Fashion HNC

Art & Design (Fashion, Textiles and Costume) - HNC

Summary

If your passion is for fashion, costume or textiles and you want a career in designing and making clothes or costumes, at Blackpool School of Arts, we are creating ways to make our higher education qualifications even more accessible. We know that not everyone can commit to three years of study and with this in mind, we're introducing a staged approach. This enables you to study a year at a time, starting with an HNC (Level 4), moving to an HND (Level 5) and finally finishing with a BA (Hons) Top-up programme (Level 6), which will arrive in 2024/2025. You can complete the entire programme in three years or stop at the end of any year, take a break, then pick up again where you left off. This new approach means that on the completion of each year of the programme, you will receive a formal, industry recognised qualification.

This new Art & Design programme cluster represents a fresh approach to Higher Education at Blackpool School of Arts. The first year of the programme (HNC, L4) covers all aspects of the visual arts, with core skills being developed and refined across the visual arts as part of a cluster, giving you a broad and comprehensive experience. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in your chosen pathway, choosing from Graphic Design & Illustration, Commercial Arts Practice and Fashion, Costume & Textiles pathways, where you will learn the specialist skills to reach your career goals.

You will work with peers from a range of creative backgrounds and with a range of career aspirations, collaborating and working together, as in the industry, whilst also specialising in key areas for your chosen career pathway. This will develop the industry skills you need to enable you to progress to the second year of the programme (HND, L5), where you will specialise further in your pathway. From 2024/2025, and subject to validation, applicants will be able to progress to a full BA (Hons) top-up programme in the and achieve a full bachelor's degree here at Blackpool School of Arts.

These programmes have been developed in Blackpool by creative industry experts and in line with the needs of local and national industries to ensure you are able to gain the skills necessary to reach your goal of a career in the creative industries. The HNC and HND create the opportunity to upskill or reskill and enter the industry at a variety of levels and in a range roles.

Places still available. If you are interested in studying this course this year, you no longer need to apply online. Simply attend one of our Open Enrolment sessions which start on Tuesday 27 August. Full details of these, including times, where to go and what to bring, can be found here.
  • Course code DA1HE006
  • UCAS code W231
  • Duration 1 Year
  • Day/s of week Wednesday to Friday
  • Time 09:45 - 16:30

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
Sep/Oct 2024
University Centre
1 Year
08 Sep 2025
University Centre
1 Year
  • A stunning public gallery space - offering students the opportunity to exhibit their own work
  • £28,950 Average annual salary in this sector
  • Access to state-of-the-art equipment, theatre space, recording and art studios

What Uni Reviews

Love it, best decision I've ever made. The course, tutors, and peers have all helped to make the experience enjoyable. I'm really enjoying the creative freedom on the course and how freely I am able to express my own ideas, but also enjoy taking inspiration from my peers. *****
- Anonymous
Excellent facilities and tutors. *****
- Leanne Booth
It felt like a place I could fit in and the people there were helpful in my experience at the university. ****
- David Cleasby

Tutor Profile - Angy Young

Industry Background:
Throughout my academic career I have also worked as a freelance designer/maker and as a collaborator on collections which have featured at London and Paris Fashion Weeks. More recently, I started CONVERT, a range of trend-led sustainable clothing.

Enjoys teaching at B&FC because:
Seeing students fulfil their creative potential and produce outstanding collections at the end of their course never fails to impress and inspire me.

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

The Level 4 Higher National Certificate provides a solid grounding in Art & Design, along with the specialist pathways, which students can build on, should they decide to continue their studies beyond the Certificate stage.Live art and design production covers several careers in the art and design industries and there are different routes to follow. Artists and designers create work for a range of creative outputs and may be involved exhibitions, publications, commissions and in support of the wider creative industry.

Key information

Entry Requirements

Grade 4/C in both GCSE Maths and English, of L2 equivalent

  • A minimum of 48 UCAS points in an appropriate discipline
  • 2x A Levels in an appropriate discipline or
  • Level 3 Extended Diploma or Merit from Level 3 Diploma in an appropriate discipline

or

  • Level 3 Access to Higher Education Diploma or Foundation Diploma Art & Design or
  • An international equivalent of the above qualifications


Anyone who can demonstrate relevant work/life skills or knowledge can also be considered on an individual basis. Recognised prior learning may also be considered in accordance with the awarding body’s regulations.

If English is not your first language, you will need to achieve an IELTS score of at least 5.5.

Qualification obtained

BTEC Higher National Certificate in Art and Design

Fees and funding

Please click here to find out more about tuition fees for this course.

