In this directory a long-term course is any program of six months or longer by published duration. It is a browsing category, not an official qualification.
Duration is not status
A twelve-month course can be an accredited diploma or a school-issued certificate. Read the official award, the awarding body and whether credits count towards a degree.
Check the real instructional time
Compare weekly workload, studio hours and attendance. A self-paced access period of twelve months is not twelve months of instruction; we do not treat it as one.
Ask what you will make
A good course states the projects, the final collection or portfolio and the facilities. Do not rely on promises of employment or industry placement unless the school documents specific arrangements.
Think about the next step
If you may want a degree later, ask whether the course is recognised for entry or credit. If you want a job straight away, ask what graduates typically do, and whether the school publishes outcomes with definitions.