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UAL Creative Computing Institute

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Graduate Diploma Creative Computing

College
UAL CREATIVE COMPUTING INSTITUTE
Start date
October 2020
Course length
1 year (30 weeks)
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Coronavirus updates

If you're thinking about applying, or you've applied for a postgraduate course starting in 2020/21, see guidance for prospective students during the Coronavirus outbreak.

The Graduate Diploma Creative Computing will give you a practical understanding of the computational technologies being used to drive innovation within the creative industries.

This course is subject to validation. Validation is a process that makes sure students get a high quality academic experience. During validation there maybe be some changes to course content and structure. Please contact us if you have any questions about this course.

Why choose this course at UAL Creative Computing Institute

  • Learn the skills sought after in industry: Creative Developers are sought after in industry with their ability to both translate creative direction into code and deliver creative direction themselves.
  • Interdisciplinary teaching: you’ll be exposed to different modes of learning and develop a strong technical fluency with computational technologies with discovery-based learning rooted in creative practice.
  • Critical engagement with technology: engagement with creative practice will also build your ability to self-reflect and think critically about your role in shaping the world.
  • A material understanding of computational technologies: through creative practice, you will also develop your ability to innovate, enabling you to understand and explore the cultural agency of computational technology.
  • UAL CCI: you will have access to purpose-built facilities and technical support, and exposure to creative computing research.

Course overview

Creative graduates with advanced computing skills are in high demand. The graduate diploma gives creative graduates the opportunity to study in a specialist UAL Institute environment. Learning new skills will allow you to develop your undergraduate area of study and potentially lead to new opportunities as a creative practitioner.

You will learn to code using industry standard languages and frameworks, how to develop apps and be introduced to emerging areas such as machine learning.

You will also develop creative projects informed by these tools and techniques and gain an inside look at London’s digital creative economy, exploring both its working practices and the emerging opportunities for technology engaged creative graduates.

As a student at the UAL Creative Computing Institute you will study in a specialist and research rich environment. We provide dedicated technical resources and access to an Institute wide lecture programme. There will be further opportunities to engage with researchers and practitioners through additional events, seminars and workshops.

By studying at the UAL Creative Computing Institute, you will join a network of creatives excited by the potential of computational technologies.

Course units

Terms 1 and 2

The first half of the course sees students study 3 units (1,2,3) in parallel. It aims to give an intense grounding in creative coding, computational concepts and creative computing practice.

Unit 1 - Creative Coding and Frameworks (20 Credits)

This unit aims to take students with varying creative coding experience and give them a solid grounding in key coding languages for creative computing and key computational concepts. This will be delivered in up to 6 hours a week of coding classes that cover JavaScript, P5 and Python and workshops exploring tools and frameworks such as VVVV, Open Frameworks and Max MSP.

Unit 2 - Computational Futures, AI and Machine Learning (20 Credits)

This unit explores the emerging area of machine learning. It is mix of practical tasks introducing ML frameworks such as TensorFlow and seminars that look at emerging practice across the arts and creative industries that employ some level of artificial intelligence.

Unit 3 - Physical Computing, Creative Project (20 Credits)

This unit is the creative application of the skills gained in this part of the course and students will produce creative projects using sensors and actuators. This application of coding skills creative practice will include an introduction to physical computing and electronics prototyping with platforms such as Arduino and Micro:bit.

Terms 2 and 3

The second half of the course sees students study 3 units (3, 4, 5) in parallel. It aims to give students expertise in the process of developing apps in teams. It also introduces students to the digital creative industries in London and further develops their creative practice.

Unit 4 - Coding for Collaborative App Development (20 Credits)

In this unit students will develop an app concept using one of the dominant platforms such as Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android. This will give students and understanding of the development process using standard development tools and introduce platform specific coding languages such as Swift. Importantly this unit will include an introduction to collaborative tools for software development.

Unit 5 - Digital Creative Industries (20 Credits)

The aim of this unit is to provide and in depth understanding of both the structure of the creative industries in London and the varied opportunities that exist in what is a diverse sector for people engaged with creative computing.

Unit 6 - Computational Environments, Creative Project (20 Credits)

This unit builds on the creative practice developed earlier in the course and explores scaling that practice by developing spatial interventions. Students will explore projection mapping, computer vision and sound tools to explore computational environments.

Learning and teaching methods

  • Lectures and seminars
  • Studio/lab-based practice and masterclasses
  • Project work
  • Technical tuition
  • Collaborative problem-solving and group work
  • Independent study

Assessment methods

  • Project portfolio comprising of technical prototypes and presentations
  • Essays and reports
  • Exams

How to apply

Opportunities for all

We are committed to making university education an achievable option for a wider range of people and to supporting all of our students in achieving their potential both during and after their courses.

We welcome applications from people with disabilities. If you have a disability (e.g. mobility difficulties, sensory impairments, medical or mental health conditions or Asperger’s syndrome) we strongly encourage you to contact us on disability@arts.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 7514 6156 so that we can plan the right support for you. All enquiries are treated confidentially. To find out more, visit our Disability & Dyslexia webpages.

Entry requirements

The standard minimum entry requirements for this course are:

  • BA (Hons) degree or equivalent academic qualifications
  • Evidence of ability in art or design
  • Alternative qualifications and experience will also be taken into consideration
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio of work

Entry to this course will also be determined by the quality of your application, looking primarily at your portfolio of work, personal statement and reference.

APEL - Accreditation of Prior (Experiential) Learning

Applicants who do not meet these course entry requirements may still be considered in exceptional cases. The course team will consider each application that demonstrates additional strengths and alternative evidence. This might, for example, be demonstrated by:

  • Related academic or work experience
  • The quality of the personal statement
  • A strong academic or other professional reference
  • A combination of these factors

Each application will be considered on its own merit but we cannot guarantee an offer in each case.

