18Apr
UndergraduateCourse summary
BA(Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts at Hereford College of Arts is a hands-on degree for ambitious makers who want to explore materials, process and meaning across wood, metal, ceramics and textiles. You will develop a material-led practice rooted in craft skill and design thinking. By learning how to create innovative, sustainable and culturally informed outcomes - whether sculptural, functional, product-led or experimental you will develop your own unique creative practice. You will combine traditional craft techniques with contemporary approaches to design, exploring how objects communicate ideas. Supported by practicing makers and technical specialists, you will build confidence working across 3D making, fabrication, drawing, material experimentation, and research-led studio projects. You will: ● Develop core practical skills across wood, metal, ceramics and textiles ● Build confidence in prototyping, modelling, making and workshop processes ● Explore cultural, ethical and environmental themes through project work ● Experiment with traditional craft methods alongside digital tools and fabrication ● Work on live briefs, exhibitions and external-facing projects ● Build a portfolio aligned to your creative ambitions FACILITIES Learn in specialist workshops equipped for wood, metal, textiles, ceramics, fabrication, digital processes and material experimentation. Workshops support both traditional and contemporary craft practices, enabling you to prototype ideas, develop technical fluency and explore cross-material making. Equipment includes but is not limited to wood, metal and plaster lathes, Resin & PLA 3D printers, Laser Cutters, Sandblaster, Enameling, ceramic and glass kilns, steam bending and welding facilities. INDUSTRY LINKS Work with makers, designers and cultural organisations through live briefs, collaborations and professional projects. Past partners include the Fritz Fryer, National Trust, Hereford Cathedral, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair and Craft Festival. Visiting practitioners, talks and masterclasses help you gain real-world insight into craft careers. CAREERS Graduates progress into roles such as designer-maker, product or material designer, craft practitioner, studio technician, workshop manager or independent creative entrepreneur. Many build portfolio careers that combine commissions, exhibitions, production work and collaboration with cultural organisations. Others move into curation, arts administration, education or postgraduate study. Our students have won awards such as Colour in Design, Best Stand, New Designers and Green Grads Awards. They have also been featured in The Guardian and Craft Magazine. SUSTAINABILITY + ETHICAL PRACTICE Explore sustainability through responsible material sourcing, recycled or low-impact materials, circular-making principles, longevity and repair, and environmentally aware working methods. Projects may investigate the cultural role of craft in addressing ecological and social issues. This is supported by lectures from professionals such as Katie Treggiden and Ute Decker. EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES Students may exhibit work at internal and public-facing showcases, take part in national craft festivals, enter competitions, contribute to community or heritage projects and participate in external collaborations. Exhibitions include London Design Week, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair, Craft Festival and National Trust Sites. VISITING SPEAKERS Talks, demonstrations and critiques with contemporary makers, designers and material specialists support your professional development, broadening understanding of studio practice, commissioning, industry positioning and emerging craft contexts. Guest lectures have included Ken Eastman, Gareth Neal, Juliette Bigley, Jin Eui Kim and Shelley Goldsmith. MODULES For information about the course modules: www.hca.ac.uk/courses/bahons-contemporary-design-crafts
Modules
From your first day at HCA you will work as a creative, developing your skills and your own voice through a series of projects. You will develop your creative practice, practical skills alongside your critical awareness and theoretical knowledge. You will study a range of modules that build your knowledge and confidence and total 120 credits each year. YEAR ONE: Practice in Context 1 (20 Credits), Practice 1 (30), Practice 2 (30), Foundations for Learning (20). Skills 1 (20) YEAR TWO: Practice in Context 2 (20), Practice 3 (30), Practice 4 (30), Professional Practice 1 (20), Skills 2 (20) YEAR THREE: Practice in Context 3 (20), Practice 5 (30), Practice 6 (60), Professional Practice 2 (10)
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Course does not award QTS
How to apply
14Jan
This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application codes
- Course code:
- W900
- Institution code:
- H18
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
International applicants
International applicants must be 18 years of age as at the 01 September in the year of entry.
