Postgraduate Diploma in Sculpture

We welcome applications not only from former Diploma students but also from self-motivated individuals who have completed a BA in sculpture or equivalent study. We also encourage those who have been working independently and wish to return to formal learning to further develop their creativity, enhance technical skills, or engage in observational and figurative project work.

After submitting your application form (available on the website or from the office), you will be invited to an interview with the Course Director. Please bring examples of your recent three-dimensional work, ideally as photographic documentation; drawings and sketchbooks can also be included. If an in-person interview isn’t possible, phone or virtual interviews are arranged, with work samples sent by mail or provided online.

Successful applicants will receive an offer of a place after the interview. To secure your place, you must confirm acceptance in writing and pay a deposit of 10% of the course fees. Applications are open to individuals aged 19 and over, including mature students.

The Post Diploma in Sculpture is a one-year postgraduate course (24–36 weeks) designed for artists who have completed the two-year Diploma in Sculpture or equivalent graduate study. Teaching takes place two or three days a week (Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday) across three 12-week terms, combining guided independent study with a structured programme of tutorials, seminars, and technical workshops. Students receive personalised tuition and support to develop their sculptural practice within a flexible and encouraging framework.

Students have access to two dedicated, fully accessible sculpture studios located on the ground floor. Both studios are spacious, with high ceilings and large windows that provide excellent natural light throughout the working day.

Studio 1 is equipped with robust workbenches designed for carving, construction, and assemblage. Studio 2 is tailored for modelling and casting, offering the ideal environment for working in clay, wax, and plaster.

The sculpture department also includes purpose-built facilities: a fully equipped workshop with machine tools for working in wood and metal, and a kiln room for firing ceramic work. Specialist technicians in sculpture and ceramics provide inductions in the safe and effective use of machinery, glazes, and oxides.

Graduates of Heatherleys are equipped to pursue a wide range of creative careers. Many go on to establish independent studio practices, exhibiting their work in galleries across London, the UK, and internationally. Some have won awards, undertaken private and public commissions, and built successful reputations as professional sculptors. Others choose to continue their education at prestigious postgraduate institutions such as the Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martins (UAL), and City & Guilds of London Art School. Heatherleys graduates have also pursued careers in art therapy, teaching in adult and higher education, and roles in related creative industries. These include special effects for theatre, film, and television, exhibition design, curation, bronze casting, metal fabrication, retail design, and the creation of jewellery and ceramics.