contacts. CSM grads would have the same issues.

DD is also working with someone else to set up there own brand. It’s an idea she has had and developed but needed help from someone with more experience.

It’s quite s risky career choice but if your DS wants to do it, he should give it a go. Check the myriad of courses and speak to the universities about qualifications. We found them very helpful. For example they gave great portfolio advice.

I know that this is a few months old now but I wanted to give you my daughters experience. She has just completed the UAL extended diploma and has loved it.
She is also pursuing a career in Fashion. She could have applied for the top Unis in London but is very much a home bird and the distance was too great for her. In the end she applied for Falmouth (we live in Cornwall), Plymouth college of Art and University of South Wales. She recieved unconditional offers from all of them based on the strength of her portfolio. You could tell the people who had come from Art courses as their portfolios were much bigger then the other students.
She has chosen to study at PCA due to the diversity offered on the course.
The UAL course offers a chance to really build your portfolio and it is the portfolio that really counts here. The course itself was great as my dd was able to specialise in Fashion gearing all of the projects towards that. So she had a very full and rich portfolio to show potential unis.
She was awarded last week with a distinction for her course which is fab but for her the portfolio did it. I would definitely recommend the UAL course.
Pick the option that allows yours son he best chance of showcasing what he can do x

Thank you for posting Fourandahalfkids
My daughter is right now thinking about what to apply for at college after her GCSEs this year and the local college offer the ual level 3 art & design
She had worried that A levels would be better but they don’t offer a level art
So this is our main topic of conversation at home at the moment and it’s really helpful to read your experience and that the course is enough for universities

I can't comment on Art but I know that several performing arts colleges (including some quite prestigious ones) are now offering UAL instead of the Level 3 Btec for various reasons including issues with Pearson who run the Btec qualification and it being good preparation for vocational degrees.