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Two Year Diploma Course

Clay College offers something quite different from other ceramics courses in the UK. This course provides a level of skill sufficient for a graduate to set themselves up as a practising potter. The skills taught include making, design and planning, clay and glaze technology, kiln design, building and firing, marketing, and promotion.

It is an intensive course, with six 14- 15 week terms packed into two years. You can expect lots of contact time and regularly invited highly skilled and internationally known makers to complement our in-house delivery. You will learn a huge amount and a lot will be expected of you in terms of hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm.

If you are serious about ceramics then there is certainly no other course in Britain offering what Clay College is offering. Our long-term goal is to change the current system of teaching Studio ceramics.

We have an intake of students every 2 years. Our next intake of students will start in September 2024 with applications open now – deadline 23rd February!

Who can apply?

We can accept applications from UK residents, EU and non-EU residents with UK residency visas/settled status. Unfortunately, we cannot accept applications from the EU and outside the EU, unless you have a valid UK visa. (Please note the Diploma Course is not an officially accredited course which may cause some complications when applying for Visas, for any enquiries, please send an email to: application@claycollegestoke.co.uk)

Fees

From the beginning, we decided to set ourselves up as an independent college. We took the hard decision to forgo being accredited by an existing University in order to have the freedom to create a skills-based curriculum for studio pottery that will be unique in the UK. Clay College Stoke is a not-for profit organisation. We successfully fundraise throughout the year to support the Colleg, but need to charge fees to cover course and staffing costs. Fees for the Diploma Course is £9250 per year, including all basic materials.

Bursaries

We are able to offer limited financial assistance, based on need, to a couple of students. These bursaries will be awarded in cases of financial hardship and will be applied to defray fees across the two years of the course. The amount available will only meet a proportion of total fees. The funds available will be determined through the application process. Any applicant who may qualify for assistance and wishes to apply should state this in their application form.

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How to apply?

Please download the Clay College Diploma Course Application form and the Clay College Equal Opportunities Monitoring form. Please complete both forms, ensuring you have completed every question and that you have included all the items requested in the checklist. If you do not, your application cannot, unfortunately, be processed.

Please return your forms and supporting documents by the application deadline. Applications can be emailed to applications@claycollegestoke.co.uk or posted to Clay College, Middleport Pottery, Port Street, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST6 3PE.

When will applications next open?

We have an intake of students every 2 years. Our next intake of students will start in September 2024 with applications opening November 2023 – February 2024.

What will happen next?

Your application will be assessed by the Course Director and the Board of Trustees. Shortlisted applicants will be contacted and will be invited for a practical day of making and an informal interview in Stoke on Trent. This is an opportunity for you to meet us, and for us to meet you and to assess your current skill level.

Places will be offered to successful applicants by May 2024.

Questions

If you have an enquiry concerning your application or have trouble downloading information please contact us using the contact form on the contact page or emailing application@claycollegestoke.co.uk

Application Form

Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form

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