Degree Level Prospectus 2022/23

Degree Level Courses 2022/2023

Photography by Marika Zieba (BA) Hons Photography Student

Contents

Courses

07 BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing

11 BA (Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts

15 BA (Hons) Creative Sound & Music

19 BA (Hons) Fine Art

23 BA (Hons) Graphic & Media Design

27 BA (Hons) Illustration

31 BA (Hons) Illustration and Animation

35 BA (Hons) Jewellery Design

39 BA (Hons) Performing Arts

43 BA (Hons) Photography

47 BA (Hons) Textile Design

51 Creative Foundation Degrees

55 Top-up Degree Programme

57 Critical Studies

59 HCA+

73 Workshops & Your Creative Space

79 Partnerships

85 Post-Graduation

89 Creative Careers

91 Alumni Stories

93 Hereford Life

99 Your Student Experience

101 Student Stories

103 Student Housing

105 Sustainable Futures

107 Our Story

111 How to Apply

115 Fees and Funding

117 International Students

118 Open Days

61 Pre-degree College Level Courses

63 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

67 Portfolio Course

71 Short Courses

Disclaimer

The College reserves the right to amend, without notice, the

contents quoted. Every care is taken by Hereford College

of Arts to ensure the accuracy of this prospectus and to

provide the courses and services described. The College

cannot, however, guarantee their provision in the event of

circumstances beyond its control (such as lack of demand,

changes in government policy or industrial action) but, in

such an event, will make reasonable effort to provide a

suitable alternative.

Photography Contributions from:

Victoria Oliver

Martha Jones

Oliver Cameron-Swan

Kim Colebrook

Ella Sibley Sparling

Mike Coombes

Simon Petrov

With Thanks to all the students and staff

who have contributed to this prospectus.

Mitsuki Takahashi

George Taylor

James Hutchinson

Matthew Davies

Kimberly Evans

Martyn Merridew

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At HCA we’re proud to

come from a long tradition

of independent, specialist

arts schools. Our students

are encouraged to be

individual and questioning

and engage with issues that

matter to them.

We have our roots in a great tradition of art and design

education. We were founded almost 170 years ago, but

we are now wholly focused on creative education for

the modern world, preparing students for a vast array of

employment and personal practice.

With society at points of extraordinary change the world

needs the creativity we nurture. We need creatives for

our economy, wellbeing and sustainability. Don’t wait to

make the decision your heart already knows, now is the

moment to fulfill your creativity.

Abigail Appleton

HCA Principal

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Victoria Oliver BA (Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts @victoriaoliverceramicdesigns

INTRODUCTION TO

HCA

COURSES

We live in times of extraordinary change but we

believe the skills and experience you can develop

with us are more important than ever. We believe

HCA offers a unique creative learning experience.

HCA is an independent specialist arts schools

which means we’re wholly focused on creative

education and creative careers.

We can make your degree experience with us

exceptional through our scale, our connections

and our community.

Our scale enables us to give you the time and

attention you need help you develop your own

individual voice; you will never get lost in the

crowd.

Our connections, rooted in place but connected

to the world, enable you to collaborate and gain

breadth of experience internally with students

across different courses and externally with our

multiple partners. One of many industry partners,

the local BBC team has just moved its office into

HCA’s campus.

Our brand new student halls (No 1 Station

Approach opened September 2021) give students

an exceptional living and social space.

Joining HCA and you join a community of

students, staff, honorary fellows, professional

visiting speakers, alumni and numerous creative

partners to enrich your journey through college.

We have a Launchgrad programme to support

you after graduation.

In the following pages you can find out more about

each of our individual programmes but no course

is an island and we’ll encourage you to learn with

each other and from each other.

Our new HCA+ programme enables you to

enhance your degree experience with optional

learning extras.

People come to arts school for many different

reasons, from different backgrounds at different

stages of life. We welcome and cherish diversity.

You may be looking to start your career or

returning to education to explore a passion long

suppressed. If your practice leads you down a new

and inventive route; you are free to experiment

using HCA’s great range of facilities and we’ll

support you to change pathway if you want.

Whether you want to pursue art, media, design,

popular music or performing arts, we have your

future in mind.

Whatever your journey you can follow both your

head and your heart at HCA.

INTRODUCTION TO HCA COURSES

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Kit Garnett @herefordanvils. Photo Credit Martha Jones

BA (HONS)

ARTIST

BLACKSMITHING

This course has an international reputation for its place

at the forefront of education in forged metal design.

Our graduates create original and cohesive bodies of

work in hot, forged metal.

They engage not only with the traditional blacksmith’s

concern for material, process, and function, but also

with many broader cultural, environmental and sociopolitical

conversations that situates the course at the

heart of contemporary art and design practice.

BA (HONS) ARTIST BLACKSMITHING

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Work by: Alex Maughan, @pigironoxide. Photography by Oliver Cameron-Swan


You can explore a breadth of practice from

architectural design to interior product and sculpture.

The syllabus for this degree is constantly evolving to

meet the demands of a vibrant industry.

Supported by lecturers and technical support staff,

you will have access to the largest training-based

forge in Europe. Additional specialist workshops are

also available to you at HCA, including wood, ceramics,

textiles, and plastics.

You will be encouraged to engage with both the

theoretical concepts and the practical concerns

that drive contemporary forged metal design.

Alongside traditional making skills, you will also gain

an understanding of digital design and fabrication.

Industry Links

You will have opportunities to work to commission

on external live briefs and develop experience of

working to client requirements. Our ‘Masters of Metal’

lecture series is delivered by high-profile, national and

international designers and artists, giving insights into

their own design practice. You will also participate in

specialist masterclasses from industry professionals.

Recent contributors have included Roberto Giordani

from Italy, Patrick Quinn from the USA and Francisco

Gazitua from Chile. Students also participate in team

forge events as Hereford Anvils’ such as: the World

Championships of Blacksmithing, Stia, Italy - Helfstyn,

Czech Republic - Ivano Frankivsk, Ukraine, and, have

participated in ‘Transition’ exhibition, Ypres, Belgium

(2016); Hereford Ferrous Festival (2019); and Bath Iron

Festival (2018).

After this Course

You will be an independent, critically aware, practitioner

equipped with essential business management skills.

Many graduates develop careers as self-employed

practitioners; setting up design studios and workshops,

and producing work ranging from large scale exterior

forged metalwork to small gallery objects. Others gain

experiences by becoming journeymen working for

smiths across the world, or postgraduate study. You can

also explore careers in the wider creative arts sector

including: consultancy, community arts, teaching or

artist residencies.

Highlights

1. Highly respected programme, at the forefront of

contemporary forged metalwork practice.

2. You will be part of a dynamic and vibrant College

of Arts where your design skills will be tested,

honed and developed.

3. You will receive specialist forging and metalwork

skills training at the National School of

Blacksmithing.

4. You will curate and exhibit your work in a

professional environment.

5. The programme has close relationships with

other major international institutions, including

the University of Gothenburg, HDK Steneby,

Sweden, and the Southern Illinois University at

Carbondale USA.

6. A programme of visiting lecturers from around

the world bringing cutting edge practice to HCA

students.

Jacob Edwards. Photo Credit Oliver Cameron-Swan

Validated by:

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W720

For more information visit:

www.hca.ac.uk/artistblacksmithing


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Work by Elspeth May @Elspeth_May_ Photography by Oliver Cameron-Swan

BA (HONS)

CONTEMPORARY

DESIGN CRAFTS

The role of craft is continually evolving. As society

rethinks our relationship with the planet and the impact

of throwaway culture, the origin, quality and meaning of

objects in our lives have never been more significant.

Be part of the crafts resurgence that is committed

to shaping a better future. Develop a personally

sustainable practice, rooted in material understanding,

drawing the best of the past but passionate for

innovation. Think with your hands as well as your brain.

You will be encouraged to challenge the traditional

notions of design craft, by investigating a wide variety

of processes and exploring new ways of working with

materials, objects and ideas. We support collaborative

working across a range of disciplines, understanding

how this can lead to exciting innovation and prepare

students to forge new paths as independent makers,

designers and entrepreneurs or carry craft values and

practice into different fields of employment.

BA (HONS) CONTEMPORARY DESIGN CRAFTS

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Work by Ella Sibley Sparling. Work is titled “Lada” stool. @sibleysparling


This course blends new design principles and an

innovative approach to process, together with

material knowledge and craft skills developed

through hands-on making.

You will explore an ongoing dialogue between materials,

process and ideas whilst advancing your skills within

our specialist workshops. With regular sessions in

wood, metal, ceramic and textiles you will develop

expertise in key making practices.

You will be invited to respond to a rich and varied range

of subjects including cultural, ethical and environmental

issues. By taking part in a series of external projects

you will improve your ability to create objects within a

professional and critically reflective framework.

Industry Links

Highlights

1. This is a practice based degree with plenty of time in

workshops.

2. Individual design spaces with excellent access to

teaching staff.

3. Masterclasses with leading craft professionals.



students.

5. Final year students have exhibited at high profile

graduate showcase exhibitions in London such as

New Designers.

6. Bespoke professional practice modules concerning

post programme goals, including business planning,

marketing and work placement.

Over your three years of study, you will be given the

opportunity to develop your professional networks

through a variety of collaborations, live briefs and

industry experience. With access to some of the

most exciting makers and thinkers working within

the world of design and craft today, you will gain the

knowledge to develop and apply your skills across a

wide variety of different contexts.

After this Course

You will be fully equipped with the skills and experience

to become a self-employed designer-maker and

follow a portfolio career path. Our graduates also

find employment within the creative sector, pursuing

careers within both contemporary and traditional

craft industries. Graduate destinations frequently

include creative arts sector employment including arts

administration, consultancy, community arts, curation,

museum & heritage positions, postgraduate study,

teaching or artist residencies.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W900

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/cdc


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BA (HONS)

CREATIVE

SOUND & MUSIC

Follow in the tradition of some of the UK’s greatest

musicians and start your creative music career at an

art school. We nurture students to develop their own

voice and practice and then connect them to the ever

expanding opportunities in the world.

BA (HONS) POPULAR MUSIC

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BA (HONS) CREATIVE SOUND & MUSIC

It’s a well-known secret that some of the greatest

musicians studied music at arts school. Some of our

best-known original thinkers and innovators have

developed their musical creativity in an inspiring

environment that allowed them to think differently. At

HCA we support you to do the same. We’ll support you

to be musically curious, to break down barriers and

amaze yourself with your own daring.

In a collaborative environment of like-minded

individuals, in a community that allows you to develop

at your own pace due to small group tuition. We give

you the opportunity to discover your authentic voice

while studying a wealth of musical styles. Music at HCA

will equip you with the skills and experience to allow

you to enter the industry on a professional level: as a

performer, songwriter, event producer, soundtrack

designer, to name a few.

Industry Links

Herefordshire has a vibrant community of musicians,

producers, recording studios, venues, music festivals

and community music outlets that contribute to an

exciting live scene. The course will enable you to

connect with the rich music ecology within the city

and the wider region.

After this Course

Highlights

1. You will be taught by a strong team of industry

focused lecturers combined with regular

masterclasses from professionals that are designed

to educate, stimulate, and motivate.

2. Access to rehearsal rooms, acoustically designed

and fully equipped. Whether it be high-end digital

or retro analogue, you will be able to produce

and create a diverse range of professional

sound recordings.

3. Develop an expertise in a business relevant to

your musical interest and discover opportunities

for industry based internships and graduate

placements.

4. Small class sizes provide highly personalised levels

of supervision and support. This will enable you to

develop your own specialist practice you need for

working within this dynamic sector.

5. Opportunities to collaborate with other creatives in

a dynamic arts school environment.

This dynamic, innovative, industry-facing course is

designed for students whose ambition it is to work in

the music industry. Throughout your journey at HCA

you will have the opportunity to develop innovative

ways of achieving a portfolio of skills that are relevant

to employment opportunities within music and the

allied creative industries. Career destinations of a BA

(Hons) graduate might include performing, producing,

songwriting and the wider creative industries

such as digital marketing, live event management

and publishing.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W341


www.hca.ac.uk/creative-music


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BA (HONS)

FINE

ART

The world needs fine art thinkers more than ever before.

The ability to see the world through a unique filter, and

then express and communicate this to others is vital in

this time of change. From day one you will be an artist,

exploring our world and developing your own voice.

You will then get to express this through a wide range

of media including: paint, print, drawing, ceramics,

textiles, photography, video, digital, sound, performance,

sculpture, and installation. Set your own artistic course

and develop a unique body of work by exploring the

subjects that excite you most.

BA (HONS) FINE ART

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BA (HONS) FINE ART

Fine Art students at HCA have the creative freedom

to explore diverse subjects such as identity, memory,

storytelling, place, mark making, or form; or engage

with a wide range of social, cultural, or political issues.

You’ll also get involved with exciting collaborative

events such as exhibitions, residencies, and sitespecific

responses.

Studying in our specialist arts college will make it

easy for you to transgress boundaries and produce

interdisciplinary work. We offer small group teaching

in a thriving studio environment. You will have excellent

access to tutorial support from experienced practising

artists and curators as well as expert technical

assistance. Visiting professional artists will further

enrich your learning experience.

Take part in our transformative artists’ camp(s) to

stretch the boundaries of your work and relationship

with the land, and your fellow artists on the course.

Highlights

1. Personalised intensive individual tuition from a team

of lecturers, that support you to develop into the

artist you are.

2. Lively studio culture with individual space for

every student.

