Book an open day: Degree Open Days

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Find out first-hand why students rated HCA among the top institutions in the UK (National Student Survey, 2023).

A place to grow, reinvent, reimagine


Taking your next steps as a creative student is about choosing where you want to learn - but it's also thinking how you want to learn.

At HCA you will join a vibrant community that you can truly make your own. Our students thrive because they have the space and the confidence to pursue the things that interest them as individuals - and that starts with Open Days.

We want you to feel comfortable on campus from Day One, and to experience a taste of what being a part of that community is like. 

Ask any questions you want. Sign up for sessions that interest you. Chat to students about the city. It's about finding the right fit for you. 

Students on an Open day at the College

Degree Level Open Day Saturday 28th September 2024

Come to our Degree Level Open Day on Saturday 28th September 2024

Book now

Upcoming events

What you can do

1. Course leader Q+A and studio tour

Small-group talks with the subject leader, followed by a tour of some of the specialist facilities and tools you can use on the course. Great time to meet your course leader and dig deeper on the subject. 

2. Drop-in workshops

Every Open Day we run a series workshops that give you a chance to learn with your hands, and try something new. They aren't subject-specific - just pick something that sounds fun - and get to know some other students looking at applying.

3. Student housing tour

Take a look around Station Approach with student reps and the on-site management team.

4. Welcome talk

Repeating twice through the day, a member of our leadership team welcomes you to the college and explains the values behind why we do what we do.

5. Wellbeing at HCA

Hear more about how we support students' wellbeing, and ask any questions you have on the subject. 

6. Portfolio masterclass

This quick session shows you what goes into a good portfolio, and offers some tips and advice on the application process. If you already have a portfolio, bring it with you for some 1-on-1 feedback.

7. Student finance Q+A

The student finance process can seem daunting. This quick talk outlines everything you need to know, and is a great chance to ask any questions around student loans or managing the cost of living.

8. Campus tour

Get a small group tour of our beautiful campus from a mix of staff and students. Visit some of our industry-standard workshops and studio spaces, as well as our specialist arts library with more than 10,000 books and magazines.

9. Grab a brew

Ed's cafe is open throughout the day. Stop and refuel whenever you need a moment.

10. How to get involved with the Student Union

The SU helps drive a lot of student events and activity on campus. Find out more about what it is, and how you can get involved from the students who run it.

ALSO: Get a feel for the city

Go and get a feel for the city. Hereford is a historic, vibrant city centre - and it's super walkable. If you have time, check out the art trail through the city, or take a stroll by the river. We can also point you in the direction of a range of great food and drink options.

Courses that feed your imagination


Whether you know exactly what you want to study, or you are still discovering new subjects, there is plenty of room in our Open Day schedule to find out what you need.

Q+A's with course leads, time to talk to students, and the chance to tour the studios and specialist workshops will all give you a strong feel for the subject area - and what you could do with it.

Test
A black and white mural on the side of a brick campus building
Students on an Open day at the College
Open Days Image
workshop image Queen's Building
A hallway on campus with artwork on the walls
Two people looking at artworks in an exhibition
A tutor and students discussing artwork at an exhibition

Getting here

Hereford has great rail connections, with direct lines to Birmingham, Manchester, London and Cardiff.

If you are travelling by bus or train, both stations are located just a 15-minute walk from our degree campus on College Road (HR1 1EB).

As you arrive, you will likely notice the student housing block with huge art installations on it's exterior - that's Station Approach.

Our College Road campus has plenty of on-site parking if you are travelling by car. 

When planning directions, just make sure you select Hereford College of Arts, College Rd (HR1 1EB) as we have two campuses in the city.

There are also a number of accessible parking spots. Feel free to contact outreach@hca.ac.uk if you have any questions around accessibility.

If you are staying locally and are travelling by foot or by bike, you can find us on College Road, Hereford - tap here for directions.

There is covered bike parking on-site, and parking bays for the city's bike-share scheme Beryl Bikes. You can download the app here.

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College Road Campus, HCA

Visit us when the time's right


Lots of students use Open Days as a way of getting information before they apply - but there are many others who apply first and then book a Campus Tour, Open Day or Applicant Day.

You might have different questions, but you can build your day around the things that you might want to see or do, like tours of student housing or talks on student finance.

If you have any questions about the application process, or want to set up a call or email chat with a course leader - just email outreach@hca.ac.uk and we can arrange that.

Student housing tours

If you are considering student housing, there will multiple chances to tour Station Approach with the on-site management team and student reps.

Student Halls

Information for parents & carers

Choosing where to study is a big step, for student but also for those closest to them. Our Open Days include time for parents and carers to ask about the questions that are important to them. In case you can't attend in-person, we have pulled together a set of FAQs that we most frequently get asked during those sessions.

Read more

Open Day FAQs

The day starts at 09.30 and ends at 15.00 - but it's a flexible schedule and you can start when you want, and leave when you need to.

Course talks are repeated twice, as are free workshops and other sessions. The event is designed so that you can plan your day around what you want to see.

Our Open Days are pretty popular. Booking ahead will ensure you can attend all the talks or drop-in sessions you want to, as some may fill up.

You can book your space via Eventbrite here. ADD LINK

Once you book we can also send you any additional information ahead of the event via email. 

Our doors are always open, and if you have a friend who wants to join - or you forgot to book - our team will do everything they can to fir you in.

Absolutely. There's a lot to take in, so having someone to talk it through with can help. 

Feel free to bring as many guests as you want - but some sessions may have a limited capacity, and where necessary we may need to restrict attendance to one student and one guest.

Course talks are a great way to get a feel for a subject area, and to dig into the specifics of the course. 

Course leaders hold multiple 'talks' through the day - these include a Q+A session often involving current students, and a tour of some of the specialist facilities you will be using as a student. 

They will also be on-hand through the day if you have any follow-up questions, or want to talk through your portfolio with them.

Many people want to visit multiple course areas as they decide what they want to study. All of our courses are based on one, beautiful campus which means you won't be running across town to catch two talks.

But if you are at all worried about missing out, drop our team a message before the event on outreach@hca.ac.uk and we can help you plan timings - or mention it to the team on arrival and they will be able to help out.

 

 

We pride ourselves as being an accessible campus that is welcoming to everyone. You can email outreach@hca.ac.uk with any specific questions, or to make any necessary adjustments.

There will also be the opportunity to find out more about HCA's support for students while studying.

There is plenty of on-site parking. As you pull in to our College Road campus you will see parking immediately to your left and right.

There are no restrictions on the workshops or talks that you can attend. 

Once you have booked your place, we will send out a full programme via email.

Occasionally there may be limits on numbers for some workshops, but if you let us know in advance we can secure you a place. 

You can grab refreshments at any time during the day from Ed's Cafe. Located within the main campus building, Ed and his team have a full coffee bar and prepare food fresh using local ingredients.

Vegan options will be available.

If you are staying longer, we will also send out a list of our favourite places to grab dinner in the city.

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