Course contact details
Main Contact
Email:registry@hca.ac.uk
Phone:01432 273359
Fax: 01432 341099
Hereford College of Arts
Folly Lane
Hereford
HR1 1LT
Contemporary Design Crafts
- Bachelor of Arts (with Honours)
- 3 Years
- Full-Time
- 21 September 2027
- Undergraduate
- Main Site
- Awarded by:
- University of Wales Trinity Saint David (Prifysgol Cymru Y Drindod Dewi Sant)
Course 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 & meaning across wood, metal, ceramics & textiles. You will develop a material-led practice rooted in craft skill and design thinking, by learning how to create innovative, sustainable & 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 & textiles
● Build confidence in prototyping, modelling, making & workshop processes
● Explore cultural, ethical & environmental themes through project work
● Experiment with traditional craft methods alongside digital tools and fabrication
● Work on live briefs, exhibitions & 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 & material experimentation. Workshops support both traditional and contemporary craft practices, enabling you to prototype ideas, develop technical fluency & explore cross-material making. Equipment includes but is not limited to wood, metal & plaster lathes, Resin & PLA 3D printers, Laser Cutters, Sandblaster, Enameling, ceramic and glass kilns, steam bending & welding facilities.
INDUSTRY LINKS
Work with makers, designers & cultural organisations through live briefs, collaborations & professional projects. Past partners include the Fritz Fryer, National Trust, Hereford Cathedral, Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair & Craft Festival. Visiting practitioners, talks & 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 & critiques with contemporary makers, designers & material specialists support your professional development, broadening understanding of studio practice, commissioning, industry positioning & emerging craft contexts. Guest lectures have included Ken Eastman, Gareth Neal, Juliette Bigley, Jin Eui Kim & Shelley Goldsmith.
MODULES
For information about the course modules: www.hca.ac.uk/courses/bahons-contemporary-design-crafts
Subject to revalidation
Modules
Course 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
This course has limited vacancies, and is no longer accepting applications from some students. See the list below for where you normally live, to check if you're eligible to apply.
- Republic of Ireland does not have vacancies
- International does not have vacancies
- EU does not have vacancies
- United Kingdom does not have vacancies
Apply by
13 January 2027
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
Points of entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
- Year 1
- Year 2
Entry requirements
Typical qualification requirements
UCAS Tariff96-112
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.
Historical entry grades data
This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).
It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.
Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.
Not enough data available
We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.
Historical entry grades report
This report uses your grades to show how students with similar results have done when applying to this course in the past. Sometimes, there isn’t data for every possible set of grades. When that happens, universities and colleges occasionally fill in the gaps for sets of grades that are typically accepted.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
Per year tuition fees
| Location | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland | £9780 | |
| International | £15115 |
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
HCA offers support for care leavers and students from low-income families. Please contact finance@hca.ac.uk for further details.
Sponsorship information
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 £9,780 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 Aspire Student Living 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 years. Evidence of being a care leaver must be in the form of an original letter showing Care Leaver Status from your local authority.
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