3. NSS score was 80% overall satisfaction in 2020-21.

4. Weekly collaborative student projects and events

in the course’s Project Space.

5. Lectures and workshops with industry leading

professional visiting artists.

6. Workshops including 3D, video, photography,

textiles, ceramics and print.

7. Exciting collaborative events, exhibitions,

residencies, work placements, and sitespecific

projects working with our network of

external partners.

Inhabit our Project Space for a week and take a blank

white cube space through studio to exhibition and

private view in a week. The challenge is powerful and

the resulting development in your practice will amaze

you.

The course has been designed to provide students

with the support, technical skills, and confidence to

develop their work and meet the challenges of being

a practising artist today. Through group activity, you

will develop a strong foundation in communication and

collaboration that will help you have impact in the wider

arts world.

Industry Links

HCA have excellent links with local, regional,

and national visual arts organisations, including

New Art West Midlands, Meadow Arts and the

Sidney Nolan Trust.

You will be supported in a work placement tailored to

your own goals and future career ambitions within the

creative arts sector, such as: working as a professional

artist, teaching, community art, art therapy, curating or

other roles within arts institutions.

After this Course

Graduates are equipped to pursue a broad range of

careers within contemporary Fine Art and the wider

creative arts sector. Many of our graduates continue to

postgraduate study – such as our MA programme, or a

PGCE for school, college, or university teaching.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W102

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/fine-art

BA (HONS) FINE ART

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BA (HONS)

GRAPHIC &

MEDIA DESIGN

We will help you to succeed in the fast developing world

of graphic and media design. You will be encouraged to

personalise your journey throughout the course based

on your passions and aptitudes, and to develop your

own, unique graphic style and apply it to the many career

choices available to you.

Our smaller group sizes mean you can receive support

and creative challenge from industry-active tutors and

technicians – as and when you need it. Our studios offer

a relaxed learning environment with plenty of individual

work space.

BA (HONS) GRAPHIC & MEDIA DESIGN

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This course will equip you with key skills for launching

your exciting career in the creative industry including:

editorial design, branding, packaging design, graphic

arts, information graphics, interactive design, graphic

illustration, web design, app design, motion graphics,

book arts, animation and advertising.

We take an immersive, project-based approach to

learning. This is supported by regular workshops

teaching vital creative, technical and software skills.

Throughout the course, you’ll work on a wide range

of external projects, developing your professional

practice.

Being part of a dedicated creative community at HCA

means it is easy to work across boundaries, access

an exciting range of workshops, and collaborate with

students across other disciplines.

Industry Links

We have excellent connections with external

employers, who provide many opportunities for

commissioned work with live outcomes. Project

partners have included SuperDry clothing, MASH

Cinema and Hay Festival, amongst many others.

HCA students have won awards in national design

competitions such as D&AD & YCN.

Highlights

1. Learn from experienced, practising professionals

whose work includes a wide variety of

contemporary screen and print media.

2. Fantastic access to teaching staff, workshops,

and equipment. Consistent challenge and

support from an industry skilled team to develop

as a designer.

3. Explore your own passions, with the option of a

graphic arts pathway.

4. Work alongside experienced professionals on live

industry projects.

5. Collaborate with: photography, illustration, and

animation students.

6. Develop your unique graphic voice and build a

career that suits your professional desires.



students.

Our well-developed links with media industries

in the region, London, and nationally, offer you

invaluable professional experience. The stimulating

world class external speaker programme and fantastic

work placements can be springboards to your career.

We work with you to find the right work placements for

you at the right time.

Final year students have exhibited at high profile

graduate showcase exhibitions in London such as

New Designers and D&AD New Blood.

After this Course

Our students successfully gain employment in

multidisciplinary design agencies and across a range

of graphic design and media specialisms such as

editorial design, advertising, branding and digital design

including design for social media, apps and websites.

Students may also go on to postgraduate study.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W216

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/gmd


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26 Work by Harry Anderson @justatoucan

BA (HONS)

ILLUSTRATION

Illustration is an important part of our visual heritage

and culture. From childhood and throughout our lives,

illustration helps us all make sense of a complicated

world. It is a communication tool that entertains,

describes, inspires, explains and educates.

As an illustrator, you will be called on to create

imaginary but believable worlds as the visual stimulus

for entertainment, education or persuasion. These

worlds can be brought to life on anything from the

printed page to the digital screen, including diverse

and unexpected places within the urban landscape in

advertising, murals or other installations.

BA (HONS) ILLUSTRATION

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Work by Amalia Goga


This inspiring course explores both traditional

and high-tech approaches to picture making and

visual communication.

You will participate in a wide range of workshops and

projects that will encourage you to develop a unique

visual language and personal style, before applying it

to a range of outcomes such as: graphic novels, picture

books, zines and small press publications, maps, prints

and more.

Throughout this broad-based course, you’ll focus on

drawing and image-making processes that create

imaginative and innovative ways to communicate to a

variety of audiences.

Industry Links

Highlights

1. Small group teaching in a friendly studio

environment.

2. Regular drawing classes and print workshops.

3. A home: individual workspaces that you can make

your own.

4. Exceptional access to tutorial support and expert

technical advice.

5. Develop your own visual language and evolve a

unique style.



students.

Each year the course team puts together a schedule

of visiting speakers who provide professional levels of

inspiration, expertise and knowledge about the world

of illustration and animation. Internationally recognised

artists have recently included: HCA Honorary Fellow

Nick Sharrat, Bafta Award winning artist Jonny

Hannah, V&A Illustration Award winner Clive Hicks-

Jenkins, Argentinian Comic Book artist Maria Luque,

travel and lifestyle illustration legend Christopher Corr

and ex HCA student and rapidly rising star Aysha

Tengiz, plus many more. The students have enjoyed

portfolio surgeries with Agents and Consultants,

Claire Cheung (Studio Pi), Fig Taylor (Association of

Illustrators) and Lisa Hassell (Inky Goodness).

We have also had contributions from Publishers ‘Design

for Today’ (Joe Pearson) and academics Naomi Games

plus Thai based comic books expert Kim Jooha.

The course continues to share special links with Hay

Festival and runs its own specialist Illustration and Print

Fair called ‘CMYK’.

After this Course

The majority of our graduates enter employment

within the creative sector as freelance illustrators

or designers. Some form small group partnerships

to share knowledge, skills and resources and

support each other as they develop their practice,

whilst others gravitate to postgraduate study or

towards teaching.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W220

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/illustration


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BA (HONS)

ILLUSTRATION

& ANIMATION

The huge growth in our consumption of media on

small-screen mobile devices is changing the landscape

for visual content creators. Programme makers and

advertisers are hungry for imaginative, entertaining

work, especially moving-image and animation. This

course responds to this demand and embraces the

natural link between illustration and animation.

BA (HONS) ILLUSTRATION & ANIMATION

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Our students engage with traditional and experimental

illustration and animation processes that offer

alternatives to a pervasive digital aesthetic. This

includes illustration that moves, animation that isn’t

led by drawing and short, sharp, witty film-making that

doesn’t require lengthy and expensive production.

You will share a studio space with the specialist

illustration students, and work closely as a group to

discuss ideas and support each other. You will become

adept in the creative cycle of research, planning,

developing, shaping, making and finishing, for a wide

range of outcomes.

The final year allows you to experiment with more

ambitious projects in either illustration, animation, or

both, defining your own specialism and preparing a

distinctive portfolio and showreel.

Highlights

1. Boost your employability with flexible skills across

illustration and animation.

2. Explore expressive, innovative, creative animation.

3. Small group teaching in a friendly studio

environment with exceptional access to tutorial and

technical support.



students.

5. Develop your own visual language and evolve a

unique style.

Industry Links

Each year the course team puts together a schedule

of visiting speakers who provide professional levels of

inspiration, expertise and knowledge about the world

of illustration and animation. Internationally recognised

artists have recently included: HCA Honorary Fellow

Nick Sharrat, Bafta Award winning artist Jonny

Hannah, V&A Illustration Award winner Clive Hicks-

Jenkins, Argentinian Comic Book artist Maria Luque,

travel and lifestyle illustration legend Christopher Corr

and ex HCA student and rapidly rising star Aysha

Tengiz, plus many more. The students have enjoyed

portfolio surgeries with Agents and Consultants,

Claire Cheung (Studio Pi), Fig Taylor (Association of

Illustrators) and Lisa Hassell (Inky Goodness).

We have also had contributions from Publishers ‘Design

for Today’ (Joe Pearson) and academics Naomi Games

plus Thai based comic books expert Kim Jooha.

The course continues to share special links with Hay

Festival and runs its own specialist Illustration and Print

Fair called ‘CMYK’.

Recently the animation students have recently been

working on a commission from local media group

‘Everybody Dance’ on a three-minute animation

titled ‘Man in the Moone’ which will be premiered in

December 2021.

After this Course

You will be able to use your showreel to begin your

career as a freelance illustrator-animator, or to

work in-house for related media and design houses

or multi-media production companies. Graduates

are also equipped for a broad range of roles in the

creative industries as technicians, demonstrators and

teachers, or may progress to further study as part of

an MA programme.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W892

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/illustration-animation


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BA (HONS)

JEWELLERY

DESIGN

The adornment of the human body with objects, and use

of jewellery can be traced back millennia. It carries many

meanings, and answers profound and enduring needs

to express personality and individuality. In a changing

world we know this ancient desire for self-expression

will remain. Develop your own creative identity and

help others realise theirs through this practice-based

course. Explore and experiment with traditional and

modern materials and processes to design and make

objects of distinction and meaning, whether individually

crafted or designed for batch production. Join our

stimulating community of creative students and tutors

to realise your own voice.

BA (HONS) JEWELLERY DESIGN

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Mitsuki Takahashi


This is a practical course, based in your dedicated

space in a studio with easy access to our range

specialist workshops. You will learn to harness your

creativity through traditional craft making skills that

reflect the subject’s rich heritage, whilst embracing

contemporary ideas, materials, processes and

technologies. You will be given the support and

freedom to find your creative voice, to express it

through developing your personal design and making

practice, and to develop your unique professional

career trajectory.

On this small and friendly course, you’ll join a

supportive environment where students share ideas

and experiences and benefit from both individual

tuition and group discussion. You will be taught by a

team of lecturers, technical demonstrators and visiting

professionals, each with their own creative practice

and expertise in their field. You will acquire skills in

designing and making by hand, by machine, and by

using digital technologies.

Highlights

1. Immersive, creative arts school experience that

develops your creative and making skills.

2. Designated studio space for every student.

3. Outstanding access to specialist workshops,

overseen by technical experts.

4. Well-developed links with local and national

professionals, organisations and gallery owners.

5. Hereford is home to a thriving local craft community.

6. HCA students have been recognised in awards

such as: ‘Mark your Mark’ from the Goldsmiths’

Company, The Goldsmiths’ Precious Metal Bursary

Award, The Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship &

Design Awards, New Designers ‘One to Watch’

and more.



students.

Industry Links

You will be given opportunities to take part in real world

projects, as well as high-profile industry competitions.

In the second year, you will be supported to make

connections and gain valuable experience with

makers and professionals on a regional, national and

international arena.

In your final year, emphasis on your own practice will

prepare you to begin professional life after college. The

course has well-developed links with local and national

industry professionals and gallery owners.

After this Course

You will be equipped to become an independent maker,

or find employment in wider creative design, or through

teaching, community arts, or postgraduate study.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W700

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/jewellery-design


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Tegan Askey, ??

BA (HONS)

PERFORMING

ARTS

Unique and creative people look at the world in original

ways: they break the rules, they discover original and

provocative possibilities. At HCA, we want to see

your individuality and hear your voice when it comes

to contemporary performance practice. As with any

other artist, we will provide you with a playground to

explore your creative identity, help you experiment with

different ways of working and, ultimately, hone your

skills to take on multiple roles within the modern word of

performance depending on your personal practice.

BA (HONS) PERFORMING ARTS

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Mark Gillespie, Trafford Irvine, Thomas Chapman, Gabrielle Grant, Rees Matthews


Actively creating, devising, developing, performing, as

well as collaborating with students from other courses

across the arts school (which is an ideal opportunity to

meet and network with potential future collaborators) –

are all things you will get to do in the process of making

performances. You will work on live and recorded

performances in theatre and site-specific venues, and

festivals. You will create films, audio dramas, animations,

as well as immersive and multi-media events.

Your experience and learning journey with us will be

unique to you. You will be mentored to become the

creative professional you want to be. You may graduate

to become a writer, performer, solo practitioner, director,

deviser, applied theatre practitioner, film-maker or digital

artist, go into postgraduate study or you may work in

education, marketing, creative administration, or run

your own company.

As part of your learning journey, you will have the

opportunity to undertake work placements as well as

work in multiple collaborations across other disciplines

and with external industry professionals.

Industry Links

Highlights

1. Small group sizes and individual one to one coaching.

2. Exciting creative collaborations within a dynamic

arts school community.

3. Bespoke work placements.

4. Work with professional directors.

5. Focus on innovative and emerging contemporary

art practices, such as workshops with professional

motion capture artists and training in new

technologies such as Virtual Reality and Projection

Mapping.

6. Workshops lead by professional companies such as

The RSC and Frantic Assembly.

7. Student work showcased at professional theatres

and festivals.

8. 2-night expenses-paid* external event, such as the

London Mime Festival.

