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Postgraduate

Graduate Diploma in Creative Computing

Student Laptop
Courtesy UAL, Students collaborate with laptop at the UAL Creative computing Institute.
College
UAL Creative Computing Institute Start date
September 2023 Course length
1 year

The Graduate Diploma Creative Computing is a one year pre-masters course that gives you an in-depth understanding of creative technology and prepares you for further study in this exciting area of practice.

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.

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Course overview

The Graduate Diploma in Creative Computing will give you a material understanding of the computational technologies that underpin much innovation in both the creative industries and arts and design practice. The graduate diploma gives creative graduates the opportunity to study in a specialist UAL Institute environment and develop your undergraduate area of study with new skills giving you new opportunities as a creative practitioner.

Creative graduates with advanced computing skills are in high demand and 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. The Institute provides dedicated technical resources and access to an Institute wide lecture programme and further opportunities to engage with Institute 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.

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Register your interest to receive information and updates about studying at UAL.

Contact us to make an enquiry.

Course units

Terms One/Two

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

Unit 1 Creative Coding and Creative Computing 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 six 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 and 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 Creative Practice: Visual Coding and Physical Computing (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 Two/Three

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

Unit 4 Creative Coding: Critical Infrastructures (20 Credits)

This unit builds on the computational futures and creative practice units and programming skills learned in these units. The aim of this unit is to further develop hands-on computing skills and your ability to think creatively and critically about the development of contemporary computing technology infrastructures and their wider social impact.

Unit 5 Work and the 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 Creative Practice: Computational Environments (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

To enable students to demonstrate achievement against the unit learning outcomes, learning and teaching methods will include:


  • Lectures and seminars
  • Studio/lab-based practice & masterclasses
  • Project work
  • Technical Tuition
  • Collaborative problem-solving & group work
  • Independent Study

Staff

Fees and funding

Home fee

£12,700

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Home fees are currently charged to UK nationals and UK residents who meet the rules. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees and determining your fee status.

International fee

£25,970

This fee is correct for 2023/24 entry and is subject to change for 2024/25 entry.

Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students on courses lasting more than one year. For this course, you can pay tuition fees in instalments.

Students from countries outside of the UK will generally be charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about tuition fees and determining your fee status.

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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

Apply now

Home International

You should apply by clicking on the link to the direct form below. The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not 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 submit the application form.

Apply

Deferred entry

This course allows offer holders to defer. If you have an offer of a place, but you would like to defer starting for a year, please contact our Admissions Service as soon as possible via your UAL Portal. Make sure you check our Admissions Policy before requesting a deferral.

Transfers

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units and modules on your current postgraduate course and wish to continue your studies at UAL Creative Computing Institute, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and unit transcripts.

You will need to provide an official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Start your application now

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:

General information

  • Personal details (including legal full name, preferred name, date of birth, nationality, addresses)
  • Current English language level
  • Current and/or previous education and qualification details
  • Employment history
  • CV (see below)
  • Personal statement (see below)

CV

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience.

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.

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 documents / portfolio through the portal. You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.

Please consider altering your spam or junk mail filter to ensure that emails from @arts.ac.uk get through to you.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

If this course requires a digital portfolio as part of the application process, you will be invited to submit this through UAL’s online submission tool, PebblePad. We will request this separately after initial processing of your application is complete. Once we request your portfolio, you will have 7 days to submit it.

Once you’ve sent in your application, this will be sent through to our course teams for review. Find out more about what happens after you apply.

There are two ways international students can apply:

If you are applying directly you click on the link to the direct form below. The application form can be saved as you fill it out, so you do not 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 submit the application form.

Apply for in person mode

Transfers

If you are currently studying at another institution and if you have successfully completed 60 credits in the equivalent units and modules on your current postgraduate course and wish to continue your studies at UAL Creative Computing Institute, you can apply to transfer. The Admissions Tutor will consider applications on a case by case basis, subject to places being available. You must apply directly to the course via the course webpage as early as possible.

Please check our Student Transfer Policy for more important information and be ready to provide us with your current course handbook and unit transcripts.

You will need to provide an official document (translated into English) from your current university, explaining the learning outcomes of the units you have completed.

Deferred entry

This course allows offer holders to defer. If you have an offer of a place, but you would like to defer starting for a year, please contact our Admissions Service as soon as possible via your UAL Portal. Make sure you check our Admissions Policy before requesting a deferral.

Visas

Read our visit our immigration and visa advice page to find out whether you need a visa to study.

Start your application now

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:

General information

  • Personal details (including legal full name, preferred name, date of birth, nationality, addresses)
  • Current English language level
  • Current and/or previous education and qualification details
  • Employment history

CV

Please provide a CV detailing your education, qualifications and any relevant work or voluntary experience.

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.

Immigration history check

Whether you are applying online or through a UAL representative you will need to complete an immigration history check to establish whether you are eligible to study at UAL. If you do not complete the check we will not be able to proceed with your application.

We cannot consider your application if you do not provide all the information above.

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 documents / portfolio through the portal. You should check your UAL Portal regularly for any important updates and requests.

Please consider altering your spam or junk mail filter to ensure that emails from @arts.ac.uk get through to you.

Application deadline

19 December 2022 and 3 April 2023

Our equal consideration deadlines have now passed. This course will remain open to applications for 2023 entry until places have been filled. Please be aware that courses can close without notice.

We recommend you submit your application as early as possible to allow the Admissions team to resolve any initial queries about your application as quickly as possible.

When you'll hear from us

Once you’ve sent in your application, this will be sent through to our course teams for review. Find out more about what happens after you apply.

After you apply

What happens next

Initial application check

We check your application to see if you meet the standard entry requirements for the course. Following a review of the application documents, successful applicants will be invited to upload a digital portfolio.

Digital portfolio

Your portfolio should be no more than six 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.

For more portfolio advice please visit: https://www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/apply/portfolio-advice

Following the review of the portfolio we select a small number of applicants to move on to the next stage of the process. These applicants will be invited to upload a 30-page portfolio.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the outcome of your application through the UAL Portal.

Careers

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

Contact

Telephone

Address
UAL Creative Computing Institute
45–65 Peckham Road
London
SE5 8UF