Frequently asked questions

We are working to keep our focus on developing engaging experiences for all students – both today and in the coming weeks and months. We are open for applications to the postgraduate programme MA Arts and Place at Dartington Arts School now due to start in April 2021 – please read individual course pages carefully for full details.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many IELTS and SELT centres are currently closed. In order to help us to assess your English language competency and continue with your postgraduate programme application, please consider taking the IELTS Indicator test. This can be done in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Please click on this link to access the test (link is external).

At present the IELTS indicator test does not replace the normal IELTS Academic test for those where English is not your first language, or the IELTS UKVI test for those requiring a Tier 4 visa to study with us, but it does enable us to continue with your application at this uncertain time. Please send in your programme application even if you do not have an IELTS test certificate and have not taken the IELTS indicator test yet. We can still begin to process your application.

We are continuing to make preparations to welcome our new students when it is safe to do so. We are continuing with Welcome Week beginning 12 January and will push back teaching until 19 April. Full details of module dates will be sent to you, and dates are available on the course page. If this situation changes and we have to make alternative arrangements, we will write to notify you.

We are continually reviewing all UK guidance to help us best plan for the start of the academic term, and we are taking all the necessary steps to be as flexible as we can to support you. We will be providing updates on this page.

Many of the local B&Bs, hotels, inns and campgrounds can be found online by visiting the Visit Totnes (link is external) website. Additionally Airbnb (link is external) also will have local listings.

As a Higher Education provider our accommodation is very limited. The college is not able to accommodate family members in the college. The nature of our programmes tend to be intensive and creative and we recommend that participants focus on their course in order to benefit as much as possible from their time here.

Students entering the UK on a Tier 4 visa will not be able to bring dependents to the UK whilst studying at the College. Many of the local B&Bs, hotels, inns and campgrounds can be found online by visiting the Visit Totnes (link is external) website. Additionally Airbnb (link is external) also will have local listings.

We are now registered with the Office of Students. This means that students based in England will be eligible to apply for student loans. More information on how to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan is available on this gov.uk page. See Applicant Information for other advice on funding.

We are unable to offer part-time study to international or EU applicants at present, due to government regulations. We hope to be able to offer part-time study before too long and will post any change to our website.

Please see our Applicant Information page for full details on course fees.

You will need to budget for travel and accommodation costs. You can stay on-site, full board and participating in the learning community at Dartington for £299 per week during the taught periods for your course, or you can stay offsite, nearby and commute in and out. You will need to consider whether you will have any material costs for your course.

We are an international higher education provider, welcoming students from around the world to share ideas and practice, and encouraging our students to explore global opportunities and horizons. We want students and staff from the European Union and beyond to know that everyone is extremely welcome here.

Course fees and funding to study in the UK in the 2020 to 2021 academic year 

EU students entering Higher Education in  the academic 2020/21 will continue to pay home fees for the duration of their course and be eligible for the UK’s EU settlement scheme if they arrived before the end of this year (31 December 2020). Students who start university or college in the 2020/21 academic year but arrive after 31 December 2020 will also be eligible for home fees but will need to apply for a student visa.

You will be able to access student finance if your course in England starts in the 2020 to 2021 academic year or before, provided you meet the residency requirements. This will be available for the duration of your course.

If you secure a place in the 2020 to 2021 academic year, but subsequently defer the start of your course until the following academic year, then the rules governing student support for 2021 to 2022 entry will apply to you.

More information:

> UK government | Studying in the UK: Guidance for EU students
> Office for Students | Brexit advice for EU nationals studying in the UK

Yes – see our Applicant Information page for details. Please note that we only offer partial bursaries and scholarships, the application process is competitive and there are only a few bursaries available every year. We receive a number of international students as Chevening scholars each year. See their website for details.

The timetabled teaching dates at Dartington vary for each programme. Please look at the dates on the programme information on our website.

We have designed all of our programmes so that you do not have to commit to being at Dartington year-round for 5 days a week but will combine intensive periods of face-to-face teaching with supported e-learning.

Dissertation/Major Project modules for all programmes can be studied through face to face tutorials or through online tutorials.

We can only offer accommodation to other students during their timetabled taught periods.

They are all postgraduate qualifications.

PGCert is 60 credits and consists of the two Term 1 modules.

PGDip is 120 credits and consists of the four Term 1 and Term 2 modules.

An MA/MSc is 180 credits and includes all four Term 1 and Term 2 modules and the dissertation/major project module.

PGCert is full-time only. PGDip and MA/MSc can be studied full-time. They can also be studied part-time by UK/EU students. You can usually take a PGCert of PGDip as credits achieved if you want to later return to study here or at another institution in the UK to ‘top up’ to an MA/MSc.

We are working to keep our focus on developing engaging experiences for all students – both today and in the coming weeks and months. The Dartington Trust is continuing to run MA programmes remotely, and we are open for applications to postgraduate programmes at Dartington Arts School due to start in January 2021. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many IELTS and SELT centres are currently closed. In order to help us to assess your English language competency and continue with your postgraduate programme application, please consider taking the IELTS Indicator test. This can be done in the comfort and safety of your own home.

Please click on this link to access the test (link is external).

At present the IELTS indicator test does not replace the normal IELTS Academic test for those where English is not your first language, or the IELTS UKVI test for those requiring a Tier 4 visa to study with us, but it does enable us to continue with your application at this uncertain time. Please send in your programme application even if you do not have an IELTS test certificate and have not taken the IELTS indicator test yet. We can still begin to process your application.

We are continuing to make preparations to welcome more new students in January. Welcome Week begins on 12 January and will take place online due to the pandemic, and teaching is due to begin on 18 January. If this situation changes and we have to make alternative arrangements, we will write to notify you.

We are continually reviewing all UK guidance to help us best plan for the start of the academic year, and we are taking all the necessary steps to be as flexible as we can to support you. We will be providing updates on this page.