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Higher National Certificate - HNC
Illustration and Visual Communication
Blackpool and the Fylde College
Entry requirements
Here's what you will need to get a place on the Illustration and Visual Communication course at Blackpool and the Fylde College.
Select a qualification to see required grades
A level
D,D
Course summary
What this course is about
UCAS code: W214
Here's what Blackpool and the Fylde College says about its Illustration and Visual Communication course.
If your passion is for illustration, graphic design, graphic art or printmaking and you dream of a career as an illustrator or graphic designer, at Blackpool School of Arts we are creating ways to make our higher education qualifications even more accessible. We know that not everyone can commit to three years of study and with this in mind, we're introducing a staged approach. This enables you to study a year at a time, starting with an HNC (Level 4), moving to an HND (Level 5) and finally finishing with a BA (Hons) Top-up programme (Level 6), which will arrive in 2024/2025. You can complete the entire programme in three years or stop at the end of any year, take a break, then pick up again where you left off. This new approach means that on the completion of each year of the programme, you will receive a formal, industry recognised qualification.
This new Art & Design programme cluster represents a fresh approach to Higher Education at Blackpool School of Arts. The first year of the programme (HNC, L4) covers all aspects of the visual arts, with core skills being developed and refined across the visual arts as part of a cluster, giving you a broad and comprehensive experience. You will also have the opportunity to specialise in your chosen pathway, choosing from Graphic Design & Illustration, Commercial Arts Practice and Sustainable Fashion & Costume Pathways, where you will learn the specialist skills to reach your career goals.
You will work with peers from a range of creative backgrounds and with a range of career aspirations, collaborating and working together, as in the industry, whilst also specialising in key areas for your chosen career pathway. This will develop the industry skills you need to enable you to progress to the second year of the programme (HND, L5), where you will specialise further in your pathway. From 2024/2025, and subject to validation, applicants will be able to progress to a full BA (Hons) top-up programme in the and achieve a full bachelor's degree here at Blackpool School of Arts.
These programmes have been developed in Blackpool by creative industry experts and in line with the needs of local and national industries to ensure you are able to gain the skills necessary to reach your goal of a career in the creative industries. The HNC and HND create the opportunity to upskill or re-skill and enter the industry at a variety of levels and in a range roles.
Source: Blackpool and the Fylde College
Course details
Qualification
Higher National Certificate - HNC
Department
Art, Media and Performance
Location
University Centre | Blackpool
Duration
1 Years
Study mode
Full-time
Subjects
• Graphic design
Start date
7 September 2026
Application deadline
14 January 2026
Tuition fees
| Location | Fees |
|---|---|
| England | £7,217 per year |
| Scotland | £7,217 per year |
| Wales | £7,217 per year |
| Northern Ireland | £7,217 per year |
The modules you will study
Module Title Code Credits Optional? Professional Development VA4MD064 15 No Contextual Studies VA4MD065 15 No Individual Project VA4MD066 15 No Techniques and Processes VA4MD067 15 No Communication in Art and Design VA4MD068 15 No Graphic Design Practices VA4MD073 15 No Surface Design VA4MD074 15 No Visual Narratives VA4MD086 15 No
Blackpool and the Fylde College student reviews
Showing 0 reviews
National Student Survey (NSS) scores at Blackpool and the Fylde College
The NSS is an annual survey where final-year students are asked to rate different aspects of their course and university experience.
Here you can see ratings from Blackpool and the Fylde College students who took the Illustration and Visual Communication course - or another course in the same subject area.
Select an option to see a detailed breakdown
Teaching on my course
90%
high
Teaching on my course
90%
high
How often does your course challenge you to achieve your best work?
90%
med
How good are teaching staff at explaining things?
95%
med
How often do teaching staff make the subject engaging?
90%
high
How often is the course intellectually stimulating?
85%
med
Learning opportunities
91%
high
Learning opportunities
91%
high
To what extent have you had the chance to bring together information and ideas from different topics?
95%
high
How well does your course introduce subjects and skills in a way that builds on what you have already learned?
90%
high
How well has your course developed your knowledge and skills that you think you will need for your future?
90%
high
To what extent have you had the chance to explore ideas and concepts in depth?
90%
med
To what extent does your course have the right balance of directed and independent study?
95%
high
Assessment and feedback
97%
high
Assessment and feedback
97%
high
How well have assessments allowed you to demonstrate what you have learned?
90%
med
How fair has the marking and assessment been on your course?
100%
high
How often does feedback help you to improve your work?
100%
high
How often have you received assessment feedback on time?
100%
high
How clear were the marking criteria used to assess your work?
95%
high
Academic support
95%
high
Academic support
95%
high
How easy was it to contact teaching staff when you needed to?
95%
high
How well have teaching staff supported your learning?
95%
high
Organisation and management
98%
high
Organisation and management
98%
high
How well were any changes to teaching on your course communicated?
100%
high
How well organised is your course?
95%
high
Learning resources
98%
high
Learning resources
98%
high
How well have the IT resources and facilities supported your learning?
100%
high
How well have the library resources (e.g., books, online services and learning spaces) supported your learning?
100%
high
How easy is it to access subject specific resources (e.g., equipment, facilities, software) when you need them?
95%
high
Student voice
92%
high
Student voice
92%
high
How clear is it that students' feedback on the course is acted on?
90%
high
To what extent do you get the right opportunities to give feedback on your course?
95%
high
To what extent are students' opinions about the course valued by staff?
90%
high
How well does the students' union (association or guild) represent students' academic interests?
89%
high
Other NSS questions
Other NSS questions
During your studies, how free did you feel to express your ideas, opinions, and beliefs?
100%
high
How well communicated was information about your university/college's mental wellbeing support services?
100%
high
Student information
We're still busy gathering student information for Illustration and Visual Communication at Blackpool and the Fylde College. Look out for more info soon.
Graduate prospects
What graduates do next
We have no information about graduates who took Illustration and Visual Communication at Blackpool and the Fylde College.
Earnings after graduation
Earnings from Blackpool and the Fylde College graduates who took Illustration and Visual Communication - or another course in the same subject area.
Earnings
£19k
First year after graduation
£19.3k
Third year after graduation
£20.8k
Fifth year after graduation
Shown here are the median earnings of graduates at one, three and five years after they completed a course related to Illustration and Visual Communication.
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree
Blackpool and the Fylde College open days
Are you thinking of applying to this university?
Before you do, it's a good idea to go to an open day. You can have a good look around campus, getting a better idea of what it's like to study there. You'll meet current students and staff and get the chance to ask them questions.
Universities will list upcoming open days on their websites. Most will also have virtual open days; these are a great alternative if you really can't get there in person. For tips on preparing for open days, check the advice section here on The Uni Guide.