You will work with a wide variety of professionals from

different areas of the Performing Arts, such as film

and TV sets, repertory theatre and small-scale touring

companies. You will have two work experiences – one

in each of your first and second years. Projects with

external directors/choreographers will also bring you

valuable industry insights. Our students run their own

performing arts company from the first year of the

course. In your second year, you will learn how to write

a business plan and set yourself up as a self-employed

practitioner.

After this Course

You will be ready to take control of your own career

as an innovative and self-sustaining performer

and performance-maker. You can explore broader

opportunities in the creative arts such as arts

management or teaching, or transfer your creative and

collaborative skills to other areas of employment or

postgraduate study. In your third year, to help you take

control of your career, we will provide you with a small

personal professional development fund so you can

book additional professional workshops or use it as an

initial investment to set up a company.

Image by George Taylor

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W470


*Travel, accommodation, and festival tickets included.


www.hca.ac.uk/ba-performing-arts

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Photography by Ben Adams

BA (HONS)

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography is universal with a trillion pictures now taken

round the globe a year. It has an importance to individuals,

groups and businesses like no other art form, capturing

stories, representing dreams, driving political change,

promoting ideas and brands. Professional photography,

that stands out in this age of the image, is at a premium in

a host of different sectors.

BA (HONS) PHOTOGRAPHY

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Olivia Shakespeare @oliviashakespeare_photography


Our course is wide-ranging and flexible, giving you

the skills and experience to find the areas that excite

you most, and you’ll be able to work in moving image

as well as still. Great photography requires much

more than technical learning; we’ll give you pathways

and inspiration to develop a powerful, individual,

creative approach. You don’t need to have studied

photography previously to join this course but you need

a photographer’s hunger to explore your world and

imagine or discover others through a lens.

You will have access to the latest equipment and

facilities as well as traditional darkrooms and film

cameras. Our team of experienced lecturers and

technicians have rich and varied professional

experience. They will empower you with creative

and technical skills, and a deep understanding of

the context and potential of your own practice.

After exploring a range of genres within studio and

location photography, you can choose to pursue either

the Editorial Photography pathway which includes:

Documentary, Fashion, Portrait; or the Photographic

Art pathway with a focus on: Landscape, Constructed

Image and Fine Art.

Industry links, portfolio reviews, visits to national

and international galleries and festivals, as well as

eminent guest speakers are all integral to this lively

programme. You will also take part in practical field

trips including exceptional local landscape and

characterful urban settings.

Industry Links

You will work on live projects for a variety of clients

and engage through specialist lectures with some of

the best UK photographers. Recent examples include

Tom Hunters, Simon Roberts, Anna Fox and others.

Final year students have the opportunity for portfolio

reviews with industry experts and to exhibit their work

in London as well as Hereford.

After this Course

Our graduates have a diverse range of photographic

practice including: documentary, travel, wedding and

events, architectural, advertising and fashion, photo

retouching, fine art and curation. Many graduates have

also continued to postgraduate MA study or developed

careers in teaching and arts administration.

Highlights

1. A stimulating creative media studio environment

within a dynamic arts school community.

2. Excellent facilities including two photographic

studios and a traditional darkroom.

3. Small group teaching with great access to tutors

and expert technical support.

4. Professional exhibition experience, every year of

the course, at regional or national level.

5. Work alongside media professionals on live

briefs and participate in national photographic

competitions.

6. High student satisfaction and successful alumni.



students.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W643

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/ba-photography

Emma Pritchard @emmapritchardphoto


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BA (Hons) Textile Design Graduate Millie Morgan. @milliemorgan_textiles

BA (HONS)

TEXTILE

DESIGN

Textile design plays an important role in fashion and interiors

but is also at the cutting edge of a wide range of other design

solutions such as architecture, automotive and bio-materials.

With sustainability and emerging technologies at the heart

of contemporary design thinking, it is an exciting time for our

students as the role of textiles is re-imagined across many

aspects of modern life.

Our course teaches innovative, creative design explored

through a wide range of materials. We see ‘textile’ as far

more than cloth; it can be paper, plastic, wood, metal, even

organic matter. Through the design process, you will be

encouraged to consider a wide range of issues such as

sustainability, cultural narratives, and a growing desire for

sensory experiences in an increasingly virtual world.

BA (HONS) TEXTILE DESIGN

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BA (Hons) Textile Design Graduate Dagmara Chwalik. @_cdagmara


If you want to create materials that are innovative in

both form and function, you can explore a vast range

of specialist processes, ranging from traditional

screen-printing and hand weaving on a loom, through

to 3D and digital sublimation printing, and computer

aided design (CAD).

Expert tutors and technical demonstrators will

teach you core skills, as well as emerging techniques.

You will be encouraged to experiment and push

boundaries to realise your unique design identity.

You will develop excellent communication and

collaboration skills by working on projects within

HCA’s dynamic creative community and externally,

with employers and designers.

Industry Links

You will work with an exciting team of external

practitioners, currently featuring: material research

consultant and founder of Ma-tt-er studio, Seetal

Solanki; surface pattern designer Eve Campbell;

Kate Morris, creator and designer of cruelty free

vegan knitwear brand CROP; and artisan woven and

embroidered textile manufacturer, Alice Timmis.

Throughout the course, you will work on live briefs with

local and national partners. You will have the chance to

pitch your work to leading industry professionals, with

numerous opportunities to see your work exhibited and

sold locally, nationally and internationally. You can also

use these connections to secure work experience as

part of your ongoing professional practice.

After this Course

You will be well-placed to access employment

opportunities in the dynamic textiles industry, including:

designing textiles for fashion and interiors; applications

in automotive and aviation sectors; stylist and trend

forecaster; as well as related roles in marketing, media

and retail. Many of our students also successfully

progress into postgraduate study including Textile

Design Innovation, Fashion Communication and

Contemporary Crafts.

Highlights

1. Exceptional access to workshops across

all disciplines.

2. Great level of individual support from tutors

and technical demonstrators.

3. Develop skills across multiple specialisms to

boost your employability.

4. Learn from a range of industry experts with our

high profile external practitioners.

5. A pioneering new module

exploring colour, material, and finish,

co-developed with industry.

6. Explore topical issues such as sustainability

and the transformational potential of textiles

in contemporary design.

Validated by:


Full-time:

3 Years

UCAS Course Code:

W231

Part-time:

6 Years


www.hca.ac.uk/textile-design

BA (Hons) Textile Design Graduate Jessica Childs. @jessicaac_art


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CREATIVE

FOUNDATION

DEGREES

Our creative foundation degrees are ideal if you are unsure

about taking a full degree or if you want to study while you work.

Alternatively, you may be looking to acquire skills in the workplace

and gain an undergraduate qualification without committing to a

full Bachelors course, therefore a foundation degree is an excellent

option.

CREATIVE FOUNDATION DEGREES

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CREATIVE FOUNDATION DEGREES

If you are uncertain about taking a three-year (full time)

bachelor’s degree with honours, a creative foundation

degree may be ideal.

A foundation degree is an employment related higher

education qualification.

All our BA (Hons) programmes are strongly

employment related, with a focus on professional

practice. The foundation degree is offered as a pathway

embedded within the first two years (full-time) of the BA

(Hons) programme with some module differences your

tutors will guide you through.

If you choose to study a foundation degree full time it

will take two years. The part time route lasts four years.

The foundation degree is equivalent to two thirds of

an honours bachelor’s degree. Students must obtain a

minimum of 240 credits.

Highlights

1. HCA is an indepedent Arts school dedicated

solely to the arts, you will be mentored by

practicing lecturers and tutors.



students.

3. Flexibility to top up to a full degree.

4. Leave with an industry gained recognition with

the ability to top up at HCA or elsewhere at a later

date.

5. Exceptional access to workshops across all

disciplines.

6. Great level of individual support from tutors and

technical demonstrators.

Following the successful completion of a foundation

degree most students will apply to join the third year

of an appropriate honours degree programme at HCA

or elsewhere. However, you may also aim to progress

directly to employment or to return to your studies at a

later date.

Before settling on a subject and course below, it is

important to research creative careers and the entry

requirements for your chosen career. You can do this

by exploring relevant job profiles by visiting:

www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/browse-sector/

creative-arts-and-design

The creative foundation degrees that we offer are:

• Contemporary Design Crafts

• Fine Art

• Graphic & Media Design

• Illustration

• Illustration & Animation

• Jewellery Design

• Performing Arts

• Photography

• Creative Sound & Music

• Textile Design

Validated by:

New course – awaiting validation

Full-time:

2 Years

UCAS Course Code:

Awaiting validation

Part-time:

4 Years

- Apply direct to college for part-time study


www.hca.ac.uk/creative-foundation-degrees


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TOP-UP DEGREE

PROGRAMME

Our top-up degree programme has been designed

for students who have successfully completed a

HND or Foundation degree in a relevant subject

and now wish to convert their existing qualification

into a full BA Honours degree.

We are immensely proud of the success of our topup

students who have won major college prizes and

industry success and proud of the feedback they

have given us on the warmth of their welcome to

our community.

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TOP-UP DEGREE PROGRAMME

Top-up students from our own Foundation Degrees

and other institutions have the opportunity to join our

existing third years for the final year of the BA (Hons).

We will help you to quickly integrate into the course by

creating a personalised induction programme, so you

can enjoy all we have to offer during this exciting final

year.

BA (Hons) Top-ups Include

• Contemporary Design Crafts

UCAS Code: W790

•

Fine Art

UCAS Code: W101

•

Graphic & Media Design

UCAS Code: W214

• Illustration

UCAS Code: W221

•

Illustration & Animation

UCAS Code: W322

•

Jewellery Design

UCAS Code: W721

• Photography

UCAS Code: W641

•

Creative Sound & Music

UCAS Code: W342

•

Textile Design

UCAS Code: W235

•

Performing Arts

UCAS Code: W471

You will be encouraged to develop your thinking

and understanding in your chosen field, and to

become an independent and critically aware

practitioner. You will undertake a major piece

of research as well as improving your technical

and creative skills through a programme of

negotiated projects.

You will be encouraged to exhibit, take up live

briefs and competitions, and pursue opportunities

to improve your understanding of the creative

industries and enhance your own professional

development and career trajectory. In the majority

of courses there will be an opportunity to exhibit

at a national graduate showcase exhibition

in London.

For more details on individual courses, please read

the BA (Hons) course pages in this prospectus or

visit our website at www.hca.ac.uk/courses.

Validated by:


Full-time:

1 Year

Part-time:

2 Years

(exception is Performing Arts

and Creative Sound & Music).

TOP-UP DEGREE PROGRAMME

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CRITICAL

STUDIES

Whatever your choice of degree, at HCA you will

study a tailored programme of critical and cultural

studies that we call Practice in Context. This puts

your personal creativity into cultural context – both

historical and contemporary – and gives you a

structured way of thinking about the meaning and

value of creative practice.

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CRITICAL STUDIES

Practice in Context

Practice in Context is delivered by both degree

course staff and specialist critical studies lecturers,

and is always relevant to your discipline. This lively

and engaging academic programme is supported

by research and thinking skills workshops. You will

produce written assignments exploring key themes.

During the first year, our students are provided with a

solid grounding in the history of their studio subject. You

will discover how all creative practice is influenced by its

historical and cultural context, including contemporary

events and conditions, the available technologies of

production, creative work previously made by other

practitioners and the ideas, values and beliefs of the

cultures in which the work is produced.

In the third year, all our BA (Hons) students undertake

a substantial piece of self-directed research on

a theme of their choice. You needn’t worry if you

currently think better through making and doing;

we’ll give you the skills and confidence to use your

academic insights as a meaningful part of your creative

practice. In fact, students tell us they find this a valuable,

transformative opportunity.

We know that whatever your area of creative

practice, it will be improved by developing a

deeper, academic understanding of your discipline.

The ultimate aim of the Critical Studies programme

is to give you a solid intellectual basis to support

the creation of your final body of work as original,

perceptive, meaningful and coherent.

In the second year, you will be introduced to a number

of theoretical approaches which will help extend

your understanding of creative practice. There is

an emphasis on the role of theory in challenging

conventional ideas and perspectives, introducing new

analytical concepts and enabling our students to look

at familiar material in a new way.

CRITICAL STUDIES

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HCA+

HCA+ is a range of optional free extras to enhance your

learning and experience. These are additional and not

part of your degree programme.

Whether you’re going to be a fresher at HCA or in the

final year of your degree course, this list of additions

has a little something for everybody!

It’s a great way to meet new people (who may not be

on your course), develop new skills and pursue other

interests outside your area of study.

This dynamic programme will change from year to year.

The 2021-2022 options are:

Digital Audio Production (Logic Pro X)

with Nick Brown

Have you ever wanted to write, record and edit music/

audio like a pro? If so, our Introduction to Logic Pro X

is the perfect course for you. Logic Pro X is a stateof-the-art

digital audio workstation (DAW) as used by

Billie Eilish, Daft Punk, Kendrick Lamar, Bjork and many

more.

The 8-week course includes 1.5-hour sessions per

week.

Writing for Creatives

with Jac Cattaneo

Copywriting for Social Media

and Blogs

Learn to engage your audience with techniques

for writing blog posts and social media updates

to get the best results for your creative business.

Discover how to write in a conversational style

that engages readers and promotes response.

The 4-week course includes a 1-hour session per

week.

A Taste of Creative Teaching

An introductory series of theory and researchbased

sessions, exploring topics such as ‘The

Learner’, ‘The Teachers Toolkit’, ‘Teaching

Resources’ and ‘Professional Practice’. After your

research sessions, you will have the opportunity

to put your knowledge into practice by shadowing

an experienced member of staff and working

alongside our college-level students. This course

is a sure-fire way to find out if teaching is for you

and offers great experience prior to enrolling on a

teaching qualification after your HCA course.

