NCFE Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI)
Learn UX and UI design: history, the user-centred design process, user research and empathy tools, UX design and wireframing, UI design and accessibility, and a practical website project. 180 guided learning hours.
Duration: 180 guided learning hours, 312 total hours, self-paced online
- Level
- Level 3
- Qualification number
- 603/7619/3
- Awarding organisation
- NCFE
- Regulated status
- On the RQF, regulated by Ofqual
- Guided learning hours
- 180 hours
- Total qualification time
- 312 hours
- Delivery
- 100% online
- Study pattern
- 180 guided learning hours, 312 total hours, self-paced online
This qualification is awarded by NCFE and regulated by OfqualNCFE Account No. 11001657
Course overview
This is a regulated Level 3 qualification (NCFE qualification number 603/7619/3). It is designed for learners wishing to gain knowledge and skills of traditional practices used in the UX/UI design industry. On completion you would have the opportunity to join a UX/UI design company as an entry level UX/UI designer with some website creation and design experience, or to progress to higher education.
You study six mandatory units totalling 180 guided learning hours. Unit 01 introduces user experience: the history of human-computer interaction, the origins of UX and UI, the benefits of good UX and the consequences of bad UX, how UX is applied across e-commerce, household and business sectors, how UK GDPR relates to UX/UI, and the career pathways and roles within UX design.
Unit 02 covers the user-centred design process and its four phases (analysis, implementation, testing and evaluation), formulating a problem statement, the lean UX process and the minimal viable product, and the design thinking approach (empathise, define, ideate, prototype and test), applied to real scenarios.
Unit 03 covers user research: the difference between user research and usability testing, qualitative and quantitative research, conducting a usability test, research methods and tools, and empathy tools such as personas, user journeys, empathy maps and storyboards, including creating one from real research results.
Unit 04 covers UX design: the difference between UX, UI, CX and service design, business and user goals, epics and user stories, user flows and user journeys, producing a wireframe, the difference between wireframes and prototypes, and measuring the impact of UX design with key performance indicators.
Unit 05 covers UI design: usability heuristics and the five visual design principles (scale, visual hierarchy, balance, contrast and Gestalt principles), responsive design, UI design patterns and design systems, and inclusive design and accessibility, including the Equality Act 2010, the Accessibility Regulations 2018, the role of the World Wide Web Consortium and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and globalisation and localisation.
Unit 06 is the practical capstone: you apply the user-centred design process to develop a one to three page website using a tool of your choice, apply testing techniques, justify each design decision and reflect on the result.
Assessment is by an internally assessed and externally quality assured portfolio of evidence, with no exams. This qualification includes practical skills units, so much of your evidence will be design work you produce.
Delivery is 100% online with tutor support.
What you will study
The units below, their unit reference numbers and their guided learning hours are taken directly from the NCFE qualification specification.
| Unit | Title | Unit reference | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 |
Introduction to user experience (UX)
(mandatory)
6 learning outcomes
|
F/618/7625 | 39 |
| 02 |
The user-centred design (UCD) process
(mandatory)
6 learning outcomes
|
J/618/7626 | 29 |
| 03 |
User research
(mandatory)
6 learning outcomes
|
L/618/7627 | 35 |
| 04 |
User experience (UX) design
(mandatory)
8 learning outcomes
|
R/618/7628 | 35 |
| 05 |
User interface (UI) design
(mandatory)
5 learning outcomes
|
Y/618/7629 | 32 |
| 06 |
User experience/user interface (UX/UI) design in practice
(mandatory)
1 learning outcome
|
L/618/7630 | 10 |
| Total guided learning hours | 180 | ||
Entry requirements
- There are no specific prior skills or knowledge a learner must have for this qualification.
- Learners should be aged 16 or above to undertake this qualification.
- Learners may find it helpful if they have already achieved a Level 2 qualification.
- You will need a computer with internet access and access to design software, since Unit 06 requires you to build a website using a tool of your choice.
- Registration is at the discretion of the centre, in accordance with equality legislation.
The course guide
Everything on this page as one document you can keep, print, or send to whoever is deciding with you.
- All 6 units, with the hours behind each one
- How you are assessed, and who checks the marking
- How paying works, and what is due when
- Entry requirements and where the qualification leads
Generated from this qualification's record, so the units and hours in it are the ones on this page. The fee is here on the page rather than in the guide, so a saved copy cannot quote you an old one.
