Information for Parents, Carers & Supporters: Visting campus

Name: Hereford College of Arts
Price range: $

Open Events, personal tours and public exhibitions are all great ways to get a feel for life on campus at HCA. Here is some useful information to know before attending.

Open Events and Personal Tours

Throughout the year the college runs Open Events for prospective students. These are a great chance to visit our campuses, meet academic staff and chat to current students.

Choosing where to study is a big decision in a young person's life and many students attend with friends or family for support to get their advice.

Everyone is welcome on our campus. We don't cap the number of guests students can bring - but we do ask that give us an idea of how many people will be attending when you book.

Most Open Events are held on Saturdays, although some of are scheduled during the week or on evenings to provide flexibility around work commitments.

Things to consider at an Open Event

1. How does your young person learn best

Asking questions about the course format, access to teaching staff and how the course is assessed are a good way to help students understand if the style of learning is a good match for them.

2. What facilities can they use

When you take a campus tour, try to talk to Technical Demonstrators about how the kit available supports students to explore the subject - and how much access they have to different workshops and studios.

3. How they will be supported through challenges

Most students will experience some challenges at some point during their studies - but they might not want to talk about that on an open day. Academic staff and support staff will be able to fill you in on what's in place at HCA to support students through any tough times.

4. What goes into a good application

The best applications are good because they represent the applicant - not because they are perfect. However course staff will be able to give students an idea of how to put together an application or portfolio that makes the most of their talents.

5. What technical skills can you learn

While skills profiles change over time, staff will be able to give you an overview of the technical and professional skills that make their students stand out to employers.

6. How will the course nurture their individuality

Originality is vital in the arts. Students and staff will be able to tell you how HCA's courses are designed to help students find their confidence as an artist, and develop a portfolio that stands out.

7. What kind of community do they want

There will be moments where student ambassadors will be able to talk one-on-one or in small groups with prospective students. They will the best people to talk about the student community and life outside the studios.

How to find us

HCA has two campuses, Folly Lane and College Road. They are a short walk apart - and easily accessible by car, or by public transport.

For Open Events:

All Degree, Postgraduate and Foundation Diploma Open Events happen at College Road.
All Post-16 Open Events at Folly Lane.

Folly Lane

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Folly Lane Campus

College Road Campus

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College Road Campus

By public transport

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 its exterior - that's Station Approach.

What you need to bring

You don't need to bring anything to our Open Events. They are simply here for you to get more information about the college and get a sense if it would be a good fit for your student.

Some of our events may include drop-in workshops or portfolio reviews - but these will always be optional, and you will receive information about that when you book.

Our outreach and admin teams will be on-hand to answer any questions you might have about subjects like student finance, accommodation and the application process.

Feel free to bring any questions with you, or if you want to sit down for a chat about about a specific topic, just let us know in advance and we can ensure we have an specialist for you to talk to.

Upcoming Open Events

College Road Campus

BA(Hons) Artist Blacksmithing Open Day

11:00am - 3:00pm

10 June 2025 - 10 June 2025

degree show 2024 - two students standing with Head of School of Materials and Design, Delyth Done

College Road Campus

Degree Level Open Day

10:00am - 2:00pm

14 June 2025 - 14 June 2025

College Road Campus

Foundation Diploma in Art & Design / Portfolio Open Day

6:00pm - 7:30pm

24 June 2025 - 24 June 2025

Folly Lane Campus

Post 16 Open Day

6:00pm - 7:30pm

25 June 2025 - 25 June 2025

What to expect on an Open Event

For more information on format, FAQs and booking links, visit our Open Event pages here.

Open Events

Personal Tours

As an alternative to an Open Event we also offer personal campus tours. These are a great options if:

You prefer a smaller-scale experience.
You weren't able to attend any of the available dates, and want to see the campus.
You are applying for a degree or foundation diploma in the summer.
You have already applied for our degree course and want to familiarise yourself with the campus before starting.

The format for personal tours may change slightly depending on if you are looking to book in term-time or during the academic holidays - however they will last between 30 and 60 minutes.

All personal tours are led by a member of your chosen course team, or a member of our outreach team.

This format gives you a chance to see the campus facilities while talking about the course in a more relaxed setting.

If you have any specific questions (for example on bursaries, or wellbeing support) that you wanted to discuss in more depth it may also be possible to connect you with the relevant member of our staff team, provided we know in advance.

To book a Personal Tour, simply email our Outreach Team using the button below.

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