Course summary

If your passion is for illustration, graphic design, graphic art or printmaking and you dream of a career as an illustrator or graphic designer, at Blackpool School of Arts we are creating ways to make our higher education qualifications even more accessible. We know that not everyone can commit to three years of study and with this in mind, we're introducing a staged approach. This enables you to study a year at a time, starting with an HNC (Level 4), moving to an HND (Level 5) and finally finishing with a BA (Hons) Top-up programme (Level 6), which will arrive in 2024/2025. You can complete the entire programme in three years or stop at the end of any year, take a break, then pick up again where you left off. This new approach means that on the completion of each year of the programme, you will receive a formal, industry recognised qualification. This new Art & Design programme cluster represents a fresh approach to Higher Education at Blackpool School of Arts. The first year of the programme (HNC, L4) covers all aspects of the visual arts, with core skills being developed and refined across the visual arts as part of a cluster, giving you a broad and comprehensive experience. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in your chosen pathway, choosing from Graphic Design & Illustration, Commercial Arts Practice and Sustainable Fashion & Costume Pathways, where you will learn the specialist skills to reach your career goals. You will work with peers from a range of creative backgrounds and with a range of career aspirations, collaborating and working together, as in the industry, whilst also specialising in key areas for your chosen career pathway. This will develop the industry skills you need to enable you to progress to the second year of the programme (HND, L5), where you will specialise further in your pathway. From 2024/2025, and subject to validation, applicants will be able to progress to a full BA (Hons) top-up programme in the and achieve a full bachelor's degree here at Blackpool School of Arts. These programmes have been developed in Blackpool by creative industry experts and in line with the needs of local and national industries to ensure you are able to gain the skills necessary to reach your goal of a career in the creative industries. The HNC and HND create the opportunity to upskill or re-skill and enter the industry at a variety of levels and in a range roles.