Art, Design and Media Courses at NULC

NULC's Art, Design and Media courses offer you the chance to benefit from imaginative and motivational teaching, high quality learning resources and secure yourself a great start to a career in the creative industries.

Preparation for employment

At NULC, we encourage all our students to participate in work experience days as part of their course to boost their employability skills and CV in preparation for life after college. Our students also get the chance to visit galleries in London, Manchester, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the Tate Art Gallery in Liverpool, and even New York as part of some courses!

Former students on our art and design courses have gone on to a diverse range of careers, from running their own design companies to careers at the top of the fashion industry. Fashion Designer Julian J Smith studied a BTEC Diploma in Art and Design and now runs his own fashion label, dressing celebrities such as Cheryl Cole and Victoria Beckham and hosting his own shows at London Fashion Week and Paris. Other former students are currently working as:

• Consultant Stylist - Top Shop/Warehouse
• Make-up Artist and Costume Designer to Beth Ditto
• Designer at Paul Smith
• Buyer at M & S
• Visual Merchandiser at Selfridges
• Assistant to Senior Buyer - LK Bennett
• Owner/Director at ElloDave
• Owner at Jackson Hammond Design

Through our contacts with local businesses, we also offer the chance for students to gain experience working on live briefs, from designing a logo for a local company to building websites and working on complete corporate rebranding projects.

We also encourage entry to competitions, such as the prestigious D&AD Awards. In previous years, our students have been successful in reaching the later stages of these competitions and have won numerous prizes. You will also get the chance to exhibit in our highly-acclaimed end of year student art exhibition.

Progression to university

To help prepare for university, our students are given expert help and advice in preparing their portfolio and can attend mock interviews with tutors. Some of the Universities our students go onto include the Royal College of Art, the University of Arts (London) and the Edinburgh College of Art.

Pass Rates

Pass rates on our Art and Design courses consistently exceed the national average and the overall faculty success rate is 6% above the national average.

In 2009/10

• A Level Art - 100%
• A Level Photography - 100%
• A Level Media Studies - 100%
• A Level Textiles - 100%
• A Level Film Studies - 100%

BTEC Introductory Diploma in Art and Design

• 92% students achieved 'high grades' (including 81.81% achieving Distinction)
• 100% progressed to NULC FE courses

BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design

• 68% students achieved 'high grades'
• 92.5% progressed to NULC FE courses
  7.5% progressed to employment

Preliminary Arts Course

• 100% achievement
• 92% students achieved 'high grades'
• 35.8% progressed to NULC Foundation Degrees
• 35.8% progressed to NULC FE courses
• 14.29% progressed to BA Hons degrees

Universities that these students progressed to included University College Falmouth and London Metropolitan University.

BTEC Extended Diploma in Art and Design

• 100% Achievement
• 72.7% achieved 'high grades' (including 21.8% achieving distinction)
• 97% progression to HE
• 67% progressed to BA Hons Degree
• 30% progressed to NULC Foundation Degrees

Universities that these students progressed to included Birmingham University, De Montford University, Lancaster University, Liverpool John Moores University, Nottingham Trent, Staffordshire University, University of Central Lancashire, University of Huddersfield, University of the Arts, London

BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

• 83.19% achieved 'high' grades (including 26.66% achieving distinction)
• 96% progression to HE
• 81% progressed to BA Hons Degrees
• 15% progressed to NULC Foundation Degrees
• Universities that these students progressed to included; De Montford University, Derby University, Huddersfield, Staffordshire University, University of the Arts, London.

BTEC National Diploma in Graphics and Media

• 100% Achievement
• 88% progression to HE - 67% progressed to BA Hons Degrees; 21% progressed to NULC Foundation Degrees
• 6% progressed to employment
• Universities that these students progressed to included Staffordshire University, De Montford University, Teeside University and Derby University.

Blog/Photos/Videos

We have a blog for each of our subjects here at NULC. This is so that we can keep potential students, current students, or anyone who is interested up-to-date with the latest news.

Below is a link to our Art, Design and Media Blog:

http://artnulc.blogspot.com/

Scott Deaville

Scott Deaville, aged 19 from Stone, completed a BTEC National Diploma Graphics and Media Pathway course at the College.

He said: “I decided to come to NULC as I’d heard from friends and teachers at school that it was the best college for Art and Design. All the lecturers are supportive and there is a mutual respect. I was diagnosed with Dyslexia at school so I’ve had weekly one-to-ones to help me with my writing. I’d recommend the college to anyone; even if you haven’t done well at GCSE level, you can still better yourself at NULC.”

Scott is now at Staffordshire University studying Concept Art for Games.

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