Course Summary

Illustration is an important part of our visual heritage and culture. From childhood and throughout our lives, illustration helps us all make sense of a complicated world. It is a communication tool that entertains, describes, inspires, explains and educates. As an illustrator, you will be called on to create imaginary but believable worlds as the visual stimulus for entertainment, education or persuasion. These worlds can be brought to life on anything from the printed page to the digital screen, including diverse and unexpected places within the urban landscape in advertising, murals or other installations. This inspiring course explores both traditional and high-tech approaches to picture making and visual communication. You will participate in a wide range of workshops and projects that will encourage you to develop a unique visual language and personal style, before applying it to a range of outcomes such as: graphic novels, picture books, zines and small press publications, maps, prints and more. Throughout this broad-based course, you’ll focus on drawing and image-making processes that create imaginative and innovative ways to communicate to a variety of audiences. **Industry Links** A range of expert visiting practitioners contribute to the course. These have included award winning Illustrators: Clive Hicks-Jenkins, Jonny Hannah, Rebecca Gibbon, Matthew Richardson, Laura Carlin, Ian Murray, Geoffrey Grandfield, war artist Xavier Pick and master printmakers Charles Shearer and Nick Morley. Live project briefs will challenge you to apply your skills in new and interesting ways. In recent years, HCA students have also gained great exposure and experience at Hay Festival – providing large format illustrations, and delivering workshops to the public. **After this Course** The majority of our graduates enter employment within the creative sector as freelance illustrators or designers. Some form small group partnerships to share knowledge, skills and resources and support each other as they develop their practice, whilst others gravitate to postgraduate study or towards teaching. **Highlights** 1. Small group teaching in a friendly studio environment. 2. Regular drawing classes and print workshops. 3. Individual workspaces that you can make your own. 4. Exceptional access to tutorial support and expert technical advice. 5. Inspiring, high profile visiting practitioners. 6. Develop your own visual language and evolve a unique style.

Course Details - 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.

Course Details – Assessment Method

Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.

Course Details – Professional Bodies

Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.

How to Apply

26 January 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: W220

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

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)

Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.

International applicants

Standard Qualification Requirements

We would normally expect applicants to have achieved 80 UCAS Tariff Points at entry but whilst qualifications are important, our offers are not solely based on academic results and we may make offers based on other evidence of talent and suitability for the course. Portfolio submission (where applicable) and successful interview or audition are required.

Mature applicants with relevant experience will be considered. Portfolio and interview also required. Applicants whose first language is not English and require a Tier 4 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: www.gov.uk/tier-4-general-visa.

Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.

English language requirements

Test Grade AdditionalDetails
English Language Entry Requirement Information are not listed for this Course.

Unistats information

Student satisfaction : 85%

Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs): 66%

Go onto work and study: 83%

Fees and funding

England 9000.0 Year 1
Northern Ireland 9000.0 Year 1
Scotland 9000.0 Year 1
Wales 9000.0 Year 1
Channel Islands 9000.0 Year 1
Republic of Ireland 9000.0 Year 1
International 12000.0 Year 1

Additional Fee Information

In addition to the degree fees, the nature of creative arts practice means you will need to allow for some additional costs, such as for materials you choose to use in the production of work and activities, and for trips to external events and exhibitions. The courses at HCA have been designed to minimise the impact of additional costs; all course leaders have an annual budget and some trips and materials will be 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 scale of work and materials chosen or other related costs. Students spend different amounts depending on the areas in which they specialise and individual choices. 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 other resources. The college shop includes many specialist materials at good value prices and much digital equipment can be borrowed from the media stores at no cost to students. HCA students are offered an optional Adobe Creative Cloud subscription for use outside of college hours. In the 2021-22 academic year this cost was £16.24 per month. Please note 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 2019 -20 academic year, the planned trip was to Copenhagen and the cost to students was £385. This fee included a shared dormitory room, UK airport transfers, overseas airport transfer and insurance. Optional single rooms were available for an additional £200. 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 & be from a low income family (£25,000 a year or less). Each cash bursary is £1,000 which students receive in their first year only. Care Leaver Bursary: Care leavers will receive the Cash Bursary of £1,000 in their first year, and will receive a Care Leaver Bursary of £1,000 in both their second and third year. The same eligibility criteria will apply as for the HCA cash bursary. 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: A first year bursary of £500 is available to students from our progression partner colleges* who have successfully completed their Level 3 or equivalent course within the last 2 academic years and progress on to a degree programme at HCA. *Partner Colleges include: Bath College, Belfast Metropolitan College, Bourneville, South & city College, Cirencester College, City of Bristol College, Coleg y Cymoedd, Dudley College, Gloucestershire College – ALL Campuses, Gower College, Grantham College, Halesowen College, Heart of Worcestershire College, Hereford College of Arts, Herefordshire & Ludlow College (HCT) (Ludlow College), Hereford Sixth Form College, Newent Sixth Form College, NWRC Derry, NPTC group, Plumpton College, Shrewsbury College, South Gloucestershire & Stroud College, Evesham College, Malvern Hills College, Stratford Upon Avon College, Swindon College & Worcester Sixth Form College Internal Progression Bursary: All students who have studied and 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

Folly Lane
Address2 are not listed for this Course.
Address3 are not listed for this Course.
Hereford
HR1 1LT

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