HNC Art and Design (Fashion & Textiles)

The Higher National Certificate in Art and Design (Fashion & Textiles) is a one-year course designed to equip you with a wide range of technical and creative skills relevant to progression directly into a creative career pathway in industry.

The course provides you with an opportunity to master the skills and techniques of their chosen specialism of Fashion and Textiles and develop higher level skills to meet the skills shortages within the Fashion and Textiles industry, particularly in and around Lancashire. You will broaden your experience and depth of knowledge, allowing you to develop skills essential for a career in the fashion sector.

The knowledge and skills acquired on the programme link directly to the vocational context of Fashion and Textiles and will give you the practical and technical skills required by the specialist industries. These include (but are not exclusive to): creative and conceptual tailoring; fashion design; traditional and contemporary illustration; traditional and innovative garment production techniques; and business and enterprise competence.

The course is highly creative and designed to equip you with the skills you will need to work within the many areas of the fashion and textile design industry. Strong links to the creative industries will facilitate industry-related briefs and real scenarios that provide an opportunity for you to acquire professional work ethics, time planning skills and working within a creative team.

You will take a total of 120 credits.

The following are all Mandatory Modules.

• Professional Development
• Contextual Studies
• Individual Project (Pearson Set)
• Techniques & Processes
• Computer Aided Design (CAD)
• Fashion & Textiles Practices

You will also need to study two Optional modules out of the following choices. Choice will be subject to student demand.

• Pattern Cutting and Garment Making
• Print Making
• Fashion Collection
• Surface Design

There are a variety of options to allow entry onto the Higher National Certificate Art and Design (Fashion & Textiles) programme, these include:

• 48 UCAS Points
• BTEC Level 3 qualification in Fashion/Textiles
• GCSE in English A* to C grade and/or 9 to 4
• GCSE level profile that demonstrates strong performance in a relevant subject or an adequate performance in more than one GCSE subject. This profile is likely to be supported by GCSE grades at A* to C
• Other related level 3 qualifications

We welcome applications from mature students without formal qualifications for these courses or from mature students whose Level 3 qualifications were gained more than 5 years ago. If this applies, there will be an interview before acceptance on the HNC course based on previously gained skills and experience. The interview will consider your prior formal qualifications, and enable you to discuss evidence of experience gained through employment or other verifiable source.

Care Leavers or Young Carers

We want students from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to go to University. If you have spent three months or more in local authority care OR are a young carer, you will be eligible for a contextual offer. This is a grade reduction of 1-A Level grade below our standard entry requirements. For example, a standard offer of CCC, would become CCD. MMM at Level 3 Extended Diploma would become MMP. To apply we advise that you tick the box on your UCAS application which identifies you have spent time in care and to help identify you as eligible for our contextual offer.

Care Leavers or Young Carers

We want students from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to go to University. If you have spent three months or more in local authority care OR are a young carer, you will be eligible for a contextual offer. This is a grade reduction of 1-A Level grade below our standard entry requirements. For example, a standard offer of CCC, would become CCD. MMM at Level 3 Extended Diploma would become MMP. To apply we advise that you tick the box on your UCAS application which identifies you have spent time in care and to help identify you as eligible for our contextual offer.

The programme is assessed through a combination of written essays, research portfolios, image presentations and evaluations, which support the practical assessments throughout the course. Formative and summative feedback supports student progression in both written and practical. Self and peer assessment in convener/critique situations is an essential element of all projects and the feedback from these will enhance student achievement and progression.

Teaching and learning includes formal lectures which underpin the specialist subjects and technical style workshops with relevant historical and cultural references. Practical units take place in the studio environment with tutor support and guidance, and independent learning sessions which are timetabled to allow access to specialist equipment and resources.

Students will gain a deep understanding of the relationship between the designer, maker, and final outcome. They will be equipped with the skills necessary to translate a design and creative ideas into a finished and wearable garment. Design ideas will be presented evocatively, through appropriate visual material and practical outcomes - both 2D and 3D - demonstrating a high aesthetic, skilful manufacture and a strong theoretical understanding. Note: Students are expected to select and provide their own fabrics for garment making the for the fashion collection.

The Computer Aided Design module enables students to shape the direction of projects to enhance employability and career aspirations by utilising creative programs to compile a professional body of work to an industry standard.

There will also be opportunity for students to attain a level of professional practice. Strong links to the creative industries will facilitate industry-related briefs and real scenarios that provide an opportunity for students to acquire professional work ethics, time planning skills and working within a creative team. 

Students who successfully complete this qualification may continue their studies and progress onto the level 5 Higher National Diploma in Art and Design (Fashion and Textiles), subject to successful validation to start in September 2023.

Alternatively, graduates may wish to progress directly into employment in their chosen career or study at another higher education provider.

This course covers all aspects of both design and marketing. This combination aims to prepare students for a wide range of careers in the fashion industry from Fashion Buyers, Fashion Designer, Marketing Manager, Creative Director, Visual Merchandiser, Influencer, Creative Artworker to Trend Forecasting.

Going to University is not as expensive as you think. There are no upfront fees to pay if you take out a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England. Don't forget to apply as early as possible to secure your fees before you start your course.