Post-16

Art, Design & Communication

  • Duration

    1 or 2 years

  • Provider

    (UAL) University of the Arts London

Studio space at Folly Lane

Develop your knowledge of the creative industries through dynamic and individualised teaching and learning experiences. 

Foundation Showcase

Overview


We work to live industry briefs, offer incredible workshop facilities and provide professional feedback from highly qualified teaching staff and technical demonstrators.

You will be supported to access specialised workshops across a wide range of disciplines such as small metals, 3D, printmaking, textiles, ceramics, photography, and digital media, using industry-standard techniques. After exploring all media in 1st year, you will have the opportunity to specialise in the 2nd.

Our student-centred approach underpins a dynamic curriculum that adapts to your needs, emphasising technical and transferable skills for professional and educational advancement.

Stats and figures

100 %

of all categories inspected by Ofsted were deemed to be "OUTSTANDING" during our most recent inspection, placing HCA among the highest achieving education providers in the county. Find out more.

Industry partners

  • Hereford City Council
  • The Hereford Wildlife Trust
  • Mind
  • Worcester University
  • St Michael's Hospice
  • The Little Princess Trust
  • Hereford County Hospital
  • The Courtyard
  • Hereford Applefest
  • Save the Wye Campaign
  • ATF Profession
  • Riverside Apprenticeships
  • Brockington House
  • Hereford Sexual Health Clinic

Many students go on to...

  • Goldsmiths
  • Central St Martin's
  • London School of Fashion
  • Hereford College of Arts (degree level)
  • University of Arts London
  • Loughborough
  • And many more...

46.6 %

of students achieve a distinction in their level 3 extended diploma, compared with a 30% national average. 

Entrance requirements for Level 2 vs Level 3

Level 2 offers an opportunity to build out your foundation in your subject area for a year, before moving on to Level 3.

This might be due to experience, or GCSE grades - and it is possible to move between the two levels after you've started, if you don't feel like the fit is right for you.

The Level 3 courses for Post-16 students are a two-year qualification certified by the UAL Awarding Body.

There are three key passing grades at Level 3: Distinction (168 UCAS points), Merit (120 UCAS points) and Pass (72 UCAS Points). A Distinction is equivalent to three A* grades at A-Level.

  • Minimum 4 GCSEs Grade 9 – 2 (previously A* – F)

    To ensure that you qualify, it is also highly desirable that you achieve at least a grade 4 / C or above in English or Maths.

     

  • Interview and portfolio or audition.
  • Minimum age: 16 years

  • Minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade 9 – 4 (A*- C), or a Level 2 Diploma Merit grade in your subject.  

    To ensure that you qualify, it is highly desirable that you achieve at least a Grade 4/C or above in English and Maths.

     

  • Interview and portfolio or audition.
  • Minimum age: 16 years old.

What you will learn

We also offer a 1 year Level 2 diploma course, that allows you to enter in at a lower entry point to gain experience and confidence before moving onto the 2 year Level 3 Extended Diploma course. See more information further down the page. 

You will start the course by working for Hereford Applefest, creating content for the High Town festival in September, including banners, decorations and Hereford themed Art Exhibitions.  At the same time, we’ll be inducting you into different areas of the college, so you are confident and ready to thrive.

Over the following 10 weeks, you’ll be on rotation projects; a series of short 2 week projects where you rotate through 5 different specialisms, each associated with a workshop and specialist tutor.

For two weeks, straddling the winter break, you’ll work in groups designing a product and will pitch your outcomes to a Team of professionals in a Dragon’s Den style.

Next, you’ll develop digital design skills in a ‘client lead’ brief producing illustration, graphic design and moving image that will be displayed on the client’s online spaces.

From working under specification, you’ll now move into creative freedom, taking music as your muse and with 4 weeks, you rotate through more workshop processes and take the project in a direction of your own.

This builds you into Final Major Project, a 10 week project where an open brief allows you to explore any avenue. Here, we will challenge you to explore, experiment, take creative risks and then refine.  Your best work will be displayed in the Summer Showcase, an exciting end.

In June, you’ll work an additional life brief and have a summer project.