Entry requirements
Qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff - 96 - 112 points
Mature applicants with relevant experience will be considered. Applicants whose first language is not English and require a 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: https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.
Additional entry requirements
Portfolio
You will be invited to share a portfolio of your work related to this course. A selection of 20 images showcasing concepts, inspirations, sketches and finished work which can presented in person or digitally via a PowerPoint presentation or PDF document. You will receive an email with full guidance on this after we have received your application. In some cases, we may contact you to arrange a further chat. Don’t worry, this will be an informal meeting either face-to-face or online, to find out more about you and your work.
Student Outcomes
Operated by the Office for Students
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
Go onto work and study
The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9275 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9275 | Year 1 |
| International | £14630 | Year 1 |
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
In addition to the degree fees, the nature of creative arts practice means you'll need to allow for additional costs, such as the materials you choose to use in your work and for trips to external events & exhibitions. The courses at HCA have been designed to minimise the impact of additional costs; all course leaders have an annual budget with some trips & materials fully funded by the College or heavily subsidised. Typically, a student will choose to spend an additional £250 in the first year, £375 in the second year & £400 in their final year, depending on the nature of their work and materials chosen.
We appreciate that not all students can invest the same money in their work, and staff assessing it will not judge work by the cost of resources. The college shop includes many specialist materials at good value and digital equipment can be borrowed from the media stores at no cost to students.
Students are offered an optional Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for use outside of college. In the 2024-25 academic year this cost £16.24 per month. NB: Adobe Creative Cloud is provided free to use for any student working within the college.
Students on all courses may also have the chance to take part in optional trips that require payments towards their costs. Again, non-attendance will not incur assessment penalties, though trips are designed to help students develop their practice. There is an optional annual cross-course residential trip abroad. In the 2023-24 academic year, the trip was a four-day visit to Paris at a cost to students of £425. This fee included a shared dorm room and all travel costs from Hereford to Paris including Eurostar tickets.
*Support Available from Hereford College of Arts*
The HCA Cash Bursary: is designed to benefit students who are starting Higher Education for the first time; are ordinarily resident in England; the student must be liable to pay the full £9,275 tuition fee for their course and be from a low-income family (£25,000 a year or less). The student must also be in receipt of the full Higher Education Maintenance Loan. Each cash bursary is £1,000 which students receive in their first year only.
*Care Leaver Bursary*
Care leavers will be offered free accommodation with City Heart at Station Approach accommodation for their first year only. Care leaver students will be able to stay there until the end of their first year (not over the Summer) and will also receive the Cash Bursary of £1,000. Care leaver students will also receive a Care Leaver Bursary of £1,000 in both their second and third year. Evidence of being a care leaver must be in the form of an original letter showing Care Leaver Status from your local authority.
*Partner Colleges Progression Bursary*
A Progression Bursary of £500 for full-time study or £250 for part-time is available to students from our progression partner colleges*, in their first year only, who have successfully completed a Level 3 or equivalent course within the last 2 academic years and progress on to a degree programme at HCA.
*Partner Colleges: Bath College, Belfast Met, Bourneville, South & City College, Cirencester College, City of Bristol College, Coleg y Cymoedd, Dudley College, Evesham College, Gloucestershire College – ALL Campuses, Gower College, Grantham College, Halesowen College, Heart of Worcestershire College, Hereford College of Arts, Herefordshire & Ludlow College, Hereford Sixth Form, Malvern Hills College, Newent Sixth Form, NWRC Derry, NPTC group, Plumpton College, Shrewsbury College, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College, Stratford Upon Avon College, Swindon College & Worcester Sixth Form.
*Internal Progression Bursary*
All students who have successfully completed a Level 3 course within the last two academic years at HCA and progress to undergraduate study at HCA will be eligible to receive a bursary of £500 for full-time study or £250 for Part-time in their first year only.
Provider information
Hereford College of Arts
Folly Lane
Hereford
HR1 1LT