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HND (Higher National Diploma)

Fresh College of Arts > HND (Higher National Diploma)

Overview

Our BTEC Higher National Diploma (HND) in Art and Design is a specialist programme of study that covers the fundamentals, understanding and practical skills required in the Art & Design field, and develops a critical awareness of the historical, contextual and social issues relevant to the practice and to industry requirements.

The Diploma allows students to work on both given and self-defined briefs and to create a substantial portfolio of professional work. They will also take part in an exhibition with their own work, which will prepare them for employment or for the next step into higher education.

BTEC HNDs are internationally recognized as vocational qualifications with a proven track record of success. They are recognized and popular route to university leading to the second or third year of a bachelor degree accordingly.

The successful delivery of the course includes teaching small groups, group and/or individual tutorial support, technical workshops, lectures, seminars and professional visits. During the second year of the course, students will have the opportunity for work placement in a relevant industry.

Specialist pathways are: Fine Art, Graphic Design, 3D Design, Animation, Illustration, Fashion and Textiles, Art Photography, Product Design, and Interior Design.

Final Academic Show

Final year students display their work at the Annual Show at both our Freshart Campuses, in Limassol and Paphos.

Benefits and Purpose

An HND is an undergraduate qualification (one level below a degree), it takes less time to complete and it is designed to prepare you for a specific career.

The course is vocationally focused and can therefore lead straight to a work placement in a relevant industry. Moreover, it’s a great stepping stone up to a higher qualification, as you can choose to ‘top up’ an HND with extra studies at a later date, in order to convert it to a full bachelor’s degree.

An HND is a work-related course provided by our higher education college. A full-time HND takes two years to complete, or three to four years part-time. Generally, an HND is the equivalent to two years at university. 

By completing the first year of the HND, you can still obtain an HNC, which is equivalent to the first year of a university degree. 

Methods of Teaching

We take a range of approaches to teaching to help you learn in the best way for you. There will be tutor, live and competition design project briefs, tutor-led studio activities and independent study, group seminars and critiques, individual tutorial sessions, specialist workshops with industry partners and client presentations. You will get feedback throughout the year, orally, in writing and online.

 

Your schedule of study will be a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops and technical demonstrations 4-6 hours per week, depending on the specialist course or on the level of study. In addition, we recommend that you spend some extra hours per week in self-directed (studio work) study time. You will have access to technical facilities and studios in your own time.

Assessments

You will be assessed through a range of assignments, most of them including:

 

  • Practical work
  • Personal response
  • Quality of work
  • Level of commitment
  • Theory
  • Presentation skills

 

You will get feedback orally, in writing and online during the assignments, and also at the end of your final presentation.

Students who do not complete the HND will still be eligible for an HNC in the named subject upon successful completion of a minimum of 120 credits.

Facilities and Special Features

  • We have specifically-designed studios and a range of high quality workshops to enable the production of 2D and 3D work
  • PC and Mac computer aided design suites, as well as video editing suites
  • Professional photography studios with day and controlled lighting
  • Printmaking, wood and metal workshop facilities
  • Strong links with industry, guest speakers and live project learning experiences
  • Opportunities for work experience and internships are part of the curriculum
  • Optional international study visits
  • Emphasis is placed on students’ creative development whilst recognizing the importance of marketing and management skills

Progression Courses

  • BA (Hons) in specialist field

Career Direction

Our HND opens the door to a range of creative industries. Our graduates can find immediate employment in many areas related to the field of specialization, worldwide. You can establish your own company and/or continue along the academic route with a focused BA in a related area of specialization.

Work Placement

During the 1st year of your study, you may have the chance to participate in the College Final Show, presenting some of your work and help with the exhibition preparation. During the 2ndyear you might want to choose to combine a work placement since you will have this option as part of the curriculum.

Entry requirements

Year 1 (HNC) entry:

To enter year 1 of the course(of a 2-year course) applicants are expected to send an online portfolio and to have:

  1. 2 GCE A’ Levels at a minimum grade C, one must be from the Art & Design field.

or

  1. School Leaving Certificate (Apolytirion) overall grade 16 or above.

or

  1. BTEC Foundation Diploma in the Art & Design field.

 

We also value and appreciate professional experience and alternative qualifications accordingly, where necessary.

