95% of full-time students would recommend NESCol to others
Art, Design & Photography
Your future starts here.
Courses
NESCol’s studios are a hub of creativity. Our courses cover photography, fashion and textile design and business, graphic design, animation, art and visual communication – whatever your aspiration, we’re here to help you discover your talent.
You’ll be supported by a team of experienced staff as you develop your creative skills and build a portfolio that is flexible and future ready.
For many of our courses, we collaborate with local communities and industry to offer you opportunities such as working with real clients and briefs and participating in exhibitions and visits.
View all full-time art, design & photography courses
As well as a host of full-time courses, we also offer part-time courses in art, design & photography where you can study at a location near you with daytime, evening and weekend options.
114,500
people employed in Scotland's Creative Industries in 2023¹
Never stop learning. Life is what you make of it. When you grow older, your priorities change. I decided to follow my heart and I am so much happier learning and being creative.”
Nora Bandyopadhyay
Nora worked in Hospitality, then studied HND Textiles at NESCol before progressing into year 2 of a degree in 3D Design at RGU’s Gray’s School of Art.
Career opportunities
Whatever your aspirations, there are many exciting roles in the ever-evolving creative industries. North East Scotland College will equip you with the knowledge and skills to make a positive impact within your chosen field. Opportunities include:
Art & Design
Freelance Artist, Designer, Illustrator, Art Co-ordinator, Printmaker and Gallery Curator.
Fashion & Textiles
Fashion/Textile Designer, Visual Merchandiser, Seamstress/tailor and Retail Management.
Photography
Photographer, Image Editor and Content Producer.
Visual Communication
Animator, Product Designer, Graphic Designer, Content Producer Media Assistant.
Floristry
Florist.
£5.7bn
contributed by Creative Industries to the Scottish economy in 2022²
Where you can study
Building the right environment for creativity to flourish is very important to us. Across the City and Fraserburgh campuses there are a range of vibrant learning spaces, ranging from textile rooms and art studios to newly created photography studios equipped with the very latest industry equipment.
Study art, design & photography in Aberdeen
- 4,500+ students
- Fitness Suite
- 4 Cafés
- Quiet & social areas
Our Aberdeen City Campus is situated in the heart of Aberdeen city centre, within walking distance of shops, restaurants, bars and cafés.
Study art, design & photography in Fraserburgh
- 950+ students
- Fitness Suite
- 2 Cafés
- Quiet & social areas
The bright and modern Fraserburgh Campus provides a fantastic environment for NESCol students, staff and visitors.
Study part-time
Part-time courses are offered at locations throughout the region.
What our students think
More than 3,000 students responded in our Student Satisfaction and Engagement Survey, covering the 2023-2024 academic year. We are delighted to share some of the feedback we received.
“The quality of education here is very high.”
96% of full-time students feel safe and secure at College
“I am happy to be part of the NESCol community. The staff are of a very supportive nature.”
92% of full-time students feel College has helped them develop knowledge and skills for the workplace
“I've loved learning about how the industry works and getting a better insight into what I can do.”
Student stories
Don’t take our word for it!
Get in touch
Our student advisers can help with any application enquiries.
Contact the team directly by calling 01224 612330, dropping into your local Student Advice Centre, or by emailing studentadvice@nescol.ac.uk. Student advisors are also available on LiveChat when the chat icon appears at the bottom of our website.
¹ Source: Skills Development Scotland, Sectoral Skills Assessment 2024
² Source: Scottish Government