Course overview
Digital Graphic Design and Media Level 3 City of Bristol CollegeAre you passionate about creativity and visual design? This two-year, full-time BTEC National course in Art and Design, with a focus on Graphic Design, is the perfect next step after school.
In your first year, you’ll work towards a Diploma, building essential skills and exploring different areas of graphic design.
In the second year, you’ll progress to the Extended Diploma, where you’ll take your creativity and technical ability to the next level.
As part of the Extended Diploma, you’ll work on live briefs set by various Bristol-based design agencies, giving you the chance to experience real-world projects and get a taste of the design industry. You’ll develop skills to create impactful graphics for branding, websites and mobile apps.
The course offers a solid foundation in Graphic Design and Media Communication, with a strong focus on hands-on learning and industry-relevant techniques. Whether you’re aiming for university, an apprenticeship, or a creative career, this course will give you the confidence and experience to move forward.
Additional information
Who is this course for?
This course is open to young people aged 16–18, as well as adults aged 19 and over, who are passionate about digital imagery, mobile apps, illustration, and graphic design, and those who want to pursue a career in the creative industries.
What you'll learn
The course is made up of various units covering a wide range of areas, including visual recording skills, exploration of materials, and creative techniques and processes.
You’ll take on practical, work-based projects, responding to design briefs in areas such as packaging, typography, magazine and cover design, print and web design.
While the course does not include formal English or Maths qualifications, you’ll build valuable skills in contextual language and numeracy through industry-focused projects. You’ll also strengthen your personal presentation, communication, and organisational skills, all essential for working in the creative sector. Work experience opportunities are available throughout the course, helping you gain insight into the design industry.
If you successfully complete the Diploma in your first year, you can progress to the second year to gain the Extended Diploma, where you’ll explore advertising and branding and produce a final major project, showcased in the end-of-year exhibition.
Course entry requirements
5 x GCSEs at Level 4 or above, or a Level 2 equivalent in a relevant subject. You will have gained either English and/or Maths at GCSE Level 4 or above, or Level 2 Functional skills in English and/or Maths.
We will invite you to a course information meeting event where you will receive information, advice and guidance about the course you have applied for. This will be an opportunity for you to gain valuable information about the course and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
You will provide a copy of your last school report and/or a reference from an employer or relevant professional other (this will include attendance). This is to ensure that we can support you to be able to achieve well on the course. Applicants with 85% or below attendance will have been deemed not to have met this criterion. All applicants are given an opportunity to discuss any evidence-based mitigating circumstances that may have affected the reference/school report.
If you are applying for a creative practice-based course, you will be invited to bring a portfolio of work that demonstrates what you have done in your previous courses.
How is the course delivered and assessed?
This course consists of 2 key units which focus on a range of areas, including visual recording skills, exploration of materials and techniques and processes. Through a wide range of practical work-based projects, you will work on design briefs in packaging, typography, magazines, cover design and web design.
Although the course does not include any formal English and Maths qualifications, you will work with vocationally relevant projects to help develop an understanding of the contextual language and numeracy involved within the subject at industry level. You will also develop your personal presentation, communication and organisational skills. Work experience opportunities are available.
All assessment is through coursework – there are no exams.
If you successfully complete the Diploma year of this course, you will have the option to progress to a second year to gain an Extended Diploma where you will also look at advertising and branding as well as completing a final project for the end of year show.
Future career and study opportunities
After completing the first year of the course you can continue to study this subject in more depth in the second year.
Alternatively, the option to switch learning and transfer onto one of our other Art and Design Extended Diplomas can be explored.
Some learners may choose to leave the course after the first year and progress to employment, into Higher Education or to an apprenticeship.
After completing both years of the course, you may wish to progress onto a Foundation Degree or BA Hons Degree at Higher Education Level.
Additional costs
There is no formal kit list for consumables, but if you are on a limited income, you may be eligible to receive help with these costs from our Learner Support Funding Bursary.