The course includes 4 hours of theory and 4

hours of teaching practice.

To find out more please email

hcaplus@hca.ac.uk

You do not need to be a creative writer to attend. You

may feel unsure about writing or want to use writing as

part of your creative practice - this is a fabulous

opportunity to play and experiment with writing in

different ways.

The 6-week course includes 4 workshops (2.5 hours)

plus small feedback seminars.

Move into Balance

with Gillian Hipp

Learn how to harness your body and movement to

increase your creativity. This course aims to leave you

feeling more connected, resourceful, balanced and

confident.

The 12-week course includes a 1-hour session per week.


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PRE-DEGREE

COLLEGE LEVEL

COURSES

PRE-DEGREE COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES

As the only college in the region dedicated solely to the

arts, we have a broad range of full-time courses for our

pre-degree level students. These students are based

at our College Road Campus on a one or two year,

pre-degree course, with a number of them choosing to

progress to study with us at degree level.

Creative Subjects Include:

• Art & Design

• Music

• Performing Arts

• Digital

For more information please contact

registry@hca.ac.uk or call 01432 273359 for

further details of this programme, including

the subject options.

PRE-DEGREE COLLEGE LEVEL COURSES

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FOUNDATION DIPLOMA IN

ART & DESIGN

This intense and thrilling year will develop all aspects

of your creativity, helping you to become clearer about

your interests, strengths, and choice of specialism for

higher education.

The Foundation Diploma is a highly successful pathway

for A-level students considering art, design and media

degrees. We also welcome applications from students

with a wide variety of other study and career plans.

The Foundation Diploma in Art and Design will provide

students with opportunities to develop and utilise broad,

transferable skills through encouraging an ethos of

personal and professional development.

Give yourself a creative edge for life whichever direction

you choose.

FOUNDATION DIPLOMA IN ART & DESIGN

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The course requires an open mind and a willingness to

take creative risks. Over a 10 month programme, you

will have the opportunity to explore a variety of studio

and workshop practice including: drawing, textiles,

printmaking, small metals, 3D, ceramics, multi-media/

digital, film and photography.

A range of exciting projects will allow you to explore

different approaches to visual thinking and idea

development. You will experiment with a variety of

techniques and ways of working and then choose

a specialist subject area in which to deepen your

understanding and refine your own artistic practice.

Highlights

1. Proven success, over many years, for students

gaining their preferred degree choice.

2. Fantastic programme of visiting practitioners.

3. Inspiring, cultural city trip.

4. Showcase collective exhibition at the end of the

course.

5. Build your UCAS application and portfolio.

6. Guaranteed bursary for those who progress to

degree level study at HCA (see page 115).

In preparation for interview to higher education or

professional practice, you will be given detailed

and personalised support to develop a portfolio of

original work.

After this Course

The majority of our Foundation students progress to

study at degree level. The course also provides an

excellent overview for students pursuing a career in the

creative industries and initiates independent practice.

80 to 112 UCAS points can be earned through

successfully completing the Foundation course. It

can provide an invaluable creative gap year for those

students progressing to university in any subject such

as engineering, medicine, social sciences, architecture

and humanities.

Students who wish to progress to degree level will be

supported in their process of applying to colleges and

universities throughout the UK, including a range of

BA (Hons) creative degrees at HCA, where students

qualify for a £500 progression bursary in their first

year as a full-time student.

Validated by

University of the Arts London (UAL)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 academic year

Minimum age

18 years

How to Apply

Direct to the College - Online application on HCA website.

Entry requirements

A-Level or Extended Diploma (creative subject

preferred but not essential) plus 5 GCSE’s (inc.

English & maths) at 9 to 4 (previously A* to C).


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PORTFOLIO

COURSE

The Portfolio Course is designed for mature students

who wish to return to education to develop their

artistic potential. It is embedded in the large and

vibrant curriculum area of the Foundation Diploma

in Art & Design.

Students come from all walks of life; you may be an

active amateur artist, crafter or maker or answering a

call of the heart to return to a childhood passion. We can

help reignite your creative ambition with our specialist

teaching and professional workshops.

The course is delivered over a two-day teaching week.

Students must also commit to undertake additional

flexible study from home.

PORTFOLIO COURSE

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PORTFOLIO COURSE

This course will provide you with an intensive, creative

experience in which to develop your work and ideas.

Over an exciting 10 month programme, you will

gain clarity about your creative interests and your

individual strengths.

To get the most from this programme you will need

an open mind and a willingness to take creative risks.

You will have the opportunity to experiment in studio

and workshop practice across a range of disciplines

including drawing, textiles, printmaking, small metals,

3D, ceramics, multi-media/digital and photography.

Highlights

1. Work within a dynamic studio/workshop

environment, part of an exciting creative cohort.

2. Work on a variety of projects.

3. Individual teaching and tutorial support.

4. Find your own approach to art and design.

5. Decide what specialist area suits you best.

6. Inspiring, cultural city trip.

A range of exciting projects will allow you to explore

a variety of approaches to visual thinking and idea

development. You can then experiment with different

techniques and ways of working in order to focus your

own artistic practice.

You will learn how to take responsibility for researching,

developing and realising your ideas. Through exploring

and interrogating ideas and processes, you will find an

individual style, and decide your own specialism.

In preparation for interview to higher education or

professional practice, you will be given detailed and

personalised support to develop a portfolio of your

work.

After this Course

Students who wish to progress to degree level will be

supported in their process of applying to colleges and

universities throughout the UK, including a range of BA

(Hons) creative degrees at HCA, where students qualify

for a £500 progression bursary in their first year as a

full-time student.

Validated by

University of the Arts London (UAL)

Study mode

2 timetabled days a week in college with the potential for

additional time by arrangement

Duration

1 academic year

Minimum age

21 years, with no upper age limit

How to Apply

Direct to the College - Online application on HCA website.

PORTFOLIO COURSE

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SHORT

COURSES

Our popular short course programme offers a

flexible and relaxed atmosphere for individuals

aged over 16, to explore their creative potential.

Whether you want to learn new arts, crafts, and

digital techniques simply for fun, or to develop your

skills in preparation for further study at HCA; our

courses are designed so that you can work at your

own pace and enjoy the experience.

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Courses are led by our expert tutors and take full

advantage of HCA’s outstanding technical workshops

and resources. Many are suitable for beginners, so don’t

be afraid to try something completely new to you!

We provide a range of courses for individuals or

organisations that want to acquire new skills for their

workplace – for example: digital photography, web

design and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Teachers and creative professionals use the

programme to help refresh skills and introduce

new skills and techniques to support their own

professional development.

Our young arts programme offers a variety of

creative workshops for those aged 11-16 during the

school holidays.

We also offer Masterclasses, led by experts in their field

who will share their knowledge and expertise in intensive

one day workshops.

The Varied Programme Includes:

• Access Ceramics

• Silversmithing

• Screen Printing

• Drawing and Painting

• Life Drawing

• Sewing Bee

• Portfolio Building and Preparation

• Printmaking

• 21st Century Maker

• Digital Photography

• Drawing with Adobe Illustrator

• Building a Basic Website

•

• Digital Imagery with Adobe Photoshop

Desktop Publishing with Adobe InDesign

For those aged 11-16:

•

•

• Digital Photography

•

• Graphic Design

• Portraiture Drawing

Drawing & Painting Character Creations

Learn to be a Sculptor

Music Workshop - Write, Rehearse, Perform!

Further information

Visit: www.hca.ac.uk/shortcourses

Call: 01432 845302

Email: shortcourses@hca.ac.uk

Instagram: @hcashortcourses

SHORT COURSES

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#herefordanvils @dominicpowelldesign

@giles.w.clarke @muehlenschmiede

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WORKSHOPS &

YOUR CREATIVE

SPACE

From ancient craftsmanship to cutting-edge digital

technology: HCA’s excellent facilities set us apart from

other institutions.

Whether you are rehearsing for a performance, recording

sound, editing a film, animating, making jewellery or screen

printing; our technical demonstrators are on hand to help

and guide you. They are all experts in their fields, and play

a crucial role in your practical learning at HCA. Many of our

technical demonstrators are still active designer-makers

or performers in their own right. They are passionate about

their disciplines, and equally passionate about passing on

their knowledge and expertise.

With their help, you will be introduced to new processes and

skills giving you the confidence to use a range of specialist

tools, techniques, processes and practices. They will

support you as you make your ideas come to life.

WORKSHOPS & YOUR CREATIVE SPACE

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Explore

Small Metals

The small metals workshop is a specialist

area for jewellery and small scale metal

fabrication. Students can explore and

develop ideas in a variety of non-ferrous

and precious metals.

3D Fabrication

HCA offers you exciting and limitless

possibilities of a modern 3D workshop.

You can explore both contemporary and

traditional processes including laser

etching/cutting, cold casting, wood turning,

carving, steam bending and welding. You’ll

work with a variety of materials including

wood, metals, plastics, and resins. You

are encouraged to explore the diverse

properties of these materials to compliment

your practice.

Textiles

We encourage students to push the

boundaries of textiles by exploring and

combining exciting techniques within knit,

weave, print, stitch, and dye. Once inducted,

students are welcome to come in and

expose screens, mix dyes, choose from the

range of sewing and knitting machines, set

up a loom, fuse and emboss fabrics with the

heat press, or try papermaking!

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Ceramics

In the ceramics workshop you can access

a broad range of processes from coiling

and slab building to casting and throwing.

You will also have the opportunity to

experiment with surface decoration and

glaze mixing.

Printmaking

Our Printmaking workshop offers an

exciting range of traditional processes

from Linocut, Collograph, Monoprint and

Drypoint to Japanese Woodcut, Wood

Engraving and our vintage Letterpress.

We also have a new self-publishing hub with

our Risograph printer and eight stunning

colours including gold at its heart.

Photography

Our photography workshop facilities

provide an opportunity for students to gain

experience using a huge variety of both

digital and traditional techniques. We offer

open access workshops for all levels of

ability and encourage experimentation.


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Your

Creative Space

The 3 years of your degree studies are an amazing

opportunity both to be experimental, and to refine your skills.

With the studio space you crave, and plenty of support in

specialist workshops, HCA is a fantastic creative place to

hone your craft.

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Experience

•

•

Specialist workshops giving you great levels of

access.

No boundaries to your creativity – inductions are

available to you in all workshops, regardless of

your course.

IT and Media Suites.

•

Expert guidance of technical staff.

Spacious, well-equipped studios.

At HCA, our experience shows that the right mix

of excellent teaching, creative spaces, technical

facilities, and experienced, technical staff will

empower your creativity.

Immerse yourself in our Specialist

Workshops

Our workshop staff are technical experts in their field

and play a crucial role in your hands-on learning at

HCA. They are passionate about their discipline, and

equally passionate about passing on the knowledge

and expertise they’ve gained through their own

practice. Many are still active designer-makers in

their own right.

With their help, you will learn new processes and

become proficient with specialist kit. They will

encourage you to take your practice to the next level,

and will be there to support you as you make your

ideas come to life.

Media and IT

Specialist technical demonstrators and technicians

are also available to help you master media kit, and IT

hardware and software. From how to set up a boom

microphone, to printing large scale images, they will

be there to support you.

IT Resources

• • •

IT Suites with specialist software available

on Apple Mac and PCs.

Open access areas.

Quiet study areas in Library spaces with

Assistive Technology.

Exhibition quality large format inkjet printers.

Sound & video production areas.

Animation facilities.

Virtual Learning Environment.

Free access to Microsoft Office 365 for up to

five devices with 1TB of cloud storage.

Available from our Media Stores

The media stores at HCA are a one stop shop for all our

photography, video & audio visual needs.

Here’s a taster of the type of equipment we have available

to all of our students:

•

Photography equipment – A range of Nikon DSLR

cameras, 35mm film cameras, full frame cameras and

tripods.

•

Video equipment – Panasonic 4k HD cameras, Black

Magic Cine cameras, Canon HD cameras, Panasonic

camcorders, video tripods, tracks & dolly’s.

•

•

Audio equipment – Portable audio recorders, Location

recording kits & microphones

Visual – Digital & OHP projectors, video mixers & green

screen kits.

College Road Campus

College Road Campus is a historic listed, red-brick

building, complete with towers and turrets and the odd

hidden spiral staircase. Facing a big sunny lawn and

dotted around with sculptural work; it’s an uplifting

space to study and create in every day.

However, don’t let the Victorian façade fool you:

inside the building you’ll find up-to-date kit and all the

specialist resources you need. There are PC and Mac

suites, printing facilities (including large format), media

stores (with professional image, sound and music kit

available to loan for free), photography studios and

dark rooms. Performing Arts have their own rehearsal

studio suite, and across the courtyard is the Music

Department with practice rooms and professional

recording equipment.

This campus is home to our degree courses. The

studio spaces are high ceilinged and spacious, and

each with their own distinct character. It’s an ideal

place to be creative – with room for plenty of individual

workstations. The top-floor library is well-stocked, full

of beautiful specialist books and journals.

The Student Union cafe is the place to catch up with

your peers over coffee, lunch or at one of their regular

bar nights.

College Road Campus

Folly Lane Campus

In complete contrast, Folly Lane Campus is an entirely

modern building, fronted by The Hub. This has an

innovative design featuring tree-like structural beams that

create a contemporary and flexible space for socialising,

hot-desking and exhibitions.