Year 2 (HND) entry:

Students with an HNC or other equivalent(level 4) Certificates or Diplomas with a suitable profile of achievement may be admitted into year two (HND), accordingly.

A committee of specialist staff will review applications and might invite you for an interview (international students may be interviewed over Skype).

We also value and appreciate professional experience and alternative qualifications accordingly, where necessary.

Application procedure

How to apply

Depending on what and how you would like to study, you can fill in an application form.

If you would like to apply for a full-time or a part-time study, for undergraduate study, BA, HND, HNC, Foundation, please apply directly to the College.

Supporting documents for undergraduate courses

Please include the following documents with your completed application form:

  • Details of your English Language competence, for example, GCSE, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) tests or equivalent.
  • Certified copies of your school certificates and any other relevant qualifications. A certified copy is a photocopy that has an original, official stamp of your school, college or university on it.
  • At least one reference.

You can apply for any course at any time before the course starts. The normal closing date for applications is 15th of May. Late applications are accepted but are not guaranteed the same level of consideration as applications made before 15th of May.

 

Application Review and Decision

We will normally provide applicants with a decision within 30 days of the closing date. In case this should take longer, you will be notified.

If your application is successful and you are not required to attend an interview, you will receive a formal offer letter and further information about your course.

 

Changing my course once I have applied

You can change your course if you would like to, as long as you meet the entry requirements for the new course and there are places available. If the new course requires an interview you will need to attend this before being offered a place. You will have to submit your request to change your course in writing and send it by email to the admissions office.

Applying for direct entry into the second (BA or HND) or third year (BA) of a course

If you have completed academic studies that are equivalent to the first or second year of the course you are applying for, it may be possible to enter the course at the second (BA or HND) or third year (BA). You will need to provide a transcript or list of modules including how many credits they are worth. The Admissions Tutor will then consider the application.

Part-time study

A lot of our courses can be completed part-time. Therefore, you can fit your studies around your life and we will make sure we shape your schedule based on your time availability. The majority of part-time courses start in October. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure we have your details before your course starts.

Entry requirements

When considering applications for part-time study, we assess personal, professional and educational experience, preferably relevant, to ensure that the course is a good match for you. Entry requirements vary, so please check individual courses for details.

 

Further information

If you would like more information about applying for a course at the Freshart College of Arts, please email the administration office or give us a call on (+357) 70009004.

Equal opportunities

We encourage applications from all sections of the community, regardless of sex, marital status, age, responsibility for dependents, socio-economic status, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

Students with disabilities

We work hard to ensure that, as far as possible, students with disabilities are able to study successfully with us. If you have additional needs, we advise that you contact the administration office or course tutor as early as possible, so that you can discuss your needs and visit the College to assess the facilities if necessary.

Mature students

We care about equal opportunity in education, so mature students will be highly considered on equitable terms, as we realize that life might have directed you to other specialized paths. Let’s fix it!

If you do not meet the entry requirements

We welcome applications from everyone and we know that relevant experience is just as valuable as qualifications. Whether experience is from your work, voluntary activities or independent study we still want to hear from you.

So, if you don’t meet all of the entry requirements for the course you would like to study, contact our Admissions team at the admissions email and let them know what other relevant experience you have.

Campus, Studios and Offices

Our premises are designed to provide you with the learning experience and opportunities you expect from a modern Art & Design College.

We know our staff and students demand the very best, and that’s what we want to provide. Our motto “The Art of Higher Education” highlights our mission to develop graduates with a unique style and in order to accomplish that, they need to study in a “colorful” environment.

So, we designed our premises from scratch to respond to the best level of education…because you come first. A College where the staff and premises serve what’s best for you and provide everything you may need to live and learn, as you enjoy one of the best and most fulfilling experiences of your life.

Take a look at our premises, or visit us at any time!