The summer project will ease you into the second year down at Studio 18, our university standard second year space. ‘Everything is an Experiment’ encourages you to develop your creative practice by pushing media testing.  This will give an insight into how you might want to develop your career.

Next, you’ll have 8 weeks to focus on your entrepreneurial skills in ‘Pop Shop’, marketing, budgeting, merchandising and selling products for the public, during the Christmas buzz.

Focusing on Sustainability, ‘Deconstruct Reconstruct’, asks you to avoid purchasing anything new, or to create your own sustainable materials like natural dyes.  Here, you’ll have a chance to show your work in the Winter Exhibition at the Courtyard.

By this stage in the course, you will have developed your specialism and be fully prepared to write your own Project Proposal for Final Major Project.  You will be supported throughout the 10 weeks and go on a fully immersive journey into your own creative potential, again Showcasing your work in a very professional feeling environment.

Contextual research and understanding, the use of the design cycle and reflective practice are at the heart of every project.  After each project, you’ll receive a formative assessment but will have lots of one-to-one support in between. Final Major Project will be a summative assessment and you’ll receive a pass, merit or distinction grade at the end of each year.

Connected to industry


Our curriculum is directed by the needs of the industry. On this course you will be constantly engaged with local organisations such as The Little Princess Trust, The Courtyard, Hereford Applefest and Hereford Wildlife Trust, amongst many others. You will work on client lead briefs alongside developing your own professional practice. A highlight in second year is the Pop-Up shop, where you will learn to work as an independent maker, selling your work in a prime retail space, taking home what you earned.  These experiences significantly enhance employability, providing real-world exposure, valuable professional skills, and industry connections. Last year, the Pop-Up shop achieved record revenues, highlighting the course’s success in preparing you for professional careers in the creative sector.

Meet the team

Personal and professional development


Here at HCA, you will have access to exciting career opportunities and universities. With roughly 50% heading to top universities including Central St Martins, London College of Fashion and Goldsmiths, and more progressing to HCA’s HE provision, we are well known within the industry.  With 47% of student achieving a ‘Distinction’ (equivalent of 3xA*) it’s hard for them to say no.

My time on the Level 3 Art and Design course at HCA was honestly life-changing. GCSE art felt so restrictive, but coming to art school totally opened up my eyes to what I could do in the creative world. It gave me tons of experience working with real companies and really let me explore the creative process in ways I never could before.

Hannah Jones, Creative Practice: Art, Design and Communication graduate

Creative learning

This is a hands on course where you will learn by doing, gaining hands on experience within the ceramics, 3D, textiles, small metals, print workshops, and more... The dedicated tutor team will guide you as you develop specialist skills and your progress will be assessed through coursework, rather than exams. 

Hereford College of Arts has a diverse mix of students, including people with different learning styles and needs. We have a positive, inclusive atmosphere where all of our students are able to access support for their studies. Find out more here.

English and Maths are an integral part of the course.  

If you do not yet have the necessary grades (Grade 4/C or above) you will get additional teaching and support to study for either a GCSE or functional skills qualification, depending on your prior GCSE grades. 

The Study Skills team at HCA is committed to providing a high standard of specialised and individually tailored support to improve outcomes for all students. This support includes extra provision for those who:

  • Would benefit from enhancing their academic writing, referencing and critical thinking skills;
  • Need to further develop their English and Maths abilities;
  • Require exam access arrangements such as 25% extra time;
  • Have particular learning requirements and need to focus on developing their organisation, planning and academic abilities;
  • Have English as their second language (EAL);
  • May benefit from using Assistive Technology to develop greater independence.

Study Skills support is currently delivered through specialist English, Maths or EAL sessions, as well as provision for students focusing on their coursework. The team aims to support learners in setting their own targets in order to develop their independence and achieve their full potential throughout their chosen course of study.

All students also have access to scheduled drop-in sessions for support for all areas including coursework, English and Maths, study skills, EAL, information, advice and guidance. Find out more here. (Insert link)

Students have access to a wide range of specialised workshops including textiles, print, ceramics and 3D, where they will rotate through different activities with our technical demonstrators. In addition, they will learn digital processes using our Digital Skills Centre and benefiting from the knowledge of our highly specialised team, and our well stocked arts library.

