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Our campuses: Library and Digital Skills Centre

Student in a contemporary, well-lit hybrid working space working at computers and sat in bench seating.

Research, relax and explore new influences in hybrid study spaces designed for you to immerse yourself in new ideas - or develop projects in a focused environment.

Discover a world of new influencers

Home to two specialist arts libraries and more that 30,000 of books dedicated to the art, media, design and craft, you will find everything you need to deepen your practice or broaden your horizons at HCA.

Through the library you will also be able to access subscriptions for and back issues of brilliant, beautiful and - occasionally pretty niche - arts journals and magazines.

In addition, as an HCA student you will also be able to explore a wealth of audio-visual resources and access online resources and content independently.

98.68

In last year's National Student Survey, HCA's library resources were rated at 98.68/100 in how well they supported student's learning.

NSS, 2023

Room with a view

Located on the top floor, our College Road Campus has views out across the Black Mountains.

There is a row of computers set up to take advantage if you feel like you need a change of perspective while you work.

Also included with your student card:

  • Vogue archives back to 1892
  • The British Library’s Inter-library Loan and Document Supply Service
  • The Bloomsbury Design Library
  • EBSCO’s Art and Architecture Collection
  • Popular Music and Cultural Studies platforms
  • JSTOR academic resources and journals
  • DVDs
  • E-books and e-journals
  • ... and much more

Good for the soul

The library also hosts weekly lunchtime drawing meet-ups as a way for staff and students to step away from their work, take some time for themselves, and meet new people.

Rotating displays also suggest Recommended Reading that responds to current social issues, like LGBTQ+ Awareness month.

Get a personal tour through centuries of inspiration

Our library team are here to help you lay your hands on what you're looking for, and suggest some recommendations that you might not have thought of.

As dedicated arts librarians, our team provide an almost endless amount of insight into the subject-specific resources available, and are an incredible resource to students when researching their subject, or unlocking some creative block.

The team will give all students an induction to the library system  when they begin their studies, and will be on-hand to support students Monday-Friday.

Library staff working at a desk

The Digital Skills Centre

In 2024, Hereford College of Arts opened a new million-pound facility in the heart of our historic College Road Campus.

Open to all students, you will have access to top-end tech and the individual guidance you need to master new software and bring your ideas to life. 

The Digital Skills Centre comprises a set of two digital suites, and a hybrid student workspace delivered to Zero Carbon standards. The open-plan studio is also the hub for our technical demonstrators, and it where you can go for any IT support or large-scale printing.

We are always upgrading our technology and software options for students. If you have specific questions, our Outreach team can put you in touch with the relevant courses.

Shot of Mac suite in the new Digital Skills Centre. Well lit room with exposed timer framing.

Game-changing software

Whether digital design is your endpoint, or whether you use software packages to model designs or produce the perfect edit of your performance - knowing your way around a range of software can supercharge your creativity.

You will be introduced to key software packages early on in your time at HCA through sessions run by our Digital Skills Demonstrators and scheduled in as part of your course.

If you want to dive deeper, or try out a new platform, the team also run regular masterclasses through the year. These are open to all students, and just require you to sign up. Don't want to wait? Just call in at the Helpdesk in the Digital Skills Centre for assistance.

What software can you use?

Adobe Creative Cloud is a collection of professional applications and services used for graphic design, photography, video editing, web development, UX, and social media.

  • After Effects
  • Animate
  • Audition
  • Dimension
  • Dreamweaver
  • Illustrator
  • InCopy
  • InDesign
  • Lightroom
  • Photoshop
  • Premiere Pro
  • Premiere Rush
  • XD
  • Acrobat
  • + 100GB cloud storage

Autodesk is a leader in 3D design, engineering, and entertainment software. The suite includes tools designed to handle tough production challenges; from complex simulations, effects and rendering; to drafting, annotating, and designing 2D geometry and 3D models — with solids, surfaces, and mesh objects.

  • Maya
  • 3DS MAX
  • MudBox
  • Recap
  • Revit
  • AutoCad
  • Archicad

Students have access to Microsoft Office 365 on up to 5 devices including Macs, PCs, tablets and smartphones — Apple and Android.

Students just need to login with their Norwich Uni email address and password.

  • Word
  • Teams
  • Excel
  • OneDrive
  • OneNote
  • Outlook
  • Powerpoint
  • +1TB of cloud storage
  • Blender
  • Unreal Engine 4
  • 3D Coat
  • ZBrush 2019
  • Substance Designer & Painter 
  • Alchemy
  • Spine
  • Tiled
  • Boom Harmony
  • DaVinci Resolve

Also in this section

A female student sanding her wok in CRC workshops

Our campuses

HCA campuses have been the creative home for new artists for more than 170 years.
A close-up image of a student using a lathe. Trails of wood fly off as the student applies the lathe to the turning wood.

Workshops & Resources

Find out about some of the incredible, industry-standard workshops, media studio and resources you will access at HCA.
A view of the Folly Arts Theatre lit for a performance viewed from the technical area with sound engineering kit in the foreground of the shot.

Music and Performance Spaces

Find out more aboutthe music and performance spaces you can use on campus

Next steps

How to apply Book an open day Accommodation A-Z Course finder

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