BA(Hons) Contemporary Design Crafts

As part of your Contemporary Design Craft Degree, you will explore the interface of new and old technologies in the intellectual and creative context of an arts college. 

We are at the forefront of education in multidisciplinary design, participating in a vibrant community of practice. You will have the unique opportunity to learn to use a wide range of materials and combine them with creative design skills and critical thinking.  

In one day you can experience the materiality of Wood, Metal, Textile and Clay, and then switch to exploring design possibilities in our new £1m Digital Skills Centre.

You’ll discover design tools such as laser cutters, 3D printers and scanners and a professional suite of software to enable you to visualise, iterate and test outcomes quickly, and to convey your intention before bringing them to life back in the workshops. The next day you’ll be drawing and designing in your dedicated space in the design studio followed by an afternoon lecture or seminar that will hone your critical thinking skills through analysis, evaluation and debate, supported by our dedicated Art & Design library. 

While studying for your degree, you will connect with the larger world, through visiting lectures and master classes, featuring nationally and globally known designers and artists.

You’ll have opportunities to network within the Contemporary Craft community, building connections that you can draw upon as you build your own practice. Those include independent designer-makers, national craft event organisers and gallery owners.

This course gives you the opportunity to build your influences and technical skills across disciplines, and opportunity to test and pursue those areas you enjoy most - in preparation for a fulfilling career as a designer, maker, artist or creative professional.

A robust and resilient creative practice is founded on the application of critical thinking skills, from idea development in the studio to process execution in the workshop.

During the course, your critical thinking will be honed through lectures, seminars and studio discussions. You will learn to enrich and contextualise your emerging practice through reflection on themes and processes in historical and contemporary making, and gain knowledge about cultural and critical theory. Through this, you will become equipped with skills in research, analysis and evaluation. The aim is for you to learn to express your ideas within your profession and in a way that is specifically relevant to you realising your authentic creative voice.

By graduation you will have identified your place in contemporary art practice and be able to articulate your position with clarity and confidence.

This is a course tailored to those people who like to think with their hands. You aren't assessed through exams, because the course is designed to mirror contemporary practice within the industry. 

However the Contemporary Design Craft programme is designed to help you both find your voice and develop your skills. 

Throughout your study will become adept at drawing on contextual research to enrich and inform your ideas. Historical and contemporary making will be analysed and scholarly ideas debated in studio and seminar sessions. 

You will establish a practice of critical thinking, enabling you to identify your authentic individual creative practice and articulate it with confidence. Your abilities will be honed in the creation of your own body of work, the development of a dissertation, your participation in the annual degree show, and your involvement with creative industries’ events. 

• Minimum age 18.

• UCAS Points: For anyone applying for September 2025 entry and beyond, we are looking for applicants who have achieved at or beyond 96 – 112 UCAS Tariff Points. 

  However, whilst qualifications are important, our offers are not solely based on academic results. We may make offers based on other evidence of talent and suitability for the course –  for more details about UCAS Tariffs please see tariff explanation and advice on the UCAS website. 

• Mature students: Applications from mature students with relevant experience will also be considered.
• Recognition of Prior Learning Opportunities: the college welcomes applications from students with prior learning and/or previous experience. Further details on eligibility can be found on page 15 of our Admissions Policy.
• Applicants whose first language is not English – proof of IELTS overall score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all sections (reading, writing, listening & speaking) is required.

If you are unsure or have any questions, please contact us at registry@hca.ac.uk and we can offer further advice on HCA and the UWTSD awarding body requirements.

You can apply to HCA by making us one of your options on your UCAS application. In some cases, such as with current students and student transfers, we also accept direct applications. 

We receive a high number of application all our subject areas so we recommend that you make your application as early as possible.

You can find out out everything you need about the application process using the link below. If you have any questions, just email registry@hca.ac.uk. 

As soon as you apply, our Registry team will be in touch to let you know they have received your application. At this point they will also send out information on portfolios or auditions.

Portfolios and auditions are a chance for you to showcase yourself in a different way. They give us an idea of what excites you about the subject, and what you might want to explore further on the course. 

We will send out guidance on how to submit your portfolio, or book and audition date, and if you have any questions you will always be able to reach out to us for assistance or clarification.

After submitting your portfolio online, your work will be reviewed by a course lead, and you will receive personal feedback alongside your offer.

Studying is an investment in yourself, and in your future. It’s important to understand the financial support that is available to you, and to be clear about any fees or funding associated with the course you want to study.

Follow the link below to visit our Fees and Funding pages. These pages are designed to help you plan for your future, so you can start your course with confidence in your financial situation.

Everyone’s personal circumstances are different. If you can’t find the information you need, our Student Finance team can offer additional advice.

Top-ups are when you start a degree somewhere else, but transfer to HCA to start either your second or third year.

There are a number of reason why students transfer to HCA, but often it is because their experience didn't live up to what they expected at other universities.

We get a high number of students transferring to HCA, and can almost always accommodate students providing they meet our standard entry requirements.

You may also be asked to provide your transcript from your previous university. 

If you have questions about applying to join as a top-up student, you can find more information at the bottom of this page, or you can email any specific questions to registry@hca.ac.uk.

Our Academic Mentoring Team support Disability Students' Allowance (DSA) students to succeed as well as providing some study skills support for non DSA students with their work - for example writing extended essays in their final year, for those who take the essay option.

The team also support students to apply for DSA where appropriate.

Our Wellbeing Team support students to thrive regardless of events outside their academic studies. 

Our support package includes training sessions, information and one to one personal support with low level issues right up to more challenging events and issues. 

In addition, you will have access to 24-hour helpline for out of hours support.

Tutors will support you to develop and succeed academically, but they are also the first point of contact for wider issues as they work closely with you.

Careers guidance is built into everything you do on your course but we also have a specialist careers advisor to support you with what happens after your course.

Workshop and Technical Staff support with the development of skills and the production of work outside of your taught hours.

Our Registry provide support with any enrolment queries, the application process, academic regulations, and exceptional circumstances.

Our Finance team can help you manage your student finance, support you with questions around a maintenance loan and Disability Students' Allowance (DSA).

They are available to you to answer any questions around your finances including estrangements, independent students, student finance rules, bursaries cash, progression, hardship, emergency loans.

The Library team aid with research skills, and sourcing resources.

The Events and Student Engagement Officer will be your first point of contact for support with student life, community and helping student realise extra curricular activities.

We also have very active Student Unions and a Student Council that you can join - or talk to as your representatives.

All undergraduate degrees at HCA are validated by University of Wales Trinity St David.

You can view a detailed breakdown of the course content in the Key Information Document.

This can be downloaded below.