General HE Enrolment Information

Student Finance England (SFE), Wales (SFW) and Northern Ireland (SFNI) provide financial support to students with learning difficulties, disabilities and long-term health issues through the provision of individual Disabled Students’ Allowances. These are not means-tested and do not have to be paid back. Provision may include one-to-one Specialist Study Skills, Specialist Mentoring, and software/hardware to support individual needs. Other regions in the United Kingdom provide different funded support for disabled students. Information is available online.

More information about Disabled Students Allowances (DSA) is available at: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas.

Any support provided through Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) may be delivered by the Hereford College of Arts specialist Academic Mentoring Team or through an external provider, depending on needs and the Student Finance allocation system. Support sessions can be either face-to-face or via Microsoft Teams.

Hereford College of Arts provides a wide range of specialist support for students. As you decide where you wish to study, you should take into consideration any study support needs that you may have. You must make sure we are aware of any particular difficulties/disabilities you may have so that appropriate advice and support can be provided. 

We would recommend that you have a recent Diagnostic Assessment Report regarding any difficulties you have. This isn’t a requirement for most difficulties, but our experience suggests that it is an advantage in any DSA application and helps ensure the provision of appropriate support. A post-16 diagnostic report for dyslexia is required. Please contact Academic Mentoring for advice on what evidence is needed if you are not sure.

Diagnostic Assessment Reports will need to be written by a professional, such as an Educational Psychologist, a medical consultant, or a Specialist Teacher. If you are currently in education, academic support staff should be able to help and advise you about arranging this assessment. Without appropriate evidence, there will be a delay in some support we are able to provide. 

If you are not currently in education, you should contact Hereford College of Arts to discuss the assessment process with a member of the Academic Mentoring Team (AMT), who are here to help and give advice.

There are a number of difficulties that may need to be assessed. They might include:

• Physical/mobility difficulties
• Mental health issues
• Difficulties with reading, writing, research and personal organisation 
• Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) - dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia 
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Chronic health conditions that impact your studying
• Visual impairment
• Hearing Impairment

Note: If your difficulty/disability is not listed above, please contact Academic Mentoring for advice (contact details provided below), as correct assessment of your difficulties may entitle you to a level of financial support from Student Finance through the Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) even if you do not think you are disabled.

We strongly recommend you begin the Disabled Students’ Allowance application process as soon as possible as it is a lengthy procedure. We may be unable to provide support without this process having been completed and approved.

Once you have accepted a place at Hereford College of Arts, and your DSA has been approved, it would be useful to provide Academic Mentoring with copies of your Diagnostic Assessment Report, a copy of your Needs Assessment Report (this is part of the DSA application process), and a copy of your DSA confirmation letter.

Student Finance may allocate your support to an external provider. The Academic Mentoring Team is happy to help you with putting this in place, so it is very important to let the Academic Support Manager have as much information as possible.

Further information about Disabled Students’ Allowances is available at: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview

The Academic Mentoring Team will discuss appropriate Reasonable Adjustments for any student disclosing a disability or learning difficulty following enrolment. Relevant evidence will be required to put these in place. 

If you would like to discuss your additional needs or eligibility for the Disabled Students’ Allowances, or you have any queries about assessment of your difficulties, or the kinds of support that Hereford College of Arts can offer you, please contact Academic Mentoring at:

Email: academicmentoring@hca.ac.uk 

Telephone: 01432 273359, extension 510 

(8.30am – 4.00pm, Monday - Friday). 

At HCA we recognise that your wellbeing is an important factor contributing to your overall health and happiness, and is something we aim to support you with throughout your journey with us. Therefore, we have Melissa Williams (Wellbeing Lead and Safeguarding & Prevent Manager) and Sam Marsh (Wellbeing Mentor) who are available to offer advice and support throughout your time with us. 

Melissa, Sam and your course staff will work with you to identify and address your wellbeing needs in order for you to reach your full potential and enjoy your time with us.

We have a self-referral system where you are able to request a time when we can talk through anything that is concerning you. The chats are informal and non-judgemental and can be about a range of issues, however large or small, that may be bothering you. We are also able to make referrals to our college counsellor who works with us one day a week and Wellbeing Practitioners from the Wellbeing & Emotional Support Team (NHS) who can offer CBT type interventions. 

