Longer Courses
Our Designer Maker Series offers a flexible pathway into fine furniture making. The Professional 40 week course covers a complete education in the craft of fine furniture design and making. Alternatively, the programme can be undertaken in three progressive stages, The Foundation, The Practitioner, and The Advanced, with the completion of each being a prerequisite for the next.
We also offer a fully Bespoke Tailored for prospective students seeking an individual pathway, including international students exploring alternatives to our International Course.
Unlike other traditional furniture schools, Williams & Cleal also offer a rolling entry and a four day week option, allowing you to begin all year round across all courses, subject to bench availability.
The Designer Maker Series
The Professional
Fine Furniture Course | £23,500
40 Weeks Tuition | 48.5 Week Enrolment Window
Widely recognised as the industry’s leading long-term design led furniture making course, The Professional is a 40-week immersion in excellence. Supported by award-winning tutors, you will reach a professional level in furniture design and making.
The course covers all the practical making skills needed to improve your skills, gain employment in the industry, or start your own furniture business. You will graduate with a professional portfolio and the precision skillset that remains the definitive foundation for elite furniture makers.
The Gold Standard in Professional Furniture Education
The Foundation
Fine Furniture Course | £4,800
6 Wks Tuition | 7.5 Wks Enrolment Window
The Practitioner
Fine Furniture Course £ 7,700
12 Wks Tuition | 14.5 Wks Enrolment Window
The Advanced
Fine Furniture Course - £11,000
22 Wks Tuition | 26.5 Wks Enrolment Window
Bespoke Tailored
Beyond our structured series, we also offer a Bespoke Tailored provision for students with specific projects, skills requirements, or time constraints.
For those whose ambitions fall outside the Designer Maker Series, we can create a fully bespoke programme of any duration, shaped entirely around your needs. For example, a focused period of technical refinement, design development, or a longer period dedicated to a single piece of furniture, process, or skill. This service is also available for international students whose interests or availability differ from our International Course structure.
The International
Fine Furniture in the UK | £14,950
24 Weeks Tuition | 28 Week Enrolment Window
Our International Designer Maker Course offers a focused opportunity for aspiring furniture makers from around the world. This six-month intensive programme is designed for all levels, providing full immersion in fine furniture making and design within a professional workshop environment.
No prior experience is required, only a commitment to learning and making. You will develop both practical and design skills while producing bespoke furniture under expert guidance.
Please note, due to visa requirements, this course is intended for students travelling to the UK on an appropriate visa.
Key Terms explained
Tuition | Enrolment window?
1
The enrolment window for each course is slightly longer than the tuition weeks. For example, The Professional course includes 40 weeks of tuition within a 48.5 week enrolment window.
This allows you to flexibly take up to 8 weeks of holiday during your course, e.g. to focus, take time out to travel, or for family time, work, rest etc.
This gives you the freedom to manage your time alongside your training and step away when required.
What is ‘Rolling Entry’?
2
We offer rolling entry across all courses, subject to availability, allowing you to start your course at any point during the year. With consistently manageable student numbers and tailored programmes, your start date will not impact the learning of others, and you will benefit from working alongside students at all stages of their journey.
The workshop is closed on bank holidays and for a two week period over Christmas for staff development; otherwise, we remain open throughout the year for new students to join when the timing is right for them.
Can I do a 4 day week?
3
We believe that student’s studying a high level of craftsmanship can sometimes benefit from focus and reflection. We also recognise the demands of modern life including work, childcare, personal commitments, and travel. To support this, any of our courses can be undertaken on a four-day-per-week basis.
As this extends your overall enrolment window, rather than your tuition allocation, we offer the option of an Extension. For a reduced weekly fee, you can increase your holiday allowance, with the amount of tutored weeks remaining unchanged.
Tiered pricing explained?
4
Our course fees are based on a sliding scale that reflects the nature and progression of each course, recognising the initial, more intensive period of teaching and learning.
They are also designed so that the total investment for completing The Foundation, The Practitioner, and The Advanced courses is equivalent to the cost of completing the 40-week Professional Course.