The Diploma in Applied Permaculture Design is a minimum 2 year course of self-directed study in which students apply permaculture ethics, principles and design methods within their own circumstances.

The course requires a minimum of 10 designs to be produced over the duration of the course.

Who can do the Diploma?

Students who successfully complete a 72 hour Full Permaculture Design Course have become members of the College of Graduates, and are part of a worldwide student body that have learnt the basics of permaculture design.

Only members of the College of Graduates are eligible to register to do the Diploma and apply for accreditation. In addition anyone applying for the Diploma in Applied Permaculture must be a member of the Permaculture Association and must maintain their membership for the duration they are on the course.

If you are based outside the UK, please look at the information provided by the Chaordic Permaculture Institute

Learning

Students are required to record and reflect on their own learning. The student compiles their work into a Portfolio of Work and works towards an Accreditation Event. This accreditation panel of peers and diploma holders assesses the work against the Accreditation Criteria and diplomas are awarded if these criteria are fulfilled.

Tutor support is provided by a designated tutor who delivers the 4 'Action Learning Tutorials' that are included in the cost of the course. These 'Action Learning Tutorials' are spread throughout the course.

The first tutorial takes place at the beginning of the course in which the student creates an Action Learning Pathway plan. The next two Action Learning Tutorials are focused on taking stock of the student's progress and supporting the student to reflect and forward plan. The last Action Learning Tutorial is involved with assessing readiness for and recommendation to progress to accreditation.

Additional Design Tutorials also take place throughout the duration of the course. These are focused on looking at the content of your designs and getting advice and feedback on your work. These tutorials are in addition to the tutorials included in the price of the course. Students are responsible for identifying tutors for specific design tutorials as required, and the fee for these is negotiated between student and tutor.

In addition, students identify other existing Specialist Courses and Technical Tutorials that they want to include in their own Action Learning Pathway.

Self-directed learning

The main thing to note about the Diploma in Applied Permaculture is that it is self-directed and requires impetus from the student to see it through. The content of the course doesn't include specific set assignments, or modules to complete. The criteria requires students to create a Portfolio of Work with ten designs, to include reflection, journaling and documentation of the process of designing as well as the finished designs.

The diploma can often be a means of formalising and recognising work that many enthusiastic permaculturists are ‘just doing anyway’. For people who have high ambitions and need some support to take on design work and get involved in implementing projects, the diploma offers a flexible structure.