Rockschool music qualifications are tailor-made for the contemporary musician.
Creative Art and Design
RSL Awards’ Creative Art and Design qualifications at Level 3, take the popular format of RSL’s market leading qualifications in Music, Performing Arts and Creative Digital Media and translates this to qualifications designed to prepare learners for careers or further study in the UK’s world leading Design sector.
RSL’s suite of Vocational Qualifications are offered in over 450 centres around the UK and they are the natural choice for schools, colleges and training providers looking for forward thinking, industry relevant specifications which reflect todays creative sector.
RSL Creative Art and Design qualifications are being withdrawn and will have their last awarding by 31st July 2026. Any learner registrations for these qualifications must be made by 30th November 2024. Please contact us at business@rslawards.com as soon as possible if you are intending to register new learners on to these qualifications
Vocational Qualifications
Creative Arts and Design
RSL Awards’ Creative Art and Design qualifications comprise two pathways ‘Art and Design’ and ‘Fashion’.
Core units in the Art and Design pathway include 2D Art and Design, 3D Art and Design and Collaborative Project. The Fashion pathway also includes the Collaborative Project unit alongside other core units in Visual Research & Development and Garment Production. There are also a range of optional units from Digital Graphics to Portfolio Development and Found Sound to Ethics and Sustainability.
“The UK has the second-largest design sector in the world and the largest design industry in Europe.”
How it works
Get started with RSL’s Vocational Qualifications in three simple steps…
01
Download the syllabus pack
Download the syllabus pack to review the requirements and processes for this qualification suite.
02
Build your qualification
Tailor your courses to your learners needs and centre’s expertise with our Core Units and innovative Optional Units.
03
Submit centre approval application
Ready to deliver? Submit your centre approval application via our website
Pathway Information
Learners taking a Creative Art and Design qualification select one pathway from the following: Art and Design, or Fashion.
Each pathway embodies a specific profile of study and this informs the core unit choices, which you are guided to make. Learners will be led by centres when choosing the pathway options available to them, and the units within their chosen pathway.
Pathway Profiles
The aim of each pathway is to equip learners with a variety of
abilities relevant to the creative art and design industry, ranging from knowledge development through to nearing professional skill acquisition. Examples of the types of job role that these qualifications may lead to include, but are by no means limited to: art directors, fashion designers, fine artists, multimedia artists, art and design entrepreneur, and art and design industry professional.
Art and Design
Learners will:
- Produce artistic products
- Refine artistic techniques
- Develop knowledge of design
- Understand contextual issues relating to art and design industry
- Further their understanding of the art and design industry
- Identify employment/progression opportunities within the art and design industry
Fashion
Learners will:
- Produce garments
- Refine artistic techniques
- Develop knowledge and application of design
- Understanding of contextual issues relating to the fashion industry
- Identify employment/progression opportunities within the fashion industry
Core Units
Core units have been chosen for their relevance to the overall qualification pathway, and as such these units are a mandatory part of the qualifications. The requirements are as follows:
- Award, Certificate, Extended Certificate,
Subsidiary Diploma
One core unit from the chosen pathway
- Diploma, Extended Diploma
Two core units from the chosen pathway
For each pathway, core units are tagged with the word ‘Core’ in the unit selection tables (Section 3) in the syllabus. The core units for each pathway are listed below.
In addition, each pathway has access to the two generic core units that can be tailored towards the chosen pathway:
- CAAD 305 Collaborative Project
Art and Design
- CAAD 301 2D Art and Design
- CAAD 302 3D Art and Design
Fashion
- CAAD 303 Visual Research and Development
- CAAD 304 Garment Production
Example Unit Selection
Qualifications At A Glance
The full range of qualifications available are listed below. Please note that the learner chooses one of two pathways, ‘Art and Design’ or ‘Fashion’.
Creative Art and Design Qualifications at Level 3
| Qualification titles | Guided Learning Hours (GLH) | Total Qualification Time (TQT) | Core units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 3 Award in Creative Art and Design | 90 | 150 | 1 |
| Level 3 Certificate in Creative Art and Design | 210 | 350 | 1 |
| Level 3 Extended Certificate in Creative Art and Design | 360 | 600 | 1 |
| Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Creative Art and Design | 540 | 900 | 1 |
| Level 3 Diploma in Creative Art and Design | 720 | 1200 | 2 |
| Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Art and Design | 1080 | 1800 | 2 |
Why RSL Vocational Qualifications?
Developed in collaboration with industry experts to reflect the fast-moving Creative Industries sector, RSL’s VQs are practically-focused, and contain a wide range units and criteria accurately mapping to specific careers. They provide engaging assessment opportunities for learners that focus on the application of practical and/or technical skills.
Recognition
All Level 3 qualifications carry up to 168 UCAS points allowing opportunities for HE progression, and Level 4/5 qualifications can be topped up at a variety of the UK’s specialist HE providers.