As well as hosting our Extended Diploma courses, our

Folly Lane Campus features a full-functioning ‘black box’

style Performing Arts Theatre with versatile staging, raked

seating and a professional lighting rig. You’ll also find music

studios, photography studios, sprung-floor dance studio,

even more media stores and a library with a well-stocked

student shop.

Folly Lane Campus

Both campuses are centrally

located for the city centre, bus

and train stations.


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78

PARTNERSHIPS

There are rich opportunities for students to get involved

with a wide range of external projects at HCA. Our

students collaborate with businesses, charities and

cultural organisations, at a local, national and international

scale. From live briefs with local businesses on branding,

illustrations, and exhibitions, to having their work selected

for textiles trade fairs in Paris, or delivering performances

and workshops at the international Hay Festival; our

students find external partnership activities a hugely

rewarding part of their studies.

PARTNERSHIPS

79

PARTNERSHIPS

Working on external projects, students often have the

chance to work as multi-disciplinary teams. This way of

working increasingly underpins creativity, problem solving

and innovation, across many creative and commercial

industries. HCA Students are ideally placed to develop

valuable transferable skills in this way.

As a student at HCA you will also be encouraged to see

yourself as a creative citizen, and realise your potential to

make a positive impact in the wider world. Our community

engagement awards recognise HCA students using their

talents to benefit local communities. We find HCA students

often initiate community arts projects and bring their

creative flair to many of Herefordshire’s biggest events

throughout the year.

Our network of HCA partners is ever-growing, so that you

can experience exciting client commissions, put your skills

into practice, and start building your professional profile

before you even graduate.

80

PARTNERSHIPS

Focus On

BBC

HCA and BBC Hereford & Worcester entered

a collaborative agreement whereby the BBC

moved its Hereford office to HCA’s College

Road Campus, home to their degree students,

foundation students and MA students.

The collaboration benefits all HCA students by

offering the BBC’s experience and knowledge

of the creative and media sectors through

creative briefs, involvement in specific projects

and access to BBC staff as ‘visiting speakers.’

Students also have the possibility of showcasing

their work on BBC platforms including social

media.

Introducing provides up-and-coming artists with broadcast

opportunities on radio television and online, as well as

the chance to perform at major festivals and showcases.

Recording sessions for new artists will be held at HCA’s

campus monthly with support from HCA students, and the

plan is to open these sessions up to a wider community

audience when possible to do so safely.

To launch the collaboration, HCA students

specialising in graphic design worked on the visual

design of a logo to support a new radio series.

HCA has also agreed to host a new series of

BBC Introducing recordings on its College Road

campus. Since its launch in 2007, BBC Music

Introducing has been dedicated to discovering

and supporting new music and artists. BBC Music

Focus On

Hay Festival

The international Hay Festival, which started

out as a literary festival more than 30 years ago,

now celebrates a love of reading, writing, ideas

and storytelling in the widest variety of forms. It

is a place full of ideas and discussion attracting

influential thinkers, writers and commentators.

Bill Clinton, who once spoke at Hay, dubbed this

eco-friendly festival “the Woodstock of the mind,”

and it is the perfect place for creative people

to be inspired. We are lucky to be just 23 miles

from Hay-on-Wye and HCA is privileged to have

built up a very close relationship with the festival.

Our students have been given opportunities to

deliver workshops, performances, create graphic

animations for the presentation screens and

large-format ambient artwork for the festival

site, and get involved in live media broadcasts on

the BBC. These experiences have allowed HCA

students access to a huge international audience,

and they’ve gained invaluable experience at a

world leading festival.

PARTNERSHIPS

81

PARTNERSHIPS

Focus On

MASH Cinema

MASH Cinema was created as a platform

for young people to showcase their films in

Herefordshire. They began hosting screenings in

unusual and alternative venues. MASH Cinema

don’t see cinema simply as rows of chairs

pointing at a screen – for them it’s about creating

an experience which incorporates film, art and

music, and delivering this innovative and inspiring

content in an informal environment.

MASH Cinema brings diverse moving

image programming to music, film and arts

& literature festivals throughout the UK,

including Glastonbury and Nozstock, as well

as venues across Europe.

Students have often had the opportunity

to collaborate on innovative projects and

installations. For example, students from our

BA (Hons) courses in Film Making, Illustration

& Animation, Fine Art, and Photography

collaborated in 3 innovative pop-up events

celebrating MASH Cinema’s 15th anniversary, in

a new industrial venue in the centre of Hereford.

The MASH Cinema Prize for Moving Image

is awarded annually to a HCA student in our

summer exhibitions.

Widening Participation

To encourage wider participation, we maintain

strong partnerships with sixth form and further

education colleges across our region. The aim

of these partnerships is to help better inform

students about progressing to degree level study.

HCA offers activities such as: subject-specific

insight days, masterclasses, portfolio surgeries,

and regular visits from our tutors with information

on creative careers for graduates.

Aimhigher West Midlands

HCA is part of Aimhigher West Midlands, a

partnership of Higher Education Institutions,

schools, academies and colleges. The partnership

aims to help young people from less advantaged

backgrounds access high quality, inspiring

experiences that enhance their education, and to

provide them with practical advice and guidance

about higher education.

82

PARTNERSHIPS

Insight Days

We offer bespoke insight days for schools and

colleges to bring groups of students to find out

more about degree level study. We invite them

to explore our campus, workshops and life at an

independent specialist arts school.

Sidney Nolan Trust works with HCA students on events and

exhibtions and provides residency programmes so HCA

students can learn, exchange ideas and create

We maintain strong regional links, establishing

partnerships with sixth form and further

education colleges to encourage wider

participation in higher level arts education. Our

partnerships are developed to benefit students

wishing to progress to degree level study and

include creative career focused presentations

from our staff in addition to subject-specific

insight days and portfolio advice.

The Sidney Nolan Trust

The Sidney Nolan Trust is a registered charity,

founded by Sir Sidney Nolan in 1985. Nolan

was a leading artist of the 20th century. His

Ned Kelly paintings became iconic and today

the Sidney Nolan Trust, celebrates his life-long

experimentation, innovation and passion for

creativity, as well as his love for the environment.

Located at The Rodd, the Trust is a vibrant centre

for arts learning and cares for Nolan’s former

home, studio, and 250-acre estate, together with

a large collection of Nolan’s artworks, his library

and personal archive.

Virtual Outreach

We have developed an exciting range of online

webinars for 2021/2022 aimed at sixth form

and further education providers. These can be

bespoke presentations from our expert teaching

teams about a specific course area. As well as

a series of general presentation introducing

students to Hereford College of Arts, our ethos,

our values and all the different creative courses

we have. We can also offer presentations on

student finance and creative careers.

Our Partners

Students studying at one of our partner colleges

can expect a range of support with their studies,

which currently includes a cash bursary.

For more information, including details on the

college visits we offer to support progression to

HCA, please contact outreach@hca.ac.uk

PARTNERSHIPS

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84

POST-

GRADUATION

It’s a fantastic feeling when you graduate from HCA and

walk down the aisle of Hereford Cathedral wearing a

mortarboard and gown to applause from proud friends,

family and teachers.

Your relationship with the college, as part of a valued

creative community, doesn’t end at graduation.

POST-GRADUATION

85

LAUNCHGRAD

HCA

Launchgrad

We understand that taking the first steps in your career can

feel both exhilarating and daunting. Our graduates value

opportunities to seek follow-up advice from experienced

staff, to stay in touch with peers and to engage with events at

HCA that continue to broaden their creative network.

Experience

All our new graduates can access

Launchgrad for 18 months following

graduation, including the opportunity to:

• Create a professional profile page on

HCA’s Talent Hub web pages.

• Attend Professional Practice events.

• Benefit from discounts on the HCA short

course programme.

• Be invited to attend HCA exhibitions, and

other networking and social opportunities.

You will also be invited to apply for:

• The HCA Graduate Artist in Residence

Scheme.

• An annual HCA staff and alumni

showcase exhibition.

• Graduate Associate Membership of HCA.

86

GRADUATE ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP

Graduate Associate

Membership of HCA

The opportunity to apply for free Graduate associate

membership of HCA is a key part of Launchgrad.

Graduate associate membership lets you continue to

have access to some of HCA’s facilities after graduating,

including access to some of our outstanding workshop

facilities at a subsidised, highly competitive rate.

Associate Graduate Members of HCA can request

bespoke workshops to support them in their creative

futures. In 2021/2022 these ranged from advice on

building a website to applying for grants.

Our Launchgrad website supports you to organise and

promote your events and activities, be these running a

workshop at HCA or showing your work in an internal

or external exhibition.

You’ll be invited to pop-up events and some guest

lectures from across the courses, as well as external

opportunities such as potential funding streams and

support for business start-ups.

We use our social media to highlight key creative

career opportunities and events that might benefit our

graduates.

Invitations to cross

college Enterprise

and Entrepreneurship

workshops

Invitations to cross college

and Enterprise events from

renowned artists relevant to

graduates discipline.

Invitations to join

group discussions

Articles, invitations and

opportunities posted on

launchgrad website

Bespoke follow-up to

practical workshops

POST-GRADUATION

87

CREATIVE CAREERS

Creative

Careers

From the day you start at HCA, you begin preparing

for your future career. The creative sector is booming;

whether you want to get a job in a prestigious

international firm, to set up your own small business,

or to work as an independent freelancer for a mix

of clients, there is a wealth of opportunity for you to

explore.

HCA will help you develop the personal qualities,

knowledge and skills that underpin success, whatever

your choice of career.

Creative Futures

•

•

•

•

Almost one in eight UK businesses are creative

businesses 1 .

The creative industries are growing at more than four

times the rate of the UK economy as a whole.

Jobs in the UK’s creative industries are growing at

three times the UK average.

The creative industries employ over two million

people in the UK and are projected to create an

additional one million jobs by 2030.

•

•

Unlike other industries, the creative industries are

‘highly resistant’ to automation.

Qualifications matter – the majority of jobs in

creative occupations are held by people with at least

a degree or equivalent.

•

The skills you develop through a creative degree are

highly sought-after across a wide range of industry

sectors, businesses and professional occupations.

Valuable Transferable Skills

A creative degree will give you a suite of transferable

skills, highly important for working life, and much sought

after by employers.

You’ll be able to demonstrate skills such as:

Adaptability

Being articulate when expressing complex ideas

Collaboration

Creative and critical thinking

• Curiosity

Problem solving

We believe these are core skills for a productive and

purposeful life and you’ll find they are embedded in the

teaching and learning outcomes at HCA.

1

https://www.creativeindustriesfederation.com/statistics

Professional Practice

88

Every degree student at HCA, regardless of their

chosen programme, will be given the chance to develop

essential practical skills for a creative working life:

• •

How to create a unique creative digital

professional profile

Social Media for creatives

How to set up as a creative freelancer

In many cases you will cover these important topics

as part of your degree modules but with the HCA

Professional Practice, you’ll have the opportunity to topup

and extend your skills through talks, workshops and

other training resources.

CREATIVE CAREERS

The UK

Creative Industries

The UK Creative Industries 2019VALUE

Value (GVA*)

The UK Creative Industries 2019

GVA split 2019 (provisional, £bn)

Change in GVA 2010-2019**

43.6%

£115.9bn

A YEAR

21.6

Film and TV

47

IT Software and

Games

£13.2

5.6%

mAN HOUR

INCREASE IN VALUE SINCE 2018**

10.6

Music and

Arts

3.6

Design and

fashion

0.4

Crafts

3.6

Architecture

17.1

Advertising and

marketing

1

Museums and

libraries

11

17.7%

*Gross Value Added, current prices

**Calculated using chained volume measu res

UK

AVERAGE

CREATIVE

INDUSTRIES

Sources: DCMS,December 2020

www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk

The Gross Value Added (GVA) of the UK creative industries was provisionally estimated at £115.9bn in 2019 current

prices. This is equivalent to contributing approximately £13.2m every hour at current prices (i.e. before adjusting for

inflation). Since 2010, GVA has increased by more than 43 per cent, or more than twice as fast as the UK economy.

The UK Creative Industries 2019 JOBS

Jobs

2.1MILLION JOBS

TOTAL

Proportion of the UK creative Industries jobs by region in 2019

5.8%

UK Creative Industries Workforce 2019

33%

SELF-EMPLOYED

61k

New Jo bs

in 202 19

2.7x

Jo bs G ro wth Of UK

Source: DCMS, April 2020

Aver ag e

1.4%

7.5%

2.7%

4.4%

2.7% 5.6%

7.3%

www.thecreativeindustries.co.uk

The UK creative industries accounted for 2.1m jobs in total in 2019, with the two thirds of those outside London. This

represents more than twice the rate of growth of jobs in the rest of the economy. About one third of the workforce

are self-employed.

16%

8%

33%

67%

EMPLOYED

CREATIVE CAREERS

89

ALUMNI STORIES

Alumni

Stories

Lorna Brown

BA (Hons) Photography Graduate

Why did you choose HCA for your degree?

I was living in Oxford when I signed up for the degree

course, so initially I chose HCA because my mother

lives nearby in Ross-on-Wye and I planned to move in

with her for my first year of study. After looking at other

courses though, my other reason for choosing HCA

was that I liked that it’s not a sprawling educational

establishment crammed full of students.

As someone who has struggled with anxiety, I was

comforted by the prospect of studying in a more

intimate and less overwhelming classroom environment.

It was a learning environment in which I was able to

flourish without the intimidation of crowds.

