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Chelsea College of Arts

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Graduate Diploma Fine Art

College
CHELSEA
Start date
September 2021
Course length
1 year (full time)
Apply Open days

Graduate Diploma in Fine Art at Chelsea College of Arts enables you to develop an independent art practice and build confidence in your approach.

Student work

  • Sculpture using geometric elements and perspex.
    Graduate Diploma Fine Art interim show
  • Interim show photo with video work, foot sculpture and installation featuring plants.
    Graduate Diploma Fine Art interim show
  • Interim show photo with paintings, sculptures and digital prints.
    Graduate Diploma Fine Art interim show
  • Sculpture consisting of feet moulded in wax on small platform with wheels.
    Graduate Diploma Fine Art interim show

Graduate Diploma Fine Art Stories

Course overview

Graduate Diploma in Fine Art is aimed at students who wish to progress to MA level or pursue a career within the field of fine art.

What to expect 

  • A practice-led course that brings together a wide range of media. They include film, video, digital media, sound, print, performance, drawing, painting and sculpture
  • At Chelsea practice and theory are integrated. This helps you understand the contexts and conditions that shape and frame contemporary art practice
  • A tutor group that you will meet on a regular basis to discuss each other’s work
  • Significant control over what you learn, the pace you do this at and how you might show this. You will be helped in these decisions through on-going dialogue with your tutors and fellow students
  • To develop an independent art practice enabling you to progress onto MA level
  • A framework to help you develop a critical body of work enabling you to locate your ideas and practice in relation to contemporary art and debates on cultural and theoretical issues
  • To produce a portfolio of practical work, write proposals for MA applications and to articulate your ideas in relation to other appropriate practices and theories, both in writing and in the form of verbal presentations
  • To get inductions into the processes and facilities available in the college’s studios and workshops
  • To have access to Chelsea's shared workshops. These include ceramics, casting, laser cutting, photography, audio-visual editing suite, metal and woodwork. View the Chelsea facilities

Mode of study 

Graduate Diploma Fine Art is offered in full-time mode and consists of 30 teaching weeks over 1 academic year. You will be expected to commit an average of 40 hours per week to your course, including teaching hours and independent study.

Course units

A short description of each unit and what you can expect.

Unit 1 - Building Practice

This unit is an introduction to your course, the college and the university.

  • Inductions to relevant learning resources and workshops at Chelsea
  • An introduction into the ways in which theoretical material and research can be used in relation to art practice
  • A programme of artist talks, lectures and seminars
  • Regular tutor group sessions
  • To question the value of taking risks and experimentation
  • To challenge your already established practice
  • You will develop an enquiry-based practice which includes making and writing
  • Take part in an exhibition
  • Draft a piece of critical writing related to your practice

Unit 2 - Public practice: Development and Realisation

In this unit you will develop your work further producing an appropriate portfolio of work that can be used within a professional context or in order to apply for an MA.

  • You will make your work public externally and within the college 
  • Continue to develop an independent enquiry-based practice
  • Document your work including how it becomes public
  • Give an inquiry focussed presentation
  • Produce a piece of critical writing
  • Present work in the college showcase
  • Workshops, tutorials and crits

Learning and teaching methods

  • Group and individual tutorials
  • Exhibition and work in progress crits
  • Workshops on portfolio presentation and appropriate digital technology
  • Workshops on documentation
  • Presentation skills workshops
  • Technical skills workshops relating to appropriate installation

Assessment methods

  • Artist statements
  • Art submissions
  • Written submissions
  • Presentations
  • Projects
  • Research portfolios

Staff

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:

Selection criteria

We look for:

  • 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 fine art
  • 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

Portfolio advice

  • A range of artwork - such as drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, video
  • Clear documentation of work that is too large to bring to interview
  • Self-initiated as well as project or course work
  • Evidence of research and development of ideas
  • Evidence of recent written work - where relevant to your practice

Personal statement

This should be about 500 words long and include:

  • Your reasons for choosing the course
  • Your current creative practice and how this will help with your future plans
  • If you do not have any formal academic qualifications please describe your relevant education and experience

Apply

Application deadline

Applications may stay open until Saturday 15 May 2021.

Although we advise you to apply sooner than this. Some courses are very popular and may close to applicants early.

What happens next

Communicating with you

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Please add ccw.ukeu@arts.ac.uk to your contacts to ensure that you do not miss any important updates about your application to UAL.

Initial application check and selection

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 digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

Following receipt of your digital portfolio you will be invited to book an online interview selection event.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.

Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

Feedback requests:

This course receives a high number of applications. Unfortunately, we can’t provide feedback to everyone who is unsuccessful. We can only provide feedback after you’ve had an interview.

If you would like to request feedback - please email ccw.ukeu@arts.ac.uk. We are only able to provide feedback to you directly, or to someone you have told us in writing can receive it on your behalf.

Deferring your place

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 graduate diploma course and wish to continue your studies at Chelsea College of Arts, 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. Further information can be found in our UAL External Student Transfer Policy.

There are 2 ways international students can apply to a graduate diploma course:

Read our immigration and visa information to find out if you need a visa to study at UAL.

Application deadline

Applications may stay open until Saturday 15 May 2021.

Although we advise you to apply sooner than this. Some courses are very popular and may close to applicants early.

What happens next

Communicating with you

After you’ve submitted your application, you’ll receive a confirmation email providing you with your login details for the UAL Portal. We’ll use this portal to contact you to request any additional information, including inviting you to upload documents or book an interview, so please check it regularly.

Please add ccw.international@arts.ac.uk to your contacts to ensure that you do not miss any important updates about your application to UAL.

Immigration history check

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.

Initial application check and selection

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 digital portfolio through UAL’s online portfolio review system.

Following receipt of your digital portfolio you will be invited to book a telephone interview selection event.

How we notify you of the outcome of your application

You will receive the final outcome of your application through the UAL portal.

Applicants for this course may be given an alternative offer. This decision will be based on our assessment of your creative and potential interests.

Feedback requests:

This course receives a high number of applications. Unfortunately, we can’t provide feedback to everyone who is unsuccessful. We can only provide feedback after you’ve had an interview.

If you would like to request feedback - please email ccw.international@arts.ac.uk. We are only able to provide feedback to you directly, or to someone you have told us in writing can receive it on your behalf.

Deferring your place

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 graduate diploma course and wish to continue your studies at Chelsea College of Arts, 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. Further information can be found in our UAL External Student Transfer Policy.


Fees and funding

Home / EU fee

£11,220 (2020/21).

International fee

£22,920 (2020/21).

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

Use our search tool to find out more about the scholarships and awards available to students.

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Careers and alumni

The course is aimed at preparing students for further study at Masters level or pursuing a career in the field of fine art. This could include art practice, art writing, curation, arts administration, art consultancy, collaborative practice and community arts.

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

Chelsea College of Arts

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Contact

Telephone

+44 (0)20 7514 7751
Address
Chelsea College of Arts
16 John Islip Street
London
SW1P 4JU