Undergraduate
UAL Creative Computing Institute Diploma
About this course
The UAL 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 diploma is also an opportunity to study with other undergraduates from across the university.
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.
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 at network of creatives excited by the potential of computational technologies.
Great reasons to apply:
- Interdisciplinary Teaching: Offering the study of computing alongside creative practice, you will be exposed to different modes of learning that will help you develop a strong technical fluency with computational technologies with discovery-based learning rooted in creative practice.
- A material understanding of computational technologies: You will develop an appreciation of what computation is in both a technical and cultural sense. This understanding will enable you to explore dominant way of deploying technology at the level of code.
- Research informed teaching: By design the course is significantly informed by the research agenda of the Institute within which it sits. As such the course explore domains such as machine intelligence, explores how the contemporary world is being defined through human computer interaction and social platforms.
- UAL Institute environment: This course represents the core undergraduate provision of the new UAL Creative Computing Institute meaning that you will have access to a purpose-built physical environment and technical support, a public programme that explores the creative computing subject and exposure to creative computing research.
- Critical engagement with technology: Through critical studies and creative practice the course will provide you with the opportunities to question the trajectory of technology development and understand their role in producing the future.
The newly established UAL Institute for Creative Computing is located within the new building at UAL Camberwell. As well as the purpose built facilities for the Institute, students will have access to the existing Camberwell facilities including a newly built library, canteen and campus shop.
Course overview
The UAL 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 Diploma also gives you the opportunity to study with other undergraduates from across the university in a specialist UAL Institute environment and augment your creative practice giving you new opportunities as a creative practitioner. On successful completion of the diploma and the final year of your undergraduate degree you will graduate with an enhanced degree title e.g. BA Hons, Design (with Creative Computing).
Creative graduates with advanced computing skills are in high demand and you will lean 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 at network of creatives excited by the potential of computational technologies.
Course units
The unit statements below explain what you will study and how these fit together to provide you with a deep dive into creative computing outside your core creative specialism. The course maintains creative practice alongside the study of creative computing and an introduction to the digital creative industries of London in order that students are exposed to new opportunities and the professional contexts in a world hub of digital creative industries.
The first half of the course sees you study three units 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 gives you a solid grounding in key coding languages for creative computing and key computational concepts and is designed to be accessible to different skill levels. This will be delivered in up to six hours a week of coding classes that cover languages and frameworks such as JavaScript, P5 and Python and workshops exploring tools and frameworks such as VVVV, Open Frameworks and Max MSP.
Unit 2 Introducing Computational Futures and Artificial Intelligence (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 you will produce creative visualisations that are controlled by sensors and actuators. This application of coding skills for visual output will include an introduction to physical computing and electronics prototyping with platforms such as Arduino and Micro:bit.
The second half of the course sees you study three units 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 Coding for Collaborative App Development (20 Credits)
In this unit you will develop an app concept using one of the dominant platforms such as Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android. This will give you an 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 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. You will explore projection mapping, computer vision and sound tools to explore computational environments.
Learning and teaching methods
The course is delivered through a series of seminars introducing core topics, providing context and explaining the purpose of tasks. In labs, you will work both individually and in groups to develop knowledge through a series of practical and creative exercises, undertaken throughout the course. You will work in a programming environment suitable for the creation of real-time, interactive software. In creative making units’ you will be introduced through a range of studio-based workshops and assignments supported where appropriate by lectures, seminars, critiques and visits. Independent creative practice is also required and the course aims to augment your creative practice giving you new opportunities as a creative practitioner.
Assessment methods
- Exams
- Multiple choice tests
- Course work
- Set tasks
- Presentations
- Creative practice
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
To see the University’s Regulations on Admissions, please go to the following link:
http://www.arts.ac.uk/course-regulations/admissions/
The selection procedures for the course adhere to the Equal Opportunities policy of the University of the Arts London.
Admission to the Diploma in Creative Computing adheres to progression regulations where students are expected to have completed 2 years’ previous study up to Level 5 (or equivalent) in the subject area of their course. Should students fail any credits, during that period, progression regulations would apply whether they could undertake the DCC year.
Selection criteria
Your performance on the first year and second of study on your current BA course will be taken into consideration with reference to your Course Leader. This will include consideration of your past studentship, attendance, commitment and performance. The overriding concern will be to ensure that, you will have the skills, motivation and commitment to undertake computational practice and to develop self-initiated projects.