We will be offering workshops and talks based on wellbeing issues and where relevant inviting other service providers to College to do the same. 

We recognise that although exciting, transition to college can leave you feeling a little anxious.  Rest assured, we acknowledge this and will work with you to ensure your first few days and weeks are as stress free as possible. If, in the days before you begin your journey with us, you feel particularly anxious please do email one of us for a quick chat, we are here to help. 

For returning students we realise that many of you may be away from your usual support networks therefore we will be updating the wellbeing pages on StudentNet with links and signposting you to external support providers. 24/7 Support from Health Assured is also available throughout the summer period. Heath Assured can help with a wide range of issues from stress and anxiety to financial wellbeing and much more. You can contact them on: 0800 028 3766 and you can access their Wisdom App using our unique code: MHA268858. 

Of course, it goes without saying that if an issue is urgent, you must use the usual emergency numbers, 111 and / or 999. Please don’t worry about using these numbers the services are there to help. 

We look forward to meeting you, welcoming you back and supporting you during your time with us. 

You can contact Melissa on m.williams@hca.ac.uk and Sam at s.marsh@hca.ac.uk

Hereford College of Arts offers access to two specialist library and resource centres dedicated to all aspects of the creative arts. There are libraries on both the College Road and Folly Lane campuses. They jointly offer access to over 30,000 books, subscriptions to journals and magazines, audio-visual materials and access to online resources. 

Our service is entirely customer-focused and aims to support and inspire your written and practical work through all stages and levels of study, and to provide a supportive relaxed environment to learn. 

• Friendly professional staff with backgrounds in art and design are available to help with your queries
• We subscribe to a number of specialist electronic resources, which are also available off campus, the JSTOR digital library, the Bloomsbury Design, Applied Arts, Popular Music and Screen Studies platforms, Vogue archives back to 1892, e-books and e-journals 
• We are also a member of the British Library’s Inter-Library Loan and Document Supply Service, allowing students to order books and journals from the British Library and other academic libraries.
• The libraries have quiet study spaces, colour printing, scanning and photocopying, access to college WiFi and a number of networked drop-in computers installed with the latest creative software 
• The Library’s page on Moodle (the college intranet) includes links to library information and additional resources such as past dissertations, recommended websites and research tips.
• HCA Library’s online catalogue can be viewed from any PC, tablet or mobile. You can access the catalogue directly at http://hlcollege.cirqahosting.com or through the Library page on StudentNet. You can also renew your loans, make reservations and make reading lists once you have signed into your account using the ID number on your HCA student card and your PIN number – which is initially set as the last 4 digits of your ID number.

Contact us on library@hca.ac.uk  or follow us on https://www.instagram.com/hcalibrary 

Folly Lane Campus: 

Folly Lane, Hereford HR1 1LT

01432 273359 ext 451

Term-time library opening hours: 

Monday to Friday - 10.00am to 2.00pm

College Road Campus:

College Road, Hereford HR1 1EB

01432 376888 ext 549

Term-time library opening hours: 

Monday to Thursday - 9.00am to 7.00pm

Friday - 9.00am to 4.30pm

Permits

Hereford College of Arts understands that parking on campus is limited and that it is therefore essential that the College manages its limited parking spaces, as well as actively encourages sustainable travel. The aim is to ensure that a fair and considered approach to students requesting to park on campus is carried out.

Application Process

Students must complete the application form requesting a permit. Application forms are available from reception at College Road Campus or can be dowloaded by clicking here.

The vehicles MOT and Tax status will be checked via the DVLA website, and the vehicle MUST be taxed and have a valid MOT.  We will not issue a permit that is not taxed and has a valid MOT at the point of application.

Permit Costs

For all other permits, there is a one-off cost of £25. 

The permit is valid for the current academic year (or part thereof) in which the application is being made.

The payment will need to be made after an application is deemed to be successful and at the point of collection of the parking pass.

The pass will not be issued until full payment is made, and you will not be authorised to park in the car parks until your application is approved.

Consideration to Neighbours and Residents

If you do not park on campus but still choose to drive and park in the neighbouring, primarily residential, areas surrounding all College sites, please observe the following guidelines:

Observe legal parking restrictions: this includes Residents’ Only schemes, time limitations and other restrictions including safe access for emergency vehicles, parking near pedestrian crossings, bus stops or traffic lights. Clearly, we do not enforce such restrictions and whether or not you receive a penalty or enforcement notice is at your own risk. Please bear in mind that these restrictions are there for a purpose and their infringement is at best annoying and inconvenient for residents and at worst can be dangerous.

