Diploma in Storytelling

Course units

The units on this course are designed to give you an in-depth understanding of purposeful storytelling as a valuable creative, cultural, and professional practice.

Unit 1

The initial unit invites you to experiment with storytelling techniques as you engage with the wider storytelling landscape. Through technical workshops, inspiring guest practitioners, and site visits, you’ll understand storytelling and social purpose across diverse cultures, contexts and forms. Emphasis is on creative inspiration and imagination as you develop a foundation of technical and contextual skills which you will expand through critical thinking and applied ethical practice in unit 2.

Unit 2

This unit supports you to locate your storytelling skills within the wider storytelling ecosystem. Through workshops and guidance from professional storytellers, you will refine techniques, co-create a story project and deepen your understanding of how narratives shape perceptions and audiences. The development of your creative practice, ethical awareness, and critical understanding will prepare you to plan and present a self-defined storytelling project in unit 3.

Unit 3

In the final unit, you’ll consolidate the creative, critical, and technical skills developed across the course to design and realise a self-defined storytelling project. Through workshops, tutorials, and practitioner engagement, you will produce and present an original storytelling project for a final event. You’ll develop audience insights, practice strategic story sharing and undertake guided reflection to identify future creative and professional routes to apply your new skillset and practice with purpose.

Selection criteria

The Diploma in Storytelling welcomes applications from students across a range of disciplines and is open to both experienced storytellers, and those who are new to the practice.

Your performance on the first and second years of study on your current BA course will be taken into consideration. This will include consideration of your past studentship, attendance, commitment and performance. You’ll need to have passed your year 2 units before you can enrol on the Diploma in Storytelling.

You’ll need to show that you can work independently and with others, carry out research, and keep up with a fast-paced, content-rich course that requires full attendance.

Your application will be reviewed against the listed criteria:

• A good level of creative curiosity.
• A good level of technical skill or appropriate use of media in your disciplinary. area and an openness to transforming this beyond your usual studio practice and environment.
• An ability to articulate and express your creative ideas and contribute positively as a member of the storytelling cohort.
• An interest in contributing to changemaking through your own work.
• Evidence of motivation and commitment through past performance.

After you apply

Communicating with you

We'll use your UAL email address to communicate with you once you have applied.

What happens next

Following the review of applications, we select a number of applicants to undertake the diploma and we'll work with you to confirm your place on the diploma.

Application result

You'll receive communication by email once your offer of a diploma place is secured.

Visas and immigration history check

All non-UK nationals must complete an immigration history check. Your application may be considered by our course teams before this check takes place.

If your course requires a portfolio and/or video task, we may request these before we identify any issues arising from your immigration history check. Sometimes your history may mean that we are not able to continue considering your application.

Find out more about immigration and visas advice