The King’s Foundation Diploma Year

The programme is unique in its focus on the interplay between traditional skills, innovation and creativity – all essential requirements for successful progression to higher education and careers in the creative industries.

The King’s Foundation Diploma Year is a dynamic skills-based course with five days’ teaching per week. The small cohort’s size of up to 60 students allows for targeted one-to-one teaching in a supportive and creative environment. Located at Trinity Buoy Wharf, the programme benefits from its creative and inspiring neighbours in its Thames-side location.

The structure of the programme’s interdisciplinary curriculum develops from taught workshops to increasingly self-directed study. Throughout the programme, life drawing will remain central to problem solving and the development of observation skills. Students will be encouraged to engage with studio critiques and discussions informed by contextual studies and weekly accompanied gallery and museum visits.

The broad curriculum is especially suited to progression onto Visual Arts courses such as Fine Art and Applied Arts, Animation and Illustration, Architecture, Textiles and Fashion, Photography and Film, Theatre and Set Design, Sculpture, Furniture Making and Design, Carving, Crafts and many more.

Places on The King’s Foundation Diploma Year are offered to students who are keen to explore their creative practice through the development of skills, craftsmanship and artistic endeavour.

Applicants will need to demonstrate potential and an interest in progression into a related subject in Higher Education or vocationally in Fine Art, Applied Arts or Crafts.

Students will be required to have an excellent work ethic, an open-minded attitude and a readiness to explore and experiment with different processes and materials in an interdisciplinary manner.

• The King’s Foundation offers scholarships and fee reductions so that the programme is available to the widest range of students, regardless of their financial circumstances. Up to 50% of the student cohort is awarded a full scholarship or fee reduction each year.
• Those students awarded a full scholarship pay no course fee and receive a study support allowance for travel and materials. We accept scholarship applications from students who have attended a state school.
• Students requesting a scholarship or fee reduction should indicate this on their application form. Scholarships and fee reductions are means tested and take account of personal circumstances and artistic potential.

• The course is fee-paying. Fees for domestic students for 2021/22 are £6,950.00. You can apply for a reduction of between 25% to 75% off the full fee during the application process, depending on your financial circumstances and potential.
• The full course fees are heavily subsidised through the generosity of The King's Foundation and its donors. This keeps the fee cost as low as possible whilst ensuring a high-level educational experience can be delivered.
• The fees cover the cost of all tuition, materials used in workshops, exhibitions, and the residency at Dumfries House, (excluding travel).

For application please visit here.

To register your interest please email here.

For more course information please follow here.