The Professional Arts Diploma has been set up to bridge the gap between art, craft and design studies and the reality of self employment. The subject areas are chosen and designed to prepare the individual student for professional practice in an applied arts area and cover:

Students will be designing and producing two practical projects, working with clients from the public sector in one, and further developing their own personal work to a high standard in the other. The course is suitable for students that are dedicated to setting up their own studio, who have sufficient experience in the subject area (either coming from first year or degree programs) and who are well able for self directed studies at an academic level. The PAD is designed as a degree-completion program for those who already possess a post-secondary education or professional experience. The PAD program provides between 3 months to 2 years of study.

A PAD degree is also designed for those who have already obtained work experience in their chosen major area of study, and courses are designed to bring practice and theory together. So, you bring your professional knowledge and experience, and we provide the wider context such as politics, theory, history, economics, sociology, psychology, etc. associated with your major area of study.A PAD degree is designed primarily for individuals who already hold a college diploma or have been working in a field related to their area of PAD study. A PAD degree, on the other hand, is designed for those who do not have either post-secondary or related work experience.

A PAD will typically provide two years of study along with a practicum component that provides students the opportunity to apply what they have learned.