Flexible Choice
We have a huge range of units to choose from at Level 3 providing unrivalled flexibility of delivery. The range of optional units are designed to equip learners with a well-rounded understanding of the Creative Industries.
Fair and Practical Assessment
All assessment is based around practical and/or technical skills and knowledge applicable to roles in the Creative Industries. Learners are graded according to where the majority of their grading sits, resulting in holistic, best-fit assessment.
Current
No set works, or genre/repertoire restrictions, learners can study the genres they are interested in, allowing deeper focus on content that excites them.
Tailored Delivery
Build a course that’s tailored to your learners’ needs whilst maximising your centre’s resources and expertise.
Funding
RSL has a huge range of qualifications at each level which are funded for delivery in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. RSL qualifications are also available for funded delivery in Scotland in certain settings at certain levels. Get in touch for more info.
Help, Support & Quality Assurance
You will get access to RSL’s Help & Support portal, containing multiple QA resources, guidance documents, templates and exemplar materials, plus footage from previously recorded CPD events.
Centres have contact with two allocated RSL Quality Assurance representatives from the start of delivery all the way through to certification. These named contacts will offer the following services to support centre delivery:
- Annual centre visit – a supportive process designed to monitor and review the way in which qualifications are planned and delivered
- A point of contact for subject-specific academic queries throughout delivery
- Building of a strong relationship throughout the duration of the qualification, resulting in moderation of your learner evidence with a known, named contact already familiar with your centre
UCAS Points
RSL Awards’ Vocational Qualifications aid progression into Higher Education. We have a huge range of qualifications at Level 3 that carry UCAS Points. Click the button below to see the allocation of UCAS Points per qualification size and suite.
Changing Awarding Organisations
Moving over to RSL Awards Vocational Qualifications is easy! Just follow these three simple steps…
1. Submit a preliminary application form.
This is found here. Once you have submitted this, our team will be in touch with some login credentials for our website, along with details of the next step.
2. Prepare your full centre approval application for submission.
Our centre approval application pack details all supporting documents that need to be included, along with a guidance document for completing the form itself.
3. Approval complete!
If the application is complete our team will be in touch to inform you of your new status as an approved RSL Awards delivery centre!
Progression and Support
Learners completing these industry relevant qualifications may go on to further study in Higher Education. There are hundreds of undergraduate degree courses in related subjects such as Fashion Design and Art Practice.
Those completing an RSL Level 3 Creative Art and Design qualification may also wish to consider an apprenticeship such as ‘Fashion Studio Assistant’ or ‘Junior 2D Artist (visual effects)’.
Learners may also be able to move in to one or more roles in the sector such as Junior Graphic Designer, Junior Fashion Designer, Interior Designer, Illustrator and Junior Product Designer.
RSL Awards’ Creative Art and Design qualifications share common features with other Vocational Qualifications in RSL’s portfolio such as Performing Arts or Creative Digital Media, and there is a natural linkage in that all the qualifications encourage collegiate working across disparate subjects. However, the Creative Art and Design qualifications are unique in their focus on diverse aspects of the design sector.
Prospective learners seeking to gain knowledge and skills in the design sector through undertaking an RSL qualification could also consider an apprenticeship, traineeship or an alternative qualification when deciding on their pathway into the industry.
RSL’s Creative Art and Design qualifications were designed with input from experienced industry practitioners and educationalists.
Downloads
Please download the Creative Art and Design Vocational Qualifications syllabus pack for free.
Qualification Details and Registration Fees
Our qualification registration fees are the same for both UK and International delivery centres. These fees apply to each registered learner, with the fee dependent on the size of qualification they are registered on.
Please note: fees listed are for the current academic year.
| QAN | Qualification | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 603/6472/5 | RSL Level 3 Award in Creative Art and Design | £70 |
| 603/6474/9 | RSL Level 3 Certificate in Creative Art and Design | £91 |
| 603/6475/0 | RSL Level 3 Extended Certificate in Creative Art and Design | £133 |
| 603/6476/2 | RSL Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma in Creative Art and Design | £211 |
| 603/6478/6 | RSL Level 3 Diploma in Creative Art and Design | £232 |
| 603/6479/8 | RSL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Art and Design | £260 |
Please Note: Fees listed are for the current academic year.
Performance Tables
As well as being industry relevant, we understand the need for our qualifications to be recognised by the Department for Education. That’s why we’ve ensured we have specialist Vocational Qualifications approved in music and performing arts at level 3.
“The UK has the second-largest design sector in the world and the largest design industry in Europe.”
Register your Interest today
Drop us a message and one of our experts will get back to you!
Want to deliver Vocational Qualifications?
Moving over to RSL Awards Vocational Qualifications is easy. To get started, click on the button below.