What did enjoy most about studying Photography

at HCA?

Aside from really enjoying the course structure and the

impressive variety of visiting lecturers, it would have

to be the lecturers and technicians. The staff are all so

knowledgeable and passionate about photography.

I particularly enjoyed the weekly lectures from course

leader Alex Thimm, they were always so engaging and

inspiring. Whilst they all have their specialist areas, there

isn’t a house style, and individuality is respected.

My own practice was always very much more fine art

and that didn’t pose a problem at all – I was encouraged

to find my own creative voice.

What advice would you offer students joining HCA?

Make the most of the availability of one-to-one tuition, be

it technical or academic. From speaking to friends about

their experiences of different universities, it’s become

clear that the support available at HCA is rare.

The availability of staff for tutorials and advice is

fantastic and it’s never a problem arranging a tutorial.

The collective wealth of knowledge is there to tap in to

and take inspiration from. Make the most of the creative

social scene.

The art school community in Hereford is close-knit and

fun, and there are always plenty of opportunities to get

involved in creative events and pursuits.

What is the best thing about studying in Hereford?

Perhaps the size of the city. Hereford is very bijou and it

was a good thing! It’s more of a town than city in size, but

there’s plenty to do and as a small city with a significant

art school population.

There’s a wealth of creativity and the social scene and

events calendar reflects this. Sitting as it does on the

edge of the Wye Valley, it’s also a very beautiful area, so,

foregoing the big nightclubs and bigger events for aweinspiring

nature aplenty on your doorstep is no bad thing.

After graduating Lorna was selected for exhibition

by New Art West Midlands and was subsequently

commissioned for a major exhibition at National

Trust property Berrington Hall: ‘Eye Am She’.

90

ALUMNI STORIES

John Sanders

BA (Hons) Textile Design Graduate

Why did you choose HCA for your degree?

After a break from education I wanted to find a place

where I could explore who I was as a designer without

being forced into any one particular box, for me

Hereford College of Arts was the right place for me

to achieve this. When I spoke to staff, they are were

engaging, helpful and really supportive. I had a great

interview experience where I was instantly put at ease

and inspired by passionate staff who also worked in

industry.

What did enjoy most about studying Textile Design

at HCA?

I love the level of tutor input and their ‘open door’ policy.

The tutors are all industry professionals and bring a

wealth of knowledge and experience to the course.

They push you to reach your full creative potential.

What piece of work are you proud of so far?

I’m really proud of the ‘Cress Collar’ I designed as part

of the ‘Design Identity Project’ I received a live brief set

by Envisage Group, to look at innovative and sustainable

materials, and this was a great opportunity to design a

piece on a subject close to my heart.

I really saw a turning point in my own work. I had great

feedback for the design, which also contributed to me

winning a student bursary in the Nationwide Framework

Knitters Competition.

What is the best thing about studying in Hereford?

Hereford has a very relaxed vibe. The town is the perfect

balance of old town and new town, and a great mix of

people from all walks of life. There’s a real artistic feel to

Hereford that feeds directly into HCA and the student

practices.

What advice would you offer students joining HCA?

Work hard and take every opportunity offered to you

– you never know where it may lead. I recently worked

collaboratively on a project with NMiTE to design the

pins for the academic hats worn at an inaugural service

for the new university. My design was forged by a current

Artist Blacksmithing student Quim Kamikaze.

ALUMNI STORIES

91

92

HEREFORD

LIFE

Hereford is a

little city with a

big soul

HEREFORD LIFE

93

HEREFORD LIFE

94

Historic

From the atmospheric half-timbered buildings and

a medieval Cathedral, to little shopping lanes full of

independent boutique shops and cafés, there are

characterful places to discover across the city.

Green

The River Wye is one of the UK’s most important

rivers for nature conservation and the only river in

Europe to be designated a site of special scientific

interest for its entire length. This is the river that

wends its way through our city, through playing

fields and community green spaces.

With environmental organisations such as

New Leaf and their annual sustainability festival

h.ENERGY, to Hereford Cycle Hub and Rose Tinted

Rags (recycled textile arts), here you’ll find ecominded

people deeply engaged in reducing our

environmental impact.

Foody

Famous for cider apples, soft fruits, and Hereford

beef, our verdant county has always produced top

quality food and drink revered by chefs across the

UK and beyond. In recent years, the indie food culture

in the city centre has stepped up to match, as young

foodies have come to Hereford and set up award

winning new food businesses here.

And don’t miss the chance to try some of

the best craft ciders in the world, made locally in

Herefordshire. Plus, with Herefordshire hopyards an

essential part of the UK brewing landscape, you can

expect to find plenty of great local beers to enjoy too!

NMiTE - New Model in Technology

and Engineering

NMiTE is an initiative backed by government,

educators and industry, to transform engineering

education in Britain. Located in Hereford, NMiTE and

HCA work together to provide exciting opportunities

for students to collaborate.

HEREFORD LIFE

5 Reasons You’ll Fall

in Love with Hereford

1. Relax and enjoy life – Herefordshire

is a safe place, with some of the lowest

crime rates in the country.

2. Probably the best burgers in the world –

Beefy Boys or Rule of Tum – you decide!

3. Being part of the community – our

students are really integrated into city life

with no town/gown divide.

4. Great value for money.

5. The welcoming arts scene – HCA

students are actively encouraged to

participate and are helping to shape

exciting new cultural developments.

6. Located by the extraordinary River Wye.

Sport

Whether you’re the sporty type, or take a little

persuading, you’ll find something to suit you in

Hereford. The Point4 gym and leisure club is just

across the road from our College Road Campus and

gym bunnies can make use of the HCA discounted

membership. Or for something completely different

why not try Mountain Boarding, or Roller Derby with

the Hereford Roller Girls.

Hereford has several friendly running and cycling

clubs. You can take to the water in kayaks, canoes

or rafts, or take up rowing with Hereford Rowing

Club. Get back to basics and go wild swimming, or

head for the hills and enjoy some spectacular views.

Things to Do

There’s plenty to keep you entertained in Hereford.

From the conventional – the ‘Old Market’ has

all the big-name eateries you need to feed your

favourite cravings, plus lots of shopping and a

6-screen cinema.

To the creative – Hereford’s riverside Left Bank

Village features courtyard coffee culture, a busy

programme of original events and a Speakeasy

styled nightclub.

To the out-right quirky – Such as raw cacaofuelled

Wild Chocolate Clubbing.

OUR CITY

95

HEREFORD LIFE

HCA Students’ Favourite Spots

•

The Barrels is one of Hereford’s busiest and

most popular pubs for its friendly atmosphere,

lively brewery yard, and locally brewed beer.

•

De Koffie Pot – a Dutch-inspired coffee house

by the river. The café serves lovely food with

great vegan and gluten-free options. HCA

students have designed much of the branding

and regularly exhibit in their DKP Gallery. By

night, try classes, groups, enjoy regular live

music or relaxing around the courtyard’s

firepits.

•

Hereford Skatepark has been voted in the

top 3 across the UK.* It’s a large, free-access,

outdoor park that’s perfect for BMX and

skateboarding alike. Mpora.com say ‘there’s

enough variety in terrain to keep skaters and

BMX riders happy for a lifetime.’

•

Beefy Boys – indoor and outdoor restaurant

offering award winning burgers, catering for

meat lovers and veggies. A fun loving, social

atmosphere which also serves great cocktails,

burgers and shakes.

•

Green Spider is one of Hereford’s new indoor

climbing centres welcoming people of all

abilities for climbing and bouldering.

Music & Performance

HCA students are immersed in the music scene

across the city, and there’s no shortage of talent

to be found in gigs across the city’s pub and club

venues. In fact, hidden deep in the surrounding

countryside are a number of renowned recording

and production studios. During festival season

you’ll be spoilt for choice across a huge variety of

music genres.

The Courtyard Centre for the Arts is

Herefordshire’s vibrant arts venue, hosting a

packed programme of drama, comedy, dance

and arthouse film. The Courtyard has a 400-

seat main house theatre, plus a studio theatre,

rehearsal rooms, a gallery, and a welcoming

light-filled café bar serving tasty, fresh food.

Don’t miss the generous discounts available for

HCA students.

*By Mpora.com, the UK’s largest action

sports and adventure website.

96

HEREFORD LIFE

Exceptional Scenery

This is green rolling countryside, with distinctive

red earth and black and white villages. Apple

Orchards are a big feature of the landscape; at

blossom time they are swathed in breathtaking

pink. The Wye Valley to the south of the city is

designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,

as are the Malvern Hills to the east. In fact,

wherever you look there’s always the pull of green

hills on the horizon.

Explore

•

•

Out along the riverside, strolling right from the

city centre into lush countryside.

On two wheels – Herefordshire is a fantastic

county to explore on a bike; from relaxed

leisure rides to serious lycra-clad road miles,

you’ll never tire of endless routes and amazing

views.

•

A unique local gallery – Canwood Gallery –

that exhibits thought-provoking, high profile art

in a stunning rural setting near Hereford.

•

•

Starry skies – Herefordshire as a county has

some of the darkest skies in the UK.

The vast iron age hill fort at British Camp in

The Malverns or the dramatic river gorge at

Symonds Yat Rock in The Forest of Dean.

•

Ancient border castles – the English/

Welsh Marches have one of the densest

concentrations of castles anywhere in the UK.

•

The Brecon Beacons National Park – offering

mountains to climb and wild upland scenery,

within easy reach of Hereford.

Explore

•

Borderlines Film Festival – experience

critically acclaimed new films before the rest

of the UK and the pick of world cinema in the

UK’s biggest Rural Film Festival.

•

River Carnival – a celebration of our city’s

river with parades, river floats, performance,

music and a real carnival atmosphere.

•

May Fair – all the fun of the fair bought into

the heart of the city centre in this 900 year old

annual event.

•

Hay Festival – an international festival

featuring big ideas, high profile speakers,

books and all forms of storytelling.

•

El Dorado – an enchanting boutique festival

from Cirque Du Soul, with a magical setting in

Eastnor Castle’s Deer Park.

•

Nozstock: The Hidden Valley – performance,

art, electronic supersounds and good oldfashioned

guitar-strumming and drumbashing

across nine stages with surprising

sights and intimate, secluded areas of

theatre and discovery.

•

h-Art – a nine day art trail, where artists and

designer-makers across the county open

their studios, galleries and other venues host

special exhibitions.

•

Hereford Indie Food Festival – local food

outlets collaborate to serve up great food and

exclusive chef suppers together with music

and a fantastic atmosphere.

OUR CITY

97

YOUR STUDENT EXPERIENCE

Your Student

Experience

Hereford College of Arts is a very friendly and

exciting place to study. Students thrive in the

highly creative atmosphere they find here.

United by our creativity, there is a real sense of

community across our college which will help

you to settle in quickly, make friends and enjoy

your student experience.

98

Student Life

At HCA we are dedicated to providing a great

student experience. We respect the needs

and interests of all members of our creative

community and every student is treated as an

individual. Our college is a safe space where

unique creative voices can develop and thrive.

The Student Union

The Student Union is committed to helping you

achieve your full potential and accomplish your

goals. They are here to support you, represent

you, and make your time here a truly rewarding

experience that stays with you for life. Getting

involved is easy – our friendly Student Union

works closely with the Student Experience Team

to enhance your student experience in areas

including: welfare, entertainment, support, advice

and representation.

The SU is affiliated with the National Union of

Students (NUS) and has great links with local

sports centres offering generous student

discounts and membership packages. There are

lots of social events that take place throughout

the year, such as Fresher’s Week, Halloween

parties, Christmas events and an end of term

summer celebration. Event planning takes into

account our students as individuals, this results

in a wide range of events that differ year on year.

So whether you’re looking for fun, or fundraising

for good causes; volunteering, or getting vocal

on student issues; socialising or sport; there are

plenty of opportunities waiting for you to explore.

Student Support and Wellbeing

Our students give us fantastic feedback about

the academic and personal support available

to them. At HCA we recognise that health and

wellbeing is important to allow students to reach

their full potential, and our team will offer help with

all your concerns. We pride ourselves on being a

supportive community and we aim to enable all

students to have a positive and rich experience

here. We understand that your studies may prove

challenging at times and that other issues can

present obstacles that you need to overcome,

therefore, our students are able to access a

wealth of friendly advice and guidance on a huge

range of pastoral and wellbeing issues. This is

provided from personal tutors and specialist

staff who provide non-judgemental, confidential

support. We are also able to access support from

a number of external local and national support

providers who work alongside us to compliment

our provision.

For further details please

visit hca.ac.uk/wellbeing

or email us at: wellbeing@hca.ac.uk

Instagram: @hcawellbeing


Student Voice

At HCA, we feel it’s vital to ensure you get a say

in your education and that your views are heard.

We care about what students think and we are

constantly reviewing ways to make your student

experience even better. The scale of HCA means

that we pick up individual feedback from students

and can seize opportunities to respond quickly.

As a student, there are a variety of ways you

can directly engage with the running of the

college, you can speak to SU representatives

at regular drop-in sessions, get involved as a

course representative, or use the interactive

suggestion button on StudentNet. We currently

have three student board members on the

governing board as student governors, and

contribute to key discussions at the highest level

of HCA governance.