Extra costs and equipment

You will need to spend approximately £250 p.a. on basic materials, as well as an SD card and hard drive. A full list of material requirements will be issued to you after enrolment. You should also be aware that there may be additional costs to consider such as optional educational visits and photocopying/printing.

There will be a variety of trips and other activities that may incur a small fee, as well as the cost of materials and basic equipment listed above.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: N/A

Awarding Body: Pearson

Regulatory Body: Office for Students (OfS)

Terms and conditions

Read our full terms and conditions for more information.

What will I learn?

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

The programme provides work-related learning opportunities which are designed to embed and develop a range of transferrable skills to prepare you for employment opportunities in a range of related creative professions. These include skills in spoken, written and visual communication, the ability to manage collaborative and independent projects, creative problem-solving. Assessments are designed and created with industry professionals, meaning they are all related to scenarios that occur in the industry.

The curriculum team are also working professionals engaged in various aspects of the industry, alongside the expertise of the team, local employers are engaged in certain aspects of the course which will be tailored to your development, skill set and knowledge. External engagement with industry representatives may include:

  • Field trips to local destinations and environments
  • Inviting members of the local creative communities to present guest lectures
  • Using employers to judge the quality of assessed presentations and/or products
  • Establishing a panel of experts who students can pitch an idea to

  • Modules at level 4

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Communication in Art and Design DA4MD009 15 No
    Computer Aided Design DA4MD010 15 No
    Contextual Studies DA4MD011 15 No
    Fashion and Textiles Practices DA4MD013 15 No
    Pattern Cutting and Garment Making DA4MD023 15 No
    Techniques and Processes DA4MD028 15 No
    Professional Development DA4MD036 15 No
    Individual Project DA4MD037 15 No

Study Support - at a glance

We offer a range of services to support you across all areas of student life, with specialist support available for students with disabilities.

  • Higher Education Learning Mentors (HELMs)
  • One-to-one and group study support sessions
  • Pre-degree preparation workshops
  • IT Support
Discover available Study Support

Programme Specification

Download our Programme Specification for this course.

Student case study - Alexia Sarjantson

Why did you choose B&FC?
I chose B&FC as I had previously studied an art course here and felt comfortable when being interviewed by my future tutor she made me feel very welcomed and helped ease my nerves. 

What have been the benefits of studying here?
One of the main benefits of studying here are the great resources. I have been able to learn how to use all the different sewing machines and other industry focused equipment which is an excellent basis for my future career.

How will I learn?

Throughout this programme, you will take an active role in your learning through a combination of enquiry, project and problem-based learning by working collaboratively and in partnership with your fellow students, lecturers and specialist practitioners to take ownership of your personal and professional development. Working in partnership will support your learning processes and enable you to develop as an independent creative practitioner, peer to peer review, class discussions and seminars encourage the development of analysis, reflective thinking and self-evaluation.

Collaboration with other programmes across Blackpool School of Arts, formally and informally, will enrich the learning environment, supporting the discursive approach to learning. You will acquire an insight into industry through lectures, seminars and live briefs, this will support you in the transition from student to industry practitioner. Sessions will be delivered through tutor led demonstrations, one to one development workshops and group work.

Learning Methods

Learning Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Scheduled 570 0 0
Independent 540 0 0
Placement 90 0 0
Total 1200 0 0
Ready to take the next step? Navigate to the top of the page and click Apply Now to continue your degree-level journey.

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Take a look at some of our other degree-level study options and see what sparks your imagination.

How will I be assessed?

How will I be assessed?

One of the elements that makes this course unique, is that all assignments have been designed and co-created with industry specialists, so you know you are gaining the technical skills to support a strong career.  

Assessment types will be varied, so that you are able to develop transferable skills such as independence, collaborative working, digital and communication skills as well as subject specific knowledge for preparation into a successful and long-term employment sector.

For the majority of practical units you will be asked to submit a portfolio or sketchbooks, which comprise of a body of work including the planning and development stages as well as the final output. Written evidence should also be submitted containing references, creative development and written reflections. you will be assessed using a variety of methods:

  • Professional Development
  • Practical skills assessment
  • Critical self and peer-evaluation
  • Individual online portfolios/promotion of work
  • Group and individually produced artefacts
  • Written essays and reports
  • Reviews and evaluations
  • Individual and group presentations
  • Tasks aimed at the assessment of specific skills (for example digital skills, production skills, research skills and skills of application)

How will I be assessed?

Assessment Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Coursework 100% 0% 0%
Exam 0% 0% 0%
Practical 0% 0% 0%