HCA is privileged to also include a Higher Education provision, which our Level 3 diploma students also have access to, including - workshops, library and the new carbon neutral digital skills centre. 

Picture of 'Safer Streets' art installation

Application process

Our post-16 courses offer an outstanding foundation to pursue a career in the creative industries and beyond. 

Every year students progress onto degree courses at some of the top arts and stage schools in the UK, or go on to study other subjects from Medicine to Marketing.

You can apply at any point during the year directly to HCA. We receive a high number of application across our four subject areas so we recommend that you make your application as early as possible.

Find out more here

Once you have completed the online application form we will write to you and invite you to attend a face-to-face interview or audition. 

We will also send you some guidance to help you prepare - but the main aim of your interview is to give us the chance to get to know you, and for you to get a feel for the course team.

We schedule interview/audition in blocks to give you a chance to meet some of the other students who will be starting the course with you.

At HCA we want you to apply happy. The application process doesn't need to be scary. Remember, we are looking for your passion and potential - not perfection. And we are here to help every step of the way so you feel comfortable through the process.

Level 3 Extended Diploma (2 years)

  • Minimum 5 GCSEs at Grade 9 – 4 (A*- C), or a Level 2 Diploma Merit grade in your subject.  

    To ensure that you qualify, it is highly desirable that you achieve at least a Grade 4/C or above in English and Maths.

  • Interview and portfolio or audition.
  • Minimum age: 16 years old.

Level 2 Diploma (1 year)

  • Minimum 4 GCSEs Grade 9 – 2 (previously A* – F)

    To ensure that you qualify, it is also highly desirable that you achieve at least a grade 4 / C or above in English or Maths.

  • Interview and portfolio or audition.
  • Minimum age: 16 years.

We are passionate about access to outstanding education. Every student comes to us at a different point in their journey. Students have a broad range of subject area experience, academic qualifications and personal circumstances.

One way to ensure you get the most out of the course is by making sure you start in the right place.

All our curriculum areas offer a Level 2 entry, which will provide you with an outstanding foundation in the subject before moving on to the two-year Level 3 course. 

You can start at Level 2 with lower GCSE grades (outlined above), or limited experience in the arts. 

If I study Level 2 & Level 3 will the course still be funded by the government?

The fees for the additional Level 2 year is funded by the Government in the same way, so you won’t have to pay additional course fees at any point in your diploma studies.

How do I know which level to start at?

Course leads will make a recommendation based on results - as well as meeting you and talking to you - if they think you would benefit from starting your studies at Level 2.

There is always some movement between groups early on in the first term, as you find your own level within the college. 

Will I automatically go onto Level 3 in my second year?

Almost all of our students progress from Level 2 onto our Level 3 courses - with many going on to thrive, and go on to study a degree after their diploma.

Girl at enrolling for her course. Light, airy space with plants in the foreground.

Start your application now

You can get your application started online today. Use the button below to complete a five-minute online registration process, and start your application now.

Apply online

Term Dates (FE)

Term Enrolment
Dates (2024 - 2025) Wednesday 28th August - Wednesday 4th September
Term Autumn Term
Dates (2024 - 2025) Thursday 5th September - Friday 20th December
Term Half Term
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November
Term Spring Term
Dates (2024 - 2025) Tuesday 7th January - Friday 11th April
Term Half Term
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 17th February - Friday 21st February
Term Summer Term
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 28th April - Friday 4th July
Term Half Term
Dates (2024 - 2025) Monday 26th May - Friday 30th May

News stories

How to apply

Everything you need to know about applying to HCA - and starting the next stage of your journey as an artist

Apply now

Book an open day

Chat to students. Tour the campus. Drop in on some free workshops. Our Open Days are a great way to get a feel for what makes HCA special.

Book an open day

Related courses

View again

Accessibility settings

Use the options below to change your accessibility settings.

View accessibility policy

Allow Youtube content?

This content is provided by Youtube, we need to ask for your permission before viewing as they may be using cookies or other technology out of our control. You can read more in their policy before accepting. To view please continue below.

Accept