Level 3 Diploma and Extended Diploma

Your Creative Future Starts Here

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Level 3 Diploma & Extended Diploma

Turn your passion for music, production, games or creative media into practical skills through industry-focused learning at ACM Guildford.

Designed for ambitious creatives aged 16+, our Extended Diploma programmes offer hands-on experience across performance, songwriting, music production, sound, games design and digital creativity.

You’ll learn by doing, working on real world projects, collaborating with others and receiving guidance from tutors who actively work in the creative industries.

Build your confidence, develop a professional portfolio and gain the practical and industry skills you need to progress into Higher Education, employment, apprenticeships or a freelance creative career.

Why study Diploma at ACM?

Professional studios, rehearsal rooms and games development facilities
Tutors with current industry experience
Excellent student retention, achievement and progression
Industry-focused projects and real-life creative briefs
Dedicated Industry Link, WEX & Careers support throughout your studies

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Diploma Success 2025-26

96.4% Retention
95.7% Achievement
91% Attendance

92% of our graduating Diploma cohort progressed into a positive destination, including Higher Education, employment, apprenticeships or internships.

Our practical approach helps students build the skills, confidence and creative experience needed to take the next step towards their future.

Our Qualifications

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Level 3 Diploma & Extended Diploma

Music Performer

Bass, Drums, Keys, Guitar, Vocals

This pathway is designed for musicians who want to develop the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the world of live performance today.

Music theory, instrumental technique and creative concepts are embedded into hands-on practical workshops and classes throughout the course, with industry projects putting it all into context.

The Music Performer pathway will provide a grounding for either Higher Education or for those entering freelance careers as performing musicians.

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Creative Musician

Electronic Music Production, Songwriting

This pathway is designed for musicians who want to develop the skills needed to develop careers as artists, producers and musical innovators.

Songcraft, electronic music production and creative concepts are embedded into practical workshops and classes throughout the course, with industry projects putting it all into context.

The Creative Musician pathway will provide a grounding for either Higher Education or for those entering freelance careers as original artists, producers and other musical entrepreneurs.

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Sound technician

Live and Studio Production

This pathway is designed for aspiring sound technologists who want to develop the skills needed to thrive in the world of audio engineering. Studio and live mixing techniques, technical knowledge and creative concepts are embedded into hands-on practical classes throughout the course, with industry projects putting it all into context. The Sound Technician pathway will provide a grounding for either Higher Education or for those entering freelance careers in the live sound, sound recording and post production industries.

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Creative Digital Media (including Games Design)

The Creative Digital Media course is designed for students who are fascinated by the digital art, games design and media production that is the engine of the arts and entertainment of the 21st century. Students will be given experience in a host of concept driven lessons that will ultimately see them creating projects that cater to the creative industry that engages them most – from film making and promotional video creation, to social media content, video games and multimedia production, Creative Digital Media is a course that is designed to prepare students for either Higher Education or employment in the creative industries.

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GCSE Maths & English

Strong literacy and numeracy skills are essential in the creative industries. Students without a GCSE pass in English or Maths will attend weekly mandatory classes, preparing them for the summer GCSE resits while developing practical skills relevant to creative careers, including communication, marketing, budgeting and freelance work. Students close to a Grade 4 may also be eligible for November resits.’

Book an Open Evening/Day

The best way to experience ACM is to visit us. Explore our Guildford campus, meet tutors and students, discover our professional creative facilities and find out which Diploma pathway is right for you.

Upcoming Open Evenings:
~~19th October – 5.15pm~~ Event now full.
22th November – 11am

Book an Open Evening/Day

Diploma Auditions

Our Diploma audition process is designed to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your creativity, skills, personality and potential – giving you the chance to experience what it is like to work and learn at ACM.
You don’t need to be perfect and you don’t need to know everything already. We want to understand what you can do now, what you’re passionate about and how you could develop with us.
The audition combines practical activities, creative tasks and conversations, giving you different ways to demonstrate your skills and potential.

Experience ACM at an Open Day or Open Evening

As part of the application process, we encourage you to attend one of our Diploma Open Days or Open Evenings.

These events are a great opportunity to experience ACM for yourself, meet the people who could be part of your future and find out more about life on the Diploma.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

Meet our tutors and other ACM staff
Talk to current ACM students and hear about their experiences
Find out more about the Diploma and what you can expect from the course
Explore our facilities and learning environment
Ask questions about your chosen pathway, student life and progression
Take part in a practical workshop related to your chosen area of study
Experience how we work at ACM
Work creatively and collaboratively with other applicants
Get a feel for the atmosphere, culture and community at ACM

The practical workshop also gives our tutors an opportunity to see how you collaborate, communicate, respond to ideas and contribute creatively in a practical environment.

Don’t worry if you haven’t worked with the other applicants before. That’s part of the experience. We’re interested in seeing how you approach new situations, work with others and respond to creative challenges.

It’s not just an opportunity for us to get to know you – it’s an opportunity for you to get to know us.

Audition FAQ

ACM has a strong partnership with RSL Awards, supporting progression from RSL grade qualifications into our Diploma programmes.

Already achieved RSL Grade 4? Your audition is already covered.

If you have achieved an RSL Grade 4 qualification in your chosen discipline, you do not need to complete the formal audition process for the corresponding Diploma pathway.

