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Level 4 HNC in Art and Design in Wakefield – Wakefield College

Cost£7,400.00
Duration1 year
LevelLevel 4
DeliveryClassroom based
Start30 Sep 2026
Study modeFull-time
AttendanceDaytime
Awarding bodyPearson Edexcel awarding body
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About this course

Level 4 HNC in Art and Design in Wakefield. Classes run at Wakefield College, full-time during the day, over one year. You'll build on your existing creative practice and explore a wide range of disciplines to develop your own specialist direction. The course combines practical studio work with contextual and professional development, preparing you for employment or further study in the creative industries. Entry requires a minimum 64 UCAS tariff points from A Levels or a Level 3 Diploma in a related subject, plus GCSE English Language at grade 4 or above. All applicants attend an interview and bring a portfolio.

Who this course is for

The HNC in Fine Art is designed for students who are passionate about Art & Design and want to develop their own creative practice at a higher level. This course will help to build the skills you’ve already developed and give you the opportunity to explore a wide range of creative practices in order to refine and focus your own specialist pathway. The course aims to prepare you fully for developing your own practice by incorporating contextual awareness alongside professional and employment-focussed skills. Through a range of projects involving investigation, research and communication skills, you will examine historical and contemporary aspects of Art and Design in order to analyse and prepare research information for written and seminar presentations. You will explore a range of artistic skills which will develop into more personal techniques as you progress into your chosen area of specialism. The College has a wide range of equipment/facilities for art and design including: Your own dedicated studio space Print workshop Ceramics studio 3D workshop Fully-equipped photography studio including traditional darkroom Regular visits to galleries, museums and exhibitions will help to consolidate your understanding of art appreciation and inform your own work Regular visits to galleries, museums and exhibitions will help to consolidate your understanding of art appreciation and inform your own work.

Entry requirements

Minimum 64 UCAS tariff points from A Levels or a Level 3 Diploma in a related subject OR an Access course.

GCSE at Grade 9-4 in English Language (or equivalent qualification) is required.

Those with previous experience or learning that is relevant may be eligible via our Accreditation Prior Learning APL process for accreditation towards this course.

All applicants are required to attend an interview, you will also need to bring with you a portfolio of your work.

What you will learn

  • You'll develop your own creative practice across a range of art and design disciplines.
  • You'll build contextual awareness to support and inform your work.
  • You'll refine a specialist pathway that reflects your own artistic direction.
  • You'll gain professional and employment-focused skills relevant to the creative industries.
  • You'll produce a portfolio of work that demonstrates your development and practice.

How you will learn

You'll study in a classroom and studio environment at Wakefield College. Learning is delivered through practical projects, studio sessions, and critical and contextual study. Assessment is based on coursework, portfolio submissions, and project work rather than written exams. You'll attend an interview before the course begins and bring a portfolio of existing work as part of the application process.

What you will need to bring

You'll need to bring a portfolio of your work to your interview before the course starts. Wakefield College will confirm any materials or equipment you need before you begin.

Where next

Jobs you could do

  • Graphic designer: creating visual content for print and digital media.
  • Illustrator: producing artwork for publishing, advertising, and editorial clients.
  • Visual artist: developing and exhibiting independent creative practice.
  • Art technician: supporting studios, galleries, or educational settings.
  • Creative arts assistant: working in arts organisations or community projects.
  • Set or prop designer: creating visual environments for theatre, film, or TV.

What you could study next

  • Level 5 HND in Art and Design (Pearson Edexcel): the natural next step after the HNC, deepening your specialism and often accepted for top-up entry onto a BA Honours degree.
  • BA (Hons) in Fine Art or Graphic Design: a full undergraduate degree at a university, building on your HNC for a career in the creative industries or postgraduate study.
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