How you are assessed
Your work is assessed by our qualified assessors, internally quality assured, and externally quality assured by NCFE. Assessment is against the criteria published in the qualification specification, and your assessor tells you what is needed before you start each unit.
For what happens after you submit: who marks it, who checks the marking, how long feedback takes and what to do if you disagree with a decision, see how assessment works.
If you need an adjustment to how you are assessed, for a disability or any other reason, ask us before you begin. We arrange adjustments under our Reasonable Adjustments policy, and you can request one online.
How we assess and quality assure is set out in DAIS-POL-016 Assessment and Internal Quality Assurance.
How you study, and what you need
You study online through our virtual learning environment, which is where the teaching material, your assessment submissions, your feedback and your progress all live. You work at your own pace, with tutor support throughout. Everyone completes a short online induction before starting an assessed unit.
| Device | Laptop or desktop computer |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or macOS 10.15 or later |
| Browser | Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, latest version |
| Internet speed | 10 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload |
| Webcam | Required for live sessions and identity verification |
| Microphone | Required for live sessions |
These are the minimum requirements published in DAIS-POL-024 Online Learning and Digital Delivery.
Support, and how quickly we reply
These are the response times we commit to in policy, not an aspiration.
| What | How | Response |
|---|---|---|
| General questions | Message your tutor in the VLE | Within 2 working days |
| Assessment feedback | Returned in the VLE or e-portfolio | Within 10 working days of submission |
| Technical problems | Technical support email | Within 1 working day |
| Urgent welfare concerns | Email to the Designated Safeguarding Lead | Within 1 working day |
Published in DAIS-POL-024 and DAIS-POL-009 Learner Support.
Registration and your certificate
We register you with NCFE before you begin any assessed unit, and we collect your Unique Learner Number as part of that. When your assessment decisions are finalised and quality assured, we claim your certificate through the NCFE portal and you are notified digitally. The certificate comes from NCFE, not from us.
Set out in DAIS-POL-008 Learner Registration and Certification.
Progression
Progression: prepares you for design and product roles, and for higher-level study in user experience and digital design. This qualification has been allocated UCAS points. Please refer to the UCAS website for the points allocation and the most up-to-date information.
Other names for this qualification
The regulated title is NCFE Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI), qualification number 603/7619/3. People also look for it as:
- Level 3 User Experience/User Interface
- User Experience/User Interface Level 3
- NCFE Level 3 User Experience/User Interface
- Level 3 UX/UI
- UX/UI Level 3
- NCFE Level 3 UX/UI
- Level 3 UX UI design
- UX UI design Level 3
- NCFE Level 3 UX UI design
- Level 3 user experience design
- user experience design Level 3
- NCFE Level 3 user experience design
If you arrived searching one of those, you are in the right place: they all describe this one qualification.
Common questions
Who awards NCFE Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI), and how do I get my certificate?
NCFE Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) is awarded by NCFE, an Ofqual-approved awarding organisation, and sits on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). The qualification number is 603/7619/3. The Data and AI School of London is an NCFE approved centre (Account No. 11001657). We register you with NCFE before you start any assessed unit and collect your Unique Learner Number. Once your work is assessed and quality assured we claim your certificate through the NCFE portal, and it is issued by NCFE rather than by us.
How long does NCFE Level 3 Certificate in User Experience/User Interface (UX/UI) take?
This qualification carries 180 guided learning hours and a total qualification time of 312 hours. It is studied online at your own pace, so how long it takes in calendar time depends on how much you can commit each week.
What do I need before I can start?
There are no specific prior skills or knowledge a learner must have for this qualification. We assess every applicant individually and will tell you if a different level would suit you better.
Can I study this entirely online?
Yes. Teaching, materials and assessment are all delivered through our Moodle-based virtual learning environment, so you can study from anywhere in the UK. You need a laptop or desktop computer, a current version of Chrome or Firefox, and a broadband connection of at least 10 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up. Tutor support is available throughout, and we answer questions within 2 working days and return assessment feedback within 10 working days of submission.
Can I enrol now, and when do I pay?
The fee is £495. Enrolment is open, so you can apply online today. Nothing is paid at application: payment is taken only after you accept an offer.
Not sure this is the right qualification?
Ask before you apply. We will say honestly if a different level would suit you better.