West Dean is situated in the South Downs National Park, renowned for its fabulous scenery. The College is an integral part of the local community on a 6,400 – acre estate. It is surrounded by award winning gardens with restored Victorian glasshouses, a walled kitchen garden and landscaped parkland. The College is surrounded by a remarkable landscape and an extraordinary range of artefacts, providing primary source material for project work. The College promotes diversity and inter-disciplinarity, encouraging all members to take an interest in the work of their peers.

Click here to find out what students have to say about the College and their time here.

Getting around

Situated 65 miles south of London with convenient rail and road links, the College’s close proximity to Gatwick airport, crosschannel ports and the Channel Tunnel, means that European cities are just a few hours away. Local bus services are available and the nearest train station is six miles away in Chichester.

Leisure activities

There is a small outdoor swimming pool within the grounds of the College, open from May to September. Students have access to tennis courts, croquet and weekly yoga classes at West Dean and a regular fixture of cricket and football matches in surrounding villages.

Cultural activities in nearby Chichester include the Chichester Festival Theatre and Minerva Theatre, an excellent art-house cinema, the Chichester Cinema at New Park and Pallant House Gallery. Next to the College is the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum with its designated collection of local vernacular buildings. The Cass Sculpture Foundation is located on the nearby Goodwood Estate, renowned for horse-racing in summer, and international polo is played at Cowdray Park in nearby Midhurst.

The learning environment

The culture at West Dean is international with approximately half of our students coming from overseas and from many different countries. The College and its important archive and decorative art collection are housed in an exceptional early 19thcentury flint country house. Retaining the important State Rooms for meetings and student seminars, parts of the house have been specially converted into purpose-built studios and workshops.