For further details email us at:

studentexperience@hca.ac.uk

For further details email us at:

helearningsupport@hca.ac.uk

Academic Mentoring

At HCA we aim to provide an open and supportive

environment where any academic difficulties

can be discussed and tackled in confidence. Our

specialist team is highly qualified, experienced

and successful. All students can access practical

advice, guidance and support with study

techniques. The team also helps students with

specific disabilities develop tailored learning

strategies. We support all members of staff

at HCA to promote a student-friendly learning

environment that gives every student the best

possible opportunity to succeed. See page 73 for

more details.

Student Ambassadors

The Student Ambassador Scheme is a great way

to get involved in college life, meet new people

and ‘earn as you learn.’ Our ambassadors work

at lots of exciting events including Open Days,

Information Evenings and Taster Events. They play

a key role in representing the college and provide

an insight into HCA life for prospective students.

In return, we provide all our ambassadors with

extensive training, paid hours, a reference and a

position of responsibility that looks great on CVs

and job applications!

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Hereford College of Arts values social and cultural

diversity and seeks to promote equality of

opportunity and respect within HCA and outside

it. The College is committed to ensuring everyone

is given equal access to opportunities and is

treated with dignity and respect, regardless

of age, gender, disability, long-term health

challenges, learning difficulties and disabilities,

religion or belief, or sexual orientation. HCA

always seeks to provide the environments that

encourage everyone to participate in learning,

and we actively combat harassment and bullying.

For more information about HCA Student

Union, contact: studentunion@hca.ac.uk

Facebook

HCAStudentUnion

Twitter

@herefordSU

Instagram

herefordcollegeofartssu


99

STUDENT STORIES

Student

Stories

The tutors are passionate when it

comes to the craft, and have real

life experiences with how to make

a living of blacksmithing. They are

always accessible when you get

stuck or in need of advice, and

provide ample assistance if and

when you need it. They strive to help you develop as much

as you possible can in the span of 3 years.

Alfred Pederson / BA(Hons) Artist Blacksmithing

The best thing about studying

at HCA is the freedom to be

creative, and the support

network to do so.

Ferel Smith / BA(Hons)

Contemporary Design Crafts

We are granted so many

opportunities to progress with help

from local exhibitions, artist talks,

and live briefs which allow students

to make contacts for when they

graduate and further their careers.

Rachel Barnett / BA(Hons) Fine Art

your ideas.

The access to a range of different

workshops gave me the chance

to experiment with materials

I wouldn’t have thought about

working with. The tech dems are

full of knowledge and are really

good at helping you to create

Mitchell Adams / BA(Hons) Graphic & Media Design

I chose to go to HCA for many of the

same reasons! It’s a small college,

meaning more time with tutors,

practitioners and other students.

Max Low / BA(Hons) Illustration

I loved the ability to mix

Illustration & Animation

together, and there was never

a pressure to create one or the

other. Although you were always

studying both, when it came to

our own projects, I was able to

choose what I was most interested in. It was exciting to

apply elements of animation to illustration, and in turn

create something more engaging than just an image.

Christy Johnson / BA(Hons) Illustration & Animation

I enjoyed so many things about

HCA. We always had amazing and

inspiring visiting illustrators and trips.

The course is so well connected.

Photoshop workshops were always

a lot of fun under the illustration

lecturer Nicholas Stevenson.

I also really loved seeing the different kinds of illustrators my

friends developed into, and how supportive all the courses

were of each other. Being part of ‘New Designers’ in 2018

was a great opportunity, and I was lucky enough to attract

attention from Hallmark, Card Factory and Moonpig.

Tina Pearce / BA(Hons) Illustration

100

STUDENT STORIES

I was a mature student so I had to

hold a full time job whilst undertaking

the course. At the time I wasn’t sure

I would manage, but as well as being

local and convenient, HCA helped

me to achieve this balance. HCA

provides a film making course which

is fairly unique, hands on and not entirely theory based,

which is what I wanted.

Jonathan Zaurin / BA(Hons) Short Film Making

Mairead Mcveigh / MA Fine Art

Joining the MA Fine Art course, has

given me the space to clarify my

thinking about the way I work, and

also given me a space to begin to

open my practice out to other people

– which is something I’ve never really

done before.

What I loved most about the course

was the one-to-one instrumental

lessons were a definite highlight of

my week, having access to incredibly

skilled individuals working within the

industry was fantastic and my skills

have improved greatly because of it.

Stevie Callender / BA(Hons) Popular Music

I always wanted to be an Actor. My

sister went to Hereford College of

Arts, so I thought I would meet with

the tutors and see what they had to

say, as I had no previous experience.

The tutors here were willing to take

me on to the Performing Arts degree

course. I’m very grateful for this and ever since I have been

throwing myself at every opportunity.

Molly Glover / BA(Hons) Performing Arts

I chose HCA for my degree as it was

local and I have a family so moving

was not an option. Mature students

at HCA are lucky to have such a

vibrant arts community in close

locality, it gives us a second chance

at enhancing our creativity. For me

it was life changing, instead of focusing on my family and

nurturing others it was finally a chance to nurture myself.

Utilising my social experience gave me the mechanisms to

embrace contextual work in a contemporary manner.

Libby Vale / BA(Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts

My favourite thing about the Textile

Design course is the opportunities

that we get to experiment with

various disciplines within the textiles

industry, and not being confined to

chasing a specialism early on. We

also have amazing visiting lectures

that come in regularly, and we get the opportunity to meet

with them and have one to one tutorials with them.

Megan Swancott /BA(Hons) Textile Design

I knew I wanted to be a maker, but

was also aware that the way I think

and conceive ideas dips into the

realm of fine art. I am interested

in technological innovation and

the Contemporary Design Crafts

course allowed me to explore all

those things. I chose HCA as I had previously studied

there 15 years earlier, I was familiar with the college and

the staff and knew it had all the facilities and support I

needed. It is also a really nice environment to work in which

was important to me as I was daunted by the thought of

returning to education after many years of working in a

completely different industry (scientific).

Emma Mantle / The Portfolio Course

STUDENT STORIES

101

STUDENT HOUSING

Student

Housing

HCA Students (aged 18+) can access a range of good quality,

affordable accommodation. Housing is available in halls of

residence and in shared student housing.

Halls of Residence - New Student

Accommodation

HCA students will be able to take advantage of

our new student accommodation Station Approach.

Station Approach is brand new for 2021 and offers high

specification and secure student accommodation.

The accommodation is located next to Hereford

Railway Station and is mid-way between the two

teaching campuses.

What we Offer

We offer 3 room types to our students:

Our Standard Ensuites allow you to have your own

bedroom and ensuite, whilst sharing a kitchen and

social space between 4 and 7 students. Our Studios

and Accessible Studios will give you complete

independence as you will have your own bedroom,

ensuite and kitchenette.

The building also provides lots of opportunities for

students to share work and ideas, there is a spacious

social space on the ground floor designed for

exhibitions and performances as well as a place to

hang out and socialise.

All our social and shared kitchens come with SMART

TVs. Other benefits include:

All bills included.

• •

Free superfast 250mb (wired) and 100mb

(wireless) internet.

Free contents insurance.

Onsite management.

Minutes walking to shops, cafes and other

services to support student’s independent

living.

• All rooms available on 42-week tenancies.

102

STUDENT HOUSING

Shared Houses

Some of our students live in privately rented houses

that are owned by student-friendly local landlords.

Most houses are within easy walking distance of the

campuses, close by the city centre. Sharing a house

with other students from HCA is a great way to get

to know people from across different courses; many

strong friendships are formed this way.

Finding a Room

The housing web pages give advice and guidance on

how to choose a property and useful tips on what to

think about before you sign a contract.

www.hca.ac.uk/student-housing

Housing Advice:

Email: housing@hca.ac.uk

Call: 01432 273359

Transport

Hereford is well-positioned with easy-access to

Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff and Manchester.

Commuting to College

By Train:

Birmingham

1 hour 30 minutes

The railway station is about a 15 minute walk from

College Road Campus. Good rail links to Hereford

from Newport, and Shrewsbury, make commuting

on either of these lines easy; trains are regular and

journey times are under an hour. There is also a regular

service between Hereford and Worcester, via Malvern.

Birmingham Airport

Bristol

Cardiff

2 hours

1 hour 45 minutes

1 hour 5 minutes

There are bus routes from neighbouring towns and

border counties and the city bus station is also about a

15 minute walk.

Some students drive by car to college, however with

limited campus parking, we ask students to apply for a

permit with a small annual cost. Permits are allocated

based on the distance students are travelling to

college each day.

Bath Spa

Gloucester

London, Paddington

Manchester

2 hours 15 minutes

1 hour 40 minutes

3 hours 30 minutes

2 hours 15 minutes

STUDENT HOUSING

103

SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Sustainable Futures

We believe creative education has a major role to

play in shaping a better world.

Throughout the HCA community you’ll find

people passionately committed to addressing the

challenges of climate crisis.

HCA has a dynamic sustainability working group

with students, staff and governors working

together to develop education for a sustainable

future, that looks after the planet and supports

decent jobs

All our degree programmes will ask you to

consider issues around sustainability and support

you to think about the decisions you make and

the positive impact you can have as a creative.

HCA is proud to be an official Race to Zero

signatory working with others across education to

reduce carbon emissions

104

SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Hereford College of Arts recognises the climate

emergency is one of the most urgent problems

facing human society and life on our planet.

•

We recognise the interconnection of

environmental and financial sustainability

as embodied in the UN sustainable

development agenda which says that ‘For

sustainable development to be achieved, it

is crucial to harmonize three core elements:

economic growth, social inclusion and

environmental protection. These elements

are interconnected, and all are crucial for

the well-being of individuals and societies’.

www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/

development-agenda/

•

We are optimistic for the future as we know

that human knowledge and changes in human

behaviour can make a difference and address

the crisis.

•

As an educational institution with a mission

to empower creativity to enrich our world

we embrace the responsibility to take action

to reduce our carbon footprint and support

an environmentally sustainable future • We

recognise action is essential and that this

involves both institutional and personal

choices; we will work with students and staff

to change institutional practices and facilitate

individuals to make personal decisions that

support a healthy environment.

• We believe sustainable development requires a

whole college approach and should be addressed

within the curriculum and culture as well within the

college estate and operations.

•

We are committed to collaborating with partners to

learn from best practice and raise awareness and

will, for example, draw on expertise and ideas from

the NUS through SOS (Students Organising for

Sustainability) and the new Climate Commission

for UK Higher and Further Education Leaders

(launched November 2019) as well as our validating

university UWTSD 2.

STUDENT HOUSING

105

Being part of our creative

community inspires you to

think deeper and reach higher.

It is a space where you can

imagine different futures,

and it gives you the courage

to make these happen.

Sarah-Jane Crowson

Scholarship Development Manager

106

OUR STORY

At HCA you’ll achieve more than just a BA (Hons)

degree; you’ll gain a whole new perspective on the

subject that you’re passionate about. Studying here will

transform how you perceive the arts in our society, and

prepare you to make your mark on the world.

Join our creative community

Here you’ll join a dynamic creative community. With high

levels of contact time from tutors, and strong bonds with

your peers, you will receive both support and challenge

to achieve your ambitions.

We’ll encourage you to be:

Collaborative

Inquisitive

Brave

Inventive

Individual

OUR STORY

107

OUR STORY

We take it personally

Key to your experience at HCA will be engaging with

other creatives in a unique, collaborative atmosphere.

At HCA you will quickly get to know all the students

starting your course with you. You will be taught by

passionate staff who are often active practitioners

in their own right. They will take the time to get to

know you, understand your talents and be personally

invested in your success. Students and staff enjoy a

dynamic conversation, in which ideas and inspiration

can flow both ways.

Our size and focus make joining HCA a very different

experience to joining vast non-specialist universities.

At HCA the whole environment is led by creativity.

Here, talent is always recognised and potential is

never lost in the crowd. We champion our students as

individuals – celebrating each person’s successes. Our

scale also means that we are naturally outward-facing.

We welcome high profile, industry speakers to run

masterclasses and give inspiring lectures. All students

are given opportunities to take live briefs from real

clients, work on exciting projects with external

partners, and share their work with a wider audience.

A place to find your footing

Our historic city, set in the midst of an exceptional landscape,

is friendly and relaxed with a real sense of community and

plenty of great events and activities to get involved with.

Here you can find inspiration, develop your talents, forge

friendships, and create without boundaries. Our technical

facilities include exceptional access to specialist workshops

in textiles, 3D fabrication, print, ceramics, small metals, and

spacious studios. We have professional studios for music,

photography, and a fully-rigged black-box style performing

arts theatre. You can plug into all the tech you need with

digital media suites for graphic design, illustration, animation

and film making.

108

OUR STORY

Make a Connection

Students choose to join us at HCA for many different

reasons – but an overwhelming theme is a sense

of ‘fit’ with HCA. For this is a place where you can

truly be yourself. No house style will be pushed upon

you. Instead, inspiring staff will encourage you to be

daring, brave and inventive, and help you discover

your own unique creative voice. We don’t want you

to fit the mould – feel free to break it! With a sense

of community, both inside and outside HCA, you’ll

be encouraged to engage with real social issues and

to think about the potential impact of your work. We

empower you to make the work you are passionate

about and develop a deep integrity in your own

practice. So here, in our college built at a very human

scale, you can carve out your own place at the heart of

something much bigger.

Creative Freedom

At HCA, your creative development is given top

priority. Our scale allows us to reject rigid discipline

boundaries. We offer inductions in any workshop

regardless of your degree, all available to you, right

from the very start of your study. Our workshops are

exciting places full of innovation and cross-pollination

between courses. You’re likely to find graphic design

students working companionably alongside jewellery

students, or fine artists in healthy debate with artist

blacksmiths.

