National Diploma in Calligraphy

The National Diploma of Calligraphy is crafted for CLAS members committed to advancing their skills in the Western calligraphy tradition. It aims to honour their accomplishments across three distinct levels — Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced.

These levels offer a comprehensive route to progressively enhance knowledge and practical skills, laying a solid foundation for developing a personalised working style and a portfolio of original artworks.

Candidates are advised to seek guidance from a tutor or mentor and to follow the handbooks closely. Candidates are not required to complete all three levels; they should enter at the level that aligns with their experience.

The National Diploma of Calligraphy is not a tutored course but a certification of the level of work achieved.

The National Diploma is exclusively available to CLAS members. If you are not yet a member (note that Diploma fees do not include membership), please click here for more information on how to become a member.

For ALL entries, membership is required as of March 31st for ALL years in which you submit work for assessment.

If you require any further assistance or have any questions regarding the Diploma, please contact the Diploma Administrator at diploma@clas.co.uk.

Available Resources

CLAS is dedicated to fostering the study, practice, and instruction of Western calligraphy in its diverse forms. While the Diploma itself is not a standalone training programme, CLAS is committed to assisting and guiding its members along their calligraphy journey.

To support diploma candidates, CLAS offers an exclusive array of resources, including:

 

Handbooks

These handbooks encompass all essential information, including pertinent deadlines, submission requirements for each module, instructions on packaging your work for assessment, and details on the assessment process. Additionally, they provide comprehensive guidance and support.

Other Useful Links

 

Diploma Mentors

If you wish to have some mentoring about undertaking, working on, or submitting for the Diploma, please see the list of mentors below and contact them directly.

Any agreement about when or how the mentoring is to take place and the cost is made between you, as an individual, and the mentor. These arrangements are strictly private and do not come under CLAS provision.

Mentor

Enrolment and Fees

You have the flexibility to submit modules for the annual assessment individually, several modules at a time, or all together. Additionally, you can opt to retake a module to enhance your scores, as all modules must be passed to achieve an overall pass. If you choose to submit modules individually rather than all together, the following timescales apply:

Foundation Level – a maximum of 3 years to submit all modules
Intermediate Level – a maximum of 4 years to submit all modules
Advanced Level – a maximum of 5 years to submit all modules

Whether you have chosen to submit all modules together or in separate years, if you wish to resubmit any to gain a higher mark, these must be submitted and paid for within the timescales stated above. However, if your final module fails to reach a pass mark, you may resubmit only that module, but only in the following year, even if it is beyond the maximum number of years allowed for that level.

It should be noted that you must complete and submit the modules sequentially, beginning with Module 1, as each subsequent module builds upon the knowledge and skills of the preceding one.

Payment for assessment is due by March 31st of the assessment year. Payment for the return of assessed work should be made after assessment has taken place, upon receipt of an invoice from CLAS.

ENROLMENT FORMS

Complete the applicable enrolment form and email to diploma@clas.co.uk.

FEES

Please note that the pricing structure has changed and that ALL modules are now £35 each, regardless of how or when they are submitted.

Foundation

  • Assessment: £105 (all modules in one year)
  • Modular Assessment: £35 per module submitted (submission permitted over three years)
  • Re-assessment of a module: £35

Intermediate

  • Assessment: £140 (all modules in one year)
  • Modular Assessment: £35 per module submitted (submission permitted over four years)
  • Re-assessment of a module: £35

Advanced

  • Assessment: £175 (all modules in one year)
  • Modular Assessment: £35 per module submitted (submission over five years)
  • Re-assessment of a module: £35

 

Payment Methods

Credit / Debit card using PayPal

Bank Transfer

Account Name: Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society
Sort Code: 40-52-40
Account Number: 00031828

Bank Transfer (Overseas Payments)

IBAN: GB33CAFB40524000031828
BIC: CAFBGB21XXX

UK Cheque

If UK cheque is your only payment method, make it payable to CLAS or the Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society.

Copyright While Studying for the Diploma

Using a copyright protected work typically requires seeking permission beforehand.

During your pursuit of the Diploma, you’re permitted to utilise copyrighted materials in your studies, such as quoting excerpts or referencing artworks in your essays. Fair use, a facet of copyright law, permits this usage without prior permission from the copyright holder, on the condition that it’s strictly for your own (non-commercial) educational purposes and that you properly attribute, credit, and/or reference the work.

CLAS may opt to exhibit your Diploma work on our website or magazine. To safeguard against copyright infringement, please indicate clearly in your submissions whether they are copyright protected.

For further information on copyright, please consult the government guidance available at Intellectual property: Copyright – Detailed Information – GOV.UK.

Example of Customs Form

For non-UK candidates, please refer to the example of the customs declaration form on the right.

  • Please X the “Other” box under “Category of Goods” and state “EXAMINATION ENTRY”.

  • You will need to put quantities and separate statements in the “Description of Contents” boxes, estimating the costs of papers and boards alone, also stating the weights of these. Although your artwork is priceless – only state the cost of what it is on.

  • Put “N/A” in each of the “HS Tariff no.” boxes.

  • Enter the total value.

  • Weigh the whole parcel, once everything is packaged. Enter the total weight.

  • Put “N/A” next to “If Applicable VAT/EORI No”.

  • Sign and date at the bottom.

Join Our Community

Become a CLAS member and enjoy a wealth of benefits — from receiving The Edge magazine and CLASnews updates, to reduced fees for courses and competitions. Members also gain exclusive access to our diploma, free entry to the annual exhibition, and opportunities to exhibit their work.

Become a Member