Graduate Diploma Creative Practice
Kingston UniversityKnights Park, United Kingdom
Course overview
Accelerate your creativity Specialise in Fashion, Graphic Design, Interior & Product Design or Illustration Animation. On this intensive one-year course, you can find your creative direction and the confidence to progress to postgraduate study. Focusing on experimentation, reflection and professional portfolio-building, you’ll develop your creative practice through studio projects, critical discussion and industry-informed assignments designed to reflect contemporary art and design processes.
Bespoke delivery You'll be able to choose from one of four bespoke pathways: Fashion Graphic Design Illustration Animation Interior & Product Design Creative destination Whatever pathway you choose, you'll be able to learn alongside Kingston’s vibrant postgraduate community. You can then progress to a practice-based masters course or graduate ready for roles in design, publishing, media, film, fashion, advertising and more. Located in Kingston upon Thames, our riverside campus offers a calm, green environment for creative focus, just 30 minutes from central London’s museums, studios and galleries.
It’s an ideal balance of safety, space and cultural access. Transitioning from a career in law to communication design was a significant step and the Creative Practice diploma was essential in bridging that gap. The curriculum provided me with the opportunity to fully examine my artistic voice and develop the key skills necessary for a career in illustration.
I valued the supportive atmosphere fostered by the friendly tutors and knowledgeable technical staff, which created an ideal environment for this intensive change. Chanjuan Peng (2025)
Key highlights
- Choose from four pathways including Fashion, Graphic Design and Illustration Animation
- Interior & Product Design pathway also available
- Intensive one-year course preparing students for practice-based master's study
- Studio projects, critical discussion and industry-informed assignments
- Focus on experimentation, reflection and professional portfolio-building
- Learn alongside a postgraduate community, 30 minutes from central London
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:2 — or above
- Additional condition: portfolio — Additional requirements for Graduate Diploma in Creative Practice: Open Please submit a portfolio to showcase your strengths, abilities and experiences.
Scholarships
Alumni Discount
Award: 10% discount on tuition fees.
Up to 10% of feesChelsea Arts Club Trust MA Award
The Chelsea Arts Club Trust MA Materials and Research Award is a £2,500 bursary, awarded each year to an MA Fashion or MA Sustainable Fashion student.
Up to £2,500Chevening Scholarships
Award: Tuition fees, travel costs and living allowance subsidised.
International Merit-Based scholarships
The scholarships are worth £5,000 towards your first year tuition fees.
Up to £5,000Niloufar Ebrahim Scholarship
The scholarship will cover a portion of tuition fees for the applicant, up to the value of £1,000.
Postgraduate Progression Scholarship
The Kingston University Postgraduate Progressions Scholarship offers a 15% reduction in postgraduate tuition fees.
The Kingston Impact Scholarship
£5,000 tuition fee contribution to two MBA students.
Up to £5,000The Kingston MBA Scholarship
Kingston University Business School is proud to offer a tuition fee scholarship of £5,000 to self-funded candidates.
Up to £5,000
Careers this course leads to
- Graphic designer
- Illustrator
- Animator
- Fashion designer
- Interior designer
- Product designer
Cost of study
UK/Home: £11,900 per year | International: £21,500 per year
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Kingston University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
Ready to start?
Book a free consultation and we'll map your fastest route to your place.