Hereford College of Arts in a member of the National Arts Learning Network. Through the NALN, the college has developed links with the following specialist Higher Education Arts Institutions including:

Camberwell College of Arts 
Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design
Chelsea College of Art and Design 
London College of Communication 
London College of Fashion 
Wimbledon College of Art 
Cleveland College of Art and Design
Leeds College of Art and Design 
Plymouth College of Art 
Norwich University College of the Arts 
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication 
The Arts Institute at Bournemouth 
University for the Creative Arts at Canterbury, Epsom, Farnham, Maidstone and Rochester
University College Falmouth incorporating Dartington College of Arts
Cumbria Institute of the Arts (now incorporated in University of Cumbria)

The aim of the NALN is to widen participation in the Arts by increasing the number of students progressing to higher education from vocational courses such at BTEC Nationals,  non traditional routes or from the workplace. The Network has developed clear pathways through which students will be encouraged to continue their learning locally or nationally plus a range of intitatives to help them decide on their best career route into the Creative Industries.
For further information about the National Arts Learning Network visit www.naln.ac.uk

NALN Projects:
HCA have been involved in a number of projects designed to help students from non traditional routes progress successfully into Higher Education in the Arts. All projects have been funded by NALN

Creative Connections:
Working in parternship with Leeds, Cleveland and Plymouth Colleges of Art, HCA is designing and developing an on-line student centred learning resource for National Diploma students to help them work and think creatively and critically and to develop enterprise and business skills in the arts. Site under development,

The Art of Transition: An FE:HE Bridging Project
Working in partnership with Central St Martins School of Art, HCA have developed and delivered two pilot Bridging Courses for Level 3 National Diploma students to help overcome barriers to progression to higher education and explore the Culture and Practice of Art at HE.  Students not only had the opportunity to develop their critical and practical skills but, as results show, increased their confidence and aspiration to progress to a degree in the Arts.

Information, Advice and Guidance:
HE students from HCA are contributors to a student centred web site developed by University College Falmouth. This interactive site has been designed  as a platform for case studies and debate with a gallery of  student work to raise awareness and understanding of HE progression pathways.
To find out more visit www.artanddesignadvice.org.uk

Research: HCA are contributors to the research project led by University of Cumbria that seeks to define and identify a common understanding of Endangered/Niche subjects in the arts and explores their role in current and future creative education.