Every year thousands of Art & Design students from hundreds of schools and FE colleges throughout the country apply for Fine Art and Design degree courses in the UK. Competitions for places is extremely high; Edinburgh College of Art for example receives more applications than Oxford and Cambridge. Successfully gaining a place on these courses is a significant achievement for any applicant.

The Fine Art HND courses at Edinburgh’s Telford College have a growing reputation as being among the most successful courses in the country. Our progression rates continue to be amongst the highest in the FE sector.

2009 statistics for the HND Contemporary Art course are as follows:

• 90% of applicants* received 1 or more HE Degree offer.
• 78% of applicants received 2 or more HE Degree offers.
• 33% of applicants received 3 or more HE Degree offers.
• 90% of applicants received offers @ SCQF Level 9 (equivalent to entry level 3)
• 67% of applicants received offers @ SCQF Level 8 (equivalent to entry level 2)

*all applications were through UCAS

Progression to Higher Education:

The HND award offers you a wide range of articulation routes to Higher Education. Candidates with HND awards can be offered entry into the *second or *third year of degree programmes.

*this is at the discretion of the individual HEI and is usually dependant on a satisfactory UCAS reference, interview and portfolio review.

Graduates from HND Contemporary Art have successfully progressed too a range of Fine Art & Design degree course at:

• Edinburgh College of Art
• Glasgow School of Art
• Duncan of Jordanstone college of Art (Dundee University)
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Cumbria
• University of Newcastle
• University of Leeds
• Manchester Metropolitan University
• Winchester School of Art

Employment:

Employability is a key focus of the course with students gaining knowledge & skills through subject specific core units and developing invaluable experience through a network of professional and institutional contacts and partnerships including:

Cultural Enterprise Scotland / Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop / Stills Gallery / Embassy Gallery / Edinburgh College of Art / National Galleries of Scotland / WASPS / North Edinburgh Art Centre / Visiting Artists

Some of our graduates decide not to go on to degree course and have successfully gone directly into employment or self-employment as:

Artist / Gallerist / Studio Assistant / Studio Technician / Curator / Tutor

The HND award will help you develop the creative, technical and intellectual skills you require to successfully progress into employment. Within the award there is an emphasis on personal development, communication, presentation, self-motivation, professional practice, time management and using initiative all of which will enhance employability.

Although successful progression is predominantly down to the hard work, dedication and creative output of the applicants themselves there can be no doubt that the influence of a highly creative, well resourced and supportive art dept along with the input of highly qualified and professional artists / lecturers can have a significant and lasting influence on the future success of students whether they choose to go on to Higher Education or directly into the Creative Industries.