Use consideration at all times: do not obstruct access for residents e.g. by parking across drives and entrances; do not park on private property or in reserved spaces; park considerately and appropriately e.g. not on pavements or footpaths.

We value our good relations with our neighbours and parking is the most potentially contentious issue that aggravates these relations. While there are undeniable pressures on parking space in the area, most problems arise from a lack of courtesy, consideration and common sense.

Terms & Conditions

If you do travel to our Folly Lane campus, please note that Hereford College of Arts shares the campus with Hereford and Ludlow College and Hereford Sixth Form College. All three Colleges operate a different car parking permit scheme.  

Please note that the car park at the front of the College at Folly Lane is reserved for visitors and Blue Badge Holders. Permit holders are not authorised to park in these spaces.  These spaces are also patrolled and monitored.

Penalty Charge Notices

The full management of all of our car parks is carried out by CPSM, they will enforce parking restrictions on all of the car parks between 08:00hrs – 16:00hrs Monday to Friday.

You may receive a penalty charge notice if:

• The correct permit is not clearly displayed on the car for which it was issued.
• You are not parked in a marked bay.
• You are parked on double yellow lines, obstructing access and/or fire exits.
• You are parked in a disabled space without a disability permit clearly displayed.

The Penalty Notice is £100 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days).

Please note that the College has no power to overturn or cancel a parking notice if issued; all appeals need to be submitted directly to CSPM.

Lost Permits

Only one permit application per student is allowed and the charge for replacing lost permits will be £10. 

Students are permitted to receive a new permit should they change their car but will need to return their old permit in order to do so.

Please note: If you are parked in an area belonging to one of the other Colleges, e.g. HLC, HSFC or RNC, you may receive a penalty charge notice – these car parks are subject to each Colleges’ own terms & conditions, so different penalty charges may apply.

Due to the lack of car parking space, it is in your interest to consider alternative transport arrangements to and from College. A permit does not guarantee you a parking space. Car parking permits are issued at the discretion of the College and may be cancelled or withdrawn.

Users of College car parks do so at their own risk. The College will not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to vehicles or their contents.

It is recommended that you register with a local GP while you are studying at Hereford College of Arts. That way you can receive emergency care if you need it, and access health services quickly and easily while you’re away. This is especially important if you have an ongoing health condition, particularly one that needs medicine, such as asthma, diabetes or epilepsy. 

Listed below are doctors' surgeries that are nearest to the campus. You will have to formally register with them as an NHS patient by submitting a registration form to them.

You can either register online by clicking the following link How to register with a GP surgery - NHS or you can download it using the following link Register with a GP surgery

Forms may vary slightly, and some practices use their own version.

Hereford Medical Group, Station Approach, Hereford, HR1 1BB

01432 272175

www.herefordmedicalgroup.co.uk

Cantilupe Surgery, 51 St Owen Street, Hereford, HR1 2JB

01432 268031

www.cantilupe.com 

Wargrave House Surgery, 23 St Owen Street, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR1 2JB

01432 272285

www.wargravehousesurgery.co.uk

Belmont Medical Centre, Eastholme Ave, Belmont, Hereford HR2 7XT

01432 354366

www.belmontmedicalcentre.co.uk

You may already be registered to vote at your current address. If you wish to, you can update your address to your new term-time address.

Please check https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote for more details.

We hope that you will be living your best creative life at HCA, but you will also be planning for your future. Your tutors will help you research opportunities, careers and progression routes during your time at HCA and downloading the ERIC app is a great way to start.  ERIC is a free careers discovery platform helping you break into the creative, digital and tech industries and become work-ready.

The app matches you to opportunities near you, internships, events, training schemes, courses and more. Just download the app, tell ERIC about your creative interests and location, and we'll match you to hundreds of opportunities in your area.

The library is home to 140+ bitesize career talks from real people working across the creative industries , watch on demand, whenever you want.

Download ERIC app on iphone - Apple Store

Download ERIC app on android - Play Store

Take time to review our 2026-27 Student Charter