College of Arts, Design, Craft and Conservation

Making makes the difference.

Our schools of arts, design and conservation offer a uniquely broad range of world-leading courses. At the heart of all we do, is our belief that 'making' makes our lives better. We celebrate the intrinsic value of work that has been hand-made by artists and artisans, and challenge the assumption that mass-produced must be the only way because, across the world, the maker movement is growing.

From online courses to postgraduate degrees, our student cohorts reflect the interests, backgrounds and aspirations of a global community. Guided by experts, who are often leaders in their field, our students are encouraged to develop their practice and reach their true potential.

Our London and Sussex campuses connect our students to the city and countryside, providing inspiring study environments and state-of-the-art studios across all our disciplines, helping to forge collaborations and discover their creative voice.

Whether you are conserving or crafting, discovering or designing, make your mark at West Dean.

Find your course

Open days. For open minds.

Curious about our degree and diploma courses? Our virtual and campus Open Days are a chance to talk directly with tutors and current students, get into the details of scholarships and bursaries, and explore our full range of art, design and conservation pathways.

Register your place today at one of our upcoming virtual or campus Open Day's and make your day.

Register now
West Dean and KLC School of Design Open Days 2023

Events & Articles

Writer Talk - Dr Okechukwu Nzelu

Wednesday 6 December 2023, 5.30pm at The Old Library

Join us for a Writer's Talk with Writer-In-Residence Okechukwu Nzelu, where he will share how he came to write his second novel; from the texts which informed it, to the experiences and observations which led him to want to approach the subject matter in the way he did.
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Awards 1st December 2023

Students announced as Finalists in Society of Garden Designers Awards 2023

Congratulations to Garden Design Diploma students Sophie Knittel, Julia Hill, Rebecca Lloyd-Jones and Joshua Millard who have been announced as Finalists in the Society of Garden Designers Awards 2023!

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West Dean College Study Art, Conservation and Interior Design

Make the most of our spaces

A house and gardens on the edge of the South Downs, provides magic and inspiration for all.

Inspired by our Founder Edward James, our community of artists, designers and craftspeople gather to collaborate and create - and to seek out and celebrate originality.

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Make it happen. Apply for funding.

Applications now open for Degree & Diploma funding for 2024

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Funding for degree and diploma courses in art, conservation and interior design

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