It is vital that you demonstrate that you are an independent learner able to manage your academic studies learning experience and deadlines, initiate projects and steer the quality of your experience. It is also vital you demonstrate that you will be able to thrive in a computationally oriented environment which requires full attendance across a coding intensive curriculum.
Your application will be reviewed in the light of below listed criteria:
- A good level of general creative ability;
- A sufficient level of technical and craft skill in your disciplinary area and evidence of creative computing practice;
- An ability to articulate and express your creative ideas;
- A clear and feasible proposal of intent and ambition;
- An ability to work as part of a collaborative team;
- Evidence of motivation and commitment through past performance;
Making your application
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.
Applications for the diploma (creative computing year) are made directly to the Institute.
- For Sept 2021 applications in person study please apply here.
You will need to be logged in to your UAL email account to complete your application
Key Dates: - The first round of applications for the Diploma are open until Friday 26 March 2021.
Please note that due to limited places and following your completion of this application, we will inform students who we’re able to make offers to between Monday 12 April and Friday 16 April 2021. - The second round of applications will be open from Monday 3 May 2021 until Friday 8 June 2021.
We will inform applicants who we’re able to make offers to between Monday 14 June 2021 and Friday 18 June 2021. - Funding - students in receipt of UK student loans will normally be eligible for funding in this additional year of study within your degree programme in the usual way, however we will check your individual eligibility with you during the admission process.
- For UK and EU students the new fully online mode cannot be funded by student loans in the usual way so will need to be self-fund as an extra year of online study.
- For Sept 2021 applications in person study please apply here.
You will need to be logged in to your UAL email account to complete your application
Key Dates: - The first round of applications for the Diploma are open until Friday 26 March 2021.
Please note that due to limited places and following your completion of this application, we will inform students who we’re able to make offers to between Monday 12 April and Friday 16 April 2021. - The second round of applications will be open from Monday 3 May 2021 until Friday 8 June 2021.
We will inform applicants who we’re able to make offers to between Monday 14 June 2021 and Friday 18 June 2021. - Funding - this is an extra year of study within your degree programme so will need to be funded by you.
- Study visas - on confirmation of offer we will work with you to check if any extension to your study visa is required and cannot confirm your place in the diploma until these are satisfied.
Applications for the diploma (creative computing year) are made directly to the Institute.
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After you apply
Communicating with you
After you have registered your interest with us we will invite you to information sessions.
What happens next?
Following the review of applications we select a number of applicants to undertake the diploma and will work with you to confirm your place on the diploma.
How we notify you of the outcome of your application
You will receive communication via email once your offer of a diploma place is secured.
Fees and funding
Home fee
£9,250 per year
This fee is correct for 2021/22 entry and is subject to change for 2022/23 entry. Tuition fees may increase in future years for new and continuing students.
Home fees are currently charged to UK resident nationals. However, the rules are complex. Find out more about our tuition fees.
From 2021/22 entry, most EU students will be charged the International tuition fee rate, depending on your individual circumstances. If you started your course in October 2020 or earlier, you’ll continue to pay Home (UK) fees for the duration of your course. Read more advice for EU students.
International fee
£22,920 per year
This fee is correct for 2021/22 entry and is subject to change for 2022/23 entry. Tuition fees for international students may increase by up to 5% in each future year of your course.
Students from countries outside of the UK are currently charged international fees. The rules are complex so read more about our tuition fees.
From 2021/22 entry, most EU students will be charged the International tuition fee rate, depending on your individual circumstances. If you started your course in October 2020 or earlier, you’ll continue to pay Home (UK) fees for the duration of your course. Read more advice for EU students.
Careers and alumni
Developing your skills
Adding the UAL Creative Computing to your current UAL degree means you will possess a material understanding of computational technologies and a set of computing and coding skills much in demand across the digital sector.
Career paths
Diploma students will be well paced to work in the following roles:
- Creative Technologist
- Creative Developer
- Web Developer
- UX Developer
- iOS App Developer
- Software Developer
- IoT / Smart Products Developer
- Front – End Developer
- Digital Strategist
- Live Events Technologist
- Technology Researcher
- Machine Intelligence Developer
- Broadcast Technologist
- IT Specialist
- Digital Project Manager
- Digital Entrepreneur
- Digital Creative
- Interactive Designer