English language requirements

All classes are taught in English. If English isn't your first language you must provide evidence at enrolment of the following:

IELTS level 6.0 or above, with at least 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking (please check our English language requirements).

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • Some experience of creative coding even if limited
  • Evidence of visual and conceptual creative abilities
  • A clear commitment to the chosen field of study
  • The potential to develop the full range of practical, expressive, critical and conceptual skills necessary to complete the course
  • The ability to benefit from the learning environment and experience
  • An awareness of the contemporary and historical context of creative computing
  • Some understanding of the role that contemporary critical thought and historical study can play in the development of personal creative work
  • The ability to communicate and discuss issues and ideas both verbally and in writing
  • The ability to manage your own time and initiate projects

Making your application

All applications will be considered by the course team who will consider key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:

  • Firstly they will look at your qualifications and transcript (or projected results).
  • Secondly, they will review your personal statement.
  • There is no requirement for an academic or professional reference.

Required information for postgraduate course applications

Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following items and upload documents when completing the online application form:

  • Personal details (including full name; date of birth; nationality; permanent address and English language level)
  • Current and/or previous education and qualification details
  • Employment history
  • CV
  • Personal statement

Start your application now

The online application can be saved as you fill it out, so you don’t need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you press submit.

Apply now

Application deadline

Applications are accepted and offers are made, throughout the year. Early application is advised.

CV

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If English is not your first language it is important that you also include in your CV details of your most recent English language test score.

Personal statement advice

You will be asked to complete a personal statement describing why you want to study on MSc Creative Computing. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate critical knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject, and a well-articulated rationale for joining the course.

The personal statement is a very important part of your application and should demonstrate to the course team that you are interested in the subject and that you have thought very carefully about why you wish to study on the course.

Ensure that your personal statement it is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your chance to impress the course team by showing a strong interest in the subject, demonstrating what you feel you would bring to the course, your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future.

This can be demonstrated through work experience, previous studies and your personal experience.

All applications will be considered by the course team who will consider key elements when making a decision on your suitability to join the course:

  • Firstly they will look at your qualifications and transcript (or projected results).
  • Secondly, they will review your personal statement.
  • There is no requirement for an academic or professional reference.

Required information for postgraduate course applications

Before you apply, please take time to read the guidance below. You will be asked to provide the following items and upload documents when completing the online application form:

  • Personal details (including full name; date of birth; nationality; permanent address and English language level)
  • Current and/or previous education and qualification details
  • Employment history
  • CV
  • Personal statement

Please note: we will ask you for copies of certain documents (for example, English language qualification/certificate and copies of any previous UK study visas).

For further advice on how to apply please visit the UAL International Application page.

Start your application now

The online application can be saved as you fill it out, so you don’t need to complete it all at once. You will also have the chance to review all the information and make any necessary amendments before you press submit.

Apply now

Alternatively, international applicants can apply through one of our official representatives in your country

Application deadline

Applications are accepted and offers are made, throughout the year. Early application is advised.

CV

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience. If English is not your first language it is important that you also include in your CV details of your most recent English language test score.

Personal statement advice

You will be asked to complete a personal statement describing why you want to study on Graduate Diploma Creative Computing. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate critical knowledge of and enthusiasm for the subject, and a well-articulated rationale for joining the course.

The personal statement is a very important part of your application and should demonstrate to the course team that you are interested in the subject and that you have thought very carefully about why you wish to study on the course.

Ensure that your personal statement it is well written, clear and free of any spelling mistakes. It is your chance to impress the course team by showing a strong interest in the subject, demonstrating what you feel you would bring to the course, your appreciation of what the course can offer you and how you feel it might help you in the future.

This can be demonstrated through work experience, previous studies and your personal experience.


After you apply

Communicating with you

After you have successfully submitted your application, you will receive an email confirming we have successfully received your application and providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal.  We will request any additional information from you, including inviting you to upload your portfolio, through the portal. You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.

Initial application check

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course.  If you do, you will be invited to submit a mini portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

Immigration history check

If you are an international student, whether you’re applying online via UCAS, through a UAL representative or by direct application you will need to complete an Immigration History Check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. If you don’t complete the check we won’t be able to proceed with your application.

Mini portfolio

The mini portfolio should be no more than 6 pages / images comprising of work showing your skills and thinking. You can create the pages in any layout (For example: presentation boards) but they should be uploaded as jpeg images. It should include:

  • One page of research images for (notes, photographs, images of items that you find inspirational for creative computing).
  • Two pages of coding screenshots showing your project development.
  • Two pages of creative computing projects you have undertaken (screen shots or photographs of physical projects).
  • One page of any other creative work. We leave the decision of what to include to you.

Following the review of the mini portfolio we select a small number of applicants to move on to the next stage of the process. These applicants will be invited to a full portfolio review.

Fees & Funding

Home / EU fee

£11,220 (2020/21).

UAL alumni receive a £1,000 discount

Course fees may be paid in instalments

International fee

£22,920 (2020/21).

UAL alumni receive a £1,000 discount

Course fees may be paid in instalments

Additional costs

In addition to tuition fees you are very likely to incur additional costs such as travel expenses and the cost of materials. Please read the information on our additional costs page.

Accommodation

Find out about the accommodation options available and how much they will cost.

Scholarships and awards

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Careers and alumni

The course is committed to supporting students in developing the skills, knowledge and confidence necessary to continue your creative practice.

Personal and professional development is integrated into the course with opportunities to develop your skills through bespoke sessions, talks with industry practitioners, career management and postgraduate progression seminars.

Find out how careers and employability helps our students and graduates start their careers.

UAL Creative Computing Institute

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Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 8001
Address
University of the Arts London (UAL)
45 - 65 Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UF