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UAL Level 3 and 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

This information will affect approved centres with learners registered on the Level 3 and Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design from September 2025.

UAL Awarding Body have taken the decision to split the Level 3 and Level 4 specifications out into their own standalone specification documents. These changes will come into effect from September 2025.

As of September 2025, you will see the qualifications having their own separate fully designed specification and appearing on the UAL Awarding Body website under a new Foundation Diploma section on the Qualifications webpage.

It is important to stress that there are no changes being made to the content of the specification, the learning outcomes or assessment criteria of the either the Level 3 or Level 4 qualification. There will be, however, a minor change to the Unit numbers:

Level 3 Qualification changes from

  • Unit 1 (L3), Unit 2 (L3), Unit 4 (L4)
    to:
  • Unit 1 (L3), Unit 2 (L3), Unit 3 (L4)

Level 4 Qualification changes from

  • Unit 1 (L3), Unit 3 (L4), Unit 4 (L4)
    to:
  • Unit 1 (L3), Unit 2 (L4), Unit 3 (L4)

All centres must use the new specifications and new unit numbers when they register their learners for 2025/26 academic year. If you have any queries regarding the updates made to the Level 3 and Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, please contact qualdev.awarding@arts.ac.uk or academic.awarding@arts.ac.uk.

Hanging patterned fabrics
Artwork by Alison Christina Hearld, Leeds Arts University

Offered at Levels 3 and 4, the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design is a pivotal qualification, which provides a transition from general education to specialist art and design education.

The qualification has been designed to encourage exploration, experimentation and risk taking, which will extend the learners’ critical independence and enable them to demonstrate a full understanding of the relevant standards required to achieve progression to higher education.

UAL Awarding Body is currently the UK's largest provider of the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design qualification.

More information

To find out more about this qualification please email academic.awarding@arts.ac.uk.

Contact

To find out more about the academic content of this qualification please contact academic.awarding@arts.ac.uk.

For all non-academic enquires please chose an appropriate department via our Contact Us page.