Broaden your career opportunities with a Postgraduate Diploma in Waldorf Education and Creative Pedagogies, jointly delivered by Bath Spa University and the Waldorf Learning Foundation.

  • Develop extensive knowledge of Waldorf Education and creative pedagogies to foster both creative teaching and teaching for creativity.
  • Learn through a mixture of residential and online sessions, designed to help you apply theory to practice while maintaining work-life balance.
  • Graduate with professional accreditation and a portfolio that demonstrates expertise in the Waldorf Teacher Standards.

Expand your career horizons and nurture your passion for creativity in education. If you have a teaching qualification, this ‘top-up’ course has been designed with you in mind.

Our Postgraduate Diploma can be completed within 12-16 months to enable you to develop both academically and professionally, while maintaining a healthy study and work-life balance. This is a low-residency course; the majority of workshops will be held online but there will be several in-person, experiential workshops to develop your artistic practice, practical craft and outdoor teaching skills.

During your studies, you'll create a Professional Practice Portfolio. The portfolio is aligned to the Waldorf Teaching Standards and will ensure that, on graduation, you're a fully qualified Waldorf Education professional. This enhances your employability by providing you with a unique set of skills for facilitating creativity in education.

On completion of the Postgraduate Diploma, you have the opportunity to undertake an applied research module which will enable you to develop an area of specific interest and gain a full Master's qualification.

The programme is fully accredited by Steiner Waldorf Education, according to national and international standards for Waldorf teachers, and is jointly delivered by Bath Spa University and the Waldorf Learning Foundation.

What you'll learn

Overview

During the course, you'll critically evaluate and synthesise your understanding of a range of theoretical and philosophical perspectives related to creative environments and pedagogies, and policy and practice, including Waldorf Education.

You'll also consider local, national and international perspectives and critically analyse concepts such as equity and social justice, wellbeing and sustainability.

The programme upholds the professional and progressive standards of Waldorf Education as well as actively referencing a diversity of research and practice in creative pedagogies worldwide.

Course structure

Our Postgraduate Diploma is taken on a part-time basis. Through a blend of theory and practice, you’ll focus on how to support and ‘incubate’ creativity in the context of Waldorf Education, for yourself as an educator and for your students.

During the course, you'll take two modules over two trimesters. The kinds of things you'll study include:

  • Educational practice from generative principles
  • Creative curriculum design
  • Responding to an anthropology of childhood
  • Philosophical perspectives on creativity
  • Practical skills for creative practice both indoors and outdoors.
Course modules

This course includes or offers the following modules. Please check the programme document for more information on which modules are core, required or optional.

  • Creative Environments
  • Policy and Creative Practice
How will I be taught?

Modules are delivered as a mixture of online lectures, seminars and tutorials. For each module, a two-day experiential Landcraft Retreat will offer immersion into craft and community.

These long weekends will be hosted at the Steiner Academy Hereford, the only state-funded Steiner/Waldorf school in the UK. Where there's sufficient demand, Landcraft Retreats will be offered in global regional hubs, providing you with opportunities to engage with local communities.

Sessions are led by the Course Leaders and visiting tutors who are specialists in Waldorf Education and creative pedagogy. Individual tutorial support is offered alongside valuable opportunities for extended discussion with tutors and colleagues.

Self-directed artistic and/or creative practice will also be an important part of your learning and development.

Completion of a Professional Practice Portfolio will offer opportunities for the development of critically reflexive practice.

How will I be assessed?

Each academic module is coursework assessed. You'll submit a written assignment together with a critically reflective Professional Practice Portfolio, which may include:

  • Creative artefacts/project work
  • A practice case study
  • Examples of planning, teaching and assessment.

Opportunities

Fieldwork

For each module, a two-day experiential Landcraft Retreat will offer immersion into craft and community. These long weekends will be hosted at the Steiner Academy Hereford, the only state-funded Waldorf school in the UK. Where there is sufficient demand, Landcraft Retreats will be offered in global regional hubs, offering you opportunities to engage with locally accessible communities.

Careers

When you graduate, you'll be a fully qualified Waldorf Education professional with a unique set of skills for facilitating creativity in education.

You'll have completed a Professional Practice Portfolio, which demonstrates expertise in the Waldorf Teaching Standards, further enhancing your employability. 

Adobe Creative Campus

Develop a wealth of indispensable digital skills that you can take into your future career. One of only three Adobe Creative Campuses in the UK, we provide all Bath Spa students with access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, giving you the tools to communicate creatively, whatever your course or chosen professional field.   

Facilities and resources

Where the subject is taught

You'll be taught both online (lectures, seminars, tutorials) and through a series of residential long weekends at the Steiner Academy, Hereford. Your main Bath Spa University campus is Newton Park.

Fees

2025 entry
Student Annual tuition fee
UK part time £4,545
International part time £7,092

Additional course costs

You may need to pay additional course costs over and above your tuition fees, for example, for specialist equipment or trips and visits. Please check the course Programme Document (linked under the main image on this page) for details of any additional costs. You can also read our Additional Course Costs Policy for further information.

Funding opportunities

Please visit our Funding pages for an overview of the funding options that may be available, including scholarships and bursaries.

Interested in applying?

What we look for in potential students

This course is designed for those who hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and have Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) (or international equivalents).

Those with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) from an undergraduate course are also welcome to apply, provided you have at least two years of teaching experience (in Early Years, Primary or Secondary settings).

How do I apply?

Ready to apply? Click the 'apply now' button in the centre of this page.

Need more guidance? Head to our how to apply pages.

When to apply

Many of our postgraduate courses have a limited number of student spaces. To avoid the disappointment of the course being full, we recommend that you apply now.

Late applications (generally those made after 31 July) will only be considered if places remain on the course.

Need more information or still have questions? Contact us to discuss your situation.

Course leaders: