Leeds College of Art gains Taught Degree Awarding Powers
Leeds College of Art is pleased to announce today that it has been given the power to award its own degrees. The Privy Council has written to the College to confirm that it has been granted Taught Degree Awarding Powers (TDAP), which means that, from September 2016, students will be able to study for a degree awarded by the College.
Up until now, Leeds College of Art’s degrees have been validated by The Open University. TDAP means that the College will be able to award its own degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.
The TDAP announcement is timely, as the College continues to celebrate its 170th year anniversary. Founded in 1846 as the Leeds Government School of Art and Design, Leeds College of Art has contributed significantly to the development of art education in Britain and across the world. Today, Leeds College of Art remains one of only a few remaining independent art schools in the UK, leading the way as a centre for art and design education. There will be a special anniversary party in November to officially mark the College’s 170th year and TDAP.
Professor Simone Wonnacott, Principal, Leeds College of Art said:
“This is a significant landmark in the College’s history and demonstrates how we continue to excel as a leading specialist art school. The TDAP process is rigorous and recognised our robust governance structure, academic and teaching standards and the environment supporting the delivery of our higher education programmes. Our staff have worked incredibly hard throughout the TDAP process for the last few years so I would like to thank and congratulate them. We’re now looking forward to becoming the only specialist arts university in the North of England and have plans for significant expansion – developing new studio spaces and extending our degree provision into areas such as film and music.”
Mr Chris Clements, Chair of the Board of Governors, Leeds College of Art, added:
“We are delighted with gaining TDAP. As a specialist art school we have a strong reputation of more than 170 years offering a student-led and close-knit creative community. We are grateful to The Open University for their support and long-standing partnership with the College but gaining the ability to award our own degrees will give us greater flexibility and speed to respond to changes within the creative industries and student feedback.”