Course overview
Compelling storytelling is fast becoming a key tool for creative and professional success. Graduates with strong storytelling skillsets are in demand across many sectors. The course will provide you with a unique storytelling toolkit that gives you a creative edge in your future career.
The Diploma in Storytelling is open to both experienced and new storytellers. The course invites you to explore how stories can shape culture, spark emotion and drive meaningful change. It combines social justice, critical theory, cultural commentary and creative practice. If you are curious about using your creativity to pursue social change this course is for you.
The course considers existing and emerging approaches to storytelling. You'll connect with communities, creatives and professional storytellers. You'll experiment with and realise impactful stories across a range of media.
Based at Wimbledon College of Arts, you'll study alongside undergraduates from other colleges at the University of the Arts London. We developed the Diploma in Storytelling in collaboration with the UAL AKO Storytelling Institute, which works at the intersection of storytelling and social change.
What is storytelling?
Storytelling (noun)
- A broad, natural human instinct.
- A way to connect with people emotionally, on a deeper level.
- A technique used in all parts of work and life.
(Mirzoyants, Eagle, and Sewell, 2024: 37)
Storytelling can refer to the stories we tell one another, the stories that dominate, as well as those that are unheard or undocumented. Storytelling shapes and communicates the deeper narratives within social structures and cultures.
The modes and media we use to shape and tell stories influence how audiences understand and share them. Storytelling spans fiction and non-fiction, spoken and written forms, and non-text media like objects, images, and live events.
What to expect
- Crafting impactful stories: Learn how to craft stories for maximum impact to reach and engage new audiences, industries and contexts.
- Storytelling skills across media: Experiment with the principles and fundamental components of storytelling across various media and platforms.
- Developing your storytelling voice: Develop your own perspective as a storyteller and consider how your voice could contribute to narrative shifts.
- Storytelling for social change: Understand how storytelling tools and audience insights can affect social change.
- Collaborative story development: Co-create with an internal and external network to strengthen your stories and practice.
- Learning from industry and academics: Access practical and contextual workshops with technical, academic and industry experts.
- Storytelling using technology: Discover how technologies shape the ways that stories can be created and shared.
Skills development and opportunities
The Diploma in Storytelling develops skills that will enhance your employability. It prepares you for a wide range of creative and professional pathways. Employers value strong communicators who can make an impact.
The course will give you a range of transferable skills. These include practical storytelling techniques, critical thinking and reflective practice. You'll gain in-depth knowledge of methods to engage and inspire audiences. You'll have the tools to contribute to social, racial and environmental justice debates and initiatives.
The course encourages planning for your career and future creative outputs. You'll consider how storytelling can support changemaking roles. This could be across the creative, cultural, commercial, or social sectors.
Mode of study
The Diploma in Storytelling is offered in full-time mode and runs for 30 weeks over 12 months. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.
