Internationally recognised for excellence in conservation, arts and design education.
Craft skills to Foundation Degree level
Exhibition opportunities for art students
Make Time to Make with 300+ short courses
Training tomorrow's conservators
Specialist arts college with Artists-in-Residence programme
Explore your study options from short courses to Foundation, Diploma and Masters degrees. Students achieve ground-breaking work in arts or craft or apply their skills to the conservation of our national and international cultural heritage.
Degrees and Diplomas - excellence in arts and conservation
Studying for your degree or diploma could be life-changing. Students can expect a creative environment with a forward thinking approach, professional connections and strong focus on craft techniques in a variety of subject specialisms. Benefit from exceptional facilities, talented tutors and small class sizes. Many past students work with collections and museums of international significance or pursue their creative practice. The College is the former home of Edward James; poet, artist, designer, and patron of the Surrealist Movement, and is an inspirational setting for creativity.
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Nourish your mind on a short course
It’s been shown that getting creative can work wonders for your mental health. Join us to paint, sew, sculpt, forge and express yourself on one of 500+ short courses. Learn new skills or develop existing talents, with courses from beginner to advanced with expert tutors, from 1-5 days in length.
- Learn from home with our online arts and craft courses
- Browse our short courses with last minute availability
See the latest information on coronavirus here.
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Our School of Design
West Dean College of Arts and Conservation merged with the KLC School of Design on 31 July 2021. Combining our strengths, we are in a better position to meet the fast-changing needs of students, the industries we serve and the rapidly changing world beyond.
Students will also be offered greater choice in their studies going forward, with a wider range of courses in complementary subjects. The focus will remain firmly on fostering creative excellence and innovation, providing the ideal setting for students to acquire and apply the skills needed for successful careers in the arts, conservation and design industries.
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Degrees and Diplomas
Learn more about our accredited arts and conservation courses to start or progress your career
Short Courses
Make time to make - Choose from 500+ new arts and craft courses available to book online now
50th anniversary
Celebrating 50 years of West Dean College which opened in 1971.
School of Arts Blog
The Potential of Edward James' Unrealised Visions
Fine Art tutor George Charman is currently completing a practice-led PhD investigating the sculptural and architectural possibilities of the Edward James Archive. Find out more about the project in this blog post.
School of Conservation Blog
Budgeting tips
Top tips to help with budgeting as you study your degree or diploma at West Dean College.
Apply now for Degree and Diploma study
Applications open for 2022 entry
Choose your subject and find out how to apply.
Find out about funding opportunities