Profile
The Kent Institute of Art and Design was formed by the amalgamation of the Canterbury School of Architecture and three art colleges with origins in the 19th Century. It is now one of the largest institutions specializing in art and design in Europe.

Within KIAD are seven different schools, each teaching a specialised area of practice. Here you will develop the skills and make the contacts you need to embark on a career in art and design, taught by tutors who are professional practitioners in their own right. We have School of Further Education, School of Architecture, School of Fine Art, School of Media Arts & Communication Design, School of Photography, School of Fashion, School of Design, and Postgraduate Study.

KIAD’s reputation for innovation and excellence in art, design and architecture education is proved by the success of thousands of our graduates who enjoy successful careers all over the world.

Each year we welcome about 20 % of our students from outside the UK. They come from more than 60 countries. Our commitment to international education extends further; we also send our students to study at colleges all over the world. This exchange of cultures enriches the creative development of us all and will enable you to make friends worldwide.

KIAD at Canterbury
All the facilities on campus are tailor-made for specialist study and include work spaces, studios, workshops and computer rooms. Canterbury has a relaxed and informal bar; common room and café that is popular with both students and staff. In the grounds is the foundry, a commercial concern with a team of skilled sculptors and casters.

A brand new hall of residence, ‘Ian Dury House’, opened its doors to students in September 2001. Now more students can live on campus, just a few minutes walk from the town centre.

Canterbury is a historic city, famous for the cathedral that attracts tourist and pilgrims. It is lively and attractive with a large student community (from the University of Kent as well as KIAD) with shops, bars, restaurants, museums, theatres and galleries. It is a one hour, 20 minute train journey from Central London; close enough for visits to galleries or nightlife, but enjoying a relaxed environment for study. Union Societies.

KIAD at Maidstone
The specialist facilities here include industry-standard photography and video studios, sound editing suites, computer equipment and an extensive printmaking studio. There is a large, informal café and bar, which is a popular meeting place for students.

Maidstone is the County Town of Kent, which means its administrative heart. It is a bustling shopping an commercial centre set on the river Medway. It has restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and leisure facilities to suit every taste. Maidstone is just 50 minutes on the train from Central London.

KIAD at Rochester
Workshops, studios, computer rooms and workspaces cater for the particular needs of students working on the specialist courses offered here. Rochester boasts the most up-to-date digital-imaging suite in the country in addition to other state-of-the-art facilities.

Our student accommodation in Rochester, which overlooks the river Medway, is modern and attractive and just five minutes walk from the KIAD campus.

The castle and cathedral dominate the small city of Rochester, which is part of an urban area known as Medway. The area is rich in culture and seafaring history and has strong associations with Charles Dickens. It is a lively place with nightclubs, multiplex cinema, pub, theatres, live music and fast road and rail links to London, which is 50 minutes away by train.

Accommodation & Welfare
Our Accommodation and Welfare Officer will help you find the right place to stay and can advise you about other welfare matters, if the need arises. There are different kinds of student accommodation provided by KIAD, including en suite study bedrooms in modern halls of residence, houses to share and flats. New students who come from overseas or from the UK, but outside Kent are given priority in the allocation of KIAD-run accommodation.

Information about finding places to stay and the cost of accommodation will be sent to you when you receive an offer of a place on a course. It may also be possible to view the halls of residence during the summer vacation if you contact the Accommodation and Welfare Officer at the campus where you think you will study.