Your RSL qualification provides evidence of your existing skills and ability, allowing you to progress directly to the next stage of the application process.

If you are unsure whether your qualification meets the requirements for your chosen Diploma pathway, please speak to our admissions team.

If you don’t hold an RSL Grade 4 qualification in your chosen discipline you’ll be invited to complete an audition designed specifically for your chosen pathway, held after your Open Day or Open Evening experience.

Depending on your course, this may include:
A practical or technical activity
A creative task
A performance or presentation
Examples of your previous work
An interview or discussion
Technical or theory questions

The process is designed to be welcoming, supportive and focused on your potential, rather than simply testing what you already know.

Music Performer

Show us your performance skills, musicality, technical ability and individuality.
You’ll work with prepared musical material, including a chart and backing track, and have the opportunity to improvise and perform a piece of your choice.
We’re interested in how you perform, respond to musical direction and make the music your own.

Creative Musician – Production and Songwriting`

Show us how you create, develop and communicate musical ideas.
You can demonstrate this through composition, songwriting, production, a second instrument or other creative musical skills. You’ll also have the opportunity to present a piece of work that represents your musical identity.
We’re interested in your ideas, creativity and potential as a developing musician.

Sound Technician

Show us how you listen, think and solve problems through sound.
You’ll have the opportunity to demonstrate your technical knowledge, critical listening and understanding of audio production through a practical task and discussion of your previous work.
We’re interested not only in what you can do, but in how you approach a problem and why you make particular technical and creative decisions.

Creative Digital Media – including Games Design

Show us your creativity, ideas and digital skills.
Bring examples of your work – from games, video and photography to animation, social media, digital design or other creative projects – and tell us about your ideas, process and ambitions.
We’re interested in what you’ve created, how you created it and where you’d like to take your creative practice next.

We’re interested in more than just your current technical ability. We want to see:

Creativity and curiosity
Commitment and enthusiasm
Your individual interests and ideas
Your ability to work collaboratively
How you respond to feedback and direction
Problem solving and adaptability
Potential for development
An understanding of the creative industries
A genuine desire to develop your skills

Your audition isn’t about proving that you’re already the finished article. It’s about showing us where you are now, what you’re capable of and where you want to go next.

Once you’ve booked your audition, we’ll send you everything you need to prepare, including any tracks, charts, stems, creative tasks or other resources relevant to your pathway.
We’ll also make sure you know what to expect on the day, so you can arrive prepared and focus on doing what you do best.

Come prepared. Be yourself. Get involved. Show us what makes you stand out.

Entry Requirements

To join an ACM Diploma programme, applicants should have:

A minimum of 4 GCSEs at Grade 4 (C) or above, or an equivalent Level 2 qualification.
This must include either GCSE English or GCSE Maths at Grade 4 (C) or above.
Successful completion of an audition or interview process.
Evidence of qualifications provided prior to enrolment.

Fully Funded – If you’re eligible for our courses, your programme is fully funded, so you won’t have to pay tuition fees to study with us.

Additional Needs and Disabilities Provision

At ACM, we want every student to have the opportunity to access their education and fulfil their creative potential. The Additional Needs Team works with Diploma students to provide Reasonable Adjustments that support access to learning. Support is tailored to the individual and is available whether needs are formally diagnosed or not.

Examples of Reasonable Adjustments may include:

Movement breaks
Ear defenders or noise-cancelling headphones for independent work
Coloured overlays
Help organising and structuring workload
Access to word banks and templates
Flexible ways of recording knowledge and understanding

Students with an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) should let ACM know before accepting an offer so that the provision within the plan can be reviewed with the relevant Local Authority. We encourage all applicants to be open about any support they’ve received previously so that the right support can be put in place from the beginning of their studies.

For further information or to speak with the Additional Needs Team: anddiploma@acm.ac.uk

WEX and Careers

Your career begins while you’re studying. ACM’s dedicated Work Experience and Careers provision helps students gain valuable insight into professional creative industries while building confidence, experience and employability.

Throughout your Diploma you’ll have opportunities to engage with:

Industry guest masterclasses
Creative workshops
Professional networking opportunities
Industry-style project briefs
Work experience opportunities
Job, internship and placement guidance
Portfolio and career development support
One-to-one careers advice

Whether your ambition is to perform on stage, produce records, design games or build a freelance creative career, our dedicated support helps you develop the professional skills and industry awareness needed to move forward.

UCAS points

Our Diploma programmes provide excellent progression opportunities for students looking to continue into Higher Education.

Students can achieve:

Up to 84 UCAS points on successful completion of the Level 3 Diploma.
Up to 168 UCAS points on successful completion of the Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Many ACM Diploma students choose to continue their creative education at university, while others progress directly into employment, apprenticeships or freelance creative careers.

Testimonials - What Parents Say

ACM has been an incredibly nurturing learning environment. It has enabled continuous professional and personal growth. There haven't been any barriers, and the hard and soft skill development has been nothing short of staggering. ACM is the epitome of an educational establishment in which the student is very much at the heart of everything. Thank you for everything that you have provided and done.

My son has thoroughly enjoyed his course and it's been a real pleasure to see him so enthused with his studies. ACM has really ignited a spark within him, so much so that he now wants to continue his studies and ultimately continue his career within the games industry.