Diploma in Industrial Art (Leatherwork)

This diploma trains you in the practical craft and small-business side of leatherwork. You learn to design and make leather goods while building skills you can use to earn a living. It is a hands-on programme for Visual Arts students who want to work with materials and sell what they create.

What leatherwork actually involves

In an industrial art programme focused on leatherwork, you learn to work with leather as both a material and a product. Typical topics include raw hide selection, cutting, stitching, tooling, dyeing and finishing, as well as pattern-making for bags, belts, shoes and other goods. Because the field is called 'industrial art', you also look at producing items in small batches and selling them, so expect to learn basic costing, customer ordering and workshop organisation. This is a practical field, so most of your time goes into making things rather than sitting in large lectures.

How hard it is to get a place

Entry to this programme is less competitive than for many university courses. The faculty normally admits Visual Arts students, so your SHS background already gives you the kind of preparation expected. The same leatherwork diploma at Ho Technical University is also less competitive, so you are not tied to one institution if you want a similar training. Still, you need to meet the posted requirements, so check your WASSCE grades against what Tamale Technical University publishes for the year you apply; there is no single national cut-off aggregate to quote here.