Hereford College of Arts

• Location: Hereford, West Midlands, England,
• Age of students: from 16 years old,
• Type of study: mixed,
• Language of instruction: English.

HCA is a specialized arts college that is entirely focused on what creative students need. The atmosphere of HCA is conducive to natural collaboration and distinctive creative groups: it is the perfect place for young people to discover alternative perspectives on the world around them, surprising themselves and others.

Whether you want to pursue art, media, design, popular music, or the performing arts, Hereford College of Arts has you covered!

HCA has a vibrant and welcoming arts environment, and students are actively encouraged to participate in college and city life, and they help shape new and exciting cultural events. HCA students regularly exhibit their work at the college's annual summer exhibition, which is attended by thousands of visitors. Students of music and performing arts regularly put on performances on the basis of the college and at external venues. HCA students regularly attend specialty shows and conferences and have good connections with outside companies for further work and careers.

Hereford College of Arts has the following faculties:

• Art & Design,
• English
• Mathematics
• Music
• Digital Future and Interactive Media,
• Performing Arts.

Based on the available evidence, the TEF (Teacher Development System) panel concluded that HCA provides high quality teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. The college consistently exceeds the UK's stringent national requirements for the quality of higher education.

Hereford College of Arts provides students with the opportunity to stay at the Station Approach Hotel. The following types of rooms are offered here:

• Rooms with private bathrooms. The common space and kitchen will be shared between 4-7 guests.
• Studios. They provide complete independence from neighbors: the studio has its own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.

All studios and shared kitchens are equipped with toasters (or grills), kettles, microwaves, electric ovens, fridge freezers, hobs and a TV with smart TV technology. On-site laundry services, covered bicycle storage, and free property insurance are available.

At the request of students, the college will assist in finding private housing in neighboring cities through certified rental services.

The HCA has plenty of space for leisure and sports. For example, justacross the street from the College Road campus is the Point4 gym and entertainment club.

There are several running and cycling clubs in Hereford: students can go kayaking, canoeing or rafting, or rowing at the Hereford Rowing Club. Nature lovers can climb some of the UK's most scenic hills with the HCA Tourist Society. A short drive from the HCA is some of the UK's best mountain biking and rock climbing destinations, an outdoor skatepark with a series of bowling alleys and outdoor playgrounds, and a welcoming local scene.

For handicraft lovers, there is an opportunity to get acquainted with the excellent courses and membership of CUP Ceramics.

For movie lovers, the following are located in the vicinity of the college:

• the Odeon cinema, where you can watch the latest releases,
• Loft Cinema, where you can watch cult classics in leather chairs,
• Courtyard Cinema with a beautiful bar where you can grab a bite to eat during intermission.

There are some good, truly independent festivals in Herefordshire that you will want to attend:

• El Dorado, a music festival founded by the creators of Cirque du Soul, prides itself on providing a fully immersive club evening experience in the deer park on the castle grounds.
• Nozstock is one of the UK's most independent music festivals. The Guardian often names this festival as the best in the UK. 
• Borderlines is an incredible film festival that takes place annually at venues across the county in February and March. In addition to the brilliantly composed program, the festival includes performances by filmmakers.
• Hereford Indie Cuisine is a two-day celebration of street food and music in the city centre.

HCA (Hereford College of Arts) operates from two distinctive and well-equipped campuses in close proximity to each other, providing a comprehensive learning environment for its students:

1. Folly Lane Campus: Situated on Folly Lane, this campus is home to various facilities, including lecture halls, the Folly Arts Theatre, Finance and Registry offices, and Teaching and Student Services. It is primarily dedicated to college-level courses for students aged 16 to 19 in disciplines such as art, design, media, performing arts, and music. Additionally, the campus features workshops for various creative mediums, such as textiles, 3D design, metals, printing, ceramics, and IT. Folly Lane boasts a vibrant art space, a main entrance with public areas, a café, and exhibition spaces. The campus seamlessly integrates landscaped gardens and outdoor areas into its design, serving as a venue for exhibitions and events.

2. College Road Campus: This campus, formerly the Royal National College building, provides an ideal setting for an independent art school. Located on College Road, it serves as a central hub for the university-level community. The campus is conveniently surrounded by affordable student housing options. It has undergone renovations and adaptations to create studios, workshops, a library, photography studios, shops, darkrooms, and IT facilities, including a significant number of Mac computers and printing equipment. Social spaces are plentiful, and the campus offers a spacious hall suitable for sports and recreational activities, as well as its dining facilities.

By offering students access to these well-designed campuses, HCA aims to provide an enriching educational experience across a range of creative disciplines while fostering a sense of community and creativity.

The academic year at Hereford College of Arts runs from September to June. The year is divided into 3 trimesters, between which vacations are organized:

• Autumn trimester (September – December),
• Spring trimester (January – March),
• Summer trimester (April – June).

Additional costs:

• Registration fee,
• Visa fee,
• Transfer
• Residence
• Nutrition
• Transport
• Educational materials and stationery,
• Exams
• Extracurricular activities.

The application process for a place at the HCA is quite simple, for this the candidate needs to take the following steps:

1. Find out more about the course you are interested in.
2. Leave a request to the admissions committee: name of the course, year of admission (when you plan to enroll), full name, nationality, contact details.
3. Upon receipt of the request, the college will send an application form: you will need to provide additional information that the admissions committee will need to consider the candidacy.
4. Provide a portfolio of your work.
5. Pass the interview.
6. Upon successful completion of all the steps, the candidate will receive a welcome letter from the college.

All applications should be submitted through the University and College Application Service (UCAS).

HCA has a career development program, information, consulting, and referral services accredited by Matrix Standard. There are a number of staff available to provide students with free information, advice and guidance to help them make the right decisions about their future careers before they start college, during the programme, and when they graduate. 

Hereford College of Arts is committed to supporting students' career advancement after completing a program of study, this includes employment, further or higher education after college.

The ways in which the HCA prepares students for their next steps after graduation are:

• Face-to-face instruction (in college),
• Performances by employers or creatives in the industry,
• Master classes from invited masters,
• Use of Hardware/Software Resources.

Hereford College of Arts has the following basic requirements for applicants:

• Academic qualification (diploma of education),
• Level of English language proficiency (supporting certificates),
• Portfolio of works (in PDF or PowerPoint format, or an active link to a personal blog with works),
• Successful completion of the interview.

There are several types of scholarships at HCA:

• Of an applied nature,
• Integration
• Opening
• Teaching and learning.

Scholarship payments apply to all creative spaces, workshops, studios and lecture halls. The college values creative practice – both as research and as a way of communicating and exploring complex ideas in innovative ways.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision