Pearson BTEC HNC in Art and Design - Digital Design

15 hours contact time to include practical classes, lectures, workshops or tutorials.

Mandatory Additional Study

Maximum of 3 hours per week average over the academic year.

Personal Study

20 hours maximum studying and preparing assessments in your own time per week, and use of online material

GCSE/ Level 2 Requirements

 GCSE grade C/4 in English Language, or Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills Communication, or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification

AND GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics, or Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills Application of Number, or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification.

AND 

Passes in 4 different subjects (can include English Language and Mathematics and as above), with 1 at GCE Advanced (A) level (grades A-E), and 3 at GCSE level (grades A*-C*/9-4), or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification.

UCAS

A minimum of 32 UCAS points including:

GCE A level (A2): Typical grade profile C in Art and Design or related Visual Arts subject.

OR [RQF] Pearson BTEC Level 3  Diploma in Art and Design or related Visual Arts subject with overall award profile MM

OR OCR Cambridge Technical Diploma in Art and design or related Visual Arts subject  with an Overall award profile  MM

OR  BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design and Media Practice with an overall award profile of Merit

Access Diploma

Access to HE Diploma (NI): 45% overall [in a Visual Arts Access course] and [45%] in level 2 Access Mathematics.

International Requirements

• Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2
• PTE 51 IELTS 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 in all skills) Or equivalent (examples of equivalent qualifications would be GCSE in English, Level 3 Programmes, Essential Skills in Literacy - Level 2, ESOL Level 2 or another qualification gained at an institution within the UK).

Admissions

Successful completion of the Admissions Process. Additional Skills Interview: Suitable applicants will be required to attend a formal interview with the course leader - either in person or online.

Portfolio

Applicants are required to submit a creative portfolio of their own work. The purpose of the portfolio is to evaluate your development as a creator and assess your ability to succeed on the course. We look for evidence of the basic technical and cognitive skills you will need to succeed.

Students are assessed using a range of different methods.

These may include examinations, coursework, project-based learning, presentations, practical, posters, leaflets, and case studies. 

This is dependent on the requirements of each unit of study. 

Oral, written and online feedback will be provided during your course to help improve and monitor performance.

The course will prepare you with a portfolio of work that demonstrates a range of practical, professional skills that can be used to seek employment opportunities in the creative industries or for further study at higher education level.

Students can progress onto the HND 2nd year at SERC after this course to achieve a Level 5 qualification and then in some cases on to a 'top up' degree.

The specific vocational content of this course, along with access to a state-of-the-art software and equipment provide an invaluable pre-requisite to employment in all aspects of the creative digital art & design industry.  

• Gaining a vocational qualification demonstrating your technical competence.
• Gaining a Personal Development qualification demonstrating your employability skills (communication, teamwork, critical thinking).
• Gaining hands on experience through Industry Projects (PBL). 
• Getting involved in activities such as the SERC Volunteer Programme and SERC Student Companies.
• Strengthening your ability to be self-reliant and self-motivated.  

As well as gaining a recognised qualification you will take part in employability skills workshops and gain skills in teamwork, commitment, IT and problem solving. You will also have the opportunity to work with our student companies to get a taste for the industry itself.

Field trips are not compulsory, however there are occasions when lecturers will organise  talks or trips off campus which the teaching team deem supportive to the students' studies. 

The department recognises the importance of providing students with the opportunity to see professional environments, both locally and internationally. 

Field trips do not have a direct impact on individual academic success.  Costings for field trips are based on the confirmed total number of students wishing to partake and costs are kept to a minimum

A standard kit of art materials such as sketch books, paints, brushes, pencils, pens. Approx. £100

A digital SLR camera. Approx. £150 upwards

A portfolio case with sleeves A3 or above dependent on own practice. Approx. £40-£60

A memory cards for both video and audio files approx. £25.  

Students are asked to budget approx.

Level 4

Core unit Mandatory - 1 Professional Development

Core unit Mandatory - 2 Contextual Studies

Core unit Mandatory – 3 Individual Project – Pearson set

Core unit Mandatory – 4 Techniques and Processes

Specialist unit Mandatory – 12 screen-based Practices

Specialist unit Mandatory – 18 Digital design Practices

Additional units of study (2 of the following)

24 Visual Merchandising

29 Workflows

30 surface design

31 Visual Narratives