Course summary
This course has an international reputation for its place at the forefront of education in forged metal design. Our graduates create original and cohesive bodies of work in hot, forged metal. It is a materials focussed programme with an emphasis on learning through doing. You will receive technical tuition as well as expert design guidance. You will explore the elemental processes of combining metal, fire, air and water to make original hot forged metal objects. The course encourages innovative thinking and skilled making across a breadth of practice – from architectural design, to interior products and sculpture. You will become an independent thinker and self-motivated maker. Over 3 years you will be equipped with all the skills and knowledge you need to earn your living through your creativity. You will develop technical skills with forged metal through both taught and self-directed projects. You will also learn to gather and analyse research material, then draw on this material and process it through different media as part of the design process. Your intellectual engagement with your practice will be nourished through regular discussion groups and seminars. You will benefit from talks by visiting lecturers from industry. You will be encouraged to articulate your ideas through written and visual presentations as well as verbally in one-to-one tutorials and peer groups. Practice in Context, a cultural studies programme, underpins your intellectual development and teaches invaluable critical skills. It will help you set your practice within a historical framework, and learn to examine other makers’ products and practices in order to constructively evaluate your own work and methods. Additionally, you will undertake projects that will guide you towards planning and promoting your own practice as a designer maker. Industry Links You will have opportunities to work to commission on external live briefs and develop experience of working to client requirements. Our ‘Masters of Metal’ lecture series is delivered by high-profile, national and international designers and artists, giving insights into their own design practice. You will also participate in specialist masterclasses from industry professionals. Recent contributors have included Roberto Giordani from Italy, Patrick Quinn from the USA and Francisco Gazitua from Chile. Students also participate in team forge events as Hereford Anvils’ such as: the World Championships of Blacksmithing, Stia, Italy - Helfstyn, Czech Republic - Ivano Frankivsk, Ukraine, and, have participated in ‘Transition’ exhibition, Ypres, Belgium (2016); Hereford Ferrous Festival (2022); and Bath Iron Festival (2018). After this Course Many graduates develop careers as self- employed practitioners - setting up design studios and workshops, and producing work ranging from large scale architectural forged metalwork to small gallery objects and utensils. Some use their skills to work for established smiths whilst continuing to evolve their own practice. Others gain experiences by becoming journeyman, working for smiths across the world. There are also possibilities to continue studying on a postgraduate programme, including HCA's own Contemporary Crafts MA. Highlights 1. Highly respected programme, at the forefront of contemporary forged metalwork practice. 2. Access to well-equipped studio spaces and specialist workshops (including wood, ceramics, textiles and 3D printing) which are staffed by experts in their fields. 3. Timetabled access to the National School of Blacksmithing (at Herefordshire & Ludlow College’s Rural Crafts Centre) for training at the fires and forging your designs. 4. You will curate and exhibit your work in a professional environment. 5. The programme has close relationships with other major international institutions, including the University of Gothenburg, HDK Steneby, Sweden, and the Southern Illinois University at Carbondale USA.
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)
How to apply
31Jan
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:
- W720
- Institution code:
- H18
- Campus name:
- Main Site
- Campus code:
- -
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
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 - 80 points
Mature applicants with relevant experience will be considered. Portfolio and interview also required. 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
Interview
Portfolio
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 | £9000 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £9000 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £9000 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £9000 | Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | £9000 | Year 1 |
| Republic of Ireland | £9000 | Year 1 |
| International | £15125 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
In addition to the degree fees, the nature of creative arts practice means you will 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. However, typically, a student will choose to spend an additional £250 in the first year, £375 in the second year and £400 in their final year, depending on the nature of their work and the materials chosen.
We appreciate that not all students will be able to invest the same money in their work, and staff assessing it will not judge work by the cost of materials or 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 2022-23 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 will 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 £9,000 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 a 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 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 College, 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 College, Malvern Hills College, Newent Sixth Form College, NWRC Derry, NPTC group, Plumpton College, Shrewsbury College, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College, Stratford Upon Avon College, Swindon College & Worcester Sixth Form College
**Internal Progression Bursary**
All students who have studied & 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 in their first year.
Provider information
Hereford College of Arts
Folly Lane
Hereford
HR1 1LT