Art and Design Year 1 entry

Information and advice on entry to first year of our Art and Design degrees.

Applicants can meet Year 1 entry requirements in a number of ways. We accept all of the standard entry qualifications for our Art and Design degrees, but also accept a wide range of other qualifications too.

Standard entry qualifications 

All applicants, including those who are applying for direct entry into Year 2, must meet the Year 1 entrance requirements.

BTECs are taught widely throughout the UK. These are considered equivalent to our ABB minimum at A Level. We accept the following formats of BTEC qualifications for entry to Art and Design degrees:

  • BTEC Extended Diploma at DMM
  • BTEC Diploma at MM (plus A at A Level)
  • BTEC 90-credit Diploma at MM (plus AB at A Level)
  • BTEC Extended Certificate at M (plus AB at A Level)
  • BTEC Subsidiary Diploma at M (plus AB at A Level)
  • Level 4 Higher National Certificate at M

The subjects we accept the above qualifications in are as follows:

  • Art and Design
  • Creative Digital Media Production
  • Creative Media
  • Creative Media Production
  • Digital Film and Video Production
  • Film and Television Production
  • Film and Television Visual Effects

Sometimes colleges can name these qualifications differently, but they follow one of the frameworks listed above. If your BTEC has a different name, please email a link to the qualification. We will let you know if it is one we can accept.

Email Admissions

Please note we do NOT accept BTEC Certificates for entry.


CTECs are taught widely throughout the UK. These are considered equivalent to our ABB minimum at A Level. We accept the following formats of CTEC qualifications for entry to Art and Design degrees:

  • CTEC Extended Diploma at DMM
  • CTEC Diploma at MM (plus A at A Level)
  • CTEC Subsidiary Diploma at M (plus AB at A Level)
  • CTEC Introductory Diploma at M (plus AB at A Level)
  • CTEC Extended Certificate at M (plus AB at A Level)

The subject we accept the above qualifications in are as follows:

  • Art and Design
  • Digital Media
  • Media

Sometimes colleges can name these qualifications differently, but they follow one of the frameworks listed above. If your CTEC has a different name, please email a link to the qualification. We will let you know if it is one we can accept.

Email Admissions

Please note we do NOT accept CTEC Certificates for entry.


An SCQF Level 6 qualification which has been accepted as the equivalent of one Higher. Applicants can use this as one of their Higher subjects within an SQA applicant profile.


SQA Higher National Certificates are taught at colleges throughout Scotland. Applicants are required to achieve a B in the graded unit. We accept a wide range of HNC qualifications:

  • 3D Computer Animation
  • 3D Design
  • Animation
  • Art and Design 
  • Audio Visual Technology
  • Contemporary Art Practise
  • Computer Arts and Design
  • Costume for Stage and Screen (for Performance Costume only)
  • Creative Industries
  • Fashion
  • Furniture Production (for Product Design only)
  • Jewellery
  • Media Analysis and Production (for Animation and Film and TV only)
  • Photography
  • Textiles
  • Visual Communication

We do NOT accept the following subjects:

  • Display Design
  • Games Development
  • Digital Design
  • Performing Arts
  • Interactive Media Design
  • Fashion Business
  • Computer Aided Draughting and Design

Sometimes colleges can name these qualifications differently, but they follow one of the frameworks listed above. If your HNC has a different name, please email a link to the qualification. We will let you know if it is one we can accept.

Email Admissions


UAL Qualifications are taught widely throughout the UK. We accept the following formats of UAL qualifications for entry to Art and Design degrees:

  • UAL Diploma at M (plus AB at A Level)
  • UAL Applied General Diploma at M (plus AB at A Level)
  • UAL Extended Diploma at M
  • UAL Applied General Extended Diploma at M
  • UAL Level 3 Diploma at M (plus AB at A Level)

The subjects we accept the above qualifications in are as follows:

  • Art and Design
  • Art, Design and Communication
  • Creative Media Production and Technology
  • Creative Practise: Art, Design and Communication

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