Tell your own story, and

you will be interesting.

Louise Bourgeois

Your supported journey towards finding your own unique voice and place

in the world starts on day one and continues for 18 months after you have

finished your studies with us through our Graduate Launchpad programme.

It is a journey into the unknown, with lecturers and support staff there to

guide, challenge and support you.

OUR STORY

109

110

HOW TO

APPLY

HOW TO APPLY

111

HOW TO APPLY

How to

Apply

Before you apply

It’s a great idea to come along to one of our

popular small group talks and tours open events

(see page 118) that are held throughout the

academic year. These events will give you and

your family the chance to meet the teaching

staff and current students, view the College and

its facilities and learn more about student life at

HCA. Please book online to reserve your place or

email enquiries@hca.ac.uk.

Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

and Portfolio Course

Students should apply direct to HCA via our

Further Education application form. Application

forms www.hca.ac.uk/application-form are

available from the autumn term onwards, either

from the Careers Centre at your school or college,

by contacting us directly, or apply online by

visiting www.hca.ac.uk/apply.

We strongly encourage you to apply by 31 March;

however, we will always consider late applications.

Full-time BA (Hons)

& BA (Hons) Top-ups

Full-time students should apply through UCAS, in

accordance with their procedures and timetables.

Please use the course code listed on each course

page in this prospectus or on our website and our

institutional code is H18. All of our degree courses

have an initial UCAS deadline of 26th January

2022. There is also a wealth of information

available on the UCAS website www.ucas.com

regarding key dates. Should you require any

assistance in applying please feel free to contact

our registry team.

Part-time BA (Hons)

& BA (Hons) Top-ups

Students should apply direct to HCA as soon as

possible to avoid disappointment. Please contact

us for the HCA Higher Education part-time

application form or download it from our website.

Entry Requirements for Foundation

Diploma in Art & Design

Minimum age 18.

•

A-Level or Extended Diploma (creative subject

preferred but not essential) plus 5 GCSE’s (inc.

English & maths) at 9 to 4 (previously A* to C).

•

Applicants that do not fully meet the entry

requirements for English or maths may still be

considered; this will be discussed further at

interview.

Successful portfolio and interview.

•

Applicants whose first language is not

English and who require a tier 4 student

visa, must achieve Level B1 in an approved

secure English Language test prior to

enrolment. For further guidance please

visit the UK Visa and Immigration website

www.gov.uk/student-visa

112

HOW TO APPLY

Entry Requirements for Portfolio

Course (Foundation Diploma in Art &

Design for mature students)

Minimum age 21.

•

No formal entry requirements, however you

will asked to bring a portfolio of work to

discuss at interview.

Entry Requirements for BA (Hons)

Minimum age 18.

Portfolio submission (where applicable).

• Successful interview or audition (where

applicable).

•

Academic achievement - we would normally

expect applicants to have achieved 80 UCAS

Tariff Points at entry but whilst qualifications

are important our offers are not solely based

on academic results and we may make

offers based on other evidence of talent and

suitability for the course.

Mature students with related experience.

•

Applicants whose first language is not

English and require a tier 4 student visa

must achieve Level B2 in an approved

secure English Language test prior to

enrolment. For further guidance please

visit the UK Visa and Immigration website

www.gov.uk/student-visa

Entry Requirements for BA

(Hons) Top-ups

Recognition

• Successful completion of a Foundation

Degree (FdA) in the first five years or HND in a

related subject (evidence of prior learning will

need to be provided).

• Approval by UWTSD

Portfolio submission or audition (as applicable)

of Prior Learning

Opportunities

The college welcomes applications from

students with prior learning.

Further details on eligibility can be

found in our Admissions Policy

www.hca.ac.uk/admissions-policy.

Alternatively, please email registry@hca.ac.uk if

you would like further advice.

For all admission enquiries:

Call: 01432 273359

Email: registry@hca.ac.uk

HOW TO APPLY

113

FEES & FUNDING

Fees

& Funding

For the most up to date and detailed

information on fees and funding please always

check the college website.

For UK Students 2022-2023

Foundation Diploma in Art & Design

& Portfolio Course

No tuition fees will be charged to students

under 19 on 31 August in the year in which they

start their course (with the exception of students

from the Channel Islands and oversea countries).

Students aged 19 or over can either fund

themselves or apply for an Advanced Learner

Loan – please visit

www.gov.uk/advanced-learner-loan.

BA (Hons) Full-time

The tuition fee for 2022-2023 entry has been set

at £9,000 per year, (please check the website

for any updates before application). Please note

that this annual fee will not be increased for the 3

year duration of your course. However, following

enrolment, students transferring to an alternative

mode of study, repeating or retaking modules

or suspending their studies, will need to confirm

fees with the Finance Department.

Students should apply to Student Finance

England, Wales, Northern Ireland or SAAS

(Students Award Agency Scotland) for a student

loan for tuition fees and a student loan for

maintenance as early as possible for assessment,

even if unsure of their final place of study.

The nature of creative arts practice means

students will need to allow for some additional

costs, for example, materials that they choose to

use in the production of work and activities such

as trips to external events and exhibitions. The

courses at HCA have been designed to minimise

the impact of additional costs; some trips and

materials will be fully funded by the college or

heavily subsidised. Students spend different

amounts depending on the areas in which they

specialise and individual choices. We appreciate

that not all students will be able to invest the

same money in their work and staff assessing

it will not judge work by the cost of materials or

other resources. Please visit the website for more

information on typical costs and some examples

of what students may spend.

EU and International students should visit our

website for updates on funding.

The vast majority of students can apply for a

student loan to pay for tuition fees which they

do not have to start repaying until after they

graduate, and once they are earning over

£27,295 per year. Information on fees & funding

are correct at the time of publication. For the most

up to date information please always check the

college website.

114

FEES & FUNDING

BA (Hons) Part-time

Academic Mentoring

The tuition fee for 2022 entry has been set at

£4,500 per year for all part-time courses. A

loan is available for eligible part-time students to

cover their tuition fees which they do not have to

repay until after they graduate, and once they are

earning over £27,295 per year.

The HCA Cash Bursary

The HCA Cash Bursary is designed to

benefit students who are a new undergraduate

starting Higher Education for the first time in

2022-2023, are ordinarily resident in England,

and from a low income household (£25,000

a year or less). Each cash bursary is currently

£1,000 for full-time students and £500 for parttime.

Payment may be split across different years

of study. For more information, please visit our

website.

Internal Progression Bursary

All students who have studied and successfully

completed a Level 3 course within the last 2

academic years at Hereford College of Arts and

progress to undergraduate study at HCA are

currently eligible to receive a bursary of £500 for

full-time students, and £250 for part-time, in their

first year only.

Partner Colleges

A first year bursary of £500 for full time students,

and £250 for part time, is currently available to

students from our progression partner colleges

who have successfully completed a Level 3 or

equivalent course within the last 2 academic

years and progress to a degree programme

at Hereford College of Arts. Please check our

website for the most up to date information.

For more information

Visit: www.hca.ac.uk

For general funding enquiries

Call: 01432 273359

Email: funding@hca.ac.uk

The academic mentoring team is a qualified and

successful specialist team that is able to provide

advice, guidance and support to any student

studying at HCA.

Specialist academic mentoring support is

available for students with identified learning

difficulties or disabilities. This may be through

individual specialist tutorial support funded

through the Disabled Students Allowances

(DSA’s), workshop provision, small group work

and advice and guidance sessions.

Any student experiencing difficulties with their

studies should speak to a member of the team

to discuss the best way to support their studies.

Our academic mentoring team can offer advice,

guidance and support for students applying for

Disabled Students Allowances and is able to

signpost other helpful services.

Students applying for DSA’s must have a

current diagnostic report or medical statement

completed by an appropriate professional.

The Higher Education Disability Officer is very

happy to answer any questions about obtaining

this information.

Please note that Student Finance England states

that it is the student’s responsibility to pay all

costs associated with obtaining this evidence.

The Office for Students

For students to be eligible for funding from Student

Finance England, they must be studying on an

eligible course at a provider registered with the OfS.

Hereford College of Arts is registered with the Office

for Students.

For more information about student

loans and other help available

Visit: www.gov.uk/student-finance

FEES & FUNDING

115

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International

Students

We welcome international students for the diversity

and energy they bring to our creative community.

We value their global outlook and variety of cultural

perspectives they can offer. Hereford College of Arts

is friendly college, of a scale where everyone can get

to know each other, helping international students to

quickly feel at home. Hereford is a historic city and

recognised as a very safe place to live.

How to Apply

Check the most up to date information on the

course you are interested in on our website at

www.hca.ac.uk/international.

•

Applications are accepted from

international students for most of our full-time

BA courses.

•

If you would like to make an enquiry email us

at registry@hca.ac.uk and let us know; the

course you are interested in, the year of entry

(most of our courses start in September), your

name, nationality, country of domicile and your

contact details.

•

If you want to apply for the Foundation Diploma

in Art & Design, please apply direct to us using

our Further Education application form

www.hca.ac.uk/application-form which is linked

from the individual course page on our website.

•

For degree courses you will need to

apply through the Universities and Colleges

Admissions Service (UCAS). This can be

completed online at www.ucas.com. UCAS

provide very good guidelines for international

students on their website.

•

As soon as we have received your application

we will get in touch with you to help you along

each step of the application process.

116


Entry Requirements

For the most up to date course information

please visit our website at www.hca.ac.uk.

•

Applicants should demonstrate that they

have reached the entry standard stated on

pages 112 and 113. Equivalent qualifications

from an applicant’s own country will also be

considered as well as other qualifications such

as the International Baccalaureate.

•

Applicants requiring a student visa whose first

language is not English will need to provide

evidence of sufficient competence via an

approved test.

For more details on this please visit the Visas

and Immigration website at

www.gov.uk/student-visa.

•

Applicants will be required to provide

a portfolio of work – either in a PDF or

PowerPoint format. Alternatively, a link to a

website, blog, Flickr or Instagram account.

•

All applicants will be interviewed either in

person or via TEAMS (or other suitable

platforms) to ensure that entry requirements

are met and that the course is suitable. Proof

of existing qualifications will need to be

presented at the application stage in order

to comply with UK Visas and Immigration

requirements.

International Fees

For a complete listing of fees and terms of

conditions for international students please visit

our website for the most up to date details at

www.hca.ac.uk.

Immigration & Visas

As a general rule the earliest date you can apply

for a visa is three months before the start date

of your course. You will receive a Confirmation of

Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number from HCA

once you have completed all the requirements

and the College is happy to proceed with your

application. Please check the UK Government

website at www.gov.uk/student-visa and the UK

Council for International Student Affairs at www.

ukcisa.org.uk for the most up to date information

regarding visas and entry into the UK as a student.

There is also good advice available at the British

Council website at www.britishcouncil.org.

As part of the visa process applicants will need

to be able to show UK Visas and Immigration

that they have access to sufficient funds to pay

for their fees and to support themselves. You

will therefore need to prove to the College that

you have access to such funds as part of the

application process.

Don’t forget to email us with any

questions you might have

Call: +44-1432-273-359

Email: registry@hca.ac.uk


117

Open Days

118

We look forward to welcoming you to one of our

open events.

Please book online at www.hca.ac.uk or, email us

at openday@hca.ac.uk to reserve your place and

be sent more details.

If financing travel to one of our events is an issue,

we can assist by offering up to £30 towards travel

fees. Please ask for criteria for travel assistance

by emailing outreach.hca.ac.uk

The dates shown are correct at time of printing;

however, please do check the website before

planning your visit as details may change from

time to time.

BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing

Forge Days:

•

These provide an opportunity to explore the

forge and find out more about the course.

Please see the website for 2022-2023 dates.

Please see the website for further

details of additional open days for:

•

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

and the Portfolio Course.

01432 273 359

enquiries@hca.ac.uk / www.hca.ac.uk

HerefordArtsCol / herefordarts

Hereford College of Arts

Folly Lane, Hereford

HR1 1LT

BA (Hons) Open Days 2021-2022

All events at our College Road Campus

BA (Hons) Open Days

Sat 11 Sept 2021 – 10am

Tues 28 Sept 2021 – 2pm

Sat 9 Oct 2021 – 10am

Tues 26 Oct 2021 – 2pm

Sat 6 Nov 2021 – 10am

Tues 16 Nov 2021 – 2pm

Wed 1 Dec 2021 - 2pm

Tues 7 Dec 2021 – 2pm

Tues 11 Jan 2022 – 2pm

Tues 8 Feb 2022 – 2pm

Tues 1 March 2022 – 2pm

Sat 19 March 2022 – 10am

Tues 5 April 2022 – 2pm

• Tues 10 May 2022 – 2pm

Twilight Events: 4pm - 7pm

Weds 5 Jan 2022

• Weds 9 March 2022

Drop In Days: 10am - 4pm

• Thurs 13 Jan 2022

Online Events: 6pm start

Thurs 30 Sept 2021

Weds 17 Nov 2021

Mon 13 Dec 2021

Thurs 6 Jan 2022

• Tues 15 March 2022

MA Courses: 5pm start

Thurs 2 Dec 2021

Thurs 24 Feb 2022

Thurs 5 May 2022

• Thurs 21 July 2022

Work By : Jonjoe Preston @hotfuzz_forging. Photography by Amy Hewitt @amyhewittphoto

Work by Amy O’Dell (BA) Hons Illustration Graduate

Degree Level Prospectus 2022/23

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